Cricket Magazine Fiction and Non-Fiction Stories for Children and Young Teens July/August 2016

“Shore Birds” Mixed Media and Collage In my kindergarten class in Brooklyn, New York, my teacher gave us an assignment to use the milk cartons from our snack time in an art project. We could do anything. There were no rules—just a milk carton, glue, and a piece of paper. I remember drawing a woman with a pearl necklace and using the milk carton as her outfit. My teacher made a big fuss about my piece and hung it in the hallway outside our classroom. I guess you could say it was my first art exhibit. It was a thrilling feeling. I have always loved color. I used to arrange my Crayola box of sixty-four crayons according to my favorite colors. My two favorites were periwinkle and melon, and my…

Hello, Ugly Bird, You are the bestest! I think you are smart, kind (if you’d stop trying to eat all the buggies), and beautiful. I understand why you would want to eat them, but don’t! There are plenty of berries and nuts to eat, too. They are yummy! Especially black raspberries. I love you, Ugly Bird. Janae Wise, age 11 Warsaw, Indiana Dear Everybuggy, How are you? Do you like to read? I love to! My favorite books are: The Little White Horse, Kidnapped, The Diary of Anne Frank, and my favorite, All-of-a-Kind Family. I have five sisters, no brothers, one dog, and tadpoles! I stepped in an anthill last summer and got five bites! Have you guys ever been on vacation? Maybe to the beach? I love the beach!…

PU YI’S YELLOW dragon kite dipped and soared over the red roofs of the Forbidden City. His hopes rose and fell with the kite. If the wind carried his kite high, his wish might come true. The yellow kite, a color only he, as emperor of China, could use, climbed up and up. But although the winds buoyed up his kite, they did not grant his wish: that his father would spend more time with him. Prince Chun, his father, had arrived that morning, kowtowed to his son by kneeling and touching his forehead to the ground, inquired about his studies, and left. He had not even stayed his usual two minutes. Pu Yi had counted to sixty twice. His father left on the forty-ninth second of the second minute.…

Flesh-made mountain: dragon sleeps, tending dreams of fire and death. Steaming vapor streams and creeps—misty wreath of dragon breath. Hemlock ribs cage granite heart: beat by beat, bright valley quakes. He’ll wage a war to break apart creation. Hush! The dragon wakes! “SPARKY! YOU BURNED a hole right through the curtains—again!” “Sorry, Mom. It was an accident.” Sheesh! Parents! Didn’t they remember how hard it was to learn to breathe fire? “We have a bigger problem than burned curtains,” Dad announced, his binoculars aimed at the house next door. “Dennis D. Dragon!” Mom’s tail thumped the kitchen floor. “Who are you spying on?” “See for yourself, Irene.” Mom—who’d been flaming mad about Dad’s spying only a second ago—pulled the binoculars to her eyes faster than fire spurting from an angry…

COOL DOWN THIS summer with these creamy, fruity ice-cream blocks. They’re fun and easy to make and taste super delicious! What You’ll Need: 1/2 cup sugar (or more to taste, especially for lemons or sour cherries) 1 cup warm water 1 cup heavy cream Fresh fruit, such as: 1/2 large peeled mango 1 quart raspberries, strawberries, or pitted cherries 4 peeled oranges or large lemons, seeded 6 small pitted peaches, apricots, or plums 5 cups diced watermelon or cantaloupe 3 ice cube trays blender or food processor Popsicle sticks (optional) What to Do: 1. Mix sugar and water together until sugar is completely dissolved. 2. Add cream and fruit. 3. Mix in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. 4. Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.…

THIS NEW LITTLE stepsister’s getting on my nerves. She won’t stop talking. What was Dad trying to prove with this family vacation? We can’t instantly become the ideal family. I just became a teenager, and Christina’s a baby. “She’s eight,” Dad had told me a week ago when I called about my summer visit. “You like to hike, Sean. Bring your pack and sleeping bag, and we’ll explore Kings Canyon National Park. Christina and her mom haven’t seen sequoia trees.” Dad and I finished pitching the large tent he’d just bought. I stood at its entrance and watched the morning sun top the trees by the stream, then walked back to the SUV to get my gear. Yanking out my duffle, I knocked a pink backpack to the ground. Before…