Cricket Magazine Fiction and Non-Fiction Stories for Children and Young Teens October 2016

“Monster Jam” digital JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker who has been drawing and making things as far back as she can remember. Her artwork has appeared in newspapers, picture books, posters, and on clothing. October is her favorite month since it includes pumpkins, Halloween, autumn leaves, and chilly weather. She enjoys drawing animals, especially cats and other feline creatures. Is it time to renew? shop.cricketmedia.com 1-800-821-0115…

Dear Everybuggy, Is every buggy around the mailbox? OK, I know you get this a million bajillion times, but . . . I. Love. This. Magazine! When we were looking at magazine options, I was really only into poems. But your magazine inspired me to create a whole story! I love looking at all of the stories, poems, letters, pictures, everything! Ladybug, I love you. You’re hilarious! You could be a little bit less bossy, though. Ugly Bird, you kinda need to calm down. Could the buggies find out if Little Crow has any relation to him? Zoot, I play the violin and have for almost six years! Muffin, you are soooooo cute! Pussy, you’re adorable! Cricket, you pull the whole package together. Thank you, everybuggy. Trill Woodhena, age 12…

SIMON LAY IN the wheat field, hidden from the eyes of anyone who might happen to pass by. He was plucking stalks of wheat and linking the straws together to make a circular network of spokes and struts, trying to distract himself from worrying about the war. If this stem were attached here, and then he wrapped this long stem around one of the stones from his bag and knotted it. . . . He held the framework in one hand and released the stone, smiling as the falling weight made the straw pinwheel spin. The sound of hoofbeats made his eyes widen. He scrambled to his feet in time to see a figure on horseback galloping down the road toward his family’s farmhouse. The rider sagged to one side,…

SOME CHILDREN DREAM of becoming a hero when they grow up: conquering dragons, villains, and beasts. But not Alan Maxson. He didn’t want to vanquish monsters. He wanted to become one. “I’ve always loved monsters and nonhuman creatures,” Alan told me in a recent interview. “It was difficult to have a favorite monster growing up, because I loved so many.” As an adult, Alan has turned his love of monsters into a career as a Hollywood actor. He’s played about forty monsters—everything from an orc, to a creepy elf, to a Godzilla-sized gorilla. He follows in the large (and hairy) footsteps of some of Hollywood’s most legendary actors. How to Play a Monster Playing a monster is different from playing a regular role. Sure, you have to study a script,…

HAVE YOU EVER wondered what life would be like as a monster? Well, you may be more monstrous than you know! Take the quiz below and see what you may have in common with four legendary beasts. What is your favorite workout? A. A quick swim B. A fast game of catch-me-if-you-can C. A long, slow walk through the city at night D. Skydiving in a thunderstorm What is your favorite movie? A. Jaws B. The Twilight Saga: New Moon C. Bride of Frankenstein D. The Birds What’s your favorite color? A. Pond scum green B. Blood red C. Clay gray D. White lightning Your two best friends begin arguing. How would you stop them? A. Drown and eat them B. Dismember and eat them C.…

WE STOOD OUTSIDE my family’s shop, Crackling Candles, under a clear, starry sky. It was the last day of the seventh lunar month, and in Singapore the Hungry Ghost Festival was winding down at last. Danger, unfortunately, was not yet over for me. During the seventh month of our lunar calendar, hungry spirits are released from the netherworld to roam and feast every night. Buddhists and Taoists set out food offerings for the spirits and pray for protection. Tonight, we would pray again; this time, to beseech the spirits to return before the gates of Hell closed. But sometimes, not all spirits or monsters left. According to Tong, the neighborhood hooligan, there was one in our shop that was reluctant to leave. Tong said it was a Chinese zombie, a…