Ladybug Stories, Poems, and Songs Magazine for Young Kids and Children May/June 2015

So many noises all around,A bustling, busy beatOf neighbors with their power tools,Of skateboards in the street,My flip-flops pacing through the houseThen back and forth outside,The ice cream truck that's tinkling byA mailbox opened wide,The sprinklers swooshing round and roundThis sunny afternoon,My fingers strumming while Iwait–I hope the bus comes soon!A basketball that smacks the ground,A squeaky swing, a shout,The baby banging at the doorFor Mom to bring him out.I have to listen carefully,I wouldn't want to miss . . . The perfect sounds: the screechy brakes,The creaky door, the hiss.And then, at last, I hear them all!I take off at a run,The bus my cousin's on is here . . .It's time to have some fun!…

The morning sun peeked over Mount Cuyamaca as Carlos and his papa loaded their truck. With strong little arms, Carlos handed him another basket of avocados. “Here are some more, Papá. Do you have the bags?” Papá handed him the roll of green mesh bags. “Here they are, mijo. Be sure to put twenty-five in each bag,” he said. Carlos climbed into the back of the truck. “One, two, three . . .” he counted as he stuffed the avocados into the bag. “Papá, I bet this is what an alligator feels like,” he said, touching the bumpy skin. Papá laughed. “That reminds me, be sure to put both ripe and unripe avocados in each bag. That way, my customers can eat some right away and have some for later…

Pick up pawpaws, put them in your pocket.Pick up pawpaws, put them in your pocket.Pick up pawpaws, put them in your pocket,Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch. Raise your shoulders, try to touch your earlobes . . . Stretch your arms as high as you can reach them . . . Pat your head and rub-a-dub your tummy . . . Hands on hips, draw circles with your elbows . . . Walk a line, pretend that it’s a tightrope . . . Touch your toes, your forehead to your kneecaps . . . Reach out wide, then clap your hands together . . . Sit down, smiling, rocking to the music . . .…

Alena was asleep in bed. Outside, a slug moved smoothly out from under the century plant. It traveled in a wide, wobbly arc across the bricks and into the flower bed, where it nibbled lacy holes in the leaf of a petunia seedling. Its silvery path glittered in the moonlight. A whiskery opossum waddled across the yard, stopping at a dripping faucet to drink. She had seven babies in her pouch, and she was very thirsty. Two striped skunks strolled delicately into the garden to dig for roots. When the spotted owl passed above them, one stamped in alarm, raising its tail to spray. Three raccoons came along next. They pulled the lid off the garbage can using their strong, long fingers and jumped in to look for food. When…

Stay in shape by exercising with the animals! First color the animals on these cards. Then cut out the cards. You can cover them with clear contact paper to make them last longer. Make two holes in the top of each card and tie string through the holes to hang the card. Set up your exercise course in different rooms of the house, in the yard, or in a park. Go from card to card and do each exercise. Treat yourself to a glass of juice when you’re done! Push up like a lizard. Lie on your stomach. Push yourself up with your arms. Chirp like a bird. Sing your favorite song. Walk like a crab. Lie on your back. Lift yourself up on your arms and legs and walk.…