Ladybug Stories, Poems, and Songs Magazine for Young Kids and Children October 2016

Three little pigs are out trick-or-treating. They are Max, Kate, and Charlie! At the friendly giant’s house, they notice something nibbling his jack- o’- lantern. “Hi, chipmunk!” laughs Charlie. At the wicked witch’s house, they spot her broomstick and her cat, lapping milk from a bowl. “That’s one lucky kitty!” says Kate. At the friendly ghost’s house, they see a shadowy shape sitting on a branch. “Look—it’s an owl,” whispers Max. Back at Max’s house, they get a surprise when the big bad wolf opens the door . . . with a tray of hot cocoa. “We’ll have to huff and puff to cool it off!” Kate says with a laugh.…

It’s a crispy-cool day. Mem and Grandpa put on their sweaters and visit Josie’s Farm Stand. First Mem plops one, two, three, four, five shiny red apples into Grandpa’s big basket. Next in the basket go corn, zucchini, and tomatoes. “Homemade vegetable soup,” Grandpa says. “I can almost taste it now.” Then Mem chooses a small pot of sunny yellow mums. In the basket it goes. Swish, swish, swish. Mem and Grandpa kick up colorful leaves as they head for the pumpkins. Mem finds one that’s not too big and not too small. She carries it herself. At the counter, Mem feels something soft and furry at her ankles. It’s Josie, the farm stand cat! “Josie is saying goodbye, Mem,” Grandpa says. “Bye, Josie! Bye, farm stand! We’ll come back…

Turn over a rotting log or look under some dead leaves. Do you see little balls that look like hard seeds? Keep watching! They may not be seeds at all. The balls may uncurl and scurry away. Some people call them roly-polies, or tiggy hogs, or potato bugs. But most people call them pill bugs. Pill bugs often live in forests. But they can also be found on beaches, in basements, or in the cracks of city buildings—anywhere they can find a dark, damp spot to hide from the sun. Pill bugs are not “bugs” at all—they are related to shrimp and lobsters. They also have gills, like fish. These gills take oxygen from water for pill bugs to breathe. If pill bugs get too dry, they will die. Like…

“Manny,” said Granny, “you look like a monkey!” Manny the monkey climbs through the trees, He swings with his arms, he hangs from his knees. And when he gets thirsty he yells “ee-ee-ee,” So Granny will bring him some coconut tea. “Manny,” said Granny, “you look like an elephant!” Manny the elephant storms through the brush, He waves his trunk wildly, he stomps with a crush. And when he gets hungry he bellows and trumpets, So Granny will bring him some gooseberry crumpets. “Manny,” said Granny, “you look like a bullfrog!” Manny the bullfrog hops through the mud, He sloshes and wallows, he flops with a thud. And when he gets grubby he ribbets “rub-dub,” So Granny will hurry and fill up the tub. “Manny,” said Granny, “you look like…

Cat and his friend Mouse couldn’t wait to march in the town’s Halloween parade on Saturday. “I’ll wear my baseball uniform,” said Cat. Mouse grinned. “I’m almost done making my secret costume,” he said. “Please come over on Friday to see it.” Friday morning, Cat ran next door to Mouse’s house. He found his friend in the yard. Mouse waved hello, darted into his shed, and switched on a light bulb the size of a lima bean. Cat peered in. Dozens of cardboard boxes, their outsides blanketed with tinfoil, sat atop a worktable. Mouse had glued countless pieces of uncooked, painted pasta onto the boxes’ silver surfaces to make screens, switches, dials, and buttons. “What a fantastic robot costume!” cried Cat. Mouse sighed. “I can’t wear it in the parade.”…

Raccoon, you wash your hands and food before you eat! That’ a good habit. Ha ha! Many think that! I use my hands to feel and "see" my food. I can feel my food even better when my hands are wet! I think the washing story is something everyone likes to believe! Maybe it makes me seem more like them? Oh yes! We all like stories! Some think that ladybugs are lucky, too! But believe me, I sure have my share of unlucky days! Yes, yes! See how the fur on my face makes a mask? Because of that, many think I'm a bandit and I take things! Which is true, of course. But I only take things people aren’t using. Or eating. It looks like today is one of…