Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2018 i Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids

AT THE LAST booth in the very last row at the Morton Elementary School Dog Show stood Sam and her fur friend Rufus. Over Rufus’s head hung a crayon scribbled banner that read “Best Dog in the Universe.” There wasn’t a ribbon or trophy in sight. “So your sign,” said the Galaxy News reporter. “Still think it’s true? Even when the other dogs won all the prizes?” “Abso-posi-lutely.” The camera zoomed in. “Hear that everyone? This is Samantha Palmer, and THIS is The Best Dog in the Universe!” Rufus licked the lens. Sam grinned. “C’mon Rufus. Let’s go turtle bowling.” They bounded out the gymnasium doors and headed for the park. Rufus barreled down the hill toward the pond, tail waving like a flag. Turtles flung…

CLUTCHING THREE BAGS, a woman in eastern Louisiana rushed through the woods. Rather than return the bags to their rightful owner, she hurled them into a creek as if they were on fire. Splash! In a panic, she fled. They were the same three bags that deputies in Greensburg, Louisiana were searching for in November 2004. Nearly a week had passed since a local business had been robbed. Safes once stuffed with over seventy thousand dollars were now empty. Deputies conducted interviews and searched a wooded area but couldn’t find the cash. All that time, the bags were in the creek. As water tumbled past them, a family of beavers set to work repairing their dam. Using their oversize teeth like power tools, they brought down…

KETCHUP AND RICE might not sound like omelet fillings, but kids in Japan have been eating omurice (“oh-moo-rice,” or omelet rice) for more than one hundred years! Try the flavors of Japanese omurice in this easily microwaved version. Oishi (oh-ee-shee) means “yummy” in Japanese. What You’ll Need: ½ teaspoon cooking oil 2 eggs ¼ cup cooked rice ¼ cup frozen peas, thawed ¼ cup cooked, chopped chicken 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon ketchup What to Do: 1. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a microwave-safe bowl with oil. 2. Crack the eggs into the bowl and then wash your hands. Beat eggs gently to mix the yolks and whites. Place a lid or paper plate on top of the bowl…

Contest Rules Draw a picture of a real or imaginary pet. Here are the only rules: 1. Your entry must be signed by a parent or legal guardian, authorizing its publication in print and/or online and saying it’s your own idea. 2. Be sure to include your complete name, age, and address. 3. Your entry must arrive by May 25, 2018. We will publish our favorites in the October 2018 issue of Spider. Email your entry to spider@cricketmedia.com, or send it to Spider’s Corner, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354.…

PIGGY BANKS WERE used as early as the Middle Ages, but they weren’t shaped like pigs. Before banks were invented, people in England used to store their money at home in clay jars called “pygg pots.” Make this Piggy Bottle Bank to store your loose change. What You’ll Need: clean, wide plastic bottle with lid construction paper or felt scissors black marker box cutter* pipe cleaner tape or glue pom-poms or modeling clay What to Do: 1. Trace the bottle cap nose and draw two oval ears on a piece of construction paper or felt and cut out the shapes. Then cut a piece of construction paper as wide as the bottle is tall 2. Tape or glue construction paper or felt to the piggy body, head, and nose. With…

ALL CATS LOVE to play, even wild ones! Cats play to keep their pouncing and hunting skills sharp. Your cat will love chasing this fish cat toy. What You’ll Need: small sock catnip cotton balls strong string marker scissors chopstick or craft stick glue What to Do: 1. Fill half the sock with catnip and a few cotton balls. 2. Tie the middle of the sock in a knot to make the fish’s body and tail. 3. Cut a long piece of string and tie one end around the middle of the sock. 4. Draw the fish’s face with the marker. 5. Wrap the end of the string around the chopstick a few times and add a dab of glue, then knot the string. 6. After the glue dries, it’s…

A tiger makes an excellent pet. It does. You just have to feed it lots (Pretzels are its favorite.) And take it for walks (Don’t let it eat the mail lady.) And brush its fur every night before bed—a hundred strokes. Then it’ll purr so loud the whole neighborhood will hear. A grizzly bear makes an excellent pet. It’s true. But first you have to rub its tummy (Come on, now, be brave.) And take it fishing (Don’t forget the worms.) And read it a bedtime story (anything but “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”). It won’t be half as grizzly, after that.  A T-Rex makes an excellent pet. Absolutely. You just have to keep its tail warm (A quilt works dandy.) And give it hot chocolate (Don’t forget the little…

Dear Spider and the Gang, I love your magazines! Araña, I love how you play the guitar. Sonya, I love solving puzzles. Thistle, I love telling jokes. Miro, I love to cook. Spider, I loved your plan to get the bee king back on the throne (May/June 2017). Sam, don’t be worried about taking some time with deciding on being a butterfly or a moth. Ophelia, I love that you are the president of the Meadow. Do you guys like the movie E.T. ? Will you please adopt my pet dog named Gracie? I hope she is not a handful. She is three months old and she loves popcorn. I think she will really like you guys! Claire Oliphant, age 8 Phoenix, Arizona Dear Claire, We love E.T.!…