Innholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2019 i Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids

“THIS IS THE PERFECT tree house night!” Dandelion Pinkley sighed without looking up from the book she was reading. Her best friend Tomiko nodded, engrossed in her own book. But Dandelion’s brother Doodlebug, also with nose in a book, snorted long and loud. He pounded his fist on the treehouse’s wooden floor. Then he stuffed a handful of smelly Chunky Cheezy Garlic Chips into his mouth, crunching loudly and dribbling crumbs down the front of his PJs. Dandelion and Tomiko exchanged looks of disgust. Well, it could’ve been an ideal night, with soft breezes cooling the air, their cups of chocolate artichoke tea, and enough light to still make headway on their summer reading  lists. But Mrs. Pinkley had insisted the girls let Doodlebug join their read-and-sleep-in-the-trees night. Dandelion tried…

Someone floating in the pool: S W I M M E R Hits a nail into wood: _ _ M M _ _ Said when food is very good: _ _ M M _ Keeps a band on the beat: _ _ _ M M _ _ Season for the beach and heat: _ _ M M _ _ Animal with fur or hair: _ _ M M _ _ Little squishy candy bear: _ _ M M _ A tiny punctuation mark: _ _ M M _ A wrapped-up monster in the dark: _ _ M M _ Answers on page 35.…

✦ Dragon fruit doesn’t grow on trees. It grows on a cactus! Unlike desert cacti, these tropical cacti have long, hanging vines and need rainfall and shade. Dragon fruit comes from Central and South America, but today they’re also grown in Asia, Australia, and the southeastern United States. ✦ The flowers on a dragon fruit cactus bloom for only one night. The beautiful flowers smell like perfume and have nicknames such as “Moonflower” and “Queen of the Night.” They are pollinated by moths and bats. ✦ Not all dragon fruits are the same. There are dragon fruits with pink skin and white flesh, pink skin and red flesh, and yellow skin and white flesh. If you prefer a sweeter taste, the red dragon fruit is the way to go. All…

Dear Sonya, You are my favorite bug because you like to read, just like me! Will you please adopt my polka-dot unipig? Her name is Miriam. Her favorite foods are glittery popcorn and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. Ask Thistle to read to her and play with her! Cecilia Jean Borobia, age 8 Portage, Michigan P.S. What’s your favorite color? Dear Sam, My name is Samuel. I live near red-tailed hawks. The hawks live in our big eucalyptus tree. They ate two of our chickens. Can you adopt Sam, one of our chickens? I really hope they will not eat you. Has your foot healed from the hike (July/August 2018)? Samuel, age 6 Lodi, California Dear Samuel and Cecilia, Yes, my foot is better now. Thistle says she’ll take good care of Miriam…

YOU DON’T NEED to go anywhere to go on a treasure hunt this summer. Make this fun game to play by yourself or with a friend. WHAT YOU'LL NEED: clean plastic bottle with cap uncooked rice buttons, marbles, coins, beads, tiny toys, and other trinkets paper and pencil glue or tape (optional) WHAT TO DO: 1. Make sure your plastic bottle is dry inside, and has the label removed. 2. Write a list of all the tiny objects. 3. Put the tiny objects into the bottle, then fill the bottle with rice. Leave 1-2 inches at the top of the bottle empty. 4. Screw the cap on. To make your bottle extra secure, seal the cap with glue or tape. Shake up the bottle until the tiny objects are mixed…

HERMIA THE HERMIT crab wanted a new shell. Her old black-and-white whelk was getting a bit tight. “I want a special shell,” she said to her friend Henry. “I want a shell that’s pink inside and creamy outside with chocolate-brown stripes. When we get to the beach,” Hermia added, “I’m not going to settle for just any old black-and-white whelk. I want a shell that says something about me.” Henry grunted as he rolled down the side of the hill. When they arrived at the beach, thousands of hermit crabs were swapping news—and shells. Hermia passed up many shells that would have fit her just right. “That one has a chip on the lip,” she said to Henry. “And see how this one’s been faded by the sun? Just look…

Land hermit crabs can be found all over the world. They can climb trees and, in some tropical areas, can live at elevations of over one thousand feet. Hermit crabs are not considered true crabs because, unlike other types of crabs, they have soft abdomens and have to live in borrowed shells. They are nocturnal, doing most of their crab business at night, eating anything from rotten meat to decaying vegetable matter. And hermit crabs can be crabby. They will fight with other crabs and steal each other’s shells.…

HOT PINK WITH scaly folds and spiky green tips— it’s easy to see where dragon fruit gets its name. Look for dragon fruit at the grocery store and whip up these tasty summer treats. Dragon breath not guaranteed! What You’ll Need: 2 dragon fruits* ½ cup Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ice pop mold or small paper cups 6 pop sticks What to Do: 1. Slice dragon fruits in half and scoop out the flesh. Throw away the tough, leathery skin. 2. Add dragon fruit, yogurt, honey, and vanilla to blender. Blend until smooth. 3. Pour mixture into the ice pop mold or paper cups and add sticks. 4. Freeze for 2 hours or overnight. To remove ice pops, dip mold in warm water for 20-30…

Autumn J., age 7 Layton, Utah The Feast Oh, what a wonderful feast we’ll eat! Potatoes and gravy and corn so sweet. Roast beef and rice, with flavors just right, A plate of rolls, what a wonderful sight. A frosted chocolate cake, smooth and creamy With ice cream on top, mmmm, so dreamy. Now it’s time to eat, hurry and join me! We’ll eat till we’re stuffed, just you wait and see. Maya Levine, age 7 San Diego, California Some food makes me laugh. Some food makes me cry. It’s interesting to think about Different foods and why. Daniel Chin, age 6 Cleveland, Ohio Pizza I hear crunch, crunch, crunch. I smell something delicious. I see a triangle. I feel something soft. I taste something cheesy. Zoë S., age 8…

Contest Rules  Draw a picture of a treehouse or hideout. 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 July 25, 2019.We will publish our favorites in the November/December 2019 issue of Spider. Email your entry to spider@cricketmedia.com, or send it to Spider’s Corner, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354.…