Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2020 i Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids

“IT’S OKAY, TOMIKO,” Dandelion Pinkley said to her best friend who lived across the street, “your dad will be home from his conference on Sunday. That’s only two days away!” Tomiko was staying with the Pinkleys while Mr. Tanji was gone, and now, at dinner, the family was trying to cheer her up. Dandelion’s brother Doodlebug changed the subject. “Mom, what were you and Dad doing with Mr. Tanji out in their backyard yesterday? We saw you measuring the palm trees.” “And pointing like a bunch of nuts,” Tomiko offered sullenly. “Old fogey stuff,” Mr. Pinkley joked. “Exactly!” Mrs. Pinkley said. “Making garden plans for spring.” Dandelion kept quiet. The parents’ activities were all part of her big secret plan. And she was pleased they were doing such a good…

What You ll Need: pitcher wooden spoon 2 or 3 clear glasses (goblets are best) 12 oz. lemonade 12 oz. lemon-lime soda 1 cup raspberry sherbet 1 package fizzy candy (such as Pop Rocks) What to Do: 1. In a pitcher, combine lemonade and sherbet. Stir until mixture is smooth. 2. Pour the mixture into glasses, filling them about halfway. 3. When it’s time to serve the philtre to your beloved, place glasses in a sink. Fill glasses up to the top with lemon-lime soda, and watch the amour bubble over! 4. Sprinkle fizzy candy on top to give your philtre an extra “pop.”…

PRINCESS MIRABELLA WAS sprawled on the throne-room floor with her favorite jigsaw puzzle when the dragon arrived. “Princess,” the prime minister said, stepping carefully between the scattered puzzle pieces, “there’s a dragon at the gate.” “Can’t the guards handle him?” Mirabella asked. “The guards are hiding under the castle welcome mat,” the prime minister said. Mirabella sighed. She brushed off her jeans and wandered out to the courtyard. The dragon towered above her, a mountain of claws and spikes and shiny, green scales. “May I help you?” Mirabella asked. “Go away, little girl,” the dragon snapped. “I have a message for the important, big people.” “The important, big people are all busy,” Princess Mirabella said. “You’ll have to give the message to me.” “Oh, I’ll give it to you,” sneered…

Contest Rules  Write a poem or story about an adventure. 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 February 25, 2020. We will publish our favorites in the May/June 2020 issue of Spider. Email your entry to spider@cricketmedia.com, or send it to Spider’s Corner, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354…

Demi, age 6 Birmingham, Alabama Lena G., age 7 Schwenksville, Pennsylvania Fairy Cat Chasing a Fairy Mouse Kristina M., age 10 Sumter, South Carolina Evie K., age 8 Ada, Michigan Sophia S., age 7 Portland, Oregon Ryland Hammond, age 8 Elizabethtown, Kentucky Amina H., age 10 Tuscaloosa, Alabama Our Cat Zaytouni Bella Zhang, age 8 Brooklyn, New York Hannah Buca, age 9 Rocky Ford, Colorado Fox B., age 7 Pawling, New York Baseball Cats Olive A., age 8 Duluth, Minnesota Alice D., age 7 El Cerrito California Maine Coon Kitten Comet on Alice’s Bed…

Komodo dragons are special not only because they are rare—they may also someday save human lives. Although the Komodo’s saliva contains bacteria that may cause deadly infections, a dragon’s bite is not harmful to other Komodos. (The Komodo is a cannibal and will attack other lizards.) Scientists are trying to figure out what saves the Komodos from infection. They hope that whatever protects the dragons can be used to help people, too. Recently, researchers found a molecule in the dragon’s blood that could kill bacteria that cause infections in humans. It could take several years before any new medicines are safe to use, but the important research has begun.…

Dear Spider, I am a big fan of your magazines. My favorite animal is a turtle. Please adopt my imaginary one. Siena, age 7 Pleasanton, California Hi, I’m in seventh grade. I’m homeschooled and I have ten people in my family. I love books. Please adopt Daylily.  She’s lonely, very shy, and eats strawberries. Spider, what’s your favorite color? My favorites are orange and blue. Sam, what’s your favorite food? What’s your favorite book? Angel, age 12 Georgetown, Illinois Dear Angel, My favorite food is spinach, and my favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And Spider says to tell you he likes red. Love, Sam Dear Everybuggy, What kind of bug is Sam? I have a fish and a cat. Miro, do you have any pets? I love the…

What You’ll Need: 2 dice scissors What to Do: 1. Cut out the 20 game pieces and give each player 10 of the same color. 2. Player One rolls the dice and places one game piece on the square of the number he rolled. 3. Player Two then rolls the dice and places one of her game pieces on the square of the number she rolled. However, if Player Two lands on a square with Player One’s game piece already on it, she takes that game piece and does not leave her own. Player Two then keeps the stolen game piece and turns it over, making it the color of her other game pieces. 4. You may not move the game pieces already on the board except when removing them…