Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids November/December 2015

Dear Spider, I love the whole magazine. I really want to make the Dessert Soup (February 2015). Please let Rainbow Jewel be in one of your comics. Claire Smith, age 6 Auburn, Massachusetts Dear Spider, Do you know how all those kids are always asking you to adopt their animal drawings? Well, I’m sure they’re sad when they read the next issue and their animal isn’t there. I just wanted to suggest that you have an issue called Adoption Issue. You would fit as many animal drawings from kids as possible. It would give everyone something to look forward to. Anita, age 8 Opelika, Alabama We love the animals you all send in. That’s why we have a surprise for you and Thistle. Find it on page 35 !…

“AUNT PEARL!” DANDELION Pinkley called, bursting into the Pinkley family’s library along with her brother Doodlebug. “Can we use Charles as our Yule pig?” Aunt Pearl was drowsing before a cozy fire in the book-lined room, and Charles, her beloved bearded pig, was acting as her footstool. Pearl and her pet had just flown in from their home on the island of Borneo. “We rigged up a chariot and everything!” Doodlebug announced. “And we want Charles to pull it around!” Dandelion said. At the mention of “chariot” Aunt Pearl’s eyes fluttered open. Charles grumbled deep in his pig throat, shifting under the weight of Pearl’s big clodhoppers. “Just like you said they do in Scandinavia on the winter solstice!” Dandelion added. On the way to visit, Charles and Aunt Pearl…

What You’ll Need: Marzipan (or almond paste) Red or pink food coloring Small chocolate chips What To Do: 1. Add a drop of red or pink food coloring to the marzipan (or almond paste). Mix them together until the marzipan turns a pale pink color. 2. Roll some marzipan into a ball about one inch tall (the pig’s body!). 3. Roll four smaller balls and attach them to the bottom of the body (the pig’s legs!). 4. Pinch two small triangles and attach them to the top of the body (the pig’s ears!). 5. Press one flat circle, carve two lines into it, and attach it to the front of the body (the pig’s snout!). 6. Roll a small line of marzipan and twist it up, then attach it to…

PURRCEY LECHAT CAME from a long line of talented mousers. For generations, the LeChats had kept the mouse problem in the Old Lighthouse Theater under control. With Aunt Clawdia in charge, not a tail or whisker of a mouse was seen. Scarcely a tail or whisker, that is. “If it weren’t for that rodent Mousetopheles, I could achieve my greatest dream,” hissed Aunt Clawdia. “I could retire with a perfect record!” She glared at Purrcey. “When are you going to start following in the footsteps of the great LeChat mousers?” Purrcey threw his paws around Aunt Clawdia’s neck. “I don’t want to hunt mice,” he caterwauled. “My dream is to be a great actor. One day, the name of Purrcey LeChat will be up in lights!” “Stop the theatrics,” yowled…

What does the tooth fairy give to a shark when it loses its tooth? A sand dollar! Leah F., age 8, Illinois Why didn’t the pirate play cards? Because he was standing on the deck! Norah K., age 7, North Carolina What kind of bear doesn’t have any teeth? A gummy bear. Rachel H., age 7, North Carolina How are fish and music the same? They both have scales. David H., age 5, North Carolina What is a hair stylist’s favorite kind of party? A barberque! Kathy M., age 9, New Hampshire Send your favorite jokes to spider@cricketmedia.com!…

THE FIRST TIME I saw a turkey vulture, it had its head inside a dead raccoon and was feasting on its decaying flesh. I know staring is rude, but I couldn’t stop watching. Not only was this my first turkey vulture—it was a turkey vulture at work. Work? Turkey vultures have jobs? In a way, yes. They eat dead animals—anything from small road kill to dead cows—that could infect other birds, cats, dogs, or wild animals and spread disease. You could call them nature’s cleanup crew. They also have a great sense of smell, which is rare for a bird. Turkey vultures can pick out a whiff of rotting road kill while soaring overhead and zero in on it with pinpoint precision. Turkey vultures rarely kill. And they have an…