Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2024 i Spider Magazine Stories, Games, Activites and Puzzles for Children and Kids

“STEP RIGHT UP and get ’em while they’re sprouting!” a man in a straw hat shouted. He stood in a booth full of plants beneath a sign that read Seedpod Sam’s. In smaller letters were the words Seedlings to perk up your garden and spark your wild mind. Dandelion Pinkley, her mom, and Dandelion’s best friend, Tomiko Tanji, were browsing the farmers’ market. Dandelion and Tomiko had hopes of growing a garden of veggies they’d never eaten before, so Seedpod Sam’s seedlings looked promising. Sam tipped his hat to them as they approached. When the girls explained what they were looking for, Sam’s eyes twinkled with mischief. He brought out a wooden box from under the counter. “Here’s just the thing,” he said, sliding the box toward the girls. “These…

Aspen B., age 11 Arvada, Colorado Finding FingerprintsYou see there’s a girl in my class, and no need to laugh, she just really loves to make a mess. She opens the ends of the markers. In class, she spilled the ink out on her hands, red and blue, pink and green. Then the scream, like a dream. You can find where she has been and where she hasn’t because of the rainbow fingerprints everywhere. When they try to find her about the school, I’m sure they’ll find her pretty quickly because of the little fingerprints all over the school. When we walk down the hall, we only find those small little fingerprints along the wall, all over the sink, doorknobs, the handrail, and, worst of all, the desk and chair…

ONE DAY, COYOTE was walking in the forest when he found an open field. He thought, This would make a good place to plant a garden and grow food for my family. But Coyote knew it would be a lot of work, and he would need help. If only he had a big, strong animal as a partner, he wouldn’t have to work so hard. Where could he find a partner like that? At that very moment, Bear came wandering through the trees. Coyote knew that he was looking at the perfect partner. “Good morning, Bear,” Coyote said, trying to use his kindest voice. “See that nice open land over there?” he asked. “I do,” answered Bear. “Why don’t we plant a garden there together?” Coyote asked. “It would grow…

MATCH THE SEED to the plant it will become. Then in the blank spaces at the bottom, write the plant’s letter above its seed’s number. Pairs of seeds have wings so they spin like helicopters. Its underwater seedpods are shaped like bats or horns. Its red and black seeds are pretty but poisonous. Its seedpods have hooks on one end that stick to animals. Fluffy puffs on each seed help seeds float in the wind. Weighing forty pounds each, its seeds are the world’s biggest. Answers on page 35…

“SHI, STOP SINGING to the flowers! You have a visitor,” Mui-Mui called. Shi’s little sister loved to tease him about his garden. Shi broke off mid-song and whispered an apology to the flowers. Mud squelched between his toes as he hurried toward the house. Sweetsmelling blossoms and green leaves swayed as he passed. Shi’s mother stepped out into the garden, followed by a finely dressed stranger. Shi bowed politely. “Greetings, Shi,” said the man. “The emperor has heard of your gardening skills. He has sent seeds to one hundred of the best gardeners in China, including some others from your village. Here is yours. Tend it and bring it to the palace in one year. Then the emperor will choose one of you to be the caretaker of his imperial…

Answers to Market Mayhem Mind-Buggler Fabulous Facts: Wonder Worms Why do gardeners love slimy, wiggly worms? • Worms burrow through hard dirt leaving tunnels for water and air to reach roots. • Every day, a worm eats about its body weight in leaves, grass, fungi, and other organic matter. What the worm poops out is much richer in nutrients than the soil around it. • Worm poo is so great for plant growth that it’s nicknamed gardener’s gold! Q. What do you call a worm on a sunny day? A. Warm. Send your favorite jokes to spider@cricketmedia.com! Answers to Sow and GrowSow 1 a2 l3 i4 e5 t6 r alive asleep water air heat…