®

the magazine for children

®

the magazine for children

July/August 2016 $4.95

Good Knight! by Percival Gawain-Verde

text

and

art

© 2

016

by M

icha

el C

hesw

orth

Front Cover by Omar Rayyan

Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth

July/August 2016Volume 23 Number 6

2 Good Knight! by Percival Gawain-Verde 4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell10 The Realm of Upside Down

by Bryland Sutton 12 A Fanfare for Sir Frederick by Pamela Love16 Fabulous Facts: Knights17 The Castle Makers by Michelle Burchett21 Knock Knocks by Guy W. Nobel22 Damsel Not in Distress by B.J. Lee 24 The Princess Who Never (Well, Hardly Ever)

Laughed by Margaret Mincks 32 Spider’s Corner32 Spider’s Mailbox34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Cottonball Catapult 35 Buggy Bulletin

The Fun Zone: Storm the Castle! by Anna Eidelman

Mind-Buggler: Who Wants to Be a Golden Goose?

Educational Press Association of America

Golden Lamp AwardDistinguished Achievement Award

International Reading Association Paul A. Witty

Short Story Award 2008

James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial

Daniel Resner, Associate Editor

Jestine Ware, Assistant Editor

Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director

Anna Lender, Designer

Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs

Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible care has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection. Cover art © 2004 by Omar Rayyan.

Photo Acknowledgments: 5-9 (border) geraria/Shutterstock.com; 16 (BG) Bilibin Maksym/Shutterstock.com; 16 (LT) FXQuadro/Shutterstock.com; 16 (LC) Dawid Lech/Shutterstock.com; 16 (RC) Aubrey Laughlin/Shutterstock.com; 16 (RB) Nejron Photo/Shutterstock.com; 16 (LB) viviamo/Shutterstock.com; 17 (LT) catwalker/Shutterstock.com; 17 (RT) Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com; 17 (RB) Jose Arcos Aguilar/Shutterstock.com; 18 (LT) Karol Kozlowski/Shutterstock.com; 19 (LT) catwalker/Shutterstock.com; 19 (RT) Karol Kozlowski/Shutterstock.com; 19 (spot) Jordi C/Shutterstock.com; 19 (RB) Natursports/Shutterstock.com; 20 (LB) Byelikova Oksana/Shutterstock.com; 20 (RT) Byelikova Oksana/Shutterstock.com; 21 (BG) illucesco/Shutterstock.com; 21 (LT) TabitaZn/Shutterstock.com; 24 (BC) Volodymyr Leus/Shutterstock.com; 35 (cork board) Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG) Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com; 35 (border) linagifts/Shutterstock.com; 35 (RT) Svetlana Foote/Shutterstock.com; 35 (RC) Cranach/Shutterstock.com; 36-38 (spots) Lanaart/Shutterstock.com; 36-38 (spots) Saiana/Shutterstock.com; 36-38 (spots) rcpsi/Shutterstock.com

SPIDER, the Magazine for Children (ISSN 1070-2911) is published 9 times a year, monthly except for combined May/June, July/August, and November/December issues, by Carus Publishing dba Cricket Media, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, VA, and at additional mailing offices. One-year subscription (9 issues) $33.95. Canadian subscribers must add $15.00 per year and prepay in U.S. dollars. GST Registration Number 128950334. For address changes, back issues, subscriptions, customer service, or to renew please visit shop.cricketmedia.com, email cricketmedia@cdsfulfillment.com, write to SPIDER, P.O. Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593-1895, or call 1-800-821-0115. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to SPIDER, P.O. Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593-1895.

July/August 2016, Volume 23, Number 6 © 2016, by Carus Publishing dba Cricket Media. All rights reserved, including right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form. Submit manuscripts online at cricketmag.submittable.com. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other material. All letters and contest entries are assumed for publication and become the property of Cricket Media. For information regarding our privacy policy and compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, please visit cricketmedia.com.

1st printing Quad/Graphics Midland, Michigan June 2016 Printed in the United States of America.

From time to time, SPIDER mails to its subscribers advertisements for other SPIDER products or makes its subscriber list available to other reputable companies for their offering of products and services. If you prefer not to receive such mail, write to us at the Harlan, IA, address.

Check out our online Teacher Guides at cricketmedia.com/teacher-resources.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE we’re here!” shouted Rudyard Pinkley.

His cousins Doodlebug and Dandelion Pinkley grinned. None of them had ever visited the Renaissance Faire before.

Everywhere people wandered around in costumes from ages ago. Booths sold food, drinks, jewelry, and silky caps with colorful plumes sticking out of them. Guys in armor strolled with ladies in long dresses and lace caps. A girl in armor was sword fighting with a big fuzzy creature wearing a spiked collar. It was everything they’d dreamed it would be.

“Ew, what’s that smell?” Dandelion said, wrinkling her nose.

“It’s coming from over there!” Doodlebug replied, pointing. “Let’s go see what it is!”

“No!” Rudyard protested. “Let’s follow that wizard!” “Yes, the wizard!” Dandelion agreed. Doodlebug

frowned as they ran away.To follow Doodlebug, find A on page 5.To follow Dandelion and Rudyard, find B on page 6.

The Wizard and the Stinky BeastA Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Story

Doodlebug & Dandelion

by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

Hark, peasants! Prepare to be visited by the King himself.

Yikers!

A king? Oh, goodness.

4

Doodlebug hurried away from his sister and cousin, following the funky smell. He turned the corner and almost ran straight into the creature making that smell—a giant shaggy camel. It stood by a sign that read “CAMEL RIDES $1.” But just as he got to the animal and its handler, a boy in a horned, fur-trimmed leather cap butted in front of him.

“Hey, I was here first!” Doodlebug complained. He was annoyed. For one thing, the boy’s hat looked like genuine Viking gear. He wanted that hat. But even more annoyingly, Viking costumes didn’t belong at the Renaissance Faire!

“Away with ye, ye olde toffer!” the boy exclaimed. “I’m getting astride this creature, not ye!”

Doodlebug rolled his eyes. He’d already figured out that talking strange was part of being at the faire.

“Ye snooze, ye lose!” he yelled back, then took a huge leap onto the stinky, kneeling camel.

“Sorry, lads!” the camel owner said. “This is her last ride, so I’m

afraid you’ll have to go together. Get on up, ye horn-ed youth!”

The boy climbed up behind Doodlebug, smelling almost as bad as the camel. The tall creature got up and lumbered into the crowd. From that enormous height, Doodle-bug looked across the fairgrounds and smiled. Everything around him smelled terrible, but he was doing something he never thought he’d do—not in his whole life.

The EndStart over on page 4.

A

Hey, everybuggy, a big fat bumblebee drone just

lumbered—moved in a slow, heavy way—up to the door and is waiting on the stoop.

Zat must be zee King!

King? Harumpf, I didn't vote for him.

5

“It’s a real wizard!” Rudyard exclaimed as he and Dandelion hurried after the man. He was sure—the wizard had a long, pointy white beard. Millions of tiny white stars, suns, and moons glittered on his blue hooded cloak.

“Probably not,” Dandelion sighed. “But I want that cape.”“Hurry,” Rudyard urged. “We have to catch him!”Dandelion kept up until a strange sight slowed her down.

“Is that Doodlebug riding some kind of giant beast?” she cried.Rudyard was too excited to pay attention. He was closing in on

the wizard. Suddenly something dropped out of the man’s cloak and landed on the ground. Rudyard bent to pick it up. It was a small silver coin with strange markings on it.

If Rudyard gives the coin to Dandelion, find C on page 7.If he gives the coin back to the wizard, find D on page 7.

B

And who are you, little dudes? We are the

King's Mites!Hear ye! King Bombus

Buzzbee has been deposed!

You mean they kicked him out of the hive?!

Yes! His Majesty seeks your help to get

back on his throne.6

Rudyard dropped the coin into Dandelion’s palm.“Do you think we can wish on it?” she asked.Rudyard clapped his hands. “Let’s try!”“Then we’ll give it back,” Dandelion said,

nodding. “What should we wish for?”“I wish we could meet the biggest, strongest

beast at the whole Faire!”Dandelion laughed. She threw the coin in

the air. It tumbled and sparkled, and a thick mist surrounded her and Rudyard.

Find E on page 8.

Shyly, Rudyard tugged on the wizard’s sleeve. The old man turned and peered down at Rudyard. He stroked his beard and squinted.

“Why art ye meddling with me, lad?” the wizard grumbled.

Rudyard’s knees were knocking. He’d never met a wizard before. He looked back at Dandelion. She nodded.

“Here.” Rudyard held out the coin. “Huzzah!” The wizard cried, startling everyone

nearby. “The child has won my favor. Shall I reveal your reward?”

Rudyard nodded eagerly. Dandelion grabbed his hand and nodded, too.

Continue on page 8.

D

We gotta help the King Bee!

Um . . . are you sure you all want to start

meddling—messing with—someone else's

bee business?

C

Zis outrage shall not stand!

Or you could say buzzness.

7

When the mist cleared, a massive camel was plodding straight for them. Doodlebug was trotting in front of it, wearing a horned, fur-trimmed leather cap. A hatless boy in Viking clothes was riding between the camel’s big humps.

“Cool hat!” Rudyard said.“This kid said I could have it if I let him ride the camel alone.”

Doodlebug grinned.“But a camel at a Renaissance Faire?! It just doesn’t belong!”

Dandelion was outraged. She pinched her nose. “And peee-ooooh! We should’ve wished for a better-smelling beast.”

The EndStart over on page 4.

“Then fair thee well and good morrow to you!” The wizard waved his arm like a mad-man. Suddenly the world started spinning, like they had been thrown into a cyclone—or a clothes dryer.

Find F on page 9.

E

You mites are very loyal to

zee king.

We're all very attached to him.

On your knees for Sir Bombus Buzzbee, King

of the Bees!

8

When the spinning stopped they gasped. They were riding in a fancy box, carried by four knights. Dandelion was dressed in the wizard’s cloak. Doodlebug was there, too, wearing an odd horned cap. A king and a queen sat beside them. They were dressed like real Renaissance royals, not like performers at the faire.

“What year is it?” Rudyard asked, his eyes wide.

“The Year of Our Lord, 1516, dear,” replied the queen in a strange accent.

“This is the best!” Dandelion giggled.

“As long as we don’t get our heads cut off,” Rudyard whispered.

The EndStart over on page 4.

F

Good morrow, my subjects—good morning, everybuggy! No need to kneel. Pip, pip, cheerio,

and all that.

What's up, BB?Oh, yeah! Bombus

is in the house!This is the

bee's knees!

Oh, please . . .

9

There is a realm called Upside Down, where wonders always cease. And fish fly high up in the sky, and rodents swim with geese. All through the year the people eat the food that winter brings. And all the children push their parents on the playground swings. The summer’s filled with ice and snow, a chilly wonderland. And in the winter people swim in oceans filled with sand. The King is known across the land as “Rascal,” “Doc,” or “Ted.” He’s better known for showing off—his palace is a shed. He mows the lawns and trims the hedge. His servants sit on thrones. And while he sweats in midnight sun, his gardeners rest their bones. Here in the realm of Upside Down, where left is always right, Please don’t forget to pack a torch, ’cause day is always night. te

xt ©

201

6 by

Bry

land

Sut

ton,

art

© 2

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by J

omik

e Te

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by Bryland Sutton Art by Jomike Tejido

The Realm of Upside Down

10

11

A Fanfare for Sir Frederick

by Pamela LoveArt by Valerie Sokolovatext © 2016 by Pamela Love, art © 2016 by Valerie Sokolova

OW AWFUL TO be trapped in the tower on a sunny day like this, I thought, looking out on the green fields around Gormsey Castle. And I had no wicked wizard to blame, just a long session of trumpet practice ahead. My parents—who are also my teachers—insisted I play at least two hours every afternoon. Puckering up, I began blaring out notes.

Wham! The door crashed into the wall. I almost dropped my trumpet. Blinking, I turned to see a shield filling the doorway. A muffled voice bellowed from behind it, “You dare attack the castle, dragon? Know that I, Sir Frederick, will defeat you!”

After a moment, I asked, “Um, what dragon?” The knight peeked around the shield and lifted his

visor. “You’re nothing but a little girl with a horn! But there

H

Will you stop blaring—sounding loud or harsh—those stupid trumpets!

12

must be a dragon! I heard the scaly beast’s cry.” Leaning his shield against the wall, he removed his helmet and searched the room. His long white hair shone with sweat, and he looked stronger than any old man I’d ever seen.

“Sir Frederick, the only scales in this room are the ones I play on this.” I held up my instrument.

“You made that fearsome sound? Who are you?” he demanded.

“My name is Agnes. And yes, I’m practicing the trumpet. My parents

by Pamela LoveArt by Valerie Sokolova

perform fanfares for the court, like this.” Taking a deep breath, I played my best ta-tara-ta! (I’m not very good yet. Perhaps I did sound monstrous.)

With a harrumph he marched out, slamming the door behind him. “You forgot . . . ,” I began, but stopped. It might’ve embarrassed him if I pointed out he’d left his shield.

After practicing, I headed toward the stairs. But as I passed the shield, my trumpet struck it, hard. Clang!

Sonya is not a fan of fanfares—short

tunes used to introduce someone

important.

So, what happened, Buzzy? Spot of bad luck. They

tossed me out over the wall and locked the

gate on me.

You poor King.

13

Wham! Sword in hand, Sir Fred-erick rushed into the room. “Aha, villain! I heard your armor clanking and . . . Agnes? I thought I heard an enemy knight.”

Shaking my head, I said, “Just me. I’m sorry, but I accidentally bumped your shield. It doesn’t look scratched or dented, though.”

He raised his bushy eyebrows. “Dented? This shield has withstood blows from mighty swords and dragons’ flames!” Muttering under his breath, he picked up his shield and left.

Luckily, my instrument didn’t look damaged, either, but I showed it to my parents anyway. Their lips twitched when I told them about Sir Frederick. “Can you imagine? Someday I’ll have to play fanfares for him,” I groaned.

“He deserves them,” Mother said. “Fanfares honor bravery. Sir Frederick defended this castle for years. Dragons and enemy knights no longer dare attack us.”

“Try to be understanding, dear,” Father added, polishing his horn.

I say, if you buggies help me get back on my throne, we shall

all have honey tea and crumpets in the Royal

Grand Hall tonight!

Crumpets? What's a crumpet? Not sure. Could be

yummy, though. But how will you get past the worker bees

guarding the hive?14

a good disturbance. Forgive me, lass. I won’t bother you again.” Slowly, he turned away.

Watching him go, I had an idea. Frederick had spent his life fighting fearsome foes. Now he only battled boredom. Maybe if he found something new to struggle with . . .

“Sir, are you busy?” I asked.Moments later, my trumpet was in

the knight’s rough hands. “Now, hold your fingers like this,” I demonstrated.

He grinned. “At last, a worthy challenge. Someday I’ll play my own fanfare!”

The next day I played as softly as I could. Weh—wuh—wurr. It didn’t sound very good, but nobody could possibly confuse it with a dragon or a knight—

Wham! This time Sir Frederick swung a necklace in my face. “Begone, foul phantom! With this amulet, I shall banish . . . Agnes?!”

“Yes, it’s just me again. I thought I was practicing quietly enough. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

He pulled off his helmet and wiped sweat from his brow. “Ah, I thought I heard a ghost. I wouldn’t have minded

I'll simply sneak past the guards like a

phantom—a ghost—and unlock the gate

from the inside.

Sí, ninja-like!Hang on! I have a

better idea!

15

Only boys from wealthy families could become knights. They started training at age seven, when they were sent away to the house of a nobleman. The training took around fourteen years. —Thistle

Fabulous Facts: Knights

Girls couldn’t be knights, but some broke that rule. In Catalonia (now part of Spain), a group of women warriors were knighted after defending their city. They were called the Order of the Hatchet. —Ophelia

In a joust, two knights ride horses straight at each other, holding long weapons called lances. They smash together at 30 miles per hour! —Spider

Knights-een-training gave each ozzer peeggyback rides to practice fighting on zee ‘orseback. —Miro

Almost all knights held their swords in their right hands. That’s why castle staircases spiral to the right. Going up stairs like that, a right-handed attacker has less room to swing his sword. —Sam

Knights and kings still do battle today—in the game of chess. The game came from India or Iran, and Europeans started playing in the Middle Ages. They carved the game pieces into the horse, bishop, and castle shapes many people use now. —Sonya

16

HOUSANDS OF PEOPLE fill the square, bumping against each other. They’ve gathered to watch the building of the tower. There are many beautiful towers here in Barcelona, Spain, but this one will be different. It will be built out of people!

A brass fanfare announces the building has begun, and everyone goes quiet. Drums join in. Body after body emerges from the crowd, and a human castle begins to grow straight up from the center of the square. Higher and higher it grows as these amazing athletes crawl like ants up their teammates’ backs.

by Michelle Burchett

T

The Castle Makers

THIS is your better idea, Sam?

text

© 2

016

by M

iche

lle B

urch

ett

Don’t try this at home, unless your home is a festival in Spain!

17

The tower rises to five, six, seven, eight stories! The crowd roars as the final person reaches the top. The Castellers of Barcelona have done it again.

The people who make these castles are known as castellers. Their name comes from the word castell, which means castle in the

A large ring of people on the ground keeps the castle stable. If the castle falls, this ring also gives castellers a softer landing.

Yikes, hold that sneeze!

My nose itches . . .

Catalan language—one of the main languages spoken in Spain. The first human castles were built in southwest Spain at the end of the eighteenth century, as part of a religious dance. In a Spanish region called Catalonia, people called colles competed by making different kinds of human towers. Over the years, the towers grew bigger and better. Today, human castles defy gravity, rising up to nine “stories” high.

Teams of castellers still come to Barcelona from all over to see which one can build the highest stack. They all wear white pants and black sashes, and each team wears a different brightly colored shirt. Barcelona’s castellers are known by their bright red shirts.

The most important part of the costume is the sash. It supports cas-tellers’ backs, and their teammates hold on to it with their hands or feet as they climb the tower. The castellers climb barefoot. This helps them keep balance and prevents anyone from getting kicked by a hard shoe.

This invention will allow you to defy gravity—stay up in the air in a way

that shouldn't be possible. You'll shoot over the wall, drop in, and open the

gate. We just need to test it. Bill the Pillbug, are you ready?

Ready!Miro eez

out!

18

The musicians who play during the build-ing aren’t just there to entertain the crowd. At each stage of the building process, they play a different tune. This lets the castellers on the lower levels know what is happening above them. Without flutes and drums, the castle might crumble into chaos.

Most human castles have three main parts: the pinya (base), the tronc (trunk), and the pom de dalt (the crown). The pinya is made of the strongest people, as they have to carry all the weight. Lighter people make up the several levels of the tronc. The canalla (youngsters) form the pom de dalt at the top. The anxaneta, who can be a young girl or boy, climbs the tower last. When she reaches the top, she raises four fingers, which stand for the four red stripes on the Catalan flag. The crowd cheers!

The bigger castellers carry most of the weight at the castle’s bottom, while the smallest castellers climb to the top.

Tronc (trunk)

Pinya (base)

Pom de Dalt (crown)

How does my sash

look?

Ouch, my ear!

19

However, the most dangerous part is still ahead. The anxaneta quickly climbs down the castell, followed by the rest of the levels. Bodies gracefully glide down bodies—unless the tower collapses, which often happens at this stage. The applause continues until the castle has been taken down and everyone is safe. Then a celebration starts.

The casteller motto is “strength, balance, courage, and reason.” To build human castles, you need all those things. The young children climbing to the top need courage most of all. Good castellers also have a strong sense of trust in their teammates, and they plan care-fully—any mistake could knock the whole castle down.

Castellers show teamwork at its best. Each member has an important role, and they all work together to reach their goal. They also show that, with a little imagination and a few friends, people can rise very high. Here’s to the creative and courageous castle makers of Catalonia!

It’s Minecraft, but in real life and with people instead of blocks.

Wait! Let me take a selfie.

That is no way to get back on a throne . . .

But it's a good way to get THROWN. Um . . . there might still

be a few bugs in it.

Can we build a restaurant next?

I’m hungry.

20

Knock knockWho’s there?RhodaRhoda who?Rhoda horse all the way here.

art © 2016 by Matt Novak

Knock knockWho’s there?TubaTuba who?Tuba toothpaste!

Knock knockWho’s there?DoughnutDoughnut who?Doughnut bother me with silly questions!

Knock knockWho’s there?BeetsBeets who?Beets me, I just forgot my name!

by Guy W. NobelArt by Matt Novak

Knock Knocks

21

Damsel Not in DistressA damsel locked inside a towersends down a note by string.“Dear Knight, I need no rescuingbecause, well, here’s the thing:

by B.J. Lee Art by Rivkah LaFilletext © 2016 by Beverly J. Sweetman, art © 2016 by Rivkah LaFille

“My cellmate is the coolest—her hair is twelve feet long!She lets me braid it while we talkor sing a silly song.

22

Damsel Not in Distress

by B.J. Lee Art by Rivkah LaFilletext © 2016 by Beverly J. Sweetman, art © 2016 by Rivkah LaFille

“My one complaint? The stone bed’s hard,but still, I can unwind.Please check back in on Monday, though,in case I’ve changed

my mind.”

“The tower has a lovely view.The dragon is quite tame.If we get cold, he lights the stovewith one well-snorted flame.

“It’s great to have no homeworkand not a single chore!We’ve been playing Knuckleboneswhile Dragon keeps the score.

23

by Margaret MincksArt by Rupert Van Wyk

text © 2016 by Margaret Mincks

The Town Crier

(boy or girl) royal CourT (group of Two

or more)

King egberT

prinCess maTilda

sir unwin

CedriC benneTT

heaThCliff benneTT

darby benneTT

old man

lady hillenCresT

Setting: A royal palace, once upon a time and long ago.

The Princess Who Never(Well, Hardly Ever) Laughed

OK, here's the plan. You buggies distract the

bees with flowers, while Aran~a and I climb over the wall and open the gate from the inside.

Super Ninjas!

24

(Enter Town Crier.)

Town Crier (unrolls a scroll): Hear ye, hear ye! I tell the tale of a princess who never—well, hardly ever—laughed. One day, His Royal Highness King Egbert was entertaining the Royal Court.

(Enter King Egbert, Princess Matilda, and the Royal Court.)

King egberT: And I said, “That’s not MY blackbird!” royal CourT: Hahahahahaha! King egberT (to Princess Matilda): Did you

hear me, child? You must not have heard. I said, “That’s not MY blackbird!”

royal CourT: Hahahahahaha! Oh, it’s even funnier the second time.

prinCess maTilda: I heard you, Father. I just didn’t think the joke was very funny.

royal CourT: GASP!King egberT (snaPPing his fingers): Lords and

ladies, leave us at once. (Royal Court exits.) Princess Matilda, why don’t you laugh? You embarrass me.

prinCess maTilda: Forgive me, dearest Father. I do not wish to hurt you. It’s the blackbird joke. I’ve heard it many times, and it has not gotten better with age.

Cheerio, team! Once I'm on the throne, it's tea and

crumpets for all!

Don't worry, Bill. We' ll save you a crumpet—whatever it is.

Don't bother. I'm crumped enough already.

25

King: You must laugh to be polite, dear.prinCess maTilda: I am polite. I’m kind to everyone and I

treat our subjects with respect. If I laughed at something that wasn’t funny to me, would that not be dishonest?

King: But our Court Jesters keep quitting! prinCess maTilda: Perhaps they need new material. King: You have also offended many suitors.prinCess maTilda: Why must they take offense? I cannot

marry someone who doesn’t truly delight me. King: Please try, Matilda. Sir Unwin will be here to see

you tomorrow. You must make a good impression on him, for the future of our kingdom.

prinCess maTilda: Yes, Father. I’ll try.

Here come the bees! Run! Follow the pollen, girls!

26

(Enter Town Crier and Sir Unwin.)

Town Crier: The next day, King Egbert and Princess Matilda had afternoon tea with Sir Unwin.

sir unwin: And I said, “That’s not MY donkey!”King egberT (slaPs knee): Ho-ho-ho! Princess

Matilda, wasn’t that delightful?prinCess maTilda (forces sMile): Delightful.sir unwin (to king): Is she in pain, your

majesty?King egberT: Princess Matilda! Sir Unwin’s

joke was amusing, yes?prinCess maTilda (forces laughter): Um.

Yes. Ho-ho. Ho-ho-ho. King egberT: Dear me.prinCess maTilda: Forgive me, Sir Unwin.

I do not wish to offend you, but I cannot laugh at your joke. I just don’t think it is very well written. Good day.

(Princess Matilda runs offstage.)

Town Crier: Sir Unwin stormed off in a huff. King Egbert despaired, wondering if his daughter would ever find true love.

(King Egbert and Sir Unwin exit.)

There go the guards! And over the wall we go!

27

Town Crier: Meanwhile, outside the castle, the three Bennett brothers were running about the countryside.

(Cedric, Heathcliff, and Darby Bennett enter.)

CedriC (rubs darby’s head, Makes sucking sound): SCHHHHWWWPP. What am I, Darby?

darby: I don’t know, Cedric.CedriC: I am a brain-sucker. What am

I doing?darby (sighs): I don’t know, Cedric.CedriC: I’m STARVING, Darby! heaThCliff: HA! The brain-sucker

is starving because you have no brain, Darby!

darby (rolls eyes): Got it, Heathcliff.Town Crier: Poor Darby suffered a

terrible affliction—he was the youngest child. Darby felt he could not outwit Cedric, and he could not match Heathcliff’s strength. And so he became the butt of his brothers’ jokes.

(Enter Old Man.)

Quick, Buzzy. Get inside!

Oh, huzzah. Onto my throne!

28

old man: Might I have some water, boys?CedriC: Not from my jug, old man. heaThCliff (knocks his water back in

one gulP): Nor from mine. My enormous muscles need plenty of fuel.

darby (hands his water jug to old Man): Take mine.

old man: Thank you, boy. (Sips.) Now I have something for you. (Pulls axe from behind tree.) Chop down this tree and you will be rewarded.

CedriC (snorting): See you at home, Darby!

(Cedric and Heathcliff exit.)

Town Crier: Darby swung his axe, and the tree fell to the ground. Inside the trunk was a golden goose.

old man: This goose shall be yours.

(Old Man exits.)

darby: Wait! What does a goose eat? How do I groom its feathers? Baths will surely be a terror . . .

Hey! No drones allowed!

Bombus! What are you doing back here? We threw you out.

Winter is coming and all you do is lie around and eat.

29

Town Crier: But the old man was gone. Darby carried the golden goose through the countryside, searching for food for his new pet. Along the way, he passed Lady Hillencrest.

lady hillenCresT (rubbing her hands together): A golden goose! I must have a feather for my gown. (She sneaks up behind Darby and tries to pluck a feather from the goose.)

lady hillenCresT: Oh no! I am stuck to the goose!

Town Crier: Then Darby, Lady Hillencrest, and the goose passed Sir Unwin.

sir unwin: A golden goose! I must have a feather for my horse’s cape. (She sneaks up behind Darby and Lady Hillencrest and tries to pluck a feather from the goose.) Egads! I too have become stuck!

Town Crier: Darby pressed on, adding more greedy folk along the way. At that moment, Princess Matilda was staring out at the countryside from her castle. She saw Darby cradling the golden goose, with a line trailing behind him.

prinCess maTilda (leaning forward, squinting): I’ve never seen anything like it before. It’s so . . . silly! Ha. Ha. HA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Get off that throne, drone!

Yes, yes, of course, my darlings. I . . . just want some crumpets—these

yummy small round cakes, toasted with butter.

Did you trick more bugs into thinking you were

a king? There's no such thing as a king bee!

BOOT HIM BACK OUT!

30

Town Crier: Princess Matilda had held her laugh in for so long that when it burst out, it shattered all the palace windows. It was so loud that the line of people stuck to the goose suddenly broke free to escape the deafening noise. Matilda leaped through a broken window and ran to Darby.

prinCess maTilda: You are truly funny, sir!darby: Your majesty! Are you laughing at me?

I feel foolish.prinCess maTilda: Nonsense, I am laughing

WITH you! darby: Am I laughing? I don’t THINK I’m laughing . . .prinCess maTilda: You’re delightful. But your

goose looks hungry. Let’s get him some grass and stems.

darby: Grass and stems! THAT’S what they eat! prinCess maTilda: I prefer crumpets myself. I hope

you’ll stay for tea, Sir . . . what was your name?darby: Darby. And what is a crumpet, exactly?prinCess maTilda: Hahaha. Delightful!Town Crier: Princess Matilda and Darby lived

happily ever after in a cozy hut with no windows and one fat, happy goose (sniffs, wipes a tear).

darby: They don’t call him the town crier for nothing.

prinCess maTilda: HA!

Victory!

It's all about the snack.

I say! These crumpets really

are tasty. Muy bueno.

But, alas, zee King eez no more. To bee or not to bee?

That is the question.

31

Horse

Arlo R., age 9Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Everybuggy,I love your magazine because I like

reading the comics at the end of the page. In the July/August 2015 issue, I’m sorry that most of you got seasick. If you want, you can go with me on my grampa’s boat! I don’t think you will get sick. Do you want to ride in the tube?

Yo-ho,Sarah H., age 8Stratham, New Hampshire

Dear Spider,Your magazines are awesome. I loved

them so much that I got Cricket. I love “Ophelia’s Last Word” and the art projects. I think you should have another spider, a girl to be like Spider, just for one story.

I have a joke for you: What do you give the person who invented the knock knock joke? A No-Bell Prize. I hope you like it!

Grace Blomberg, age 9Grand Marais, Minnesota

Mariel Biedler, age 8Westville, Oklahoma

Rithik M., age 7Irving, Texas

Etta R., age 7Madison, Wisconsin

Lilly Maske, age 9Birmingham, Alabama

Kira Tsukamoto, age 8Bozeman, Montana

Lucie R., age 8Chicago, Illinois

Carleigh B., age 9Brookeville, Maryland

Elanor Traywick, age 8Cary, North Carolina

Emmanuel Wu, age 6Cerritos, California

Dear Spider and the Gang,How are you, everybuggy?

Have a happy new year! Everyone absolutely loves your mag! Every single time I get a mag I go crazy!

My favorite go-and-have-fun place is the beach. What is your favorite color, Spider? Mine is orange. Will you please adopt this mystical butterfly named Plum? Seeing her is a real treat!

Keira H.Austin, Texas

Everybuggy’s having a super summer, Keira. We love the beach, too! My favorite color is purple . . . and red . . . and topaz and . . .

Cowabunga!Spider

Hi, Gang!I love your comics at the bottom

of the page. Can you please adopt Pegasus?

Vivian, age 7Manhattan, New York

32

Contest RulesWrite a poem about something you

like to do in the summer.

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, 2016. We will

publish our favorites in the November/December

2016 issue of Spider.

Email your entry to spider@cricketmedia.com, or send

it to Spider’s Corner, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354.

Send your letters to Spider’s Mailbox P.O. Box 300 Peru, IL 61354

Please write your complete name, age, and address on your letter! You can also send us mail at spider@cricketmedia.com.

Evy Erikson, age 6Walla Walla, Washington

Matilde Toledo-Agudelo, age 7Bismarck, North DakotaChocolate Chip Rainbow

Claire Nelson, age 9Goleta, California

Miriam R. Biedler, age 10Westville, Oklahoma

Dear SpiderI love your magazines! They

are so funny! Here’s one of my favorite jokes: Knock knock. Who’s there? Ashley. Ashley who? Ashley I changed my mind. I don’t want to come in.

Juliette Thornber, age 7Kingston, Rhode Island

Dear Everybuggy,Can you please adopt two cats that are

at my shelter? I think they are brothers of my two cats, Colton and Bacon Bit. They really need a home. They’re getting tired of eating cat food and no treats. All you’d have to do to get them to not eat you is distract them with a ribbon rat toy! One of them is Siamese. Only give him wet food that is chicken. The other cat is orange and will eat just about anything. They don’t like mean dogs! But they really like to play with water.

Jean-Paul L., age 6San Francisco, California

Dear Spider,I love your magazine! My favorite food

is tacos. What’s yours?Lloyd, age 8San Diego, California

Ooooh, I love food! Spaghetti, tacos, and dead fly cookies!

Bon appétit!Spider

Dear Everybuggy,Does Miro really have one leg? If he does,

please adopt Rolly. He is a wagon horse. You can all ride him all around town—yee-haw!

Ishaan Oza, age 6North Brunswick, New Jersey

Miro has one sturdy stem. We’re all delighted to have Rolly available for summer excursions! Thank you.

Love,Ophelia

Dear Spider,Will you adopt this dog named Elena and

put her in one of your stories? I love your stories so much! I love everybuggy, too!

Sophia Lark, age 7Lewistown, Montana

Dear Spider,I love your magazine! “Doodlebug and

Dandelion” is my favorite story. I have a dog named Cinder. I hope you can meet her sometime.

Norah K., age 7Winston-Salem, North Carolina

33

Love,

Ophelia

SAM INVENTED THIS catapult to launch peas into Miro’s soup. You can use it to send notes across the room—or even storm a castle.

O p h e l i a, s

Las t

W ord

1. Stack five craft sticks together. Wrap a rubber band tightly around each end (see A).

2. Stack two craft sticks together. Wrap a rubber band tightly, close to one end of the sticks (see B).

3. Slide the stack of five sticks between the stack of two sticks. Slide it as close as you can to the rubber banded end (see C).

4. Wrap a rubber band in an X shape several times around the point where craft sticks meet (see D).

5. Glue cap to the end of the top stick. Let glue dry.

6. When glue dries, place a soft object like a cottonball in the milk or bottle cap. Press down on the stick, then release it and watch the ball fly!

7. Try a science experiment: What objects fly the farthest? What objects barely fly at all? Then use your catapult to storm the castle in this issue’s Fun Zone (page 36).

What You’ll Need:7 craft sticks

4 rubber bands

milk cap or bottle cap

glue

cotton balls

A

A

C

D

B

34

4. Fold all four turrets along the dotted red lines. Glue tabs C, D, E, and F to circles C, D, E, and F.

5. On each turret, cut along the two dark red lines that run halfway up from the bottom. Using these cuts, slide one turret down onto each corner of the main castle wall.

6. To make the knights stand up, cut along the bottom middle line to make two tabs. Fold the blue tab toward you and the red tab away from you to make a little base.

7. Use the Cottonball Catapult (page 34) to fire cotton balls or other objects at the castle. If your ball lands inside the castle walls, you get one point. If you knock over a knight, you get two points. If your ball lands inside a turret, you get four points. Happy castle storming, lords and ladies!

B

F

AC

D

E

TURRET

TURRET

B

C

D

E

TURRET

TURRET

What You’ll Need: scissorsglueCottonball Catapult (page 34)

Storm the Castle!

What To Do:1. Cut out all the pieces

along the dark red lines. 2. Glue tab A to circle A.

Fold along the dotted lines to make a square: the main castle wall. Glue tab B to circle B.

3. Cut the door open along the dark red line, being careful not to cut the dotted line. Fold the tab inside the castle wall.

continued on other side

Art by Anna Eidelman

A F

Buggy BulletinAnswers to

Who Wants to Be a GOLDEN GOOSE?

Mind-Buggler

STRAWTWENTYGRANDMOTHERPORRIDGE

KNIGHTCASTLEKING

ARMORHORSEMOAT

K N I G H T R I C A S T L E N S R B A Q Y G W M O A T D M H O R S E Y Z T R O R S E

Royal Word Search

Ye Olde Dictionarygood morrow – hellofare thee well – goodbyegramercy – thank youperchance – maybeforsooth – oh my! privy – common term for “bathroom” prithee – please (. . . don’t confuse this one with “privy.”)

Good Morrow my ladies and lords!

Sweeping to the horizon,the torn and ragged cloudsare, even without paper,the world’s most beautifulwatercolor painting.

CloudsAre you ready to move up to ? Subscribe at Shop.CricketMedia.com/Try-Cricket

Poems and Stories for Ages 9–14

text © 2006 by Ruth Lercher Bornstein, art © 2006 by Christiane Krömer 35

art ©

201

6 by

Jan

e Di

ppol

d

Answers on page 35Art by Jane Dippold

July/August 2016 Volume 23 Number 6 cricketmedia.com $4.95

The first of the three little pigs builds his house out of:

The princess could feel the pea beneath this many mattresses:

Little Red Riding Hood goes to visit her:

Did

you

know?

Goldilocks ate the bear family’s:

Oo, I love trivia AND codes!

Can you fill in these blanks

using the key?