 To feel really embarrassed: cringe.

 Published in a collection of poems or stories: anthology.

 Strident, unrestrained: boisterous.
 A collection of animals: menagerie.
 Lively, hectic: bustling.
 Dissatisfied, reluctant: disgruntled.
 Aspiring, prospective: ambitious.
 To be supported or assisted: encouraged.
 A non-productive period: dry spells.
 Lack of proper attention: obliviousness.
 Carrying a lot of things: laden.
 Unobtrusive, not involving direct control: hands-off.
 Constraints, limitations: strictures.
 A short song: ditty.
 Laughing in a silly way: giggling.
 Be unwilling to, show reluctance…: baulked.
 Invention: devising.
 A 10-cent coin: dime.
 Noticeably, clearly: conspicuously.
 Dizzy, with confused thoughts: woozy.
 See-through, transparent: gauzy.
 Complicity, assistance: connivance.
 Small structure for babies to play safely: playpen.
 Puzzle, baffle: mystified
 Showing carelessness, inattentive: absentminded.