It’s April Fools’

What are Day. I’m putting

you doing, salt in the
Molly? sugar bowl
to fool
Dad!

April 2020 Volume 30 Number 7 cricketmedia.com $6.95

It’s an old
It’s time for supper,
custom to and . . . I haven’t
play tricks on seen
everyone Em all
for just day!
ONE day!

Cool! I think I’ll hide

all today.

Emmett!
Where are
you?
Emmett’s
out in

Cover art © 2020 by Matthew Rivera

the cold
and dark.

I know, Molly.
But I don’t
Your think Dad
April Fools’ enjoyed HIS
trick too much.
was the
best, Em.
™
I Spy
Art by
Jerry Smath
It's washday for Millie the millipede. Rub-a-dub-dub,
so-o-o many socks in the tub! Can you spy
twelve pairs of matching socks hanging out to dry?

Answer on page 35.

Keep an eye o ut for us! We are

thro ugh this magazi go ing to roll
ne w ith yo u!
2
 Art by Brita Granström
Max and Kate Story by Mick Manning

That bird can sing

other birds’ songs!

Max and Kate are swinging on Aunt Sue’s porch.

They listen to a mockingbird’s evening song.

3
 Opossums can use their tails
like hands, to grab things.

“We can see lots of animals from here,” says Kate.

She points at a quiet opossum running across the lawn.

4
 Some people call
this a hoot owl.
I call him Larry.

As it gets darker, they hear the deep, hooting call

of a great horned owl. Kate spots it in the apple tree.

5
 Then Max sees the gleam of a one-eyed, growling
coyote. That shining eye is coming straight at them!
“Help!” shout Max and Kate.
6
 I wasn’t
scared! Well,
I was! Pizza is
popular at
birthday
parties.

Aunt Sue rushes out to save them, but it is just a

motor scooter's headlight.
“Pizza, anyone?” the driver asks, and they all laugh.
7
 The Building Season
by Prudy Miller Hock ❦ Art by Tina Kugler

It’s springtime! My father climbs a ladder

all the way up to the roof to fix a shingle.
“I’m making our home safe and snug,”
he says.
“Can I help?” I ask.
“Sorry. You’re too little, son,” he answers.
My big brother is painting the doghouse
for Bailey, our pet.
“Can I help?” I ask.
“No. You’re too little,” he replies.

8
 I look out the window and see birds flying, carrying
things in their beaks.
“What are they doing?” I ask Mom.
“They are starting to build their homes,” she says.
“Can I help, or am I too little?” I ask.
Mom thinks and says, “No. You’re just the right size.”
I smile.

“What do the birds need?” I ask.

“Think about a bird’s nest. What
do you think they use?” asks Mom.
“Sticks and leaves,” I answer.
“That’s right,” says Mom. “Birds
like to find their own leaves, sticks,
and grasses, but what can they use to
hold them together?”

9
 “Mud!” I answer.
“Very good,” says Mom. “They might even like
some tiny strips of cloth if you cut them up and
hang them on the bushes.”
“How about some little pieces of yarn or string?”
I add.
“Now you’re thinking like a bird,” Mom says.
I giggle.
“Bailey may be able to help, too,” says Mom.
“How?” I ask.
“Birds like to put something soft inside their
nests for the eggs to rest on.”
“I could brush Bailey and leave his fur on the
ground,” I say.

10
 “What a wonderful idea!” says Mom.
I do everything that Mom and I talked about and
then watch from my window. Down flies a blue jay
and carries off a piece of yarn. Soon a red cardinal grabs
some of Bailey’s fur. It’s like watching a building store
for birds. And I helped.

Later in the summer, a

strong wind blows down an
empty bird’s nest. Mom and
I pick it up and see a strip
of my old striped pj's inside.
We smile and remember the
building season.

11
 Porches by Caroline Stutson
Art by Kristin Abbott

Porches shelter when it rains.

They ease us in, then out again,
Offer shade for dogs and cats,
Invite our friends to stop and chat.

12
 g ?
ha t could they in
d?
W be think
f i n
d o g s and o u
ny cats can
y
ma
w
Ho

13
 A Share of Socks
by Pamela Love Y Art by Laura Logan

One afternoon, took on a hike.

ttook her doll, . showed

Hannah
s aand
d s. sshowed s

and .

said, “Someday, I’ll bring a tent and

sleeping bags for us, . Then we can stay

here overnight.”

“Can ccome?” asked , holding

up her doll.

Dad smiled. “She can share your sleeping bag.”

beaver
14
 bird

Hailey

Dad

frog

ferns

text © 2020 by Pamela Love

art © 2020 by Laura Logan 15
 The next day, washed their .

“Look, .” He held up a . “Yesterday,

I hiked so much that one of my s has a hole.”

sshowed him one of her ss. “So does

mine.”

said, “Put these s in the trash, please.”

shook her head. “I know someone who

can use them.”

“With holes? And who can fit in a big

and a little ?” asked .

smiled. “Wait and see.”

16
 Dad

clothes

Hailey

sock

17
 On their next hike, brought the and

sleeping bags. At bedtime, put

p iinside

g
the big . “That’s her sleeping bag.” Then she

rolled the little up tight and put it under

’ss head. “That’s her pillow. Now the holes

don’t matter—and she won’t make

any more!”

tent
Dad
Hailey

Hannah

sock
18
 Blackberry
by Galen Goodwin Longstreth uArt by Andrea Stegmaier

One blackberry is a feast

for a fairy.

There’s plenty to share with

Miss Bumble, the bee.

A bowl of berries,
too much for a fairy,

is just the right snack for

a kid like me.

text © 2020 by Galen Goodwin Longstreth, art © 2020 by Andrea Stegmaier 19

 The Fairy Ring
A Traditional Song D Art by Elisabetta Travet

 T T T T T T T T T T T T T T

Let us laugh and let us sing, Danc - ing in a mer - ry ring;
Like the sea - sons of the year, Round we cir - cle glad - ly here:

 T T T T T T T T T T @
T T T T
We’ll be fair - ies on the green, Play - ing round the fai - ry queen.
I’ll be Sum - mer, you’ll be Spring, Danc - ing in a fai - ry ring.

20 art © 2020 by Elisabetta Travet

21
 Apple Blossoms by Jane Resides
Art by Alice Mastropaolo

Apple blossoms
floating down,
floating,
floating,
to the ground.

A sea of pink
surrounds the tree.

Pink petal fun

art © 2020 by Alice Mastropaolo

text © 2020 by Jane Resides
for Pup and me.

22
 by Charlie Eve Ryan
Get Ready Art by Liz Goulet Dubois

Ready for spring, Pip? Pick a bunch . . .

Sweet!
And bees?

Will there
be flowers,
Ava?

Busy, happy bees. Of course! Fun! But will

there be . . .
Buzz!! Rain,
too?

Hooray fo r muddles!
Tons of it!
text © 2020 by Charlie Eve Ryan, art © 2020 by Liz Goulet Dubois

. . . mud?

Thank
you!

23
 Poppy

Poppy, the bike, held perfectly still. Greg and

Daddy painted his name on him.
Helping Greg learn how to ride was awfully
hard work!
After many days of falls and crashes, Poppy
and Greg whizzed off together. “Watch me, Erica!”
Greg called to his little sister.
Then one day . . . Greg’s knees kept bumping
Poppy’s handlebars. He had outgrown Poppy.
“Now I get to learn how to ride him!”
said Erica.

by Nancy E. Walker-Guye
Art by Mary Reaves Uhles
24
 With Poppy’s help, Erica learned fast.
Then one day . . . Erica’s knees kept bumping Poppy’s
handlebars.
Poppy was wheeled into a dark corner of the garage.
Spiders made webs around Poppy. Soon he looked like
just another gray shadow. How he missed the sunshine
and riding around the neighborhood!
Then one day . . . men Poppy didn’t know came and
took the furniture out of the house.
Then they emptied the garage.
Poppy waited patiently to be taken, too.
The garage door thunked shut. Had they forgotten Poppy?

25
 The next day, Poppy heard people talking. Had
Greg come back for him? No. Poppy didn’t recognize
these voices.
A new lady found Poppy. She wheeled him outside.

How wonderful the warm sunshine felt!

The lady brushed some of the dust off Poppy.
“P-O-P-P-Y,” she read, spelling out the name that Greg
had painted so long ago. “Pleased to meet you, Poppy!
I’m Amanda, and I’m going to take care of you.”
How good it felt to Poppy, having the dust and
cobwebs cleaned off of him!

26
 And to be given a fresh coat of paint!
And to have his chain oiled!
And to have his tires pumped up!
One day, Amanda showed Poppy to a little boy.
“Jay, this is Poppy,” said Amanda. “I fixed him up
for you!”
“He’s beautiful, Mommy!” said Jay. “But . . .”
His face clouded over. “I don’t know how to ride
a bicycle.”
“Don’t worry,” said Amanda. “I think Poppy knows
how to help you learn.”
She was right. Poppy worked hard, and Jay learned fast.
Soon they were zipping around the neighborhood.

27
 Jay rode Poppy so much that Poppy got a flat
tire. Jay wheeled him to a dark corner in the garage.

Oh no! Was Poppy going to be forgotten again?

The next day, Jay wheeled Poppy outside. “You’ve
worked hard, Poppy! Time to take care of you!”
After Jay’s mommy helped Jay fix Poppy's flat
tire, paint over his scratches, and clean his gritty
chain, Poppy felt much better!

28
 Jay hopped on to Poppy. He pedaled so hard that
soon they were going faster than Poppy had ever
gone before.
Poppy leapt for joy. He felt his wheels leave the
ground, and for one brief moment, Poppy and Jay
were flying through the air! Poppy brought them
down safely with a gentle bump.
“I love riding you more than anything else in
the world!” cried Jay as they rode home.

29
 by Penny L. Hunt
Rodeo Mouse Art by C.B. Canga

There’s a mouse in the house,

And Mom’s made it clear,
She does not like mice.
He cannot live here.

I know that you’re right,

I know I must leave.
And I’ve got an idea.
A plan up my sleeve.

When you let the dog out,

I’ll jump on for a ride.
I’ll hang on real tight,
And we’ll gallop outside.

You’re a brave little mouse,

I can see that for sure.
So get ready to ride,
And stand right by the door.

You did it!

You did it!
Hip-hip and hooray!
You’re out of the house, mouse,
Up, up, and away!

30 text © 2020 by Penny L. Hunt, art © 2020 by C.B. Canga

 Ridiculous Rides
Art by Annette LeBlanc Cate

g
Nothin re!
Silly?
silly he

What silly things can you find in this picture?

31
 How about Or c
o
BRILLIANT? be h uld they
w hat to . is
kn o w io ns Or SO COOL? saying way of
I don’t dle’s invent APRI
ud L FO
call M

, by John Sandford
& OL?

My bicycle lost a wheel!

So I put on my thinking hat
to invent new ways of getting
from here to there.

Good
gravy! Good idea,
Muddle!

1 4
FOOT THERE SNAIL
TRACTOR SHOES
3
MAGNIFYING
GLASS
To bring there
closer to here.

2
EGG ROLL THERE

Slow but steady.

32
 5
ICE-CUBE MAKER

Now I can skate!

6
t s
’ m o re fun
I
e n it melts! SURFING
wh

7 HICCUP JUMPER

8
CARTWHEELING
STARFISH

They sound wonderful!

9
ROCKIN’ When do we
ROLLER start making
them, Muddle?

Oops, sorry bugs, no

time now—gotta fly!

33
 A Weed’s Tale
by Craig W. Steele
Art by Gail Armstrong

A damp bit of dirt

is all that I need
to sprout tiny roots
and grow into a weed.

I stretch my leaves up
toward sunny blue skies.
My bright yellow flowers
will feed butterflies.

And soon I’ll be making

my own little seeds
that one day will grow
into butterfly weeds.

34 text © 2020 by Craig W. Steele, art © 2020 by Gail Armstrong

 Answer to puzzle on page 2. How
many pairs of socks did you spy?
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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. “I Spy,”
art © 2015 by Jerry Smath; “The Building Season,” art © 2015 by Tina Kugler; “Porches,” art © 2014 by Kristin Abbott;
“Poppy,” art © 2014 by Mary Reaves Uhles; “Ridiculous Rides,” art © 2012 by Annette LeBlanc Cate; “Let’s Go Camping,” art
© 2008 by Shirley Beckes; “Molly and Emmett,” text and art © 2003 by Marylin Hafner.
Printed in the United States of America. 


1st printing Quad Sussex, Wisconsin
March 2020
From The Wind and the Sun . . .
One bright and breezy morning, the wind
nd the sun went for a stroll. “What a fine
ay to fly a kite!” said the wind. “Indeed, my art © 2015 by Robert Meganck, background © long8614/Shutterstock.com
good fellow,” replied the sun. “But it’s an
even finer day to enjoy my warmth.”
35
.fold 2
T
 LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold. LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold. LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold.
Let’s Go Camping Art by Shirley Beckes

What You’ll Need:

scissors tape or glue

What to Do:
1. Cut out logs, fold, and place on firepit.
2. Cut out tent. Fold along dotted lines so
beds are on the floor of the tent.
3. Tape or glue flaps A to tent parts A.
Tape or glue flap B to tent part B.
4. Cut out the other pieces; cut along
the white lines to make slits.
5. Each figure has a strip with a
matching number. Cut
out strips, bend into a “U”
shape, and insert into slits
to make the figures stand.
&
jfo' !-----------------------------------------
/
jt-.