How to ChoOSe

a Hum an
by Fluffy Kangas
Art by Sue Blanchard

An Easy Way to Remember

What to Look For
 Front Cover by Tony Ross
2 How to Choose a Human by Fluffy Kangas
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell
9 Powerful Popcorn Potion
by Percival the Wonder Wizard
10 For Those Big Jobs by Diana Murray
13 Camouflage: Invisibility Cloaks for Animals
by Alexandra Loewen
16 Freaky Force Field by Ruth Donnelly
18 Unmagical Cat by Siena Leslie
24 Bug Adventure by Michael Chesworth
25 The Black Cat by Rolli
26 Fabulous Frederic by Peggy Thorne
32 Spider’s Corner and Spider’s Mailbox
34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Sam’s Shimmer
35 Buggy Bulletin
The Fun Zone: Hocus-Pocus Wallet
by Loek Koopmans
Mind-Buggler: Magical Mischief
by Jane Dippold
Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth
Will you guys go with me to get
my costume for the Halloween parade?
Sure thing, Sammy boy!
October 2023
Volume 30 Number 8
Stacey Lane Smith, Editor
Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor
Hayley Kim, Assistant Editor
Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director
Shavan Spears, Designer
Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist
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 © 2007 by Tony Ross; “How to Choose a Human” text © 2011 by Nancy Kangas,
art © 2011 by Sue Blanchard; “Powerful Popcorn Potion” art © 2007 by Richard
Bernal; “Freaky Force Field” art © 2013 by Benton Mahan; “Unmagical Cat” art ©
2014 by Turine Tran; “Fabulous Frederic” text © 2005 by Peggy Thorne, art © 2005
by Jada Rowland; “Hocus-Pocus Wallet” text and art © 2002 by Loek Koopmans;
“Magical Mischief” art © 2017 by Jane Dippold.
Photo acknowledgments: 5 (spots) MaskaRad/Shutterstock.com; 13-15 (BG) Art
Furnace/Shutterstock.com; 13 (RT) Thanagon Benyaphat/Shutterstock.com; 13 (RC)
Sheffield Wakefield/Shutterstock.com; 13 (RB) Chulafichj/Shutterstock.com; 14
(LT) Sourabh Bharti/Shutterstock.com; 14 (RC) Amy Devine/Shutterstock.com; 14
(LB) Fotopogledi/Shutterstock.com; 15 (LT) Captivating Light Photos/Shutterstock.
com; 15 (TC), (RT) Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com; 18-24 (BG) irur/Shutterstock.
com; 26-31 (borders) Aleksandr Semenov/Shutterstock.com; 34 (spots) Random
Illustrator/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG) Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com; 35 (TC)
Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35 (frame) WinWin
artlab/Shutterstock.com; 35 (center frame) Dedraw Studio/Shutterstock.com; 35
(RB) Azuzl/Shutterstock.com; 35 (CC) pepsizero/Shutterstock.com.
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But why do you 
need us to go
International Reading
Association
Educational Press
Paul A. Witty
with you?
Association of America Short Story Award 2008
Golden Lamp Award
Distinguished Achievement Award
 Doodlebug & Dandelion
Black Cat Magic
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

“DOODLEBUG,” SAID DANDELION Pinkley, bursting

into her brother’s room, “have you heard about Mom and
Dad’s get-together? They’re planning—” She stopped short.
“Whoa, what’re you doing?”
Doodlebug wore a black top hat and a cape with red
satin lining. Plastered to his upper lip was a long, thin
moustache that curled at each end. Their cousin Rudyard
was with him but not in a costume.
“Of course I heard,” Doodlebug replied. “They’re having
some Halloween party and making everyone dress as cats!”
Brother, sister, and cousin shared a smirk. Then, studying
Doodlebug’s outfit, Dandelion said, “You’re doing a magic
show?”
I'm very nervous. Nervous? Nervous about what?

4
 “Yep, for the guests,” Doodlebug
said. “It’s gonna be cat magic. Watch!”
He waved a silver-tipped magic
wand at the floor. Immediately, three
kitties scampered from behind his
bed. Choo-Choo and Peekaboo
were Doodlebug and Dandelion’s
pets. The third was Rudyard’s
three-legged cat, Moth.
“Wait, how’d you get them to
come out?” Dandelion marveled.
Doodlebug tapped the silver end
of his wand. “Catnip,” he said proudly.
“I’ve got other tricks under my hat,
This year, because I'm the
parade's grand marshal, So you're nervous because
I am renting a costume at a it's a real costume?
real costume store.
too. You and Rudyard can help me.”
“Great!” Dandelion said, bursting
with ideas.
After some plotting and planning,
Dandelion went off to make some props
while Doodlebug practiced his tricks
with Rudyard. All were excited—
especially for the grand finale.
On party night, assistants Dande-
lion and Rudyard marched into
the Pinkley family’s great room
carrying the kitties. The cats all wore
furry black costumes—Dandelion’s
handiwork.
Or a real store?
5

“Make way for Doo-Oh the Deceiver
and his mystifying Black Cat Magic
Show!” Dandelion shouted.
The large crowd of cat-costumed
grownups turned, and Doo-Oh stepped
into the spotlight his dad had rigged
up for him. He bowed. Rudyard took
a place on one side of Doo-Oh with
Dandelion on the other.
Doo-Oh pointed his wand at
Both! I hear the weevil who runs it
is a bit of a deceiver — somebuggy
who misleads others into believing
Ah! An evil weevil, eh?
something that is not true.
6
Peekaboo, the smallest. She sniffed
excitedly, and Dandelion released her
onto the small table beside Doo-Oh.
“Observe the disappearing cat!”
Doo-Oh cried out. He pulled off his
top hat and swiftly covered Peekaboo
with it. The crowd held its breath.
Doo-Oh tapped his wand on the
top of the hat, then on its back side.
He took a deep breath. His first trick.
It had to work. Two seconds later, he
swooped the hat off the table. No cat!
The partygoers murmured, highly
impressed. No one but Doo-Oh’s
assistants saw Peekaboo push through
a flap in the back of the hat and slip
away.
Next, Doo-Oh placed a cat treat
under one of three big identical
shells. He quickly moved the shells
around, so they ended up in different
positions. None of the guests could
guess which held the treat now. But
Moth knew. Like an expert detective,
the cat batted at the middle shell.
He poked it with his nose. Doo-Oh
lifted the shell—and Moth gobbled
up the treat that lay there. The
Frankly, I find it mystifying — very puzzling and
complicated — that you want to rent a costume
rather than make one yourself . . . like we always do.
 onlookers raved. Not one realized
what a powerful sense of smell Choo-Choo batted the lady’s shoulder,
Moth had. then settled in her lap, purring
Choo-Choo got her chance in contentedly. The audience roared
the limelight when Doo-Oh picked its approval. None of them had seen
her up and faced her toward the Rudyard waving a feather behind
audience. “Observe!” he announced. the lady’s shoulder.
“The only cat in the world who can Many further mystifying tricks
pick out any color by name!” To followed. Finally, the lights dimmed.
Choo-Choo, he added, “Go find Strange music began playing. The
the guest wearing RED!” crowd tittered nervously in the big
Immediately, Choo-Choo ran shadowy room. Then all at once, the
toward the back of the crowd. She horrifyingly loud sound of a shrieking
jumped into the lap of a feline-attired cat filled the air. Above the guests’
lady with a cherry-colored neck scarf. heads, three gigantic cat-shaped
Remember last year when I wore my
When I lead the parade, I want the
pet rock costume and some buggies
onlookers — people watching an
tittered — giggled quietly or tried Sure do, Bill. I was tittering.
event — to be blown away!
to hold back laughter?

7
 shadows flew across the ceiling.
A hissing howl blasted. The entire
crowd screamed in terror. Then
they fled in all directions, bumping
into each other in the darkness as
they stampeded to the light-filled
rooms of the house.
When they were all gone, Doodle-
bug, Dandelion, and Rudyard laughed
till tears filled their eyes and their
stomachs were sore. They fed the
talented kitty trio bunches of delicious
fish-flavored munchies. Mission
accomplished: they had scared the
living daylights out of grownups.
Hmm . . . maybe this year
I'll try something . . . stronger.
8
A bit later, Mr. and Mrs. Pinkley
peeked into the great room.
“Brilliant, my darlings!” Mrs.
Pinkley praised.
“How’d you do that last one?”
Mr. Pinkley asked.
The kids smiled mysteriously.
“The Deceiver never reveals his
Black Cat Magic secrets,” Doo-Oh
said. “Not ever!”
Come on, guys. Let's go down to
the weevil's costume shop.
 POWERFUL
POPCORN POTION THIS TREAT IS so tasty that it
simply must be magical. Warning!
Your completed culinary concoction
may disappear quickly.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

3 quarts plain popped popcorn
¹⁄³ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup peanut or soy butter
large bowl
small saucepan
spoon
raisins, salt, and/or sugar (optional)

WHAT TO DO:
1. Put the popcorn in a large bowl.
Set aside.
2. Ask an adult to help you melt the
butter or margarine and peanut
or soy butter together in the
saucepan. Stir often.
3. Pour the mixture over the popcorn,
and stir to coat each piece.
4. Add raisins, salt, and/or sugar for
even more fantastical flavor.

by Percival the Wonder Wizard

Art by Richard Bernal

9
 For Those Big Jobs by Diana Murray
Art by Hazel Le

Does your potion call for embers

from a watchful dragon’s lair?
For the silk of monster spiders
or a lock of werewolf hair?

Do you need to gather earwax

from an ogre or a giant?
Do you find, to your frustration,
that they rarely are compliant?

text © 2023 by Diana Murray, art © 2023 by Hazel Le

10
Is it hard collecting troll spit
or the scales from griffin toes?
Well, it helps to be invisible
for big jobs such as those!

Take precautionary measures.

Make a disappearing cloak!
Spray with teardrops of chameleon.
Let the fabric slowly soak.

11
 Put the cloak on, and you’ll vanish!
Now, big jobs should be a breeze
(just as long as you can manage
not to cackle, cough, or sneeze).

12
CAMOUFLAGE:
Invisibility Cloaks for Animals

T HE ABILITY TO “disappear” from view

doesn’t exist only in stories about magic. But you
do need to be a certain kind of animal to pull it
off. The amazing ability to hide in plain sight— lizard on bumpy bark
known as camouflage—is important to the survival
of many animals. Camouflaged animals can be
the “hiders” (so their enemies have a harder time
finding them) or the “seekers” (so their prey don’t
see them coming). A predator is an animal that
hunts and eats other animals. The hunted animals
are the prey.
Many animals have body colors similar to
those of their habitats. These include lizards and
emerald tree boas. With their camouflage, plus
lizard on smooth
being perfectly still, they can “vanish” into their tree trunk
environments.
The color and pattern of some lizards match
tree bark, rocks, or a sandy desert. Jessica Acs,
wildlife educator and co-owner of Chicago-based
Animal Quest, says, “The irregular patterns on
the lizard’s body also break up its silhouette. When
it’s clinging to a tree, it’s hard to tell where the bark
ends and the lizard begins!”
The vibrant green color of emerald tree boas
matches the green trees in which these snakes live. emerald tree boa by
bright-green leaves
Brand new and fits like You really think this
it was made for ya! silhouette — shape
or outline — flatters
my form?
by Alexandra Loewen
13
 This helps them to hide from predators
and snap up favored meals, such as
rats.
tiger in shadowy
tall grasses
The tiger’s stripes make its body
outline harder to see. Its coloration
also helps it meld into grass and
shrubland habitats. The vertical
stripes are like shadows cast by grass
blades and stems. This camouflage
keeps the tiger hidden while it hunts
its prey.
The octopus is a desirable feast for
many marine animals. To protect itself
octopus on rocky from these predators, an octopus can
ocean floor change its pattern and color to look
like its surroundings, even rocks!
The flounder shares an octopus’s
abilities. When scientists placed
tropical flounders into tanks with
checkerboard patterns, the flounders
copied the checks on their skin! In
the sea, the octopus and the flounder
use their “invisibility cloaks” to
prevent predators from seeing them.
flounder on sandy Other animals outsmart their
ocean floor

Brand new? T his says T hey meld — blend or mix —

Ooh . . . It feels so . . . Too much i nfo
recycled fabric . W hat's it from moon moth wings, silk
so . . . magic-y! there, bub.
it made from? scarves, and old magicians'
handkerchiefs.

14
 katydid on leaves venomous coral snake

harmless kingsnake

Coral snakes have yellow and red bands right next to each other, while kingsnakes have black bands next
to red. But nobody wants to get close enough to spot the difference!

enemies by taking on the disguise of
an object. Some species of katydids
have wings that look remarkably like
real leaves in color, shape, and even
vein pattern! This disguise is especially
convincing when the insect is motionless
and sitting on leaves that look like its
own wings. Predators see only leaves,
and the katydid stays safe.
When an animal’s features and
actions make it look like another
animal, that’s called mimicry. Mimicry
works well for some kingsnakes. They
are not venomous themselves. (Venom
is the poison some snakes have.) But
As grand marshal of the Meadow Halloween
Parade, I should sport — show off or wear
to get attention — a robe like this!
they sport the same banded color
patterns as do deadly coral snakes.
The kingsnake’s predators think it’s
the fearsome coral snake and quickly
move on!
“Camouflage abounds in the animal
kingdom, and its variety is incredible.
There are numerous ways for animals
to keep themselves hidden!” says
Jessica Acs.
When you’re outside, look carefully
at any creatures you see. What features
do they have that help them “disappear”
right before your eyes?
For you, five bucks. And for you, my bug-eyed
friend, that space bug costume is perfect.
Your friends are gonna love it!

Hey, weevil, so how

muc h for this For me?
rabbit costume?
15
 Freaky Force Field
by Ruth Donnelly w Art by Benton Mahan

WHILE YOU WAIT for your invisibility cloak, here’s

a science superpower you can practice right now!

What You’ll Need:

bowl
water
pepper
bar of soap
sink (to wash your hands afterward)

Getting Ready:
1. Fill the bowl with water.
2. Sprinkle pepper to cover the water’s
surface. Don’t get it in your eyes!
3. Get the bar of soap wet. Keep it out of sight.

16
Showtime:
1. Ask a friend to separate the pepper with a finger. Your
friend won’t be able to.
2. Say, “When I say the magic words, I will create a pepper
force field!”
3. Say your magic words. Secretly rub your finger on the soap.
Then put your finger gently into the middle of the bowl.
The pepper will spring apart!

If you want to do it again, rinse and dry

the bowl first, so no soap is left on it.

Why
Wate
r mo It Work
This lecu s:
is cal les stick t
Soap led og
cuts d surface t ether.
tensi ow ensio
on an n on the n.
mole d s ur
cules lets the w face
pepp
er go pull apar ater
es alo t. Th
ng fo e
r the
ride.

17
 ICAL
CAT
“Class, your homework this
AG
UN M weekend is to get your first magical
cat for Show and Spell on Monday!”
Lady Doomthorpe said. “These
brave cats will protect you from
chaos monsters.” Chaos monsters.
Just the sound of the words made
Maria shiver.
The bell rang. While the other
students were lining up at the broom
closet, Maria sprinted toward Purring
Powers Pet Shop, daydreaming of
time-traveling tabbies and cold-
curing calicos. But by the time she
got to the shop, there was only one
cat left . . . and he was hiding behind
a box.
“Sorry,” said the sales warlock.
“You should’ve come by broom.”
Maria groaned. Her parents
wouldn’t let her have a broom until
she passed the flying test. She looked
at the cowering cat. He did not seem
L ADY DOOMTHORPE especially brave or magical.
SCRATCHED the letters C-A-T “What’s his power?” she asked.
into the blackboard with her gnarled, The warlock shrugged. “Who
green fingernails. Maria fidgeted in knows?”
her seat with excitement. Well, any cat was better than
I always wanted to dress up as
a warlock — man who practices
magic or witchcraft. You know, kind
of the opposite of a scientist.
by Siena Leslie
18 Art by Turine Tran
no cat! Maria picked him up. “I’m
going to name him Shalakazoom!”
The warlock frowned. “He doesn’t
really look like a Shalakazoom. He
looks more like a Toby.”
“Mreep?” said the cat. He certainly
didn’t sound like a Shalakazoom.
But that won’t matter, Maria
thought, as soon as his power is
revealed!
¥¥¥
Maria carried her new cat home.
He didn’t do anything magical when
she crossed the street, or when she
turned the corner, or when she
opened the front door. He did hide
under the sofa very quickly but not
quickly enough to be magical.
He spent his first night attacking
her feet under the blankets. It
was annoying but not magically
annoying.
What if Shalakazoom didn’t have
any power at all?

Ah, Halloween. When we

reveal our true selves. Nice classic TV set I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
costume there, Spider. AN AST RONAUT!

19

The next day in the park, all the
witches- and warlocks-in-training
were showing off their new pets.
“My cat can turn any color,” said
Lily DeVour. “Even polka-dotted!”
“My cat can breathe fire,” said
Iggy Toadswallow.
We're ready for the parade!
I'm a little
buttercup!
20
“My cat is the best of all,” said
Moonlight VonDarknessVonStarspell.
“She can control the weather!” A few
snowflakes sprinkled down onto the
playground. “See? She just did that!
What does yours do, Maria Smith?”
Maria looked down at her snow
boots. “It’s a secret,” she muttered.
Why did they have to call her Maria
Smith? It was the most boring, normal
last name in the whole class.
¥¥¥
Maria stomped through the slush
piles and slammed the front door.
Toby—or Shalakazoom—didn’t
seem to have any power at all! She
was about to call the pet shop and
demand a refund, but then she had
an idea.
What if she gave him a power?
Toby was napping on the couch.
Maria snuck up behind him and
pointed her finger. “Invisibilify!” she
shouted. ZAP!
Toby’s tail puffed up like a
bottlebrush. The spell shot straight
toward him and—BING!—bounced
right off.
And I'm the flower off a bottlebrush —
Australian shrub or tree with spiky flowers.
And, moi, I am zee
beautiful royal palm!
 Maria frowned. Toby was not
invisible. Instead, he looked horrified.
His fur was standing up.
Maria’s mom called, “Where did
my car keys go?”
“Whoops,” whispered Maria.
“We need a different spell.”
“Mreep?” said Toby. His voice
was so squeaky! (But not magically
squeaky.)
“Let’s give you something else to
say,” Maria said. She pointed her
finger. “Chatterboxify!”
BONG! The spell bounced off
Toby’s head and into the kitchen.
Maria’s dad shouted, “Why is the
teapot singing opera?”
“Oh no,” said Maria. “OK. I know
I’ll get this one!”
She wiggled her fingers. Toby
followed their movements with
round, worried green eyes. “Flimmity “I can’t do it!” Maria cried. “He’s
FLOAT!” Maria yelled. just not magical at all!”
The spell zoomed toward Toby. She slumped to the floor and
But then it curved suddenly and buried her head in her hands. Her
struck the sofa instead. The sofa Show and Spell was doomed.
rocketed into the air and smashed Then she felt the soft touch of
straight through the ceiling. worried whiskers against her ankle.
And what, pray tell, are you
Y'all went with a Super Rabbit, of course.
supposed to be, Bill?
plant theme, huh?
Por supuesto.

21

She opened her eyes. Toby leapt up
into her lap and peered into her face
with concern.
“It’s OK, Toby,” she said, scratch-
ing him. “Who cares if you aren’t
magical? You’re a good, brave cat. No
chaos monster would ever scare you!”
So how do you feel, Sam?
Still nervous?
22
Toby started to purr, so she gave
him a big tight hug.
He howled, wriggled out of her
arms, and hid under the coffee table.
¥¥¥
On Monday, Maria stepped into
her classroom, Toby’s cat carrier in
hand.
Show and Spell was not going well.
Lily DeVour’s cat was flashing like
a disco ball. Iggy Toadswallow’s cat
had set fire to his backpack. A giant
storm cloud hovered over Moonlight
VonDarknessVonStarspell’s desk,
pouring rain directly onto her head.
“Settle down!” said Lady
Doomthorpe. “Maria Smith, you’ll
go next for Show and Spell.”
Maria took a deep breath and
marched to the front of the
classroom. She dragged Toby out
of his carrier. “I’m Maria Smi—er,
SUPER-SPELL-Smith, and this
is . . . Shalakazoom.”
Lady Doomthorpe frowned.
“He doesn’t really look like a
Shalakazoom,” she said. “He looks
more like a Toby.”
You know what, Spider? I think
this robe is magic.
 Toby tried to wiggle out of
Maria’s arms. She clutched harder.
“That’s his OTHER name,” she said.
“Hmm,” said Lady Doomthorpe.
“What is his power?”
Before Maria could answer, Toby
broke free.
Tail fully fuzzed up, he raced
around the classroom, scattering
pencils and spell books at every turn.
But other things were happening,
too.
Lily’s cat turned a nice, plain black.
Iggy’s backpack stopped flaming. The
storm cloud above Moonlight’s desk,
All my fears have wisped away —
twisted into thin, small pieces.
which had just begun thundering,
dried up and wisped away.
Lady Doomthorpe leapt up in
amazement. “Why, Maria Smith! You
have the most powerful cat of all!”
“She does?” said Moonlight
VonDarknessVonStarspell.
“I do?” said Maria.
“Yes!” said Lady Doomthorpe. She
pointed at Toby, who was trembling
under Maria’s chair. “That, class, is
an ANTI-MAGIC CAT!”
Maria looked around again. Sure
enough, everything had become
surprisingly . . . normal.
Well then, lead the parade, Sammy!
23
 “Anti-magic cats are extremely
powerful,” said Lady Doomthorpe.
“Spells just bounce right off them.
Chaos monsters will be helpless
against that heroic cat!”
Maria’s heart swelled. Toby wasn’t
just normal—he was MAGICALLY
normal! She would be proud to have
him stand bravely by her side . . . that
is as soon as he stopped hiding under
her chair.

24
The Black Cat
by Rolli
Art by Indira Muzbulakova
The black cat laps
the moon up
like a pool of cream.

The white cat fills

the dish up
while the children dream.
text © 2023 by Charles Anderson, art © 2023 by Indira Muzbulakova

25
 Fabulous
Frederic
M Y SHOW WAS terrific—right
up until the last trick.
I had a wooden stage, a top hat,
and my uncle Herbert’s wand. I
pulled quarters out of kids’ ears and
a stuffed rabbit out of my hat. I
read my brother Theodore’s mind.
I made a stream of colored confetti
shoot out of my wand, and I made
a baseball float across the stage.
Around twenty-five people were
in the audience, most of them
kids from the neighborhood. I had
them on the edge of their seats.
But my last trick was my greatest,
my most stupendous.
What I mean is, it was supposed
to be great.
It’s a complicated card trick I
call the Color Switch. It’s not the
fanciest trick I know, but from a and fix his eyes on my hands. He
magician’s point of view, it’s the used to be a professional magician,
hardest. so he knew exactly where to look.
When I announced the trick, I There was only one problem: the
saw Uncle Herbert straighten up Color Switch didn’t work.
This warlock
My costume's only trick was
costume makes me
turning me into an appliance.
want to learn some
real magic tricks.
by Peggy Thorne
26 Art by Jada Rowland

You see, this trick depends on
sleight of hand. I have two decks of
cards that I have to switch—without
the audience seeing. I’d practiced the
trick a lot, of course, but I couldn’t
Me encanta la magia.
I love magic tricks.
do it as well as my other tricks. In
fact, I only got it right about three-
quarters of the time. (The first rule
of being a magician is never to
perform a trick that’s not perfectly
prepared, but I really wanted to
impress my uncle.)
Anyway, the worst thing that
could possibly happen did happen:
the hidden deck fell out of my sleeve
when I was making the switch. So
there they were, fifty-two cards the
audience wasn’t supposed to see,
spilled all over the stage.
Everybody laughed.
I tried to put on a good face,
which is what you have to do when
something goes wrong. I made a joke
and smiled confidently when I took
my bow. Then I called Theodore out
for a bow. He’s a really good sport,
which is why he agreed to be my
assistant for the mind-reading trick.
Incredible as it might seem, he’d
rather draw pictures than do magic.
Theodore is my identical twin, but
my dad always says you couldn’t find
two people more different anywhere.
Sam, you could practice
sleight of hand — the skill
of moving the hands quickly
and cleverly, usually to fool
audiences, like in magic tricks
with cards and coins.
27
 After the show, Theodore and Uncle Herbert helped
me clean up. Uncle Herbert told me I’d done a terrific
job, which I knew was basically true, and then asked me
to do the sleight of hand for the card trick I’d goofed up.
I did it for him, and it worked pretty well, but Uncle
Herbert just shook his head. “Not smooth enough,” he
said. “You’re good with your hands, Fred, but you’re only
ten years old. They’re just not big enough for palming
cards. If you keep practicing, though, you’ll be able to do
that trick expertly—in another four years or so.”
Four years. That was a discouraging thought.
I looked at Uncle Herbert’s hands. They’re big and
long-fingered. As the Fabulous Franzetti, sleight of hand

Maybe you You'll need to get good at palming — Palming eez not zo difficult, actually.
could start by hiding things in the hand.
learning some So, that weevil
card tricks. taught me a
magic trick.

28
 tricks had been his specialty. I can remember seeing him
brush his hand across a table and make an entire deck
of cards disappear—just like magic. That was years
ago, before his arthritis got bad enough that he’d
had to retire.
The Fabulous Franzetti was looking at me kindly.
“Maybe you should play to your strengths,” he said.
“My strengths?”
“You have something very special—
something almost no other magician has.”
Then he nodded his head at my brother,
Theodore.
I looked at Theodore and knew
exactly what Uncle Herbert was
thinking. “It wouldn’t work,” I
said. “Everybody in the
neighborhood knows us.”
“Your show is terrific—good
enough to take on the road. In
fact, I have an excellent idea
where you could start.”
✪✪✪
So that’s how Fabulous Frederic’s
Magnificent Magic Show wound up
at the Glenville Retirement Home.
It had a big auditorium with a real
stage. About a hundred people
showed up.
Okey dokey. I think I have one left,
Vaya! Show us, Bill!
! Show us! Show us! Anybuggy have somewhere here.
a five-dollar
bill?

29
 I did the same show I’d done in
my backyard, with two differences.
First, instead of reading my brother’s
mind, I read my sister Amanda’s.
She wore her silver gymnastics outfit,
and the crowd loved her.
Second, I replaced the Color
Switch with Instant Teleportation.
My new trick worked like this: I
wheeled a coatrack with a black
velvet curtain out to the center of
the stage. I pulled the curtain aside
to show the audience there was
nothing behind it. Then I stepped
past it with a showy twirl of my
cape and snapped the curtain shut
behind me.
My father was waiting at the
back of the auditorium. As soon as
I snapped the curtain shut, he rang
a bell and set off a camera flash.
The noise and the light made
everybody turn to the back of the
auditorium. Then Theodore stepped
into the aisle. He was dressed
exactly like me, and, of course,
everybody thought he was me.

Uh . . . Spider. Now watch very carefully as it

magically disappears . . .
Here.

30
 He bowed to the crowd and
then walked down to the stage.
Everyone stared at him while I
stepped back from the coatrack
and disappeared backstage. When
Theodore reached the stage, he
grandly pulled the curtain aside to
show that no one was there.
The crowd went wild. From their
point of view, it looked like I had
stepped behind the curtain and then
instantly appeared at the back of the
auditorium.
Amanda ran up onstage with
Theodore then, and the two of
them took their bows. Everybody
stood up and clapped, which
didn’t surprise me. It was a great
trick.
I was backstage, of course,
while Theodore and Amanda
were getting all the applause, but
that didn’t matter. The Fabulous
Franzetti patted me on the back
and told me he was glad I was
using his wand. That was enough
for me.

Bill! Come back here!

AH HA HA HA!

31
 Growing Fruit
David W., age 6 Maren M., age 10 Eleanor N., age 7
Champaign, Illinois Saint Paul, Minnesota Hilo, Hawaii
The Giant Watermelon Just a small seed. The Life Cycle of an
Once I planted a watermelon seed. Then a sprout. Apple Tree
I pulled out all the weed. Growing, growing, growing. An apple grows on a tree
I watered it every day, Leaves reaching toward the sun. High above for all to see.
until it blossomed in May. Stems become trunks and branches. An apple starts as a seed.
One of the flowers grew Extending to different places. It grows if it gets all that it needs.
into a tiny green ball, Next flowers start to open. Now what does a seed really need?
which grew and grew until it Budding, blooming, blossoming. It needs sun, soil, water,
was ten meters tall. Little fruit takes place of flowers. Even though sun is hotter than water.
The giant watermelon was precious Finally ready to pick. Now you know the cycle of awesome apples.
and quite scrumptious! Go tell you mom’s possums.
Frances K., age 9
Adelaide R., age 7 Brooklyn, New York Sophie G., age 8
Dallas, Texas Hampton, New Hampshire
My Journey
Mango Tree I’m a little seed going on my journey. I’m a blueberry growing in the sun.
Mango tree, mango tree I ride on a carpet of wind, It is really very fun.
Sitting right above me carried away to a place where I can rest, I’m very important, too.
Looks so high and when I do, My morning drink is dew.
In the sky I shall sleep and sleep and sleep Plant some more seeds.
till the wind blows and the sun is warm They are one of Earth’s needs.
Oh, mango tree, and the dew on my green velvet suit Remember to take out weeds.
Your yummy fruit shimmers like diamonds Just plant a single pea.
Mango tree, mango tree and I have something of my own to do.
Your sweet inside
Mango tree,
Oh, mango tree

Dear Sonya, Dear Bill,

This is my first time writing a letter. I This is Suzie. She eats carrots and leftovers.
loved your 2022 Halloween costume. Be happy she spits candy, not grossed out!
What do you want to be? I want to be an Natalie L., age 7
author because I love writing. via email
Hope Hendrickson, age 9
Melissa, Texas Dear Spider,
I looove your magazines. They are so
Dear Hope, detailed. Could you make a magazine about
I want to be a helicopter pilot. Authors cats? Please? Have a great time making
are awesome, too! magazines!
Love, Pranavi, age 7
Sonya via email

Dear Thistle and Ophelia, Dear Ophelia and Thistle,

Please adopt my ghost, Coco. She’s only
a baby. She eats healthy fruits and candy.
I want to be Thistle’s pen pal if she can
write. This is my first time writing to you.
Inga W., age 8
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dear Inga,
I love to write back to anyone who writes
to me. I look forward to hearing from you
and any other readers soon! Coco is cool.
Your pen pal,
32 Thistle
This is my first time writing, and I wanted
my first time to be to Thistle and Ophelia.
Can you add a cat activity for “Ophelia’s Last
Word” please? I really like cats. What is your
fave color, Thistle? Mine is purple.
Willow B., age 9
Marshall, North Carolina
Dear Pranavi and Willow,
We hope you like the magical cats in this
issue. Thistle’s favorite color is purple, too.
Abracadabra!
Ophelia
 Anneka M., age 9 Greta G., age 8
San Antonio, Texas San Diego, California
Growing Fruit Loquat
I grow the lemon.
I grow the watermelon. Loquat
I eat the orange. So yummy

Con
Planted a seed
Haadi N., age 10 Takes years to grow

tes
Westlake, Ohio Have you ever tried one?

tR
They are tart and sweet Her Dra
1. e are t
wa

ule
Growing Apples They look like apricots You he o pictur
Growing my apple seed under the sun e of
Worth the wait gua r entry nly ru
s
Ready for my hard work to eventually pay off l am
Healthy fruit r dian mus s: e agic
Observantly watching for signs of growth Loquat 2. a n d / o r
, a u t
t b e ian
or w
Be
Watering my tree every single day sur online horizin signed izar
3.
Intently, I wait for apples to blossom a n e t a
d ad o in nd s its p y a g b d.
Not much later, many apples appear You dre clud ayi u b par
s e yo ng it licat nt o e
Growing apples takes hard work. We r entry s. ur c ’s yo ion i r leg
w i m om n a
issu l pul
e of blis
ust a
rriv plet ur own print l
Mary M., age 8 Em e nam dea i
a Spi h ou e by
sen il you der e, a .
Orange, California d it r en . r favor Octobe ge,
to S try ites r 25
Apple tree, apple tree, please grow. pid to sp in t ,
he F 2023
Cor ider@
I am hungry. Hurry. Make apples. er’s
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, P. ricke
Be tough, be strong, and fight the birds! ner y 20
O. B tm 24
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135
4.

Dear Spider and the Gang, Dear Auntie Aparna, Dear Spider,
I love your costumes and the “Corncob I have some questions. Auntie Aparna, Could you adopt Lila? She is a hamster.
Lob” (October 2022). Happy Halloween. how old are you? (No offense!) Spider, what She loves candy corn. I like the barbecue grill
Zechariah is your least favorite thing? Sam, what is costume (October 2022)! I like candy corn.
San Antonio, Texas your favorite game? Betsy J., age 7
Also, can you adopt Peppermint and Marietta, Georgia
Dear Bill, Lion? Lion would prefer to go to P.S. Why don’t you like candy corn?
What is your favorite candy? What kind Ophelia, and Peppermint would
of spider is Spider? like to go to Auntie Aparna. Lion Dear Betsy,
Will you adopt Kyber? He is a cat made and Peppermint both love the Candy corn is too pointy! Chocolate is
out of kyber crystals. moon and stargazing but smoothly scrumptious. Thanks for Lila.
Max Allen, age 9 disagree a lot. They fight most Ciao,
Bend, Oregon of the time. I hope to see you Spider
all soon!
Dear Max, Clara Kohl, age 9 Dear Spider,
I love ALL candy. Spider is a trickster Port Angeles, Washington Can you adopt Camazots? He’s a bat.
spider. Thanks for Kyber. He likes to eat ham. NEVER let him go outside.
Your candy-craving buddy, Dear Clara, Avianna
Bill I’m old enough to know better. Spider Fort Worth, Texas
says his least favorite thing might be candy P.S. Those fangs are sharp!
Dear Sam, corn, and Sam really likes to play “Sam’s Send your letters to
Will you please adopt June? She is Shimmer” (on page 34). We’ll take good Spider’s Mailbox
an orange tabby cat. She only eats care of Peppermint and Lion and try to help P.O. Box 300
blackberries and cheddar cheese. them learn to get along. Peru, IL 61354
(If you feed her wrong, she goes wild.) Sincerely, Please write your complete name, age, and address
Annabelle B., age 9 Auntie Aparna on your letter! You can also send us mail
Lake Forest, Illinois at spider@cricketmedia.com.
33
 ,
OPHELI A S LAST WORD

Sam’s Shimmer
SAM’S WIZARD COSTUME needs some sparkles to make it more
magical. In this game for two players, speed to make Sam shine.

What You’ll Need:

1 game die

15 sequins in a different
15 sequins in the color or shape
same color or shape

What to Do:
1. Each player grabs a pile of 15 matching sequins.
Whoever rolls the highest number goes first.

2. On your turn, roll the die. Place your sequins on

uncovered numbers to total the number you
rolled. For example, if you roll a 3,
you may do one of the following:

• Put a sequin on a 3.

• Put a sequin on a 2,
and put a second sequin
on a 1.

• Put a sequin on a 1, put a

second sequin on a different
1, and put a third sequin on
another 1.

Special Rules:
• If you place your sequin on a moon, also
remove any one of the other player’s sequins
and return it to their pile.

• If there are not uncovered numbers that

add up to exactly what you rolled, you
lose your turn.

3. Keep taking turns until someone runs

out of sequins. That player wins!

L ove, a
li
Ophe
34
Buggy Bulletin Q. W ha t d
while pu
id

A. Abra-cat-
M
rr
ew-dini the
-form
dabra!
ing
magician sa
the purr-fe ct tr
y
ick?

Lucky Number 7 to
vorite jokes
Answer to THIS TREMENDOUS TRICK’S real magic lies S end your fa edia.com!
Magical Mischief
in its ketm
cleverness. spider@cric
What You’ll Need:
3 craft sticks
a table
an audience
What to Do:
1. Set 3 craft sticks on the table. Announce to your
audience that you possess the power to transform
these 3 ordinary sticks into 7. Boast that to accom
plish
this astonishing feat, you will not break any sticks
or
add anything to the table.
2. Move to the same side of the table as your
audience. Place the first stick horizontally. Set the
end of the second stick on the right end of the first
stick to form a wide angle. Lay the third stick on
the lower end of the second stick to form a long line.
Ta-da! You’ve made the shape of the number 7.
3. Take a bow to thunderous applause or maybe just
groans and headshakes.

Learn a language with us!

You choose a teacher.
You choose a time.
You choose what to learn.
We’ll make it fun!

Visit cricketmedia.com/elearning/kids
and get started with a trial lesson!
We offer live instruction in 11+ languages.

A magazine for every age and interest!

Learn more and subscribe at
shop.cricketmedia.com.

35
5. Show your audience a bit of magic by waving the wallet
over your head and saying “hocus-pocus.” Here’s the
trick: Quickly flip the wallet over, and your secret is safe.
Now open the wallet—and the coin is gone! But be sure
to make the money (or whatever you’ve borrowed from a
member of your audience) reappear. That way, you’ll be
sure to have an eager audience for your next magic show!
Fold up the flaps of the empty side of the wallet, distract
the audience once again, and flip the wallet. Now the
coin has magically reappeared!
 A

A
HOCUS-POCUS WALLET
Text and Art by Loek Koopmans
AMAZE AND ASTOUND your friends with this
magic trick that takes just one coin and a little
imagination!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

scissors
glue

WHAT TO DO:
1. Cut out the two pieces along the solid lines.
2. Place the star pattern facedown. Fold the left and
right flaps of the first wallet on the dotted lines,
toward the middle so that they overlap. Now fold in
the top and bottom flaps. Repeat with the second
piece, making sure that your folds line up with the
other half of your wallet.
3. Glue sides A together as shown.
Let dry.
4. Are you ready for a little hocus-pocus?
Gather your friends, and ask a member
of your audience for a coin, piece of paper,
or other small flat object that you will then
make disappear. Put the coin in the center of
the top square. Fold in the side, top, and bottom
flaps.

Directions continued on the back.

 Magical SONYa ’s

October 2023 Volume 30 Number 8 cricketmedia.com $6.95

Art by Jane Dippold Answer on page 35