APRIL 2024

“There are many ways to dance—and a pen can make a fun partner. For this month’s contest, put on some music you like, grab a pen, crayon, or paintbrush, and let your fingers dance beautiful patterns across the page. Send us your dance-infused drawing, and we’ll fill a dance hall with the most delightful in an upcoming issue of ASK.”

1. Your child’s contest entry must be their very own work. Ideas and words should not be copied.
2. Be sure to include your child’s name, age, and address on your entry.
3. Only one entry per person, please.
4. If you want your child’s work returned, please help them enclose an addressed, stamped envelope.
5. Your child’s entry must be signed or emailed by yourself or another parent or legal guardian, saying it’s their own work and that no one helped them, and that ASK has permission to publish their work in print and online.
6. For information on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, see the Privacy Policy page at cricketmedia.com.
7. Email a photo or scan of your child’s artwork to: ask@cricketmedia.com. Entries must be emailed by April 30, 2024.
8. We will publish the winning entries in an upcoming issue of ASK.

MAY/JUNE 2024

“In this Cricket, it seems like everyone has something to hide! A talented tortoise conceals her human form in “The Tortoise Bride.” In “Three Aunties,” trolls disguise themselves to helpa princess trick a mean queen. Shiko in “The Lonely Girl” discovers something—or other someone—hiding in her new house. For this month’s contest, everybuggy would love to read your best poem about hiding.

Will you write about a hidden talent or secret superpower? A secret identity or a hidden message? Maybe you’ll explore struggling to cover up a sad situation like how Sarah in “The Spook House” hides where she lives from her classmates or Gillian in “A New and Distant Star” hides from her family that she did not get a part in the school play. You could rhyme about aliens, ghosts, or shapeshifters lurking among us or magical creatures, sorcerers, or royalty in disguise. You might be inspired by a turtle hiding in its shell or another animalusing camouflage to hide in plain sight.

Whatever you decide, all the bugs in Cricket Country just can’t hide their excitement to read your wonderful words. They’ll be sticking close to the mailbox in hopes that you don’t hide your poetic talent. Proudly share your best poem—of 24 lines or fewer, please—about hiding.”

1. Your child’s contest entry must be their very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied.
2. Your child’s entry must be signed by yourself or another parent or guardian, stating that it is their own work, that no help was given, and that CRICKET has permission to publish it in the magazine and on our website.
3. Be sure to include your child’s name, age, and full address on their entry.
4. Only one entry per person, please.
5. If you want their work returned, enclose an addressed, stamped envelope for each entry.
6. Your child’s entry must be received by May 30, 2024.
7. Send entries to cricket@cricketmedia.com
8. We will publish winning entries in the October 2024 issue.

APRIL 2024

“Great apes can play games, use tools, and show emotion. And the more we observe them, the more we learn. Who knows what other human-like behaviors we might discover? Draw or paint us a picture of a great ape doing a human task, silly or realistic. Maybe an orangutan ordering an omelet? A bonobo banging the bongos? Whatever you think up, send us your artwork, and we’ll fill a forest with your amazing apes in an upcoming issue of MUSE.”

MAY/JUNE 2024

“Draw a picture of a vegetable garden.”

1. Your child’s entry must be signed by yourself, another parent, or legal guardian, authorizing its publication in print and/or online and saying it’s their own idea.
2. Be sure to include your child’s complete name, age, and address.
3. Your child’s entry must arrive by May 25, 2024. We will publish our favorites in the October 2024 issue of SPIDER.