"I really like your magazine. I almost scream when I get a new one." So began one 9-year-old Spider subscriber's letter published in a recent issue, and such enthusiasm from fans is common and understandable. Geared to ages 6 to 9, this literary magazine, populated throughout its margins by its host cast of cartoon insect characters led by googly-eyed Spider, is a notably smart and funny compendium of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and artwork by talented writers and artists; as well as word puzzles, recipes, games, and crafts. Some of the content takes aim squarely at funny bones; some invites thoughtful contemplation; and some opens a window on the world at large, with stories and poems about the customs and everyday life of other cultures (Diwali, the Indian New Year and Festival of Lights, for example, the spectacle of human tower-building in Barcelona, Spain; a retelling of a Maasai folktale from Kenya). And as always, each issue devotes page space to the original artwork and writing submitted by fans.