Happy Birthday, Cricket!

I met you first when I was seven
And read in awe as you took me to heaven.
From Old Cricket’s wisdom to Ladybug’s sass,
You always managed to make me laugh.
Month after month, and year after year,
I read you cover to cover and forgot every fear.
You’ve been my friend always, through high and low,
You’ve taken me places I thought I’d never go.
You’ve opened my eyes to the world and life,
You were my shoulder to cry on when I felt strife.
With you I swam with sea cows and traveled through time,
I napped with cats and experimented with slime.
From Russia to China to Japan to Peru,
With kittens, horses, and butterflies, too.
Thank you, Cricket, the leader, and Zoot, the shrew,
George, you add a lot, and Tail does, too.
Pudding, your light shines through without fail;
Sluggo, you will always be my favorite snail.
And of course, I also love Pussywillow and Marty,
And who could forget Tater, the smarty.
Another shout out to Ladybug and Old Cricket, and finally,
I just want to say that you all mean a lot to me.
So this is my chance, at last, to say
To my favorite mag: A very happy birthday!