We’re excited to share an extra special interview in the latest issue of CRICKET Magazine.
For over 50 years, CRICKET has published magazines that excite and inspire young minds. Last year, the kid-safe streaming platform Sensical joined our Cricket family, and we can’t wait to share our wonderful Sensical creators and video recommendations with you!
The January/February 2026 issue of CRICKET is all about value. What makes something “worth it,” and can absolute value truly be defined? In our special feature “What Makes It Matter,” we sit down with Sensical creators Abdallah Smash and Hevesh5 (Lily Hevesh) to learn more about what they make, build, and play– and why they love it.
Spotlight on Abdallah Smash
As you might have guessed, Abdallah Smash is not actually his real name. He’s actually called Abdallah Elayan and hails from Utah, where he plays video games for a living! You (or your kids) may have seen one of his 50+ family-friendly gaming series, playing Donkey Kong Bananza, Sonic Frontiers, Super Mario Odyssey, and more.
When asked to share his personal philosophy about value in video games, he said, “Gaming means something different to everyone. Competitors prize victory, collectors chase rare items, and explorers look for secrets and story. I like to finish a game’s main story first, then return for side quests if the world is worth revisiting. Other players talk to every NPC (non-player character), scour every corner, and complete every challenge before moving on. That’s what makes gaming so personal and fun; there’s no one right way to play.”
How do you like to explore the worlds of your favorite video games? Do you and your kids like to watch streamers who play the way you do, or who approach your favorite games differently?
Check out Abdallah Smash’s gaming content here on Sensical!
Spotlight on Hevesh5
You may have gone your entire life without knowing that “professional domino artist” is a real job option! Massachusetts-based Lily Hevesh, better known as Hevesh5, is a master of her craft, creating mind-boggling designs and patterns using dominos and garnering over 2 billion views.
We won’t be surprised if you’re surprised to find that domino art can be so popular, but as Lily herself says, “I think the coolest moments are when you’re brave enough to love something even when no one else does—and then you discover other people who love it, too.” That’s an amazing outlook on life if we’ve ever heard one!
In fact, seeing things from a different perspective can help you create amazing things. In her own words, “To some people, a domino is just a small plastic tile. To me, it’s a reusable building block for creating elaborate sculptures and designs.”
How can Lily inspire you to see the beauty and potential in everyday objects?
Check out Hevesh5’s domino art content here on Sensical!
Explore Even More!
You can find the full article from CRICKET Magazine in our online portal here. Look for the story titled “What Makes It Matter!”
To read more about our children’s magazines and how Sensical and our Reading Stars app relate to them, check out this blog post!
Explore all of our award-winning kids’ magazines here!
We’d love to hear your thoughts about what truly matters to you and how you measure value in your own life.
Thank you to Abdallah and Lily for taking the time to speak to us for this issue!
