A boy discovers he has much to learn while observing plants with his older sister -- a story about cultivating patience and letting knowledge grow. As a boy walks around the neighborhood with his older, green-thumbed sister, she tells him all about the plants they see -- magnolias that smell like lemon cake, quince trees that will bloom the most beautiful red, daffodils that are the flower of Mother's Day, and even dandelions, whose greens can be eaten with spaghetti! How does his sister know so much? And how can she tell whether a plant is a flower, vegetable or weed, anyway? The boy's head spins as he realizes how vast the universe is and how much there is to learn ... until he resolves to let his knowledge grow in its own way and time, just like the mysterious plants he has decided to nurture in the garden. Key Text Features dialogue illustrations Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

In this exploration of what it truly means to swim, expansive vignettes introduce sandpipers, tannin-soaked lakes, and the feeling of a small waterfall on sun-soaked shoulders. But what about those who are afraid of the water's mysterious ways and resist learning to swim?

Angie is used to helping her dad. Ever since they moved to Canada, he relies on her to translate for him from English to Chinese. Angie is happy to help: when they go to restaurants, at the grocery store, and, one day, when her dad needs help writing some signs for his work. Building off her success with her dad's signs, Angie offers her translation skills to others in their community. She's thrilled when her new business takes off, until one of her clients says he's unhappy with her work. When her dad offers to help, she can't imagine how he could. Working together, they find a surprising solution, fixing the problem in a way Angie never would have predicted.