Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate autumn, with its falling leaves, crisp mornings, and gusty breezes.

On the first day of school, as the children in Miss Lucinda's class introduce themselves and name their special talent, Jack wonders if he is good at anything.

Members of Theo's class help him understand his feelings about becoming a big brother.

Mr. Tanen loves his ties, but when his school runs out of money to build a new playground, he decides to sell his ties in order to raise the needed money.

El and Jo are the smallest students in their class-and best friends, too, like peas in a pod. Even their names are short. But in springtime, something BIG happens: Jo starts growing like a weed, while El feels smaller every day. On the last day of school, their teacher asked every child to pick a plant to care for over the summer. All the other kids reach over El to grab their plant, and she has to take the very last one: a tiny, flowerless aster....

"There was a time in the United States when children with disabilities weren't allowed to go to public school. But in 1971, seven kids and their families wanted to do something about it. They knew that every child had a right to an equal education, so they went to court to fight for that right. The case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia led to laws ensuring children with disabilities would receive a free public education. Janine...

When Wanda discovers a thornbush growing in an empty lot, she's quite sure it's a rosebush ready to bloom. So she clears away the trash, checks on it every day, and brings water.

When calamity stalks every step of the preparations for the Tappletons' Thanksgiving dinner, they realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than turkey and trimmings.