Joanne Ryder

In this story, the first grade is jealous that grade four is going on a field trip, and the teacher has an idea for the first graders to plant a garden for a special activity. The children have a bake sale to raise money for the garden, their parents help, and the garden begins to grow. Grade four tramples the garden and then fixes it for the first graders. The story ends with a harvest vegetable party to which the fourth graders are invited. Gabe's grandma has a special role by helping first graders so much. The birds and ladybugs help by eating bugs that eat plants. The teacher tells the class that ladybugs are a garden's best friend. She also tells the students they are also a garden's best friend and calls them "first-grade ladybugs."… (mehr)