Mr. Dutton has his students work together to create a class book. They draw a picture and write a page about the things they like to do and don't like to do. They all have different responses. When class puts the pages together, everyone agrees on the cover.
Julia just moved to town and is having trouble reading in school because she speaks mostly Spanish. Julia's friend Haley tries to help Julia read but doesn't understand why it's so hard for Julia. Later, Haley visits a Spanish market and has trouble reading. Julia decides to teach Haley Spanish.
Every day at school, April eats lunch and plays at recess with her two friends Rosa and Joy. April wants to include new girl Maria at lunch and recess. However, April doesn't include Maria because she doesn't think her friends Joy and Rosa want to.
The people in Warren, Vermont, celebrate every Fourth of July by having a big parade. In one part of Warren, Prickly Mountain, the people create floats every year that have included a giant American flag, a giant bald eagle, a flooded Mad River, and a big ship.
Ramon had to leave Cuba and move to Florida by himself until his parents could meet him later. At first, he lived in a camp with other children. Then he moved to Arizona to live with a foster family. Four months later, his parents joined him.
On the last day of school, Ms. Miller's class helps her pack up things in her classroom. As they pack, they talk about what they did during the year, often recalling something that went wrong. At the end, Ms. Miller makes a list of the students' suggestions for next year's class.
Carlos is often called upon to help students in his class who do not speak English. He used to be proud to help others, but now he is beginning to resent the intrusion this responsibility has on his life. When his teacher asks him to work with another new student, he finally approaches her with the idea of having Marta, someone who used to need his help, be the one to help the new student. His idea ends up being good for everyone concerned.
Janise's new school has one thing in common with all the other schools she has attended: it has a bully. Janise encourages the kids in her class to stand up to Derrick. But when he picks on her, she doesn't follow her own advice. To her surprise, the other kids come to her defense. They have come to realize Derrick feels left out and doesn't know how to make friends.
Sam is the new kid in school
the only kid from Earth at a school on another planet. The alien children find Sam's looks and actions strange, and Sam has a hard time fitting in. The alien students try to apply the Golden Rule to make Sam feel more accepted, but they soon learn that what is desirable in one culture may not be desirable in another culture. In the end, the aliens learn that the simplest way to find out about another culture is to ask.
