PENGUIN WORKSHOP

  An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York

  First published in the United States of America by Penguin Workshop,

  an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York, 2022

  Text copyright © 2022 by Kelly Starling Lyons

  Cover illustration copyright © 2022 by Vanessa Brantley Newton

  Illustrations copyright © 2022 by Penguin Random House LLC

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  PENGUIN is a registered trademark and PENGUIN WORKSHOP is a trademark of Penguin Books Ltd, and the W colophon is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 9780593226490 (paperback)

  ISBN 9780593226506 (library binding)

  ISBN 9780593226513 (ebook)

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One: Ready, Set, Pop Pop

  Chapter Two: Into the Woods

  Chapter Three: Prickly Situation

  Chapter Four: A Different View

  Chapter Five: The Climb

  Chapter Six: Up, Up, and Away

  Chapter Seven: Just You and Me

  Jada’s Rules for Being a Nature Lover

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  For my grandfather, who loved naming bugs and animals and soaking in nature—KSL

  To my family and friends—NM

  Chapter One:

  Ready, Set, Pop Pop

  “Whoa. What’s the rush, Jada?” Daddy asked.

  I looked down and couldn’t believe I’d already gobbled my two supersize banana pancakes.

  “They were delicious,” I said as I hurried to the sink. I blasted water on my flowered plate and stuck it in the dishwasher. My plate and silverware clattered as I slammed the door shut.

  “Careful, Jada,” Mom said. “I know you’re excited, but you have time. Pop Pop won’t arrive for another twenty minutes.”

  “Sorry,” I said, and zipped upstairs to grab the purple backpack I stocked last night.

  Water, snacks, journal, and my four-in-one pen for notes. I was all set. Field trip day with Pop Pop! I didn’t want to miss a minute.

  I raced down the stairs, stuck my paper bag lunch in my backpack, and stood by the door. I couldn’t believe Pop Pop was going to be one of our chaperones on the nature trail. I’d finally get to show him off to my friends—and show him what I knew about plants and bugs.

  “You get to have all the fun,” my little brother, Jackson, said, scrunching his eyebrows as he stood beside me. “Why do you get to take Pop Pop on a field trip and I don’t?”

  “Bet he’ll chaperone your next one,” I said. “Just ask him.”

  I peeked out the window and squealed when I saw Betsy Brown Sugar, Pop Pop’s station wagon, pulling up. Right on time.

  “He’s here!” I yelled to Mom and Dad. I had my hand on the doorknob, about to head out, when I heard Mom’s voice.

  “Let him come in for a minute,” Mom said. “He might want something to eat.”

  I sighed and shuffled my feet. Felt like forever before he finally came through the door.

  “Hey there, Lady Bug,” he called when he saw me. His hug was like a cozy blanket.

  Jax hung back, poking out his lip.

  “Who’s this? I know that’s not my grandson looking all salty,” he said.

  Jax cracked a smile and ran over to him. No one can stay mad when Pop Pop is around. He lifted Jax into his arms.

  “I know you want to go, too,” he said. “We’re going to do something special when we get back. Just you and me.”

  Jax looked at me with a satisfied grin. Now I was the one feeling left out.

  “You want something to eat, Dad?” Mom asked, kissing his cheek.

  “I had a little something something. I think we better get on the road. Right, Lady Bug?”

  I smiled and nodded. That’s all he needed to say.

  “Bye!” I yelled as I rushed out to his car. Time to get this party started.

  “Let’s see,” Pop Pop said, pretending to think through some options. “What should we play on the way?”

  “You know.”

  We always kicked off our drives with the same two songs. Old-school and new-school versions of “Before I Let Go.” We started with his favorite, the original by Frankie Beverly and Maze, and ended with mine, by Beyoncé.

  “So tell me about this nature walk,” he said.

  “We’re going to learn about trees, animals, insects, and plants. There’s even a zip line we can ride at the end.”

  “Now, that’s what’s up—way up,” he said, laughing. “You’ll be able to see the whole park. Nothing like looking at nature from overhead. You know I’ve zip-lined in the islands, in the mountains. You get a different view and appreciation for how wonderful the world is. I can’t wait to see you fly.”

  Way up? I’ve been on zip lines before at indoor playgrounds. They weren’t that high. I hoped this one was like those. Pop Pop would be so impressed.

  When we pulled up at school, teachers, kids, and chaperones were clustered on the sidewalk near the buses. Some adults sipped from coffee cups. Some kids laughed with friends. Others rubbed their eyes and yawned. I scanned the fourth-grade kids and teachers, searching for my class.

  “There’s Simone and Lena! You have to meet them,” I said, grabbing Pop Pop’s hand.

  “Hey, Jada,” Simone said when we walked up. “Like my look?” She twirled to give a full view of her gray boots dotted with rhinestones and blue camo shirt. Simone has the coolest style. Getting fancy for a trail walk was so her.

  “Love it,” I said. “This is my Pop Pop. He’s coming on the trip with us. He grew up on a farm in West Virginia and knows all about nature. He used to take my mom and Uncle Rob camping. He taught them how to fish and garden. He even used to be a park ranger for a while.”

  “I don’t know everything about nature,” he said, laughing. “But I do love the outdoors.”

  “I do, too,” Lena said. “My mom and I walk at the park near our house every weekend. Sometimes we have a picnic. I wonder if we can sit in the grass and eat lunch today or if we’re sitting at tables.”

  “Picnics are fun,” Simone said. Then, she wrinkled her nose. “But nature would be better without all the bugs. Ants, spiders, crickets—they give me the creeps. Butterflies are cool, but everything else has got to go.”

  I peeked at Pop Pop. I knew he wasn’t feeling that. He says every living thing is special and has a purpose. He gives names to each one he sees. Sasha Squirrel. Rory Raccoon. Bakari Bee.

  “I see we have some work to do,” he said to Simone. “We’ll try our best to open your mind. Right, Jada?”

  “Yes, sir,” I said. I was ready to get started. Operation Show Simone That Nature Is Awesome was on.

  We boarded the buses. The adults sat together. I plopped next to Lena, and Simone sat next to Gabi. Miles and RJ were in the row in front of us.

  “Did you get the permission slip signed for the zip line?” I heard Simone ask Gabi. “I can’t wait. I heard you get to ride from tree to tree.”

  Zip-lining through the trees? That must have been what Pop Pop was talking about when he said “way up.” Suddenly I got that stomach-dropping-to-your-feet feeling that hits when you’re about to hop on a super-steep roller coaster.

  “You gonna try it, Jada?” Simone turned and asked me.

  I was just about to shrug when I caught Pop Pop smiling at me. I bet seeing me on the zip line, soaring like a bird, would make him proud. I took a breath and pushed away my doubts.

  “Sure,” I said, nodding.

  Nothing was going to ruin my day with Pop Pop. Not even my nerves.

  Chapter Two:

  Into the Woods

  When we pulled up at the park, our teacher, Miss Taylor, divided us into groups. Lena, Simone, me, Miles, Gabi, and RJ were together. Pop Pop and Mrs. Lewis, Miles’s mom, would be our chaperones. Mrs. Lewis is the head of an explorer club Miles belongs to. With her and Pop Pop as our guides, navigating the trail would be a snap.

  We each had a worksheet, pencil, and clipboard for the scavenger hunt. We had to try to find the objects and creatures on our paper—bird, flower, bark, lily pad, acorn, spiderweb, moss, nest, and more.

  “Okay, everyone, pick a buddy and let’s get going,” Mrs. Lewis said.

  Lena liked nature as much as I did. It would be fun to search with her. But I knew just who my partner should be.

  “Simone, want to hunt with me?” I asked.

  “Sure,” she said. “We’re gonna beat everybody.”

  I looked at Lena and Gabi laughing and Miles and RJ leaning against a fence, talking.

  “I don’t think it’s a race,” I said. “But you’re right, we make a great team.”

  We linked arms and headed down the wooded path.

  Pop Pop paused and looked overhead.

  “Shhh,” he said, facing us and holding a finger to his lips. “Listen.”

  Our voices shut off like someone flipped a switch. We heard the cheer, cheer, cheer of a bird. We looked up at branches, at the rocks and twigs on the ground. Nothing.

  “It sounds like someone pushed the remote to find their car,” Simone said, giggling.

  “Yep,” I said. “It’s kind of like a whistle, too.”

  Cheer. Cheer. Cheer.

  “Birds can be hard to spot sometimes,” Mrs. Lewis whispered, scanning the area to figure out where the call was coming from.

  “I see it!” Simone yelled. Her face lit up as she pointed to a flash of red in the leaves.

  “That’s how you do it, Simone,” Pop Pop said, winking at me. “Anyone know what kind of bird that is?”

  “A cardinal,” she said with pride.

  “Nice work, Miss Simone,” Pop Pop said. “That’s Carl the Cardinal, all right. I think somebody was tricking me about not being into nature.”

  She looked down and grinned. Not Simone being shy!

  “Come on, Jada,” she said, grabbing my hand. “What else do we need to find?”

  Mushrooms were next on our list. We searched the ground but came up empty. Just when we were ready to move on, we heard Lena.

  “Moss!” she called out. “We found moss.”

  Everyone rushed over to see the green carpet of plants growing on the base of a tree. Lena checked it off on her list.

  “Is it true that moss only grows on the north side?” Gabi asked.

  I knew the answer to that one. But Lena beat me to it.

  “Sometimes it’s on the north side,” she said. “Sometimes it isn’t.”

  Lena circled the tree.

  “See, on this one, it’s all the way around. Moisture is what makes it grow.”

  Pop Pop smiled and nodded. I could tell he was impressed. He volunteers at state parks whenever he can. He loves nature facts.

  “Did you know that moss can grow on rocks and soil, too?” I asked Simone.

  “Really? That’s cool,” she said.

  I looked around and hoped that Pop Pop was listening. But he was talking to Lena and Gabi. I sighed and waited for my next chance to share what I knew.

  Miles and RJ were ahead of the group. I saw them pointing at something out of view.

  “Come on back, boys,” Mrs. Lewis said.

  “Can we go to the pond, Mom?” Miles asked. “The sign says it’s right around the bend.”

  “Okay,” Mrs. Lewis said, “before we get there, what are we looking for?”

  We studied our papers and rattled off the items. Then we rushed down the trail and headed for the wooden footbridge. We lined the railing and peered at the green water.

  “Look at that turtle,” Miles said.

  It was gliding on the surface with its legs spread out and brown shell glistening. As we gazed around us, we found everything we needed. Lily pad. Fish. Ducks. They were all here.

  A dragonfly lingered nearby before zipping across the pond. Its lacy wings sparkled in the light.

  “What do we know about dragonflies?” Mrs. Lewis asked.

  “They’re great at flying,” Miles answered in a flash.

  “That’s right,” Pop Pop said. “They’re fast, strong fliers that can hover, fly straight and backward, sideways, up and down.”

  “Who knows how long dragonflies have been around?”

  “Millions of years,” Gabi said, beating me to it. I wondered if I was ever going to get the chance to show Pop Pop that nature was my thing and I had skills.

  We soaked in the sunshine and watched it gleam on the mirror of the pond.

  “This is so pretty,” Simone said. “I could stand here all day.”

  Pop Pop was right. Simone was turning into a nature lover after all. Once we crossed the bridge, we entered the other side of the shady trail. Leafy branches formed a canopy above us. The path began to narrow so that we had to go one by one.

  “Bet we can find the next thing before anyone else,” Simone said to me.

  She steamed ahead without looking where she was going.

  “Ew! Get it off me! Get it off me!” she said, wiping her face frantically.

  “What is it, Simone?!” I said.

  “A spiderweb,” Miles said, pointing to the leftover strands. “A humongous one.”

  We tried to help Simone brush it off. But she wouldn’t stay still. She was pawing at her face, raking her fingers through her hair. I loved being outside, but even I didn’t like the way the threads of a web cling to you and feel like they’re everywhere. I didn’t blame her for freaking out.

  “I told you I don’t like bugs,” she said, groaning.

  I didn’t bother telling her that spiders are arachnids. Everything was going so well. Why did she have to run into that web?

  That made me think of something. I glanced at my clipboard.

  “Simone, you did it! Spiderweb was on the list. And guess what? You definitely found it first.”

  I hoped that would make her laugh. She didn’t crack a smile.

  Pop Pop came over to check on her.

  “Simone, I know spiderwebs can feel funny when you walk into them,” he said. “But they’re pretty amazing. What do we know about them?”

  Finally, my chance to shine.

  “Spiderwebs are five times stronger than steel,” Gabi said. “We can walk through them because they’re really thin. But if they were thick like a metal beam, forget about it.”

  Pop Pop’s eyes lit up, and he laughed. I scanned my brain for facts.

  “They’re made of silk,” Miles said.

  “They’re sticky so they can catch their prey,” RJ said.

  Oh no. That was what I was going to say. I knew a lot about webs. Why couldn’t I think of anything to add? I looked at Pop Pop beaming at my friends and thought as hard as I could. Nothing. It was like someone hit the clear button on my brain.

  “I don’t think you kids need us,” Mrs. Lewis said. “You got it covered.”

  “Yep, you’re naturals,” Pop Pop chimed in.

  Naturals? Not me. Why did I feel like I was letting Simone and Pop Pop down?

  Chapter Three:

  Prickly Situation

  For the next part of our hike, we took out our journals and fanned across a field. We were going to draw pictures of some of the plants we saw. I pulled out my four-in-one pen so I’d have a choice of colors. Mrs. Lewis said there were hundreds of varieties of plants on the grounds.

  “Make sure you look with your eyes and not your hands,” she said. “Safety first. Some plants are delicate. Others have ways of protecting themselves. We’ll have a time where you can feel things later on.”

  “Remember to use your sense of smell, too,” Pop Pop said. “Sweet, minty, earthy, and even stinky, what does the plant’s odor remind you of? As you’re looking at the plants, do you see any insects? Draw pictures and take notes about those, too.”

  Bugs. Uh-oh. Simone frowned when he mentioned that. I looked around. Gold-and-purple wildflowers painted the ground with pops of color. I bet she’d love those.

  “Why don’t we start over here?” I said.

  Simone walked slowly, but I saw her eyes brighten as she checked them out. We sat next to each other on the ground and drew the stems and the leaves. Simone took her time with the petals, getting the shape, shading, and texture just right. I didn’t know she was such a good artist.

 

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