Grow Already, Sunflower!

Starring Layla, Baba, Sami

Layla plants a striped sunflower seed with Baba in a pot by the back door. Every morning she checks the dirt, but nothing seems to be happening, even with Sami's enthusiastic watering. Layla can hardly wait to see whether her seed will ever grow.

In spring, Baba gave Layla one striped sunflower seed. Together they tucked it into the pot by the back door. "Can it grow now?" she asked.

The next morning, Layla raced to the pot. She peered down into the dark dirt. "Not even a sprout?"

Each morning, Layla checked again: still dirt. Her little brother Sami tipped his toy can over the pot, then watered the patio too. "At this rate, the patio will sprout first!" Layla said.

"My seed is broken," Layla told Baba. "It can grow under the dirt first," he said. Layla frowned at the pot. It still looked broken to her.

One morning, a green loop poked right beside the flower. "It's up!" Layla shouted. The birds burst off the fence.

Each week, Layla measured the sprout against herself. It grew taller than Sami, then taller than her. "I'll measure again next week!" she said.

Summer came, and Layla measured again. The sunflower stood taller than Baba! Its big yellow face turned toward the sun. "Even taller than you!" Layla cried.

Layla and Sami ate watermelon under the sunflower. Layla saved sunflower seeds in the jar for next spring. She tapped the lid. "Not yet, seeds!"