After reading a book about growing sunflowers, kindergarten teacher Ms. B gives each student three seeds. Recalling the poem they had read, the three seeds allowed for “one for the birds, one for the rain, and one to grow.” After classmate Ollie peels and pops a seed into his mouth, Ms. B smiles and provides one more to everyone. The miraculous growing cycle of sunflowers is recounted through the eyes of a young narrator, from the tiny sprouts in a paper cut to the strong stalk transplanted in his backyard. Matter of fact observations about plant growth are intertwined with kernels of kid wisdom. Following an episode of a nibbling backyard deer, that narrator reflects, “I thought about the poem and changed it again. One for the deer, one for the rain, and one to grow.” Rich oil paintings on brown paper illuminate the inquisitive faces of young gardeners and bring botanical drama to the developing sunflowers. Occasional circular compositions add variation to the visual layout, and magnify details, like the delicate dance of a honeybee pollinating the tiny interior flowers of the sunflower head. Elegant writing and child-centric elements bring depth and beauty to a common rite of classroom gardening. Highly Commended, 2026 Charlotte Zolotow Award