Activities

Growing Up Your Own Garden

When Beth and her family moved into their first house, they had a yard where they could plant and grow things. Maybe they will! And maybe you can, too.
Do you like seeing things grow? Check out some of the easiest plants to grow on these sites. Ask your grown-up to help you get started.

Complete Gardening

"14 Fun, Safe, and Easy-to-Grow Plants for Kids to Enjoy"

This Is My Garden

"6 Great Vegetables Kids Can Grow From Seed – Get Your Kids Gardening Early!"

Kids Actvities

"35 Kids Garden Ideas That Are Fun & Creative!"

New Clothes Catastrophe

In “Goodbye Hand-Me-Downs,” Beth gets a new coat, and it’s promptly ruined by one brother’s runaway arrow. 
Have you ever had something new that didn’t last very long? It’s a bummer when that happens! But there are cool ways to fix holes while also making the clothing more beautiful. One way is called sashiko, which originated in Japan. Check out this tutorial!

Whoever Smelt it Dealt it

The first story in the book “The Hammer Comes Down,” is about someone farting at the dinner table. Nobody will admit to being the one who did it.
Do you want to learn how to make a farting sound with your armpit? Take a look at this video!

The Beth-Family Bunch

The cover for this book was inspired by the opening credits for a show called The Brady Bunch. Ask your grown-ups if they know it! 

So Many Brothers!

Beth has five brothers—that's a lot! Take a guess at how many kids were in the biggest sibling set ever recorded, then check your guess below.
Check Your Answer!
expand_less
expand_more
The most kids ever in a family is 69, born to Valentina & Feodor Vassilyev in Russia between 1725 and 1765. Valentina gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. She’s in the Guinness Book of World Records. My gosh!

Field Trip Funding

Have you been on a field trip with school or camp? In “Best Field Trip Ever,” Beth goes to the zoo with her class. She’s not sure if her family can afford to send her. How much would a class trip to the zoo cost today? Use the items below to calculate the cost.
Plan the Trip!
expand_less
expand_more

School bus: free

Entry to the zoo: Look up the closest zoo to your house. How much is a children’s ticket?

Lunch: Have you ever noticed that fast food at places like zoos, amusement parks, water parks, and airports is more expensive than normal? It is! One of the most famous zoos in the United States is the San Diego Zoo in California. There are lots of places to get lunch there. Pick something to eat from this menu and add that cost to your total.

Souvenir: Beth gets a free mug from the zoo, lucky for her! If you wanted to bring home a souvenir, how much do you think these things might cost? Choose one and add it to your total:

• Sticker for your water bottle.

• Cool pen.

• Stuffed version of your favorite animal you saw at the zoo.

We Love Dogs!

If you have a dog, check out all these games you could play! Maybe Beth and her brothers played some of these games. And remember, always make sure you check with your parents or guardians first, and be careful.

Superheroes!

Beth loved Spider-Man! She wanted a Spider-Man wrist shooter for her birthday. What superhero do you like, and how would you save the day? Draw a picture of what you look like in the costume or write a story.