L. L. Owens

Ten-year-old Liz and her friend Malcolm spend a sunny, funny afternoon with gardening expert Mr. Biggins, who shows them how he grows mammoth prize-winning vegetables in his own backyard. Ages 8–10. Rigby, 2002.

This short story is part of the Grade 4 Rigby Literacy program, and it appears in the Comprehension Quarterly 4 Issue B: Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral? student resource.

To order individual copies of the Comprehension Quarterly 4 (ISBN 0-7578-1336-4) and learn more about the program, please call 1-800-531-5015, fax 1-800-699-9459, or email the publisher directly.

"I'm about to harvest some carrots," said Mr. Biggins as the kids neared. "Would you like to watch?"

"Sure," Liz and Malcolm said in unison.

Mr. Biggins carefully loosened the soil around the carrot bunch. "Now we'll see how the crop is faring."

He tugged on the leafy top. It didn't seem to want to come out. He tugged again. Then he motioned for Liz and Malcolm to give him a hand. The three of them pulled so hard that part of the carrot top broke off. They hit the ground with three solid thuds, and they burst out laughing.

"That's one strong bunch of carrots!" exclaimed Mr. Biggins. "It's much bigger than I thought."

"Do you think your mom could help?" Malcolm asked Liz.

"Only if she's a giant rabbit!" Liz giggled.


Excerpt © 2002 Rigby.