In ***No Bike, No Hike, No Dice,***when Jacob's mother announced Jacob's bedtime, he came up with things he would rather do than go to bed. But when his mother did not get on board with his suggestions, he resorted to other creative tactics to avoid bedtime-including one that involved "rolling the dice." In the end, Jacob succumbed to his mother's entreaties and made a responsible decision.

In A Coil, a Coin, and a Pipe, Tony and Juanita think they are better off playing together on their own. But they soon learn that excluding other people is not as productive and beneficial as it is to include them.

In ***Fig Jam,***Darren's and Lisa's steadfast belief that kids cannot cook is demonstrated by their incredulous reaction to the discovery that Finian, their good friend, fancies himself as a cook. Their disdain at the thought of Finian being a cook only increases when he claims to cook things as exotic as Fig Jam. An intriguing invitation results in Darren and Lisa reevaluating their prejudices about kids, cooks, and food.

In Luke's Flute*,* a positive exchange between June and Luke about Luke's flute is interrupted when a mean-looking kid approaches them. Both June and Luke are convinced that the intrusion will end up in a fight between the intruder and Luke. But both June and Luke are taken aback when the intruder reveals an unpredictable truth about himself.

In A Fort in the Park, when Gabriel explained to Maisie and Eric why he could not meet them at the fort in the park, they could never have imagined the reason for his decision. Gabriel's story is a cautionary tale that reinforces the reality that misbehavior can result in negative consequences. However, Gabriel's story also provides the rationale for being good.

In Cash for Fish, when Donald shows Jacob a stolen bookbag with a lot of cash stuffed inside, he is surprised that Jacob does not share his enthusiasm over the acquisition. Indeed, Donald finds Jacob's entreaties to return the bag and cash to be annoying and he attempts to explain his motives. However, Jacob isn't buying Donald's rationale and is faced with a common dilemma-"Should I, or should I not, tattle."

In ***Fat Cat and Lap Dog,***because Jack was missing several of his treasured belongings, he concluded that his sister Jen had stolen them. However, Jen's proclaimed innocence was confirmed when she proved that the real culprit was standing nearby in plain sight.

In ***A Map, a Tin Pan and a Mitt,***Tan became jealous when he observed his classmates playing happily together and he attempted to disrupt their play. However, Tan's destructive actions backfired when they only served to ostracize him further. Thanks to the teacher's intervention and Tan's resultant remorse and reconciliation with his classmates, he was included instead of excluded from the fun.

In The Slug Club, while playing together in their backyard, Darren and Lisa come across a "black glob" that they soon realize is a slug. Their discovery throws Darren's and Lisa's creativity into overdrive. In the end, they find out that working together can increase the fun and result in a positive outcome for everyone.

In ***The Man in the Car,***when Angela sees an unfamiliar car parked near her house, she is concerned. Angela's concern quickly turns into fear when a stranger gets out of the car and invites her to go with him to the park. Wisely, Angela runs home and solicits help from her mother. Fortunately, their joint efforts result in a positive end to the story.

In ***A Goat, a Pig, and a Foal,***Finian tells Masie about his prized animals and boat, and her misperceptions cause her to envision something entirely different than what Finian is attempting to convey to her. The conversation between Finian and Masie leads to a misunderstanding that often happens when people miscommunicate, and the humorous miscommunication is discovered only after the conversation is over.

In The Cat, the Rat, and the Bat, Ben loved his toy rat, toy bat, and cap and was bereft when his cat ruined them. His empathetic father suggested that the cat would not be able to ruin Ben's things if they were put away. Ben discovered that following his father's advice could bring about positive results for everyone.