When Thea’s science teacher assigns her a month-long project that includes research, observation and recording data, Thea decides to plant a purple seed and watch what happens. In just three days, the dirt has turned purple, oozy and bubbly. In nine days, the trunk is ten feet around. Thea keeps readers up-to-date on the plant’s growth through letters she writes to all sorts of specialists (all with alliterative names and all clueless), trying to find out what kind of plant she has. Readers will not be clueless, though, especially after Thea finds a golden egg, gold coins and singing harp beneath her “tree.” Thea’s scientific observations and hypotheses will make a science teacher’s heart sing. Pedersen’s line-and-watercolor illustrations are spot-on, matching the fairy-tale background of the original while bringing out the scientific details to go with the modern retelling. Save a spot on the shelves for this one...or maybe not—it will always be checked out. (Picture book. 6-10)
