1 BEDTIME

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PROLOGUE These days my cat Sassafras and I are always desperately hoping we'll hear our barn doorbell. I know most people are excited to hear their doorbell ring. It might mean a present or package delivery, or a friend showing up to play. But our doorbell is even more exciting than that. Because it's a magic doorbell. When it rings, it means there's a magical animal waiting outside our barn. A magical animal who needs our help. My mom's been helping them basically her whole life. And now I get to help, too…

CHAPTER 1 BEDTIME I steadied my ruler in the soil next to my pea plant. "Whoa! It's up to 8 inches now, Sassafras." I wrote down the date and the new height in my science journal. Sassafras touched his nose to the plant and meowed. "I know! I'm totally surprised too. When Clara asked me what would happen if we used a marker to color on all the pea plant leaves, I thought for sure the pea plant would stop growing or maybe even die." I turned my science journal toward Sassafras, and he gave it a sniff. "I can't wait to surprise her with it when she comes over to play again."

Mom popped her head in. "Ready to read, Zoey?" "Yes!" I yelped and hopped up from my desk. "Pajamas and cap?" "Check!" "Teeth brushed?" "Check!" "Pea plant measured?" "Check! And look—it's still growing." I handed Mom my journal.

Mom took it and looked it over. "Well done! And you know what I'm going to ask next, right?" I nodded eagerly. "'What other questions do you have now?' I have a bunch! Like what happens if I color the top and the bottom of the leaf? And what if I try a different color on each plant? Will some colors grow better? Oh! And what about different kinds of plants? Is it just pea plants that keep growing with marker on their leaves?" Mom patted my head and smiled. "All excellent questions! But since it's time for bed, we'll have to work on them tomorrow. Shall I begin our story?" Sassafras started purring and hustled over to my lap. I giggled as I put away my science journal. Mom got cozy at the foot of my bed and opened the book. "Now where were we?" "We were right at the part where—" Sassafras leaped out of my lap and held very still with his ears pointing outside. I looked at Mom. "Did you hear something? Was that…?" It was unmistakable this time. That was

definitely the sound of the barn doorbell!