At the Drop of a Cat

A six-year-old boy spends his days in his grandfather Luis's towering garden, learning bird names, playful expressions, and reading and writing from a grandfather who never had schooling of his own.

For the kid who'd rather learn from a grandparent's hands and stories than from any worksheet, this is a garden-grown love letter to that kind of teaching.

• Big idea: Wisdom doesn't require a classroom — the people who love us can teach us everything that matters, in their own words and on their own ground.
• Vibes: Tender, earthy, and quietly wondrous — like a warm afternoon spent outdoors with someone you adore.

• love spending time with grandparents
• enjoy stories set in gardens and nature
• are curious about new words and expressions
• are working on reading and writing

• Story & connection: What are some of the things Luis teaches his grandson in the garden?
• Language & imagination: What do you think 'at the drop of a cat' means, and can you make up a funny expression of your own?
• Real-life connection: Is there a grown-up in your life who teaches you things outside of school, like Luis does?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think Luis feels sharing his knowledge even though he never learned to read or write himself?
• Imagination: If you had a garden like Luis's, what would you want to grow in it?