At first, Trisha loves school, but her difficulty learning to read makes her feel dumb, until, in the fifth grade, a new teacher helps her understand and overcome her problem.

Eight-year-old Clementine, convinced that she has no talents, tries to find a way to avoid participating in the class talent show.

Would-be supervillain Doctor X-Ray swoops into the mall, threatening destruction, only to be confronted by a little girl asking "why" to his every declaration, until finally he is forced to reveal, and understand, the root of his anger--and so departs in peace.

Despite the fact that she swims with a teacup balanced on her head and stays north when all of the ducks fly south for the winter, Theodora believes herself to be a normal duck and makes a friend in Chad, who may be as eccentric as she is.

When Carrie is disappointed not to make the school soccer team, she turns her attention to creating a science fair project.

Charlie, the smallest child in his first grade class, is amazed to discover that of the three pumpkins his teacher brings to school, the tiniest one has the most seeds.