Sadiq's father is going on a business trip, but before he goes he tells Sadiq a story of the Desert Star, which fits in perfectly with Sadiq's third grade class field trip to the planetarium, and inspires Sadiq to build a simple telescope to study the stars when his father returns.

Eight-year-old Sadiq wants to try out for the youth football team like his friends, but his parents feel he is too young, and instead suggest that he take up running and join the track club--Sadiq feels that running is wimpy, but the coach convinces him that running races can be fun as well.

After his parents die, seven-year-old Maiko leaves his village in Africa to live across the ocean with his aunt and uncle. When he thinks of home, he thinks of the big baobab tree at the center of the village. In his new home, Maiko feels a special connection to the small spruce tree in the front yard, especially when he finds out it is the same age as he is. Like his beloved baobab, this tree also sings to him and shares his secrets. When he learns...