Siman Nuurali

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.

Even though it is summer Sadiq goes to religious school four days a week to study the Quran; he and his friends find their teacher, Mr. Kassim, strict and intimidating, but when Sadiq finds out that Mr. Kassim has a injured shoulder he decides to volunteer to help with the gardening--and he convinces his friends to volunteer as well.

After a family hike in a nearby park, Sadiq forms the Explorers Club with his friends, who then help a neighbor create a nature-themed scavenger hunt for the Fourth of July celebration.

Ms. Battersby has announced that Sadiq's third-grade class will be having elections for student government! Everyone is buzzing with excitement, but Sadiq isn't sure about any of it. Should he run for one of the positions? He does lots of research and gets good advice from his parents and siblings. Watching an inspiring speech finally helps him decide exactly what he wants to do. But when a good friend has the same idea, Sadiq questions his decision....

Sadiq's class is visiting the pond on a nature field trip, but the dead fish they find there is disturbing; when he finds that the likely cause is pollution, he and a group of his classmates form the Clean Water Crew to do what they can to help clean up not just their pond, but other bodies of water as well.

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.

Sadiq wants to earn money to buy a birthday gift for Hooyo. A lemonade stand provides inspiration and, after some business advice, Sadiq, Zaza, and Manny start a cookie delivery business! Sadiq's brother and sister join in to help, but starting a business turns out to be tricky-and messy. With a sick baker, a cookie crash, and other baking boo-boos, will Sadiq's cookie biz be a bust? Somali American author Siman Nuurali offers another installment...

After a field trip to the Festival of Nations, Sadiq and his classmates are inspired to host a festival celebrating their own cultures. Sadiq is excited to host a booth featuring Somali foods, games, and crafts. But when he asks his friend Owen what he might show in his booth, Owen is quiet. Owen isn't sure about his cultural heritage. Can Sadiq and his friends find a way to make sure everyone in their class has traditions to share at the festival...