Squash Seeds

Illustrated by Madeleine Yorke Gambhir (then age 6)

One autumn day, a little girl named Madeleine watched as her mother cut open a squash to cook for dinner.

Madeleine helped her mom to scoop out all of the seeds that were in the squash.

“Mom,” said Madeleine, “can I plant these seeds in the garden to see if they will grow?”

“Sure you can. But usually you plant seeds in the spring, sweetheart. So please don’t be too disappointed if they don’t turn into food,” her mother cautioned.

Madeleine put on her coat and her boots and trudged out to the garden. After digging a hole in the ground, Madeleine dropped in a few squash seeds. She carefully covered the seeds with dirt and then, with her watering can, she watered the ground. Just before going in, Madeleine marked the spot with a few little stones. squirrel

From high up in a tree, a grey squirrel watched as Madeleine planted her seeds. He had been busy collecting seeds, berries and acorns to eat during the long winter.

A few days later, Madeleine went out to check on her seeds. She saw that the stones had been moved and that her seeds were gone!

“Mom,” Madeleine cried, “my seeds are gone. Where did they go?”

And from high up in the tree the grey squirrel chattered, “Thank you!”

“It looks like your seeds did turn into food, after all!” Madeleine’s mother said smiling.