Fran Manushkin - Pedros Tricky Tower

Pedro loved to build. He helped his father make a tree house. He helped his grandpa build a fireplace.

One day, his teacher, Miss Winkle, told the class, I have a building project for you.

Yay! yelled Roddy. I love tricks. I play them on people all the time.

Thats not the kind of tricky I mean, said Miss Winkle. We are going to try to build the tallest .

Thats easy! Pedro. All we need are lots of bricks.

We are not using bricks, said Miss Winkle. We are using nineteen paper cups. You will be working in teams.

Barry and JoJo were on Katie Woos team. Sophie was on Pedros team. So was Roddy!

Watch out! Katie. R-O-D-D-Y spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

Miss Winkle told the teams, Before you build, you need to plan.

I dont need to plan, said Pedro. I know what to do.

Pedro began piling up paper cups. He tried to build high, but the towers kept falling down.

Roddy put four paper cups on his head.

Watch out! he joked. My towers are falling down too.

Pedro and Sophie tried again and again. But the cups kept falling.

Oh, boy! said Pedro. I wish we had some bricks.

Then it was time for .

Roddy told Pedro, Forget the tower! Lets see who can do the most handstands. I know Ill win!

Roddy flipped upside down and back again. Pedro tried it. He kept falling down.

Watch me and learn, said Roddy.

Pedro did watch Roddy.

Then he began thinking.

Thats it! Pedro yelled. You showed me how to build the tallest tower.

After recess, Pedro ran back to class. He said, Lets put some of the cups right side up and some upside down.

Pedro and Sophie began to build.

Let me help, said Roddy. He began piling up the cups.

Their tower got higher and higher. It did not fall! It was the tallest tower!

Way to go! said Miss Winkle.

Roddy couldnt stop smiling. He told Pedro, I knew we could do it!

He gave Pedro a high five.

After school, Pedro said, Want to help me fix my tree house?

Cool! said Roddy. Ill race you there.

They both won.

Fran Manushkin is the author of many popular picture books, including Happy in Our Skin; Baby, Come Out!; Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story; The Tushy Book; Big Girl Panties; and Big Boy Underpants. Fran writes on her beloved Mac computer in New York City, without the help of her two naughty cats, Chaim and Goldy.

Tammie Lyon began her love for drawing at a young age while sitting at the kitchen table with her dad. She continued her love of art and eventually attended the Columbus College of Art and Design, where she earned a bachelors degree in fine art. After a brief career as a professional ballet dancer, she decided to devote herself full-time to illustration. Today she lives with her husband, Lee, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her dogs, Gus and Dudley, keep her company as she works in her studio.