When young Ellie is assigned a completely unfamiliar vegetable as part of a school cooking and gardening competition, she discovers that her friends are eager to lend help and advice from their own culinary cultures. This picture book for ages 6 to 8  spotlights how a gracious balance between competition and cooperation can lead to a winning result.

Ellie is determined to win the class gardening and cooking competition. And why wouldn’t she? She’s an expert chef, of course.

Then she is assigned eggplant as her main ingredient and isn’t even sure what an eggplant is. Do eggplants hatch eggs? Can she make it into an omelet? A soufflé ? A cake?

Ellie realizes she is completely stumped and must accept that maybe she isn't an expert at everything. Her friends are generous with their help, and together they create a winning entry none of them could have done alone.