Best Buds Forever

By Martha Maker and Xindi Yan

When Emily discovers an empty lot that used to be a community garden, she and her crafty friends make it bloom once again in this seventh book of the Craftily Ever After chapter book series.

Emily Adams learns that an empty dirt lot in town used to be a beautiful garden but now it’s about to be paved over. So, she decides to take action. Emily and her three crafty friends, Maddie, Bella, and Sam decide the best way to save the old garden is to create a new one! But first they have to get the neighborhood on board. They research why gardens are great for the environment and the community, and they present the information to their friends, family, and neighbors. The last person they have to convince is the mayor himself. The friends know that no matter what happens, they’ll be best buds forever…but will the mayor like their plan?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Craftily Ever After chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little Simon
• Release date: Jun 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781534463561

Martha Maker

Martha Maker is a dedicated crafter who is always working on a project—or several! When she’s not writing books, you can often find her at her favorite community garden with her paint set. She lives in Washington, DC, with her family, which includes two kids, two dogs, and two guinea pigs.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

What Garden?

Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!

Emily, look who’s here again. Sam pointed at the bird, which had flown in through the window of the craft clubhouse—formerly known as the old shed in Bella’s backyard. Emily Adams, Sam Sharma, Bella Diaz, and Maddie Wilson spent as much time as possible at the clubhouse.

Emily looked up from the wood piece she was sanding. Hey, little guy, she greeted the bird. Emily turned to Maddie. Why do you think he keeps coming back?

Maybe he’s hungry, said Maddie.

Or maybe, suggested Bella, he heard about the birdhouse Emily made for her dad. He’s here to ask her for blueprints.

"Don’t you mean bluebird prints?" joked Maddie.

Want to make another one? Sam asked Emily.

Maybe, said Emily. The first one had been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Maybe there was a different kind of birdhouse she could make this time.

Knock! Knock!

It was Bella’s dad knocking on the doorframe of the open clubhouse door. He had a big platter in his arms.

"Now, that’s the proper way to come into the clubhouse," joked Bella, nodding at the bird. Her friends laughed.

Wow, what are those? asked Sam, pointing to the platter. Since Mr. Diaz was a chef, he often tried out new recipes on Bella and her friends. But this looked less like food and more like…

Flowers? guessed Maddie.

Bella’s