1Imani held a dry bean in her palm. It was small, smooth, and very still. "Is there really a plant in here?" Grandma set a clear cup on the table. "Let's give it a place to start, and watch."
2They tucked damp paper inside the cup. The bean rested between the paper and the clear side. Imani tipped out the extra water. "Damp, not swimming," said Grandma. They put the cup somewhere warm and drew the bean in a notebook.
3The next day, the bean looked almost the same. And the next morning, Imani had to look very closely. She checked the paper. Still damp. She drew what she saw. Waiting was part of watching.
4A few days later, the seed coat split. A tiny white root curled out. "There!" Imani called. The root grew down along the cup. It would take in water and help hold the plant in place. Imani drew one careful white line.
5More days passed. A pale shoot rose above the bean. It lifted and unfolded near the bright window. Imani turned her notebook sideways to fit it in. "You need a taller picture now," she told the little plant.
6Two green leaves opened to the light. At first, the young plant had used food stored in its seed. Now its leaves could use light to help make more food. Imani spread her hands beside them. Two leaves. Two open hands.
7When the little plant was ready, Grandma helped move it into a pot of soil. They were gentle with the roots. Imani added a little water and set the pot by the window. There would be more watching tomorrow.
8Imani laid her pictures in a row. Bean. Root. Shoot. Leaves. The changes had been small, but they had kept on coming. Beside the window, the first green leaves caught the light. Imani opened a new page in her notebook.
