Maya loves contests, so she is excited when her teacher announces they will plant a school garden like Thomas Jefferson"s garden at Monticello--and they"ll have a "First Peas to the Table" contest, just like Jefferson and his neighbors had each spring. Maya plants her pea seeds with a secret head start--found in Jefferson"s Garden Book--and keeps careful notes in her garden journal. But her friend Shakayla has plans of her own for the contest...Susan Grigsby"s light-hearted classroom story also presents scientific and historical information. Nicole Tadgell"s watercolors add both appeal and botanical accuracy.