Ming goes to school, where she learns to say hello and good-bye. She meets new friends and introduces them to old friends (including her favorite teddy). She builds sandcastles and makes snow angels; she traces, glitters, and glues. She is so fearless that when held at sword point, she even walks the plank! And when she s playing in the mud, she reaches out and touches the worms with her bare hands. But despite those brave deeds, she isn t quite ready for the big red slidenot yet.