From the popular early reader graphic novel series, Elinor and her friends discover how nature provides many living things with hard outsides to keep their insides safe! Elinor, Ari and Olive want to bring a cupcake to school to give to their teacher, Ms. Mole, for her birthday. But the last time Olive brought a cupcake, it got squished in her book bag. So Elinor and her friends need to figure out the best way to "stop the squish" and get the cupcake safely to school. On their walk home they notice that some animals, such as turtles and armadillos, are protected by hard shells. And coconuts are, too. Hmm, this may have given Elinor a perfect idea for transporting Ms. Mole's cupcake! This early reader graphic novel is part of the popular series from Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, the creators of the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS TV series Elinor Wonders Why. It focuses on a topic that spans several science subjects, examining the characteristics and needs of both animals and plants in life science, as well as the technology of structures and even some engineering. As always in this series, science facts are presented as discoveries resulting from the characters' curiosity and their desire to solve a relatable problem. Sidebars with science facts and vocabulary words, along with their pronunciations, are interspersed throughout the story. An activity at the end of the book teaches how to test the strength of an eggshell. The engaging series, with bright visuals and simple text, encourages readers to have a curious mindset and use science to understand the world. AGES: 3 to 6 AUTHOR: Jorge Cham is an engineer-turned-cartoonist, writer and producer. He is the creator of the web comic strip Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD Comics), which he started as a graduate student at Stanford University. Together with Daniel Whiteson, Jorge created and produces the PBS KIDS TV series Elinor Wonders Why. Jorge and Daniel have also co-written two books for adults, We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe and Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe, and they host the podcast Jorge and Daniel Explain the Universe on iHeartRadio. Jorge's debut middle-grade series, Oliver and the Great Big Universe, is forthcoming from Abrams. Jorge lives in California. Daniel Whiteson is a professor of physics at the University of California, Irvine. Together with Jorge Cham, Daniel created and produces the PBS KIDS TV series Elinor Wonders Why. Daniel and Jorge have also co-written two books for adults, We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe and Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe, and they host the podcast Jorge and Daniel Explain the Universe on iHeartRadio. Daniel lives in California. SELLING POINTS: . Part of the series based on the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS TV series Elinor Wonders Why . Covers several science topics, from animal and plant characteristics to technology and engineering . Science facts and vocabulary words throughout the story