From the award-winning author of the Jada Jones chapter books comes an illustrated spinoff series perfect for STEM fans! Valentine's Day is approaching, and Miles Lewis doesn't really like all the mush that comes with it. He is excited about the candy experiments they're doing in science class, though. And when his teacher asks for adult volunteers to help out, Miles and his friend Jada share that they're both planning on inviting their grandparents. That's when they realize that Miles's Nana and Jada's Pop Pop have a lot in common--could they be a perfect match? ★ "Another great addition to this ­heartwarming series that introduces young readers to STEM activities along with a lesson about giving back to one’s community." — School Library Journal , starred review Kelly Starling Lyons (she/her) is the award-winning author of the Jada Jones and Ty's Travels series and picture books including Sing a Song: How "Lift Every Voice & Sing" Inspired Generations and Hope's Gift . She lives in North Carolina. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com Wayne C. Spencer (he/him) is a cartoonist, illustrator, and dinosaur enthusiast. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he nurtured an abiding compulsion to draw characters and tell stories about them. Originally from North Carolina, he currently lives in Florida with two powerful daughters and a mighty wife. Chapter One   Hearts and Flowers    I’d know that Valentine’s Day was coming even if I forgot what month it was. Seems like every shop I visited with my mom, dad, or nana had a row of treats and cards decorated with hearts and flowers.   At the grocery store, I turned down an aisle and got a weird feeling when I saw pink and red packages crowding the shelves like people packed into a stadium. It was like you could hear them chanting, “Buy me! Buy me!”   Mom and I walked past the heart-­shaped boxes of chocolates, candy necklaces, and special snack bags of pretzels and chips. She stopped our cart at the valentines. Uh-­oh.   “Aren’t these cool?” she said, smiling as she picked up a pack with superheroes on the front. “You like these, Miles? Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it.”   I took the box and flipped it over to see what was inside. Superheroes were cool, but these valentines came with sticky-­sweet sayings. Ugh.   “Don’t look so excited,” Mom said, laughing at my frown. “We don’t have to get anything today. But you should pick some soon before the good ones are gone.”   I quickly slid the box back on the shelf and let out a big breath when we turned the corner. Whew.   Mom grinned at me but didn’t say anything. When we got home, I helped her bring in the groceries.   “Get anything good?” Dad asked when we came in. He unpacked the bags and started putting the food away.   “Well, I tried to get Miles to buy some valentines,” Mom said, winking at me. “He wasn’t having any of that.”   “Valentine’s Day isn’t that bad, is it, son?” Dad teased. “You get notes and treats from friends. Sounds like a sweet deal to me.”   I tried to smile, but the flip-­flop feeling in my stomach was back. My friends were the best, but something about all the Valentine’s Day hearts and cupids made me want to stay away. I was over the holiday and it wasn’t even here yet.   “Leave my grandson alone,” Nana said playfully as she came into the kitchen. She hugged me around my shoulder. “Valentine’s should be about more than chocolate. Your granddad and I used to volunteer together to celebrate,” she told me. “We’d serve food to people in need, clean up the highway, send cards to service members. Nothing makes you feel better than helping others.”   “You’re right, Mom,” Dad said. “I was just messing with him. You know February is all about Black History Month for me.”   I liked when Nana talked about Granddad. He passed away when I was little, so I didn’t get a chance to really know him. He sounded like a cool guy. Nana always shared the fun things they’d done together. I wondered if she ever got lonely. She had us, but maybe she missed hanging out with someone her age.   ***   The next morning at school, Miss Taylor said she had lots of activities planned for Valentine’s Day. I looked at my best friend RJ and my classmates gathered with me on the orange-­and-­blue carpet. Everyone was grinning. Was I the only one who wasn’t really feeling it?   “We’re going to write an ode to our favorite activity,” Miss Taylor said, the silver bracelets on her arm tinkling as she talked. “Anybody know what an ode is?”   Lena raised her hand. She loved writing. “A poem that celebrates something that matters to you.”   “Good job,” Miss Taylor said.   That wasn’t too bad. I could write about video games, bike riding, or science. And just like she had heard what I was thinking, Miss Taylor started talking next about doing chemistry experiments with candy. That got my attention—­I leaned in and grinned. I saw my friend Ja