A small dynamo of curiosity bursts exuberantly from the pages of this captivating, beautifully illustrated book from one of the most beloved authors of children's books.

When Charley Cornett begins school in the Appalachian Mountains, his brothers and sisters explain to him that the highest honor at The Little School is being chosen to "carry the flag"—the award each day for the child who has been most helpful. But no one really expected Charley to win the award, for Charley is hardly the helpful type. He has to hold his hand over the water tap to see if running water can be stopped; he has to climb out on a tree limb to see how the apple is attached. And when confronted with the malleable delights of modeling clay, he has to make The-Longest-Thing-in-the-World.

But Charley in his own independent way, eventually does get to carry the flag, and what he learns on that special day adds a great deal to the very full life of a boy who will delight all young readers who ever wondered exactly how it feels to be a rock

From the dust jacket