brought to you by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.  I'm Jennifer Garner and today I'm going to read

Maddi's Fridge written by Lois  Brandt and illustrated by Vin Vogel.

When Sofia and Maddie played at the park,  they stretched their toes to the sky.  

They climbed to the top of the ladder and  flew off the end of the slide.

They stayed until the buildings grew long shadows  and even the taxis stopped honking.

“Let's play on the climbing wall,” Maddi said. “No way," Sofia said. “I can't reach.”

“Yes way!” Maddi scooted up to  the top of the wall. “Your turn!”

Sofia put a foot on the bottom rock, grabbed with one hand

and stre-e-e-e-e-etched - but  she couldn't reach the next hold.

Sofia's stomach growled. “I  give up. Let's get a snack.”

"No way," Maddi said. "Let's stay here."

“Yes way!” Sofia ran to Maddi's building…

...and raced up the stairs.

“Wait!” Maddi ran after her.

Maddi was the best climber, but  Sofia was the fastest runner.

Sofia swung open the door of Madd's fridge.

“What have you got?”

“We have milk,” Maddi said.

“I'm saving it for Ryan. He's still little.”

“Why doesn't your mom go  to the store?” Sofia asked.

“We don't have enough money.”

“But what if you get hungry?”

“We have some bread,” Maddi said.

“I guess I'll go home to eat,” Sofia said.

“Please don't tell anyone,” Maddi said.

“Okay.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Sofia ran home past the  bookstore and grocery store.

The sun went down behind the buildings  and took all the colors with it.

“Good timing,” Mom said. “Dinner's almost ready.”

Luis was wrestling on the floor with Pepito.  

Sofia opened the refrigerator  door. Pepito peeked inside.

Sofia's fridge was full of  milk and eggs and tortillas and  

cheese and lettuce and jam and salsa and  tofu and even half a can of dog food.

“Here you go,” Mom said.

Sofia and Luis each had a plate of fish  and rice. Mom had a plate of fish and rice.  

Even Pepito had his bowl of dog food  (with a little bit of fish and rice).

Maddi and Ryan only had some  bread and a small carton of milk.

Sofia couldn't tell Mom. She had  to keep her promise to Maddi.

“Not fish again,” Luis said.  “I want Cheesy Pizza Bombs.”

“Cheesy Pizza Bombs are a treat,” Mom  said. “Fish is a good source of protein.”

“Is fish good for kids?” Sofia asked.

“Yes,” Mom smiled. “Fish is perfect for kids.”

That night, Sofia had an idea.

“Yuck!” Maddi said the next day.

“Oh!” Sofia said. “Double yuck.”

Fish may be good for kids, but  fish is not good for backpacks.

After school, Sofia and Maddi  raced to the climbing wall.

Sofia got there first, but Maddi  scrambled past her to the top of the wall.

Sofia stre-e-e-e-etched and stre-e-e-e-e-etched.

“Keep trying,” Maddi said. “You'll get it.”

“I can't.” Sofia jumped down. “It's too high.”

That night, Sofia, Luis and Mom ate frittata.  

Pepito had his dog food (with  a little bit of frittata).

Maddi and Ryan still had an empty refrigerator.

Sofia couldn't ask for help. That would  break her promise. She had to try again.

“Are eggs good for kids?” Sofia asked.

“Not as good as Cheesy Pizza Bombs,” Luis said.

“Cheesy Pizza Bombs are a treat,”  Mom said. “Eggs are good for you.”

After dinner, Sofia packed  eggs for Maddi and Ryan.

“Yuck!” Maddi said.

“Double yuck!” Sofia said.

Eggs may be good for kids, but  eggs are not good for backpacks.

Sofia and Maddi raced to the climbing wall.

Sofia won again, but Maddi shot  past her to the top of the wall.

Sofia grabbed one hold,  

re-e-e-e-eached for the next… ... and came down with a thump.

“That happens sometimes,” Maddi called.

“This is impossible,” Sofia said.

“Keep trying,” Maddi said, “You'll get it.”

That night Sofia, Luis and Mom had burritos.

Pepito had his dog food (with a  little bit of burrito and no salsa).

Maddi and Ryan still had an empty fridge.

Sofia wished she hadn't promised Maddi.

“Are burritos good for kids?” Sofia asked.

“Burritos are very good for you,” Mom said.

“Not as good as -” Luis started to say.

“You should pay attention to  nutrition like your sister,” Mom said.

The next morning, Sofia put two burritos in  her backpack along with tortillas, beans,  

cheese and even some milk.

“Um, no thanks,” Maddi said. “You havent even looked!” Sofia said. 

“Is it fish?” Maddi asked. "No.” 

“Is it eggs?” “No.” 

“Is it gross?” “I don't know,” Sofia said.

Maddi shook the backpack. Something sloshed.

“Let's look together,” Maddie said.

“One, two, three - GO!”

Burritos are good for kids  and good for backpacks too.

“Do you want some milk?” Sofia asked.

“Thanks,” Maddi said, “but  I'll save the milk for Ryan.”

Sofia and Maddi raced to the climbing wall.

Sofia won as usual and tried to climb.

“You can do it,” Maddi said. "Take my hand.”

“Woo-hoo!  I made it to the top!” Sofia shouted.

“We're the tallest kids in the park!” Maddi said.

“Thanks for helping me, Maddi.  I couldn't do it alone.”

Maddi shrugged. “That's what friends are for.”

After they finished playing, Sofia walked  home past the bookstore and the grocery store.  

She thought and thought and thought.

Her own fridge was full of milk  and juice and chicken and yogurt  

and bread and carrots and  even a half a can of dog food.

Maddi's fridge only had two  tortillas and a cup of beans  

and a bit of cheese and a  little more milk than before.

Sofia didn't want to break her promise,  but she couldn't help Maddi alone.

Sofia told.

She hoped Maddi wouldn't be mad.

“I'm glad you told me,” Mom said.  “Let's see what we can do together.”

They loaded grocery bags with milk,  flour, chicken, carrots, sugar, oil,  

and even frozen meat and vegetables.

Luis pulled his package of Cheesy Pizza Bombs  out of the freezer.

He thought and thought and thought some more.

Then he put his Cheesy Pizza Bombs in Maddi and Ryan's bag.

“For a treat,” he said.

At Maddi's apartment, the moms  talked. Luis and Ryan played.

Sofia and Maddi ran to the park.

“You broke your promise,” Maddi said.

“I'm sorry,” Sofia said. “Are you mad?”

“A promise is important,” Maddi said.

“You're more important,” Sofia said.  “I wanted you to have milk too.”

Maddi smiled.

“Are we still friends?” Sofia asked.

“Always,” Maddi said.

“Double always,” Sofia said.

“Cheesy Pizza Bombs!” Luis yelled. “Our  moms made Cheesy Pizza Bombs - for a treat!”

Sofia and Maddi raced up the stairs. Sofia  slowed down… so they could run together.

That's what friends are for.

Did you like Maddi's Fridge? I love this book  and I'm gonna tell you why: because there are  

so many wonderful programs out there  where you can put food into backpacks  

for children to take home from school  to help feed their families at night.  

And what feels better than knowing that you are  helping another kid just like you and just like  

your family because we all need a little help  sometimes. I love that Sofia is the one who  

needed help getting up the wall and that Maddi  just calmly and sweetly helped her friend.

Maddi is the one who needed a little bit of help having  extra food in the fridge, and Sofia was the friend  

who could help her out. We can always find ways  to help each other, that's why I love this book.

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