CHAPTER ONE
Frankie loved spending Saturday evenings baking cookies with her big sister, Raven. It was their weekly tradition. They even had matching aprons. This Saturday, they were going to make chocolate chip cookies--Frankie's favorite.
   "All right, news crew, you know what time it is," Frankie said excitedly.
   "Oh yeah!" Frankie's teddy bear, Dan, rubbed his round tummy. "It's cookie time!"
   Robert's robotic lights flashed as he danced. The royal dolls, King Tut and Queen Cleopatra, gave each other a high five. 
   Frankie's pet cat, Nina Simone, let out a loud "Meow!"
   Frankie laughed as she picked up her favorite doll, Farrah. "We'll be back soon. And when we are . . ."
   "Cookies!" the news crew shouted with joy as Frankie and Farrah headed downstairs.
   Frankie went straight to the kitchen to help Raven gather the ingredients for their grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe. But Raven wasn't in the kitchen. Frankie wondered where her sister was. What could be more important than baking cookies?
   "Raven?" she called out.
   "In here!" Raven shouted.
   When Frankie went into the living room, she was surprised to see Raven watching television with Mama and Papa.
   "Looks like there's breaking news!" Farrah said. "Maybe someone found a dinosaur egg."
   "Maybe someone found a dinosaur egg and it hatched!" Frankie guessed hopefully.
   Frankie loved dinosaurs and had always wanted to see one in real life.
   Everyone scooted down on the couch and Frankie sat next to Raven with Farrah in her lap.
   But when Frankie looked at the television screen, she didn't see any dinosaurs or dinosaur eggs. Just a large crowd of people shouting and chanting as they marched down a street.
   Many of the people were carrying signs that looked like the ones Raven's classmates made and held up during football games. It reminded Frankie of a parade, except the people who were marching didn't seem to be celebrating.
   The NEWS TICKER at the bottom of the television screen read People around the country gather to demand justice.
   "What's going on?" Frankie asked Raven.
   "Shhh! I'm trying to listen!" Raven exclaimed.
   "Sorry!" Frankie whispered back.
   Suddenly, a CLOSE-UP of a man holding a megaphone filled the television screen. In his other hand, he held a sign that read WE NEED CHANGE NOW!!
   "What do we want?" the man shouted into the megaphone.
   "Justice!" the crowd answered in unison.
   "When do we want it?" the man asked.
   "Now!" the crowd shouted back.
   Even though the people on TV reminded Frankie of her civil rights movement school project, this wasn't a history lesson--this march was happening right now!
   "What's going on?" Frankie whispered as she moved to snuggle between Mama and Papa. She knew Farrah was scared too. They were both shaking.
   Papa hugged them both. Instantly, Frankie felt better.
   "There's no need to be afraid," Papa said.
   "I'll explain everything as soon as this news SEGMENT is over."
   "OK, Papa." Frankie hugged Farrah tighter.
   "Stay tuned as we continue to cover this developing story," the BROADCASTER said.
   Mama turned off the television and sighed. Raven shook her head like she always did when she was upset.
   "Let's go into the kitchen," Papa suggested. "Perhaps we can help you and Raven bake cookies while we talk?"
   "I'd like that very much," Frankie said, smiling as Papa picked her up and carried her into the kitchen. She always felt safe in his arms.  
   Frankie thought about the news ticker: People around the country gather to demand justice. She was very curious to find out what was happening. She was also very concerned. Because this developing story seemed very serious. 
 
CHAPTER TWO
While Mama and Papa helped gather the ingredients and baking supplies, Frankie tried to cheer up Raven by telling a joke. "Hey, Raven. Knock, knock."
   "Who's there?" Raven asked.
   "Cow says," Frankie answered.
   "Cow says who?"
   "No, silly!" Frankie said.
   "Cow says mooooooooo!"
   But her big sister didn't giggle like she normally did.
   After carefully mixing the cookie dough and arranging it on the baking sheets, Raven put the cookies in the oven while Frankie set the timer.
   Then, everyone sat around the kitchen table.
   "Let's talk about what we just saw on the news," Papa said. "I'm sure you both have a lot of questions."
   Bravely, Frankie asked, "Why were all those people marching and shouting? What's going on?"
   "Frankie, do you remember what hard news is?" Mama began. "Those news stories that are very serious and important? We just watched a hard news segment about a PROTEST."
   "Pro-test." Frankie sounded out the word carefully. "In school, I learned that people protest when they want something to change."
   Papa nodded in agreement. "That's right, Frankie. That's what's happening. Some protests are small with just a few people. Others are larger, like the one we just saw on the news."
   "Can people protest about anything?" Frankie asked.
   "Yes," Mama said. "But unfortunately, it's usually because something bad has happened. And that's why people protest. They want things to change so that bad things don't keep happening."
   Everything Mama and Papa said was helpful. But Frankie had one last question.
   "What about the signs?" Frankie asked. "Do people have to carry signs to protest?"
   "Not always," Raven chimed in. "But I think the signs look pretty cool. Besides, it's another way to let people know what you're protesting about."
   Frankie thought for a moment. "The news ticker said that people around the country were protesting," she said. "That's a lot of people who agree that something needs to change."
   "It's called SOLIDARITY," Raven explained. "I learned about it in school the other day. Solidarity is when you stand up for and in support with others. It's another way to say that people are united."
   "Exactly," Papa said. "That's why people say, 'We are standing in solidarity.' Imagine a protest as people coming together in solidarity for things to change."
   Frankie considered this while she peeked in the oven at the cookies. What was something she wanted to change? "What if I want to have dessert for breakfast, but you and Mama tell me I can't. Is it a protest if I still want dessert for breakfast?"
   Papa laughed. "That's more like a disagreement."
   "But if you and Farrah marched around the kitchen demanding dessert for breakfast, that could be more like a protest." Raven smiled. "And I just might
stand in solidarity with you!"
   "Raven," Mama warned with a smile. "Don't you dare!"
   Frankie stood up and shouted, "We want dessert for breakfast!"
   Frankie giggled when Raven joined her and Farrah marching around the kitchen table. Mama and Papa laughed too.
   But when Frankie asked, "So what are people around the country protesting about?" Mama, Papa, and Raven stopped being playful.
   "Oh, Frankie," Papa said. "Unfortunately, people aren't protesting about something fun like having dessert for breakfast. Someone was treated unfairly, and people are hoping that a big protest will bring about change. Because everyone should be treated the same, regardless of where they live or how they look."
   Suddenly, Mama's work phone buzzed. Whenever that happened, it meant she was receiving
a message from the newsroom. And it usually meant Mama needed to leave to report on breaking news.
   "Do you have to leave to cover the big protest, Mama?" Frankie asked. "Maybe you can tell the newsroom that you need to stay home. Just this one time?"
   "Oh, Frankie." Mama sighed as she stood up. "I wish I could stay home. But this is important, and they need my help covering the story." She grabbed her press badge off the table and placed it around her neck.
   "But I don't want you to go!" Frankie cried out. "It's cookie night!" She was glad people were protesting because everyone did deserve to be treated fairly, but she was worried about Mama. What if she got lost in the crowd? She'd be safer at home eating cookies with her family.
   "Don't worry, Frankie." Mama gave her a big hug. "I'll be home before you know it."
   Just as they always did before Mama left to cover an important news story, everyone joined together for a group hug. Papa, Raven, and Frankie sang out, "Mama's leaving so we're singing the blues. 'Cause Mama's got to go report breaking news!"
 "Mama's got to go! This much is true. And while I'm away, I'll be thinking of you!" Mama sang back and gave everyone a kiss.
   This time, they hugged Mama extra tight before she left. And when the chocolate chip cookies were done baking, Frankie made sure to save Mama a few.

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Excerpted from Frankie and Friends: the Big Protest by Christine Platt
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.