Welcome to the Jungle by Matt London

reason?”
    Professor Doran raised an eyebrow. “Why, isn’t it obvious? The whole world is in danger.”

A WIND KICKED UP, BLOWING DUST AND A FEW LOOSE SEEDS THROUGH THE WARM AIR. EVIE covered her face to shield her eyes, but the carrying carrots didn’t mind the breeze. They continued to proceed, single file, into the
Roost
, dragging large canvas sacks beside them.
    It was hard to believe that she and Rick had arrived in Texas a few hours ago. So much had happened. Professor Doran had taken them into his office, a quiet wooden study in which potted plants occupied every available surface. He had listened carefully to their story, which they started from the very beginning, with Dad’s Winterpole troubles and the need to create a place where their family could be free. When they finished the tale, getting to the part where the meteor of pink robo-animals crashed into the eighth continent and knocked it onto its collision course with Australia, Professor Doran leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a long time. “I see. That is quite a predicament you have found yourselves in.”
    â€œYes, that’s why you must help us!” Rick insisted. “Our father said you’re the only one who can.”
    â€œYour father? Hmm . . . I wonder.” The professor’s expression grew distant.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Evie asked, confused by the strange shift in his tone of voice.
    â€œNothing,” Professor Doran said. “The Amazonian Super Root is what you need. Come with me; we’ll have to check in storage.”
    He led the children across the compound to what looked like a storm cellar sticking out of the ground. The cellar concealed a deep subterranean cavern, where boxes were stacked floor to ceiling as far as the eye could see. Evie danced as they piled into a little motorcar. She was so excited Professor Doran was helping them.
    The professor drove through the maze of stacks and parked abruptly in front of a wooden crate that was painted bright green. “All right, here we are,” he said as he pried open the lid of the green box so the others could look inside. At the bottom of the box was a bit of hay used for packing cushion, and in the center, a smaller green box.
    Evie reached for it. “Is that—”
    â€œThe Amazonian Super Root,” Sprout affirmed. Professor Doran opened the small box and took out a black bulb the size of a head of garlic. “It’s a plant with mighty fine cellular properties. It grows faster than weeds, and the Prof’s fertilizers can accelerate that growth. The root’s stronger than a bull and thicker than an elephant’s butt!”
    Evie snorted at that, receiving a nudge from Rick in return. But if Sprout thought it was funny, then Evie was going to laugh. Each of his jokes was more hilarious than the last.
    â€œThis should be enough to solve your runaway continent problems,” Professor Doran explained. “But why should we stop there?” He tossed the bulb back into the box and snapped the lid shut. “You have a whole continent to build—a blank slate where you can create anything your imagination can dream up. You shouldn’t settle for an empty canvas. You need forests and jungles, fields of wildflowers, every biome on earth, and perhaps more! Your mother would appreciate such a beautiful landscape. I’m sure you will too. So please, let me give you the seeds you need to create this world.”
    Evie could not agree to this plan fast enough. It made her vast continent of jungle adventure appear even more clearly in her mind. Rick, meanwhile, expressed concern about vegetation densities and anticipated population numbers. Ultimately, however, he agreed that passing up this opportunity would be ill-advised—though he urged them all to compile the seeds and saplings as quickly as possible, as there would be no continent left to plant flora on