Ava's first word was, "OOK!"

"Magnificent!" said Ava's father.

"Marvelous!" said Ava's mother.

"What's an OOK?" asked Ava's brother, Harry.

"OOK!" said Ava. She grinned and raised both hands.

Ava's mother liked to look at birds. She said, "I believe our little girl is saying LOOK."

"Look?" asked Ava's father. "It's possible."

"Look at what?" asked Harry.

They all looked at Ava. "Look at what?" they asked her.

Ava stomped her foot. she shook her curls. then she grinned and raised both hands.

Ava's father liked to cook. He said, "maybe Ava isn't saying LOOK. Maybe her word is COOK."

"Cook?" asked Ava's mother. "It's possible."

"What would Ava cook?" asked Harry.

They all looked at Ava. "Cook what, Ava?"

Ava stomped her foot. she shook her curls. then she grinned and raised both hands.

Harry liked to read books. He sat down beside his small sister and turned his eyes to match her gaze. Then he laughed. "I know what Ava's OOK is. They're everywhere!"

"Is it HOOK?" asked Ava's mother.

"Is it NOOK?" asked Ava's mother.

"No. I think Ava's OOK is BOOK," said Harry.

Ava grinned and raised both hands.

"Wonderful!" said Ava's mother.

"Remarkable!" said Ava's father.

They all looked at Ava. "Which book would you like to read, Ava?"

"EEP!" said Ava.

"Oh dear," said Ava's father.

"Oh my," said Ava's mother.

Harry grinned. "Don't worry. I think I know what Ava's EEP is."

He went to the desk and picked up a book about farm animals. "i was reading this yesterday. Ava loved the pictures."

On the cover were pictures of horses, pigs, goats, cows, and...

"EEP!" said Ava pointing.