When Anna moved to Chicago, Kaya became her first real friend, so for her birthday Anna is determined to give Kaya the best present ever The problem is, the thing Kaya wants more than anything is a pet, but her parents have a strict no-pets rule.

Then Anna remembers that Mr. Hoffman's third-grade class just hatched baby chicks Anna decides that rather than sending the chicks back to the farm, she'll convince her teacher to let the Friendship Garden raise them, so Kaya can have a pet of her own. But raising chicks is no easy task. It requires supplies (that cost money) and building things like a coop and a run. How is Anna supposed to get everything ready and keep it a surprise...especially when Anna and Kaya usually hang out every day?

Kaya begins to suspect "fowl play" and assumes Anna is ditching her as a friend Anna feels terrible and what was supposed to be the best birthday present ever quickly turns into the worst one. Will Anna be able to come up with a way to win her best friend back before the chicks get sent back to the farm for good?