Gabby Ghas is a grain of palay (rice) who wants to know his place in the world.

Accompanied by his buddy snail, Hermes, Gabby journesys through the palayan (rice field) in search of his life's purpose. Along the way both friends encounter seedlings, weeds, predatory insects, and pesticide officers whose job it is to protect the ever-precious rice plants from harm --all help to make Gabby realize just how special he is.
Youngsters will delight in Gabby's exciting adventures as hi is milled, hulled, and sold to market, to his moment of destiny on a hungry boy's plate. Esien Bernardo's charming illustrations adorn a well-told story that encapsulates for young people the hidden science behind the sustained production of the world's most widely eaten staple food. - from Amzon