Saige enjoys going outside and painting, as well she should. She lives in a beautiful area of the Southwestern U.S. And her design for a hot-air balloon has been accepted for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.Saige hasn't seen her best friend Tessa all summer. But Tessa has been away at music camp and has a new friend Dylan who she met there, who happens to be in their fourth-grade class. And Tessa and Dylan still want to spend time together, leaving Saige out. There is a new girl Gabi who likes art and lives near Saige's grandmother Mimi.There is more bad news. Due to budget cuts, there will be no art class this year. Music class will be offered instead, though art will be back next year in place of music.It is a tradition for Mimi, a noted artist, to lead the Fiesta's parade riding her horse Picasso. She is also working on a mural. Mimi hears about Saige's situation and says an artist never gives up. She also tries to get Saige to try new techniques, but Saige doesn't like change. Perhaps Saige can find the solution to her problem at school.Then Mimi has an accident and Saige puts all her focus on her grandmother (including taking care of her dog Rembrandt). Mimi tells Saige she should still work on getting art class back.Saige and the other girls start working on a plan to get art class back, which will require raising funds. Dylan's mother is a journalist, which will help. The girls face many obstacles and sometimes it appears they will give up. One problem is that Dylan seems to think everything is all about her. Another is that Saige is afraid to speak in public.Meanwhile. Mimi has her own set of challenges as she tries to recover. And she is not following her own advice. She is giving up too easily and needs someone to push her. One thing she will not do no matter how hard she tries is ride in the parade, but perhaps Saige can.So, will the girls and Mimi overcome their obstacles? Can art class be restored?