petitions

"Sometimes problems are too big to be resolved by the people involved. In these cases, someone asks a court to decide what is fair. The person who asks the court to hear a case is called a petitioner. People do not always agree with the court. A petitioner can also ask a higher court to hear the case. Without petitioners, there is no way for two people who don't agree to get an answer. This book explores the role of petitioners in civic society"--Amazon.

Martha and the other dogs in town are afraid of the loud fireworks that go off every Saturday night, so when crabby Mrs. Demson sends out a petition to stop the show, Martha and the other dogs are glad to sign, but when the local kids are sad that the show is canceled, Martha wonders if there is any way to compromise so everyone is happy.