Students learn how to handle the struggles of the COVID-19 restrictions in this interesting keepsake story Invasion of the Thistles. Students conquer invasive species to take control during COVID-19. Thistles take over when people stop using the playground due to the coronavirus lockdown. Can the students use their social media savvy to get others to help them eradicate the prickly pests before the restrictions are lifted? How will they confront Queen Bea who wants to save the thistles for the bees? Will 'les trois amis' conquer the prickly pests, take back the abandoned park, and prevent another Covid casualty? Unfortunately, this story is based on true events during the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Students learn how to deal with the struggles of a contagious virus that has spread around the world. They develop techniques for online learning as well as maintaining social distances. Author Barbara Fanson pulled over 240 thistles from her local playground so children will eventually use the swings.