Sharla Grove, age 11, of Richmond, Va., for her question:

WHAT IS MANNA?

According to the Bible (Exod. 16 and Num. 11), the Israelites were given manna as food during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Manna looked like small, round flakes of a yellowish white color, and tasted like wafers made with honey.

Manna rained from heaven each morning, the Bible says. It was gathered early because it melted in the sun. The daily portion of each person was an omer, which is about six pints. The people gathered just enough food for each day since the manna would spoil and was unfit to eat if more was gathered.

Manna stopped falling when the Israelites crossed into Canaan, the Promised Land.

Some historians say that manna was actually a gluey sugar which can be found on the tamarisk shrub.