Travel north to the Arctic Circle, where reliability can be a matter of survival. Inger may have the whitest fur and an impressive set of antlers, but his friends just can't depend on this young reindeer. First he disrupts a wedding. Next he forfeits the big sled race. Will Inger get another chance to prove he can be trusted? Inger's opportunity soon comes, against the backdrop of an unforgiving Arctic snowstorm, and at stake are the lives of three reindeer. Inger's story is set in Norway and features a fast-fading way of life among the Sami reindeer herders, who have lived in close interdependence with the reindeer for centuries. In glowing watercolors, illustrator Andra Chase depicts the rugged beauty of the Norwegian landscape and the richly colorful Sami people who live there. 

Inger s Promise will help you:

• Emphasize the value of being trustworthy
• Investigate the lives of the Sami people
• Introduce information about reindeer and other Arctic wildlife
• Explore the geography and culture of Norway

"The large watercolor illustrations are perfect for storytime sharing with ages five to ten." — Small Press Magazine

Author Jami Parkison

Illustrator Andra Chase

Key Concept: Being trustworthy

Age Group: Grades K-4

A herd of Spanish sheep is badly in need of guidance. Everyone knows that sheep are followers. They are perfectly content to trail along behind whomever happens to be a few steps ahead. This is exactly the case with a flock of sheep living outside a tiny village in the heart of Spain. One day Isabella begins to wonder if there isn't another way. "Must we always be wandering about willy-nilly, nobody knowing where we are going?" But recognizing the need for a leader and accepting the responsibility of being one are two different things. It will require a bolt of lightning — literally — to transform the reluctant Isabella into the leader she must be. From crumbling stone farm buildings and rugged grazing land to the pinnacled Alcazar, once home of Queen Isabella, this story captures the drama of the Spanish landscape, the perfect backdrop for the exciting events that lead to our Isabella's transformation. 

Following Isabella will help you:

• Consider leadership as a service to one's community
• Investigate different kinds of leadership
• Present information about sheep and sheep farming
• Explore the geography and culture of Spain

"A story about leadership, confidence, initiative and cooperation. Particularly useful for studies in social skills and character education. [Isabella] will be appreciated by general viewers as well." — School Library Journal

Author Linda Talley

Illustrator Andra Chase

Key Concept: Becoming a leader

Age Group: Grades K-4

Fly into Miami Beach and meet a parrot who talks too much. People never stop talking, do they? And from his perch at Las Flores café, Feathers hears every word — and repeats a good deal of what he hears. The problem is, the words sometimes get a little jumbled up, turned around, stretched out of shape. That's what happens when Julio finds a ten dollar bill on the sidewalk. By the end of the day — and with the help of the talkative Feathers — Julio's bit of good luck has grown to immense proportions — at least in the minds of the regulars at Las Flores. Feathers' misadventures take place within sight of palm trees and blue ocean waters in Miami Beach, Florida. Andra Chase has depicted a kaleidoscope of local color and characters in her sunny watercolor illustrations.                         

 Feathers at Las Flores will help you:

Visit the Okefenokee for a lesson in pursuing goals. Jackson is a green tree frog and a resident of the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia. One afternoon, Jackson learns that a slick new brochure is being prepared to draw tourists to this famed wildlife refuge, home to alligators and water lilies, coach whip snakes and cypress trees, pileated woodpeckers and cinnamon ferns. Jackson is determined that the diminutive green tree frog species will not be left out. Jackson's plan takes him on a photo shoot through three habitats of the Okefenokee — the swampy woods, the piney woods, and the open marshlands. Along his madcap way, he encounters obstacles and setbacks, but Jackson perseveres — with surprising results. 

Jackson s Plan will help you:

• Promote goal-setting and strategic planning
• Encourage perseverance in the face of obstacles
• Explore the ecology of wetlands and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

"A striking multimedia presentation package." — Children's Bookwatch

Author Linda Talley

Illustrator Andra Chase

Key Concept: Learning to persevere

Age Group: Grades K-4

A New York story weighs love against material wealth. Hit the sidewalks of New York with a girl named Margot and a Dalmatian pup named Bailey. Both are on their best behavior in anticipation of their shared birthday celebration. Students will feel Bailey's keen disappointment when all he gets for his birthday is a kiss and a bandanna. And they will rejoice with Bailey's realization that the love and support of his family are more important than material gifts. This DVD is a word for word match of the storybook.

Bailey s Birthday will help you:

• Explore the value of material gifts as measures of worth
• Promote growth in self-confidence
• Introduce factual information about aviation, about the canine species, and about the sights and history of New York City

 " Bailey learns] about something more important than material gifts: the love and support of a family. Recommended." - Video Librarian

Author Elizabeth Happy

Illustrator Andra Chase

Key Concept: Celebrating gifts of the heart

Age Group: K-4 

This DVD program explains human reproduction, including information about conception, pregnancy, fetal growth and development, and genetics. It describes various human physical characteristics, explains how and why sex cells and hormones are produced and relates this to the biological process of fertilization. The growth and development of the fetus is illustrated with clear and beautiful artwork, a "must" for any complete course of study of human growth.