Sam, Sandy, and Drag travel from Tucson, AZ to Sedona, AZ and as Drag the Dragonfly becomes exhausted they see what appears to be a glowing monster hovering in the forest. As they approach, the glowing mass explodes and they realize they are surrounded by thousands of... fireflies! The Fireflys find inventive ways to help the trio land and rest and a clue is left at the end of book (which happens in each book), leading to where they will travel to next. Told in English and Spanish, the three central characters represent key intrinsic values demonstrated by children as role models for adults.
Sam the Ant persists even as fears are confronted, and is always looking to build community with others.
Sandy the Ant affirms and trusts Sam, and learns how to risk.
Drag the Dragonfly loves to fly high in the sky to gain a broader perspective.
Sam the Ant was created by Samantha "Sam" Feldman and her father, Enrique C. Feldman, when Sam was between the ages of 3 and 6. Sam the Ant was from the beginning a representation of the hero inside all of us. Glow in the Dark is the second of 30 books.
The 30 books, each with a learning guide, tell one large global story centered on
* Understanding that adversity can be your ally
* Embracing diversity as opportunity
* Fostering multiple perspectives.
Multiple cultures are experienced visually and through the use of questions, which permeate each story. The series is focused on empowering young children in ways which encourage them to:
embrace discovery
recognize multiple perspectives
identify integrity
foster compassion
understand perseverance
comprehend subtext through facial gesture and setting
build language through provocations in the form of questions
Each book ends with a parent guide that gives hints on how parents can use authentic dialogue strategies. Results have shown an increased desire to read, and an elevated level of curiosity and critical thinking.