Paulie and Cassie Search for Excellence (A Lesson in Priorities)

Paulie is a beautifully colored painted bunting, and Cassie is a sleek, gray-colored catbird. These two friends reminisce about a childhood game of finding "the best thing". While thinking through many different areas of their lives, an enemy sneaks up and catches one of them. Through fast thinking and instinctive measures, the two friends are saved and find "the best thing" is the friendship they share. Each page is an original watercolor painting created by the artist, Sophie A. Norman. She captures the imagination and helps readers see the whimsical stories while preserving the values necessary for a virtuous citizen in today's communities. The book is full of rigorous vocabulary, complete with a glossary. Each book in this series of ten features a bird or birds that children may see in their own backyards. A page of facts about the featured bird(s) is included to help children identify and understand the birds at the local feeders. Perhaps, the books may even inspire future bird watchers!