Watch the Movie

This is the movie that inspired the book A Pirate's Quest!  The Riddle in a Bottle is a half hour movie for children, filmed by award- winning wildlife filmmakers Laura Sams and Robert Sams, which shows how life on earth is connected through moving water.  WINNER of 21 AWARDS!

With a generous grant from the Save our Seas Foundation, Laura and Robert were able to purchase underwater camera equipment, and they spent a total of two years capturing beautiful aquatic footage from Michigan to the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.  The  picture to the right shows Robert Sams  floating on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean near Florida, while filming the story about sea turtles.

What is the movie about?  Laura and Robert, a.k.a. “The Riddle Solvers,” are two siblings who run a riddle-solving stand, where they solve riddles for 5¢ a piece.  We follow them as they solve a mysterious riddle from the ocean that reaches them on an inland lake... in a message in a magic bottle.

As Laura and Robert try to solve the riddle, they receive three clues (via message in a bottle) from underwater creatures who each offer a different solution to the riddle . . . currents, tides or weather.  The first story sweeps us into a vivid blue ocean where baby loggerhead sea turtles drift along the ocean currents under floating mats of sargassum algae.  The second story takes us to the coastline, where daily life is based around the rhythm of the tides.  The third story plunges us into a freshwater vernal pond, whose occupants depend on the heavy spring rains for survival.

Finally, The Riddle Solvers meet a one-legged pirate, who sings a song that helps pave the way to the riddle's answer.  This lively mix of mystery, music, humor and vivid animal footage is a perfect way for young children to understand how they are connected with water far away.  If you would like to know more about why Laura and Robert created The Riddle in a Bottle, read their Director's Note.

  DVD Special Features include:

• The Making of the Book A Pirate's Quest, perfect for educators!
• The Making of The Riddle in a Bottle, which shares over 10 minutes of outtakes, challenges and methods for making the movie.
• A printable packet of classroom connection activities for teachers!