Product Description
For ten years author Bobbie Sandoz-Merrill swam with a pod of wild dolphins off the shores of her Hawaiian home as well as with other dolphins and whales throughout the world. In the Presence of High Beings is about her many remarkable healing experiences with these extraordinary beings.

Organized in three parts, the first phase of encounters offers a period of friendship during which she learns from the dolphins by observing how consistently they embody the six characteristics of the higher self.

During the second phase Bobbie suspects that the dolphins are attempting to communicate with her. Among other things, they create "bubble" drawings in the water, which is one of the dolphins' ways of reassuring Bobbie they are truly communicating with her. As a result, Bobbie opens to receiving their telepathic messages and is able to learn the dolphins' for how humans can release the chaotic world they are currently creating and manifest the world of their dreams.In the Presence of High Beings shares the dolphin's unique formula for rapidly attaining a high level of joy.

In the Presence of High Beings also includes a valuable guide on how to swim with dolphins and whales in the wild, new information on the lethal effects of sonar on dolphins and whales, and some unusual material about human healing with dolphin "tapping."

This book is filled with an abundance of useful information that can be applied to becoming a better person and a better humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

new age dolphins
This book is good for new agers...the author is a bit naive, but very well-written. Enjoyed the book for some of her insights; but did not take it very seriously. Enjoyable read!

High Beings Need Less Human Invasion and More True Peace
The dolphins in this book are wild, but are being harassed increasingly by humans who want something from them. They are now being seen with less frequency in many of the bays they use for calving, resting, nursing - scientists relate this to human intensive (although mostly unintentional) swimmers and other recreationists who think the dolphins have nothing else to do but to commune with them. As if those humans are that special.

In the Presence of High Beings:What Dolphins Want You to Know
Food for the soul and mind.A gooood long stretch in my thinking.Opens new doors.

Wonderful and touching
I cried when reading this book. I loved every word of it. Eye-opening, sweet, touching, insightful.

Deep & Uplifting Teachings from our Cetacean Friends
Animal communicator Bobbie Sandoz-Merrill's book, IN THE PRESENCE OF HIGH BEINGS, describes her experiences swimming with dolphins and what she has learned from the playful dolphins she has met. Swimming with dolphins has been compared to "swimming in champagne distilled from joy," as dolphins who come to spend time with humans invariably express some of the very highest spiritual qualities we humans aspire to, such as: kindness, joyfulness, harmony, wisdom, honest telepathy, and grace. These incredibly compassionate and playful ambassadors provide us with an opportunity to see how intelligent beings can live together peacefully in a balanced way.

In addition to these powerful insights, Sandoz-Merrill provides us with the benefit of what she learned from her dolphin friends regarding how to manifest what we most desire. Dolphins send thoughts filled with dreams out to the future, preparing the way for what is desired to come through. Dolphins do what is necessary to show up on the path of their dreams, swimming out to meet them rather than assuming everything will just come through on its own. Dolphins focus only on what they desire with intense, clear intent. Dolphins actively attract their dreams, inviting and enticing them to come to them. Dolphins stay joyful, happy and playful while awaiting their dreams to arrive... living in accordance with their very highest ideals of love, joy, freedom, and grace.

I am eternally grateful to Sandoz-Merrill for sharing these profound insights and stories through this delightful book, which is as fun to read as it is transformative for all who read it with open hearts and minds. I give this book my highest recommendation for everyone interested in dolphins and improving the quality of life. ... Read more

Product Description

Since ancient times dolphins have been known to uplift and inspire human beings through empathetic interaction. Cochrane and Callen review the myths, legends, and history of dolphins as well as current research, showing how close contact with these graceful mammals can trigger our inherent healing powers. In a rich and detailed study of dolphins, the authors explore the animals' life cycle, behavioral patterns, and methods of communication. They also give careful consideration to the well-being of the dolphins themselves, emphasizing that human/dolphin encounters should, whenever possible, occur in the animals' natural habitat and on their own terms. 

The authors describe recent case studies confirming that such contact can enhance the learning abilities of the mentally handicapped, bring relief to the emotionally disturbed, and encourage recovery from life-threatening illness. 

 Thirty-two color photographs capture the exhilaration of swimming and interacting with dolphins.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointed
At first, I was disappointed in this book because the title of the book gives the impression that it is mainly about how dolphins help in healing. However, only the first chapters of the book (25 pages out of 167) are related to the use of dolphins in healing. Then the authors describe the Aquatic Ape theory and consider that the close relationship between humans and dolphins is due to the possibility that humans had a phase during their evolutionary development when they lived in the sea. This is a theory while it is interesting is not very likely and also is not widely accepted.

The authors bring the Australian Aborigines into their discussion of human and dolphin relationships. On page 51, they make this statement, "The Australian Aborigines are particularly fascinating, for they represent possibly the oldest existing human lineage. Anthropologists generally regard them as direct descendants of the Neanderthals who lived in Europe some 200.000 years ago, a pure race that is quite separate from others." This reminds one of the multiregionalist model of human evolution that suggests that every race of humans originated from a separate group of hominids with the underlying idea that some groups of present day humans are superior to others, in other words it supports racism. Recent genetical studies have shown that all people living in the world today originate from a small group of people living in Africa about 200,000 years ago and that includes Australian Aborigines. A study comparing Neanderthal DNA to present day human DNA has shown that it is unlike any human DNA found on the earth today which means that there was probably no interbreeding between the two species. The last common ancestor of the two species lived at least 500,000 years ago. In my opinion, the book would be greatly improved if the false information about Neanderthals was taken out of any future printings. It actually has nothing to do with dolphins anyway.

Despite this and a tendency in the first part of the book to lean toward New Age ideas, the remainder of the book is quite interesting and well-worth reading. The authors give information about the history of human and dolphin relationships going back to the Greeks and the Romans. They describe present day studies of dolphin intelligence and of how they live in the wild. They also describe how the dolphins that have been captured have been mistreated and how attempts have even been made to use them in warfare as well as the fact that dolphins are often in great danger from the fishing industry.

What a crock!
Imsorry who ever wrote This book Is Extramly Misinformed! I have swam with dolphins at sea world! and I Did Expirience a healing I have been arround The petting pool at sea world of California And expirianced many many healings!Sea worldInfact has Educated many Therenshow dolphins are verry well fed! I am a dolphin Lover and an animal empath I can comunicate with animals. ThisBook wasEndorced By clowns such asRick O berry He trained Flipper read One of The first chapters They Put Dolphins and Porpoises dolphins In The 1960s Most of The ... In here They say about aqueriaums are as far dated as The 1960s to early 1980s Infact The sea world of CaPetting pool Isno longerIts Now a beautyfulInviorment where dolphins swim verry happy there MNOT SWIMMING IN CIRCLES THERE NOT SLAMMING THERE HEADS AGAINST THE WALL AND THERE ARE NOT I REPEAT NOT BEING ABUSED Come On its The year 2003lets get real The days of Flipper Are Long gone

A 'must have' for dolphin-lovers
My copy of this book is dog-eared, highlighted and covered with comments and thoughts from myself and all the people I have lent the book to. I don't know of anyone who has read it that hasn't been moved as well aseducated by it.

I loved all the information in this book and the references,
I read this book before my swim with the wild dolphins in the Bahamas and it gave me an even greater appreciation for what I was doing and enjoying. The chapter on the myths and evolution was so enlightening. I was horrified to read of the awful things we still do to our world and the creatures init. The book inspired me to connect more with my world. The references,research project info and bibliography wereoutstanding. I have passedthis book on to others whose work is to research and direct swim trips withdolphins. ... Read more

Product Description
Jody McGrath and her family are sailing around the world researching dolphins, and Jody records all their exciting adventures in her Dolphin Diaries.In the series' fifth book, Jody and the crew arrive in the Caribbean and make a new dolphin friend, Frida.But other dolphins there have been captured and taken to live in dirty, unhealthy conditions--just to entertain tourists!Jody is outraged.Can she help win freedom for these dolphins?
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Dolphin Diaries #5
Excellent books for kids ages 8 - 12. The story keeps their interest even if they are not a strong reader.

Dolphin Diaries - Review 1
This makes a great gift for pre-teens.The level of readability is easy and the subject interesting.
The shipping was very quick (faster than indicated) and made it on time for a birthday surprise.

Good
This book was good.It kind of tears at your emotions, but that only makes it more enjoyable.Once again, the dolphins always, and I mean ALWAYS being super-friendly to Jody as if they were aquatic humans can be quite annoying.After all, wouldn't mistreated captive dolphins be frightened and a little bit tense around humans?And Jody's love of dolphins can be eye-rollingly sickening as well.I mean, it's not like she just really loves them or something, she's practically OBSESSED!She cries every time something bad happens to a dolphin, and passes up fun activities just so that she can SEE them.But although those things can be bothersome, I still enjoyed this book.All of the characters had their time to shine in this book, or so it seemed, and the story, although difficult to imagine in some parts, was interesting and even kind of absorbing.I recommend this series to dolphin lovers, and girls who like unique and entertaining books.

Chasing The Dream
This is an amazing book and teachs lots about owning dolphins. I love dolphins so much i can relate to Jody. Even with spanish. You should pick this book up. If you reand the first page you will end on the last!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

No mystery here...
Absorbing everything informative about cetaceans may have hindered my enjoyment of this book. I didn't find any mysteries revealed
There was no mention of the dolphins ability to stun prey with their sonar, nor any information disproving it.

The style of interweaving comments was more distracting and not helpful, since even the photograph had no means of distinguishing them as indiviuals.

Overall this book was a disappointment. No mystery--except--, perhaps some of the more bizarre doings of Lilly and why was it published with that title?

Brilliant and Beautiful
Finally, a book that helps me understand what dolphins may be saying to each other and to us. Changed my perception of these animals so I appreciate them even more. I would like to see more video about what these authors have documented here. However, the illustrations are superb.

Best Book Around About Dolphins - Indispesable!
I am a master's student in biology and I have been trying to read every current book about dolphins I can get my hands on for my thesis. I want to know about these incredible animals not just below skin, deep but about where they live, under the sea. Few books address this and the authors are on the cutting edge of such research. Pioneering scientific information, yet really well written. Whoever the reviewer was who said it was hard to follow with the two voices of the two authors must really want something very simple and impersonal. This first-hand written experience enhanced the book to me and gave me a better idea of what it is like to be a dolphin scientist. I have learned so much about dolphin communication, emotion, and even interspecies dolphin-human communication (all very tightly documented and studied by the authors themselves). My #1 dolphin book (for now, anyway!).

Repetitive and uninspiring
I was really looking forward to this book, but after reading it, I feel I really haven't learned much about dolphin cognition and communication. First, the book is extremely repetitive. For example, in the first two chapters, the authors says that dolphins are "egregious" animals, again and again and again. And then in the middle of the book they say how they touch with pectoral fins and how this can mean different things in different contexts, again and again and again. And in the last chapter they say how loud noises can adversely affect dolphins, again and again and again. The book could have been shortened by a factor of a few without any loss of information. Second, the style is really annoying: the book was obviously written by two people as it is a bit incoherent at times and they often say things like "I (Toni) observed this and that" and then Kathleen thinks this and that and then we are served a thick dose of emotional stuff about how they love dolphins and oceans. I bought this book to learn about dolphins and not about Toni and Kathleen, so passive voice with some information might be more helpful. Finally, when they come to the really interesting stuff, they don't go into any detail. For example, they explain the false belief task challenge and then they say that there is some reason to believe that dolphins have passed this task, without any elaboration whatsoever. Sure, I could go and find the source paper, but I bought the book precisely because I don't have time to do things like that...

A wonderful and challenging book on dolphin intelligence, emotion and ethics
A wonderful guide to the most up to date and collective scientific data on dolphin intelligence, behavior and the field of dolphin emotions.

Both Authors give us an in depth analysis of how understanding the behaviors of dolphins helps us understand what they may be thinking and feeling and how we as humans can better respect them knowing this information.

The book goes into challenging the myth of dolphin happiness, where dolphins are perceived as always being "happy go lucky" and how this perceptual lens masks what data and evidence tells us is not always so.
1)Authors present convincing evidence that dolphins do not always want our company around them.
2) dolphins have behaved aggressively with human swimmers when stressed
3) and our constant presence in the water disturbs their natural activities leading some dolphins to even avoid areas where human presence has been too much.

The book goes into wonderful detail about those amazing "solitary, social dolphins" that seem to only want human attention, negative and positive human impacts on dolphin species in and out of their natural environment, and we as humans now understanding more about dolphins should respect them.

As a student of wildlife and in particular marine mammals I have accumulated a lot of information on dolphins and through reading this book I have encountered some things I already knew, but learned FAR MORE what I didn't know and understand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A Love that Grows
When a man sends for the wrong girl to marry him in a faraway place a love story starts.
Although the wrong bride comes to New Zealand ,due to a slip of the pen, William decides he will never let her know the mistake he made. He always loves the other girl, but is determined to make the best of the situation.Many years pass and the love triangle is resolved in the best way possible for all those involved.
This book also addresses much of the history of New Zealand and of sailing adventures.

tapestry of a book
Elizabeth Goudge writes like no other. Her descriptions of scenes are so detailed and she manages to capture exactly the right essence of what she wants to convey onto paper. Her scenes of early mornings and other happy experiences for the characters for example are a lot like the paintings of the French Rococo period such as Fragonard's works-- glittering, thriving, magical, whimsical.

Green Dolphin Street
The book I reeived (second hand) was too much money.I should not have paid more than $3.00 plus shipping.

When I opened the package the smell of mustiness almost knocked me over and had to be set out doors in the sun for several days to dry out.

No One Proofread This Edition
This was my first exposure to the writing of Elizabeth Goudge and she is magnificent. This edition, however, is a travesty. It has more typos than I have ever seen in a "professionally" published book - there must be twenty per page. Just one example is "arid" for "and" in at least fifty places - I am not kidding! It is so annoying to be reading her beautifully painted pictures and have them destroyed by the juvenile publishing job. It's like a monkey typed it and then no one proof-read it. I agree with the other reviewer - read this book but avoid this edition!

green dolphin street
of all the books i've read by elizabeth goudge, this one easily rates at the top of the list of beautifully written, redeeming stories.you meet the characters when they are just children, and live their lives with them to their old age... something like how fully you get to know david copperfield. turning the last page is one of those sad experiences of wanting it to go on and on... these are friends that i've known their whole lives.i took it slow and savored the story over a summer.GREAT book! ... Read more

Product Description
In 1982, Rachel Smolker traveled to Monkey Mia, a remote spot in western Australia where she’d heard wild dolphins regularly interact with people. She had no intention of staying long; she simply wanted to see if the rumors were true. That initial trip changed Smolker’s life; it commenced a fifteen-year scientific obsession that has culminated in this fascinating scientific adventure story–the first-ever intimate account of dolphin life in the wild.

To Touch A Wild Dolphin is a seminal work that radically alters our fundamental understanding of these enigmatic creatures. Learning to identify scores of dolphins by their dorsal fin, Smolker and her team of scientists were able to conduct close and consistent studies that revealed the dolphin to be even more intelligent than we’d previously suspected. And while they were every bit as playful as we’ve known them to be, they also proved to have a dark and alarmingly violent side. But more than just a document on dolphins, this book is a touchingly personal look at the life of a scientist, at the rigors and sacrifices but also the wonders and joys of unending days in the field. Written with prose poetic and pristine, this book is nothing short of a landmark. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

An entertaining and insightful read on dolphin research

This is for people that like dolphins.
An extreme challenge for people that want to study dolphins is that dolphins live under water, swim fast and swim long distances.
She was one of the first people to study dolphins in shark bay in Australia that was special in that it is a rare place where dolphins live near the shoreline and the water is shallow enough to visually follow the dolphins.

This starts out as Smolker as an undergrad in college where she first hears about shark bay.She and another student fly there for the summer to check it out.The book tells her story and the story of the dolphins, and of the dolphin research as she works her way through to her PhD.

Research at shark bay was pivotal to further and on going research on dolphin behavior in the wild.If you are interested in dolphin research you will find this book a fascinating read.

Dolphin perspectives
The title is a bit unfortunate, because humans should not be touching wild dolphins but just observing them from a respectful distance.Those interested in studying dolphins will also be interested in the book by Shaney Frey titled Ocean Echoes:A Dolphin Tale.Ocean Echoes is a fictional account but is based on years of research by the author, and thus is a nice complement to the book "To Touch a Wild Dolphin."

Not what I expected
I bought this book to help me learn to catch dolphin with a fishing pole....and it didn't even cover the right baits and lures to use!Other than that it's a great book.

A fascinating book!
I loved this book.I have always been interested in dolphins and was intrigued to learn how they live.Their connection with humans seems so close, like they are as interested in learning about us as we are about them.This woman's story of her time with the dolphins made me wish I was there too.I read the book a couple of years ago and still think about it.Some of her stories still make me laugh when I think of them.A fascinating story!

From a dolphin lover in the highest degree
I'm passionate about dolphins, and I couldn't get through the book. I felt as if the author didn't like dolphins, and didn't really respect them. I hate to be saying this about a book that seemed at first glance so wonderful, but I didn't feel as if the book protrayed positive feelings. I just feel as if the author doesn't like dolphins, and I think that a book that is written in a way that might seem emotional, but doesn't portray true feelings or a love for the creatures that are said to be loved. If the tone is to be set in one way, the words used should reflect that tone. ... Read more

Product Description
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell is a favorite middle grade novel.This companion gives background on the author, questions to guide reading, clues to themes, plot, characters, and setting of the book, a glossary, writing and other activities, and more. If you loved Island of the Blue Dolphins, you need this reading companion. ... Read more

Product Description
In the series¹ second book, The Dolphin Dreamer is at bay in Key West, Florida, visiting a very special dolphin center ­ one with ³dolphin teachers.² Jody loves watching the dolphins at work, but one of them gets caught in the netting. Jody frees the dolphin, who swims away. Just when Jody and the crew begin to give up hope of ever seeing the dolphin again, it joyfully returns to the dolphin center. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Dolphin Diaries #2
Excellent books for kids ages 8 - 12. The story keeps their interest even if they are not a strong reader.

Cool book!
This is a great book! The story is about a girl named Jody McGrath, whose parents study dolphins in a project called Dolphin Dreamer. Her parents are visiting CETA, a dolphin therapy center for special needs children. There Jody meets Lauren, the daughter of CETA's owners. Jody and Lauren rescue a little boy named Hal Davis from drowning. Hal is autistic (he has trouble communicating) but when Jody suggests Hal could go to CETA, his mother acts nervous and says no. Later Jody and Lauren meet Gavin Davis, a millionare and Hal's father. Mr. Davis explains the last Dolphin therapy center had badly treated dolphins. But CETA is not like that, so he makes an appointment for Hal. Hal makes a special bond with Rosie, Lauren's favorite dolphin. But Rosie goes out the sea gate and doesn't come back. How does it end? You have probably guessed, but I'll leave it a secret anyway.
By the way, they don't really freak out when she dissapears. Lauren is sad, and her father is dissapointed because one less dolphin means more work, but they understand that Rosie will come back if she wants to. Are you still here? Get the book!

If you love dolphins
My friend had all of the books, The Dolphin Diaries, written by Lucy Daniels, so after I'd finished reading them, I decided I wanted to collect them. When I went to search online, however, all the books said they were written by Ben M. Baglio and published by Scholastic. I'm so confused. Who really wrote these books? On my friend's books the only author on the front cover is Lucy Daniels. On these books I found on amazon and other sites, the author on the front cover is Ben M. Baglio. Can someone explain this to me?
~Besides my confusion on who wrote the book, the books themselves are very fun to read. I read them once when I was sick one summer when I was thirteen. Then, I began reading them again recently. (I'm fifteen now.) I still enjoy them as much as I did two summers ago.

Neat, But...
Dolphin Diaries is a fun, and slightly addicting series.The story is entertaining, although usually unrealistic.There's a one-in-a-million chance that a wild dolpin would become so understanding, humanly, and attached to Jody as Apollo.But it makes the story interesting.

This the only part that seriously bugged me: Jody and her family visit a center that uses dolphins for their work.But they're not captive.Every Sunday the gate leading to the open ocean is opened, and they're allowed to swim out into the sea.They always come back, but when one doesn't the owners freak out and start searching for it and trying to lure it back!Why open the sea gate for the dolphins when they're just going to chase them back?I thought that was kind of strange.

But if you like dolphins, or love good stories about pre-teen girls, I think you'll enjoy this series.It is very original, and inspiring.

One in a Million!
Anybody that sees this book might find it kind of boring. Think again.This is one of the best books that Ben M. Baglio has written. At first when I started to read this book I thought it was going to be boring, but when I got to the end of chapter one, it was so good I could not put it down. I think it is one of the best book I have ever read. ... Read more

Product Description
Why does a dinghy slide backward as we try to climb out? Why are cold seas green and warm seas blue? Why do barnacles attach themselves to boat hulls? When was the rudder invented? What have been the main steps in the evolution of sailboats? How does wind create waves? These are some of the questions asked about the sea, the sky, wind and weather, ships, sailing, navigation and life aboard. Do Dolphins Ever Sleep? 211 Questions and Answers about Ships, the Sky and the Sea, offers clear and precise answers to some of the questions you probably wondered or perhaps did not think about. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Dolphins sleep- Eye opener
I've long looked for answers to some of the questions raised and answered in Bely's book.
This book integrates the findings of various scientific disciplines and presents them
in a concise and readable form.Most of the time one reading is sufficient to get the
idea.The drawings and diagrams are relevant and easy to grasp.The piece on
"why is the sky blue" is by far the best explanation I ever had on this subject.I'm still
puzzling over why we perceive the size of the moon larger near the horizon.I guess
I'll just have to try my camera and see if the explanation fits.Would recommend this
book without reservation.Great stuff.A Juhasz

A Challege to Put Down
Crossing an ocean at 5 knots leaves one with ample time to ponder the surrounding world. (What's a knot? See pages 242 and 244). This book was born on such a cruise. Over the course their cruise the authors posed 211 questions "about ships, the sky, and the sea." Upon landfall, Pierre-Yves and Sally Bely sought answers.

Once in your hands, "Do Dolphins Ever Sleep?" is a challenge to put down. Thumb through the book, find an interesting question, and before you know it you've read four more questions. Each question stems naturally from the one before and leads naturally to the next, in much the same way our mind wanders from topic to topic when lost in contemplation.

The authors tackle easy (How are crews distributed on America's Cup boats?) and more challenging (How can a GPS be so precise?) questions alike, providing clear comprehensible answers. Some questions require technical answers. On these it would be easy to slip into highly technical and scientific responses, yet the Belys find ways to answer in terms understandable to most, if not everyone with a grounding in high school science.

Who should own "Do Dolphins Ever sleep?" For starters, every Yacht Club bar should have a copy alongside their Guiness Book of World Records. The rest of us should have a copy onboard to answer questions that arise while contemplating the surrounding world.

Oh, and do dolphins every sleep? Well you'll have to look on page 66.

Dave Lochner
NauticalReads

Great book-fun-unique-interesting!
211 interesting questions are answered for you.You can dazzle your friends with a unique knowledge. The book is well written. There ARE some technical explanations that are above my threshold to know, but this book is fun to read and keep around.

Entertaining reading!
Great read, informative on a variety of topics regarding the sea, weather, boating. Catchy title says it all!

Satisfy your cusrioisty!
Have you ever had one of those moments when you think to yourself, "Huh, I wonder how that works?" or "I wonder why that is so?" Then this is the book for you. In an accessible and engaging style the author provides concise answers to question such as , "Why is the sea salty?", "how do clouds and fog form?", and "How can the GPS be so precise?" Many people avoid books related to science or more generally technical matters for fear of not understanding them or of being bored to death. This book will quell those fears. While it's technical enough to keep a scientist or engineer interested, the authors deft hand at explaining each topic makes it accessible to the average person. ... Read more

Product Description
If A Dolphin Were a Fish is the clever story of a dolphin who imagines that she is a fish, a turtle, a bird, an octopus, or even a shark or manatee. She (and the readers) learn how special she really is and how special each of her other animal friends are too. The Creative Minds section has teaching trivia, crafts and games related to dolphins and some of her sea-creature friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Children will learn from - and love - this book
The best educational children's books effortlessly impart information into the young readers' minds in an almost magical way, where the mere act of reading the book is so pleasurable that they don't realize they're learning as they're reading. If a Dolphin Were a Fish is one of those magical-educational books.

Loran Wlodarski introduces Defina, a dolphin wondering what it would be like to be other sea creatures, such as a fish, a sea turtle, a shark, or an octopus. "If a dolphin were a fish, Delfina could spend all of her time underwater," reads a page early in the book. Laurie Allen Klein's illustrations on these fantasy pages quite ingeniously morph two animals, in this case the fish and the dolphin, in a way that captures the imagination as well as amuses young readers. (Even my 14-year-old son's reaction to the book was a succinct yet apt, "Cool pictures.") The author then takes the opportunity to inform readers on the differences between dolphins and the animal in question. "But a dolphin is not a fish," reads the next page. "A fish uses gills to breathe underwater. Delfina comes to the water's surface to breathe air through a blowhole on top of her head. Instead of gills, a dolphin breathes air with a pair of lungs." In this clever back-and-forth fashion, readers learn about dolphin reproduction, senses, diet, physiology and skeletal system.

The knowledge in If a Dolphin Were a Fish comes from a good source. Wlodarski is a science writer for the Education Department of SeaWorld Orlando in addition to having worked as a scientific consultant for a number of publications and TV shows. Additionally, the educators at SeaWorld and the South Carolina Aquarium further corroborated the facts in this book.

And the learning in If a Dolphin Were a Fish continues after the story has concluded. The last few pages of the book, entitled "For Creative Minds," provide a mélange of facts about dolphins, such as how to tell the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise, characteristics of a mammal, and how echolocation works, in addition to a coloring/craft page. Readers can find even more information about dolphins at the publisher's website [...], which provides reading comprehension questions, quizzes, and an interesting variety of learning activities across the curriculum. Though this book is intended for children ages three to seven years old, surely parents and educators could use If a Dolphin Were a Fish as a jumping off point for more advanced learning in older children as well.

Quill says: Children certainly will learn from - and love - this story about a curious dolphin named Delfina.

A Beautiful Book
If a Dolphin Were a Fish is an enchanting book about a dolphin who imagines what it would be like to be other creatures. The artwork is beautiful, and the imaginative way that other animals' features are incorporated into Delphina's body is creative and delightful.

Art teachers, elementary classroom teachers, and others who work with children will find this an excellent resource. Comparing and contrasting the various animals' features and habitats, predicting which choice Delphina will make next, deciding whether she'll eventually be happy with her own status...are just a few of the thinking/discussion topics that this book presents. I love this book, and recommend it highly for childrenof all ages!

If A Dolphin Were A Fish
Delfina is a bottlenose dolphin.She swims through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, imagining what it would be like to be something other than a dolphin. If she were a fish for instance, she could spend all of her time underwater.Unlike fish that have gills, Delfina has a full set of lungs and breaths through a blowhole on top of her head.

Considering the life of a sea turtle does not appeal to her at all.Slowly lumbering along the beach to lay hundreds of eggs does not sound like a lot of fun. She much prefers to give birth to her calf underwater.She discards the idea of being a shark and being a manatee does not thrill her.The thought of being a bird covered in feathers is too funny to even consider.

Being a boneless octopus is not to her liking either.A dolphin has a skeleton in its body made up of hard bones.Delfina has a backbone, skull and rib bones much like humans.She has five fingers inside of her front flippers that are similar to the bones in our hands.After considering all these alternatives, Delfina decides she likes who she is and has no desire to be anything else.Ask your child if he/she has ever thought of being someone else.This would be an excellent time to point out all of your child's unique attributes and celebrate who they are.

Delightful and Imaginative Book About a Very Special Dolphin
Here is a book about a very special dolphin, Delfina, who often wonders what it would be like to be a different animal. This clever story takes the reader through many different possibilities, including fish, sea turtle, shark, manatee, bird, and octopus. With each animal Delfina could be, the author explains why Delfina is not that animal and along the way, aided by the incredible "morphing" illustrations of artist Laurie Allen Klein, the reader learns exactly what makes Delfina a dolphin.

An especially helpful section in the back of the book, "For Creative Minds" gives the reader even more information about dolphins and includes fun facts and, on the final page, a "Dolphin Adaption Craft" that will be a hit with any young dolphin fan.

This book is sure to be a favorite of all young dolphin lovers. It would also be useful as part of an instructional unit on dolphins and/or sea animals.

Wonderful book
My kids loved this book. Can't go wrong. I bought a second copy for the school library so that more kids can enjoy this book.
Educational story and beautiful pictures at the same time.
We also enjoyed the sections in the back of the book that tell you more details about dolphins and a section on how to trace the dolphin and his different disguises.
Great book - perfect for beginning readers as well. ... Read more

Product Description
You’re in the water, and suddenly, right beside you, he is beaming brightly. You’re face to face with a dolphin, one of the friendliest mammals on Earth. Dive deep into the dolphins’ realm with Flip Nicklin, one of the world’s foremost photographers of these smiling wonders. Meet dolphin types, from botus to orcas to bottlenose; see how they nurse, fish, and echolocate. Nicklin’s enthusiasm and the special kinship we all feel for these intelligent creatures is an inspiration to all readers to take action to help protect their ocean home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Informative reading
This book was ordered as a gift.
The book is paperback and has unique, full color photos. The only drawback to this purchase is how few pages the book has,It is very thin. About 32 pages.
Would I return this as unsatisfied, no because National Geographic photography is just and absolutely stunning! It will remain here in my home for the children as reference material. If there were 4 or 6 in a gift set pack then it would be suitable to give as a gift...ie Whales, Dolphins, Tropical Fish and Turtles (for instance). The book would've made a fabulous calendar though!

I want a dozen if they turn the book into a calendar!!!
Superb photography!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Jody McGrath's dolphin dreams are coming true! Her whole family is sailing around the world researching dolphins - and Jody is recording all their exciting adventures in her diary! While visiting the Canary Islands, Jody is thrilled to see the largest dolphin species in the world! But all is not well in this island paradise. Jody discovers that the dolphins are at risk of being injured by speeding ferries that link the islands. Helping these dolphins might prove to be Jody's biggest challenge yet! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dolphin Diaries - Review 2
This makes a great gift for pre-teens.The level of readability is easy and the subject interesting.
The shipping was very quick (faster than indicated) and made it on time for a birthday surprise.

Good Story, Unlikable Main Character
"Dolphin Diaries" mixes a typical teen adventure story with a unique and educational story about a girl who loves dolphins.But that's just the problem!Jody is so obsessed, that I find myself gravitating more toward Brittany, who is supposed to be the snobby girl.It's just so sickening how Jody can't have any fun without it involving dolphins!I actually find myself mentally cheering for Brittany when she makes a remark such as "Is dolphins the ONLY thing you can think about?".

Like I said, interesting story.Even though it is often predictable, I still enjoy this series, and love hearing about the adventures the characters have on "Dolphin Dreamer".I also learn a lot!In this book, I learned that pilot whales are actually dolphins.This story will keep you entertained, and most readers will be excited to hear that Lauren is back!But don't feel like you're the odd-one-out if you start disliking Jody and her over-emotional, sickening-and-eye-rolling obsession with dolphins.I understand her liking for dolphins, they're cool!But sometimes, she just needs to calm down!

Following the Rainbow
The book is about a girl named Jody, she loves whales and dolphins. When Jody is with her friends, Lauren and Brittany on a trip they find out that whales are being hurt by speeding ferries.

One of the worst part is that the girls meet a boy named Mario, and he piolts the fastest ferry! Jody doesn't want to put Mario out of business, but Jody wants to save the whales. When Jody is on a cruise she saw a whale that had been hurt be a speeding ferry. Then far in thedistance Jody saw the aunt of the hurt whale. Brittany, Lauren, and Jody named the aunt of the hurt whale Tia because Tia means "aunt" in Spanish. They named the hurt whale Seb (short for Sebastian) because they were near San Sebastian. After Seb is hurt Jody starts to ask people if they rather save the whales and enjoy or go fast and hurt most of the whales. Most people said they want to save the whales. After that the ferries slowed down. Seb was okay so he and Tia started to swim towards the rainbow.

I loved the book because I like dolphins and whales just as much as Jody. The book really shows how special whales are to people, and how much people would care for them if they were hurt. The book shows to people that whales and dolphins aren't bad animals there just different than most sea animals. Whales and dolphins are almost like humans. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a trip back under the sea with Eye Wonder: Whales and Dolphins. Discover everything a young reader would want to know about the majestic animals of the deep-where they live, what they eat, how they breed, the ways in which they are threatened by environmental factors and humans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Perfect for early grade readers
I purchased this to donate toour local elementary school library.The youngsters who are not into reading narrative or "chapter books" like this type of reading material.We live near the Gulf of Mexico and this is a nice intro for kids into aquatic animal life.

wonderful whales
great book for kids..great way to learn about our planetstreasures
Nephew loved the book..price is good also

We love this book!!!
We just can't get enough of DK books!We love the pictures of the orcas, and dolphins!It also has a section on other marine mammals, including seals and otters!Very informative, and a great addition to our library!My son is 7, and autistic, and loves, loves, loves animals.This is simple enough for him to understand, and he devours every little bit of information he can!:)A best bet, you won't regret getting this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Scott Taylor has devoted his life to studying dolphins and whales. In this poetic cetology compendium, he shows how the history, mythology, and scientific research surrounding these creatures is an index to what our future as a species can be. The author discusses the portrayal of dolphins and whales in literature, legend, and the Judeo-Christian heritage; the research of biologist John Lilly on interspecies communication; the military’s sinister use of dolphins; and the benefits of dolphin-assisted swimming therapy for disabled children and adults. Poetic and mystical, Taylor looks at the world from the perspective of these creatures, demonstrating how they connect humanity to the natural world. Black-and-white photos and illustrations add to this celebration of the biology, history, and mystique of dolphins and whales. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Reinventing the Cetaceans
This is a book that made me wonder why it was not written earlier. It slaked my thirst for more information on these lines as I typed feverishly on the keyboard, for more material on the same lines. For this book opened up, at least for me, a portal to a world that cannot possibly coexist in the same world that we live in today. After having read this book, it became clearer for me that we are being cornered into a choice, i.e., if we truly wish to understand its message, to make a silent affirmation as to what we stand for, whether it is the small scale subsistence and ambitions of a bourgeois lifestyle, or the larger one of fruitful interaction in collective harmony with all of creation.

Many thousands of years ago, the cetaceans filled the seas and oceans of the earth. Today only a handful of them remain. Dolphins and whales, are in great danger today, not least because of getting enmeshed in the nets of fishing trawlers tracking tuna shoals, but also because of the sonar waves created by military submarines in the depths of the ocean, thus polluting their natural habitat with alien frequencies that can mislead them into unsafe areas. Not to mention the extensive pollution of the seas and the wanton slaughter of Cetaceans by humans.

There is, however, more to the Cetacean story than just the need for saving these magnificent and sensitive creatures from extinction by the depraved nature of the human race, just like any other endangered species. There is much, much more. Dolphins and whales form the stuff of legends; as sentient beings, they have communicated with and inspired mankind for times immemorial, starting with the aborigines of Australia, to the early civilizations of Sumeria, Egypt and India and going onto the present day where they have been known to have successfully helped autistic children make substantial improvement with their handicap, when all other conventional methods have not yielded results.

This is where this book comes in. It presents a concrete framework, seldom seen before, a golden thread through which one can 'see' the evolution of our human understanding of the cetacean soul over the last few thousand years, since man arrived on the scene. Scott Taylor presents concrete evidence, of the respect that the people from the ancient civilizations of Sumeria, India and ancient Egypt, felt for the Cetaceans. The same goes for the Australian aborigines and the Dogon tribes of East Africa, among others. According to the author, the Fall came with the advent of the Middle Ages and the rise of religious fundamentalism (e.g. the Inquisition), which militated against the Gnostic spirit of free enquiry and individual knowing, gleaned from accessing the wisdom within, from one's inner core as propounded by Jesus. Jesus' teachings were modified and rewritten so that all ultimate authority was invested in the Pope and/or the ruler of the country, in order to allow them to wield power over the masses. In this book, Scott Taylor discusses the role of the Dolphin in these times of transition, ranging over a thousand years.The narrative content, as I see it, is just enough to let the big picture emerge without going into too many specifics of detail.

The story of the Dolphin proceeds to modern times, with the extensive research of John C. Lilly, one of the author's main collaborators. In these and related chapters, the author talks about the brain structure of both whales and dolphins, making a clear case for their consciousness to be at least as advanced as humans and possibly more. This is where the main thrust of the book comes up, here the author makes a well argued case for the Cetacean as spiritual beings, waiting in the wings, to help us make a transition - to a world where beauty and harmony set the rules, instead of avarice, greed and conflict. This is an issue that is mined territory, there are plenty of scientists who have been instrumental in bunking just this particular myth of "the divine nature of the dolphin". Scott Taylor handles this issue with delicate and persuasive aplomb, illustrating the veracity of his facts, with incidents from his own life and his colleagues. This book is replete with quotes from people from all walks of life, some well-known, some less so. It is the handling of this particular subject, that makes this book the eye opener that it is. For me, personally, the decades long conditioning of bourgeois values, the need to go higher up in the hierarchy, appeared, at least for some golden moments, to be something unworthy to strive hard for. Scott Taylor's worldview is contagious, it is a picture where equal rights are granted to all, including our animal relatives.

An important question that is also discusses in this book, in some detail is that of the freedom enjoyed by wild dolphins, being compromised by humanity, when they are captured and either, made to perform tricks for the benefit of a paying audience, or being confined to a smaller sized tank where they are studied for purposes of research. Mention is also made of the animal's rights activists, who in the name of freedom, set captive dolphins free from their enclosures and force the bewildered creatures out to sea, to fend for themselves. Scott Taylor puts himself in the category of those who allow dolphins to interact with humans in a mutually beneficial and synergistic manner. Especially interesting to investigate is the sonar waves that dolphins send out, autistic children have shown remarkable improvement with dolphin sonar therapy. This issue is where the author seems to have taken a clear stand against die hard animal rights groups.

Personally, I guess that this particular change in worldview, is what the much talked about transition in Dec.2012, commemorating the end of the Mayan calendar, is all about. The end of the Mayan Calendar signifies the birth of a new kind of human being, a being who lives in harmony with all other sentient beings on this planet - as equal beings with equal rights. My own opinion, for what it is worth, is that this is where we are headed, if we allow our heart's wisdom to prevail. And this is where the Cetaceans, the dolphins and whales, are waiting to help us, waiting for us to re-member, so that we can forgive the past, forget and start living anew.

Read this book, it will go a long way to opening your heart.

Unique Book
This book somehow manages to put together some of my favorite subjects. It includes chapters on Gnosticism and spirituality and ancient earth history. The author is knowledgeable on these subjects and weaves them in well with the core subject of dolphins and other cetaceans. I will highly recommend this book to people with similar interests.

A meta-story for us all, beyond the world of dolphins and whales
I would like to recommend the amazing book, "Souls in the Sea", as an excellent resource, especially for anyone wanting to look beyond the standard fare. This is a book that has set new standards for multi-dimensional research. It is an example of what we need in so much of our study, ie, meta-research into many fields, disciplines, and experiences that can add up to a much more well-rounded view. In this case, the world of dolphins and whales is brought into an entirely new light, one that opens our eyes to theinterdependent system of life in which we are all embedded.

The author has given us insight into biology, history, many forms of science, mythology, economics, social systems, religions, as well as contemporary work in the healing arts, where dolphins are being used in therapy. The areas this book covers is amazing, yet it is readable, funny in parts (the four elements!), and inspiring.

The amount of research is astonishing. As a reader of books about dolphins and whales, I have collected many. I recognise some of Taylor's references, but have been delighted to find so many that add to my understanding.

This book is classified under nature and psychology. A curious combination...
The reason, I believe, is because it delves intoour own human mindset, our way of seeing the world, our sense of history, human importance, our relationship to the natural world, and as a result of this, our destiny.
I note that none of the other reviewers have commented on the third part of the title, Human Destiny. This is one of the reasons why I recommend this book so highly, to friends and other researchers: it takes us beyond our normal view of ourselves, it goes deep into the relationship we have with nature and ourselves, and offers a way of seeing ourselves that can only help us.

Taylor gives us both science and myth, facts and personal feelings. He shares a rare glimpse intoa personal story, one that seems almost painful to him, as he discovers a dramatic change in his views, stimulated by an encounter with a dolphin. This story, both believable and revealing, takes us into a much deeper area. We have to, as readers, explore our own feelings, pre-judgements, and assumptions about what we think we understand about dolphins and our relations with them.Taylor has given us all a gift.

Read this book. Read it carefully. Listen to what it brings up, and consider how you see the world. Maybe those "Souls in the Sea" do have something important to share with you.

A very grateful reader....

Not a sound source...
Scott Taylor writes a book full of anecdotal stories to support his own beliefs of dolphin behavior, cognition, and physiology.
I thoroughly enjoyed his recounting of dolphin mythology and legend along with some of the personal experiences others have had with dolphins.
As far as his his other claims, however, I am quite disappointed. He attempts to back up some of his theories of dolphin intelligence with factual information, but leaves out significant details that would otherwise disprove his theory. Oftentimes he draws wild conclusions that don't quite make sense, with a tendancy to compare two completely unrelated things. Many of the facts he lays out to support certain claims are far from accurate. Also, he tends to include only information that supports his beliefs, while ignoring parts of a text that make his claims appear more insignificant.
For example, he cites Karen Pryor's studies into dolphins demonstrating creativity, saying dolphins and humans are the only ones who can do this sort of behavior. He has, in fact, ignored her other story in the same book about successfully performing the exact same experiment with chickens.
Another example is his claim that dolphins (and other cetaceans) are the only other animals other than humans to mate face to face. Off the top of my head, I know that cuttlefish and seahorses do the same. I'm sure there are other members of the animal kingdom to mate this way.
If you're looking for a feel good book about dolphins, this is for you. If you're looking for a text based in fact, this one misses the mark by far.

Herman Melville would love this book
I place Scott Taylor's "Soul in the Water" next to Moby Dick on my Cetacean book shelf. He has done a vast amount of research and followed some of the tantalyzing loose ends surrounding Cetacean studies. This book dares to go "deeper" (no pun intended) than other books on this subject. For those of you who have stared into the deep and made contact with whales and dolphins and felt the great mystery ....this book is for you.

Yours truly,
Allan Armstrong
Senior Editor of Scholarisland ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

ONE OF THE CLASSIC "SCIENTIFIC" WORKS ON THE STUDY OF DOLPHIN COMMUNICATION
John Lilly (1915-2001) was an American physician, psychoanalyst, and philosopher. He was also the inventor of the "sensory deprivation" tank, and---most important for this review---a pioneer scientific researcher in attempting to communicate with dolphins. (See also his Lilly on Dolphins.)

This book was published in 1978; Lilly states in the Preface, "In 1955 I began scientific research with the bottle-nosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus. In 1968 this research program was terminated. In the intervening years, several major discoveries about dolphins were made. From 1968 to 1976 my efforts were put into research on myself and other humans. This work was subsequently published in depth in a book (The Deep Self: Consciousness Exploration in the Isolation Tank (Consciousness Classics)). During the completion of this work I reviewed the dolphin research literature from 1968 to 1976. I found that practically no research based on the 1955-1968 work had been done along the lines of communication between dolphins and humans and among dolphins themselves... This review of the literature convinced me that it was timely for me to resume my research with the dolphins."

He states that after he gave a 1958 talk at the American Psychoanalytic and American Psychiatric meetings in San Francisco, "I was surprised to find that there was an immediate interest and an overwhelming response to my saying that the work to date showed that the dolphins were probably quite intelligent as man but in a strange and alien way, as a consequence of their life in the sea... This view, which apparently hadn't been suggested before by any scientist, became very popular."

In the final chapter, "The Dolphins Revisited," he writes, "As I stated in Center of the Cyclone: Looking into Inner Space, I closed the dolphin laboratory because I did not want to continue to run a concentration camp for my friends, the dolphins. I have not attacked publicly the oceanaria for keeping dolphins restrained in what they call a 'controlled environment' for the following reasons. The oceanaria have done a very great service for the dolphins and killer whales in acquainting literally hundreds of thousands of humans with their existence and with their capabilities in a circus way. The dolphins and whales are indebted to the oceanaria for educating the human species. This has been a costly education for the species, however... If it weren't for the oceanaria, I would not have been able to do my initial work with the dolphins."

Different scientific times
This book was written in the 1950's and I suppose that these were different times because allot of the trial and error research Lilly does is disturbing.I have only read the first three chapters and i felt the need to talk about it on amazon.In his first experiments on the dolphins he is given five to test the brain patterns by directly simulating the brain.And instead of learning more about dolphins and carefully experimenting on anesthetic for the animail, he instead runs headlong into the operating room and kills two dolphins on the table before he realizes that somthing isnt working.He then is able to revive one after it has not breathed for 10 min and elects to put it back in the water half brain dead to "see if it was still able to swim" .It wasnt.So he then elects to scrach the whole experiment of studing the brain alive so he instead kills all five dolphins to get "good brain specimens".He then finishes the chapter talking about how its strange that dolphins have all the equipment to hurt man but never does even when provoked.Wow real good deductions Lilly. (sarcasim)So the only reason i gave it two stars is because the conclusions he finally (after needlessly killing) draws are well thought (even if his experiment are not) and the basic theisis is intriging.

the Premier Treatise on This Subject
The first serious look at the attempts by humans to communicate with dolphins. Lilly breaks new ground with his coverage of expirements to date.
Most work in this field has been only written up before in classified military projects. Reluctantly I had passed my copy on to a student majoring in marine biology.
This review is written from memory as I came here seeking to buy another copy.I liked it enough to buy it twice. My recommendation that you buy it once is happily tendered.

the Premier Treatise on This Subject
The first serious look at the attempts by humans to communicate with dolphins. Lilly breaks new ground with his coverage of expirements to date.
Most work in this field has been only written up before in classified military projects. Reluctantly I had passed my copy on to a student majoring in marine biology.
This review is written from memory as I came here seeking to buy another copy.I liked it enough to buy it twice. My recommendation that you buy it once is happily tendered. ... Read more

Product Description

When this flagship thematic reader first appeared in the 1980s, instructors appreciated its rigorous approach and challenging essays. This revision harks back to the classic Dolphin Reader, with its timeless selections, lengthier readings, and streamlined apparatus.

Compiled by a longtime freshman composition coordinator and current director of a writing-across-the-curriculum program, The Dolphin Reader is designed to engage students and provide instructors with flexibility and variety. The 87 carefully selected, class-tested readings are arranged in thematic units that prepare students to face some of the central questions in a wide range of academic disciplines. While the selections vary in level of challenge, all are solid models of clarity and style. Unlike many freshman readers, The Dolphin Reader also includes a unit of longer nonfiction that ties together themes from several units.

• The 87 high-interest selections, ranging from the classic to the contemporary, and featuring a variety of genres, topics, and styles, offer instructors countless options for teaching. Writers include Flannery O'Connor, Gloria Steinem, E.M. Forster, Alice Walker, George Orwell, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
• New! Updated assignments and paper topics guide students to write in various styles, from autobiographical to historical, while helping them make connections and comparisons among essays.
• New Unit! A unit of four nonfiction masterpieces includes Lytton Strachey's "Florence Nightengale" and Joan Didion's "Slouching Toward Bethlehem." These renowned longer selections are not available in comparable readers, and they give students an opportunity not only to read some of the finest prose of the last century, but also to apply insights drawn from several of the thematic units to a longer work.
• One-third of the selections are chosen to guide students toward reportage and argumentation, rather than personal response writing.
• New! The Instructor's Resource Manual has been entirely rewritten to make it even more useful to the professor, with hundreds of questions for discussion and writing; lesson plans and reading quizzes for each unit; and summaries, lesson plans, and style exercises for every selection.
• New! Revised style exercises in the Instructor's Manual, drawn from reading selections, offer classroom activities for sentence construction and highlight various authors' ways of handling technical points that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent short stories, articles and letters
We are reading parts of this book in my English class. Enjoyable, educational and great variety.

The Dolphin reader is a collection of Essays
These collection of Essays are thought provoking.I first read this entire book back in 1990 when it was required reading for my English 101 Class in College.

We were not required to read the whole book, but after taking the class, I found that I could not get enough of these essays, and so I ended up finishing every one of the essays.

If you want a place to go for a collection of writings from some of the most prominent writers in our time, this is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Left alone on a beautiful but isolated island off the coast of California, a young Indian girl spends 18 years, not only merely surviving through her enormous courage and self-reliance, but also finding a measure of happiness in her solitary life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Historia autentica y very emotiva.
Un libro fascinante y emotivo, basado en la historia verdadera de una muchacha india que se quedo abandonada en una isla. Cuenta como se las ingenio para vivir ella sola durante muchos años. Para niños y adultos desde los 7 años en adelante.

Historia impactante
I read this book when I was 8, and 30 years after I look it for my sons. It's a fascinating and deep story where they will learn to take care our world. And maybe, 30 years after today, they will look it for my grandsons...

book about indians and hunters who hunt animals in the sea.
Its about a tribe of indians and a young girl who live on an ialand,and animals who live in the sea.And also about people who hunt and catch these animals to live and survive. ... Read more

Product Description
Jody McGrath's dolphin dreams are coming true! Her whole family is sailing around the world researching dolphins - and Jody is recording all their exciting adventures in her diary!

In the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia, Jody is delighted to spot a large mixed group of spotted and spinner dolphins - especially one she names Twister. On the islands, she meets two new friends, Lew and Monique, who work for a local dolphin-friendly tuna boat. Jody has the chance to witness them in action as they save dolphins. But when something goes wrong with Monique's breathing equipment at the last minute ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dolphin Diaries #8
Excellent books for kids ages 8 - 12. The story keeps their interest even if they are not a strong reader.

Almost Magical
Jody, her family, and the crew aboard "Dolphin Dreamer" are thrilled as, after weeks at sea, they reach the beautiful and exciting Marquesas Islands.With so much to see and do, everyone is feeling energized and ready for what lies ahead.But while each person seems to have a different idea of "fun" on the islands, one thing is and has always been the main focus: dolphins.Especially for Jody, who has just befriended a spinner dolphin whom she named "Twister".

Multiple adventures in the book keep you interested and in a bit of suspense while the less exciting moments make up for in detail and imagination what they lack in excitement.The book is engulfing and fun, while also being educational.It's not fantastic literature, but it contains bits and pieces of knowledge about dolphins and the places where Jody and her family visit that readers might not have known before.My only comment is that the dolphins seem unrealistic in parts.I know dolphins are intelligent but the chances of Jody befriending a wild dolphin in every group that they come across are very, very, VERY slim.I guess that it makes the story interesting, but Jody always befriending a wild dolphin in every book and the dolphins always doing things beyond what a normal wild dolphin would even think to do also make the story predictable in parts.So basically, the story is, as I said above, engulfing, fun, educational, and overall a very good read, but if you're older than...hm...maybe ten or eleven, expect a few kind of eye-rolling parts.

If You Love Dolphins and want to know more about them,
read this book. I read this series two summers ago when my friend loaned them to me. I was sick most of the summer. Even though I was stuck inside, the books took my mind to out on the ocean, and before I knew it, I felt like I was there swimming and learning about dolphins myself.
~MY ONLY confusion about this series is that when I went to buy the series for myself all the books I found had a different author, same story, same cover, but different author on the front cover. All my friend's books say Lucy Daniels one the front as theauthor, but all the books I find online and in stores have Ben M. Baglio written on the front as the author.
~Can someone please explain this to me? ... Read more

Product Description
In this memorable first book, Behind the Dolphin Smile, Richard O'Barry told the inspiring story of his personal transformation from world-famous dolphin trainer (Flipper was his pupil) to dolphin liberator. Now, in To Free a Dolphin, he passionately recounts the dramatic story of his heart-breaking campaign to release captive dolphins back into the wild. With wit and insight he chronicles the extreme opposition he has faced from bureaucrats, major players in the captive-dolphin industry, rival wildlife groups, and well-meaning sentimentalists. He introduces readers to famous show animals he has helped, including Bogie and Bacall of Key Largo. And, most fascinating, he describes his struggles to deprogram and rehabilitate dolphins emotionally scarred from years of captivity--struggles that become battles for the animals' souls.

O'Barry is nothing if not controversial--passionate about his mission, adamant in his beliefs. And it is some measure of the incredible strength of the opposition to animal rights that it requires all the cunning, all the persistence, and all the strength of character O'Barry possesses to undo even a part of what the billion-dollar captive-animal establishment has created. In the movie, it may be child's play to free a killer whale like Willy. In real life, doing what is right is not so easily accomplished. Whatever one's beliefs about animal rights, one has to admire O'Barry as an authentic American original with a distinctly American dream.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent book about the tension between the captive dolphin industry and releasing dolphins to the wild
This book provides a first-person perspective on what started as a noble attempt to obtain captive dolphins and rehabilitate them for release into the wild.Ric O'Barry has developed a credible methodology for teaching dolphins to be dolphins again.He participated in the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary, and the book gives some idea of how at least some humans kind of lost sight of the main purpose of SDS, leading to something of a disaster.Those who enjoy this book will likely also enjoy a fictional book about dolphins, Ocean Echoes:A Dolphin Tale, by Shaney Frey (Seastory Press, ISBN-13: 978-0982115114).Shaney Frey is mentioned briefly in O'Barry's book (in fact, she was the only witness for O'Barry's defense in a trial described in the book), and O'Barry wrote the forward for Shaney Frey's book.

This book made me want to go out and free dolphins!...
Wow, this book is great! All I have to say is, if you are the kind of person who doesn't care if their tuna fish is Dolphin Safe, you might not care enough about dolphins to read the whole book. But if you care about your fellow animals, this is a good book to read. I went out and immediately started freeing dolphins. I have freed only 4 so far, but that was not my fault as my dolphin-freeing career was cut short when one of the buggers bit me in the leg and I had to retire from my Project.

And another thing. Disney makes all these movies about whales, whales, whales. Free Willy. Free Willy 2. Free Willy 33 1/3. Well, don't THEY care about freeing dolphins? NO! Why? Because they're all about making money! And studies show that young kids would rather cuddle a plush killer whale than a plush dolphin! It's the merchandising.

Anyway, after reading this review you should be ready to buy my^D^D the book and free some dolphins. After all, fish are people too!

EXCITING STORY, FREE WILLY WITH A DOLPHIN
The author, former trainer for dolphins starring on the much beloved Flipper tv series, details his struggle with big industry while he tries to return dolphins to the wild. There is a big trial in which the author loses a sizable civil fine for his liberation activities. He still has a let's get on with life joie de vivre about him. O'Barry's life is the stuff of drama and he's a modern day David in the eternal struggle with Goliath, in this case the captivity industry. ... Read more

Product Description
People who have faced death often speak of their lives flashing before their lives. Something much different happened to dolphin trainer Richard O'Barry when one of the dolphins that played Flipper on television died of stress in his arms. He realized that most of his career as an animal trainer had been a mistake and that dolphins have as much right to freedom as humans. He vowed not to rest until he freed every last dolphin that could be returned to the wild successfully.

This is a true story that will move not only animal lovers but everyone who loves a well-told tale. Ric O'Barry had everything-money, flashy cars, pretty women-but it wasn't enough to keep his conscience at bay. He began to understand that dolphins were easy to train because of their great intelligence, not his great talent, and keeping them in captivity was cruel and morally wrong. While research and entertainment are important to human life, they are not worth the cost to these beautiful and gentle animals.

O'Barry was arrested trying to free a dolphin, but that didn't stop him, and he now devotes his life to untraining dolphins and returning them to their natural habitats. Once the pride of the billion-dollar dolphin captivity industry, he has since become its nemesis.
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Customer Reviews (9)

Fascinating
Although the writing is at times amateurish, this book provides an extremely interesting behind the scenes view of dolphin training, working at Miami's
Seaquarium, and of course the filming of Flipper. O'Barry's heart is in the right place.

Great, But Outdated
This was an excellent book if it was considered fiction. Even though the story is true, O' Barry's views are totally outdated, marine parks in the 60's are VERY different from what they are now. An awesome book, but O' Barry needs to get his head out of the past.

Captive dolphins need to be free
I think this book is well worth reading.I am a person that use to love marine parks, however my view has changed.Much is do to this book, plus my own research on the web. I have found out that most dolphins & whales in captivity don't live very long.There are exceptions like Miami Seaquarium's Lolita the killer whale.She is old for a captive whale, however she lives in a tank without other orcas & the tank is way too small, among other things. Do your own investigation on the web about her terrible living conditions.Ric O'Barry has been trying to do the right thing for dolphins which is freedom!He was Flipper's trainer.I don't agree with some of Ric's personal beliefs, however he is right on about dolphins.How you can support marine parks after reading this book would be extremely difficult. I have been on whale watches and if done properly, I feel are a better way to see God's creation.Ric says the best thing regarding marine parks is "Don't Buy a ticket".These dolphins are not fed enough so that they will do tricks.Read the book, then you decide!

Flipper
This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. It should be read by anyone who loves animals and who believes in animal-rights. Besides that it is an interesting autobiographical sketch of Richard O'Barry and gives you a closer glimpse of people like Dr. John Lilly. It also gives one an idea of how films like Flipper are made and what becomes of the poor dolphins in the end.

Dolphins are far too intelligent to be entertaining tourists
I read the other reviews, 2 of them raved about the book and one sounds like it was written by a dolphin catcher with a Phd...I read this book and then went to the Flipper Productions Dolphin Encounter near Nassau in the Bahamas, even encountering at least one of the dolphins mentioned in the book.Every celebrity you could think of had their picture in the photo shop with dolphins.The Phd was right about the book jumping around too much.It would have been nice for continuity to hear more about his wife and how her role in his quest for example after we are introduced to her in the begining and then she is hardly mentioned through the rest of the book. This said I have to say that he is right about dolphins in captivity.I had a blast, selfishly, swimming with, dancing with, kissing and hugging dolphins-but it quickly becomes obvious that they are way to intelligent to be doing tricks for tourists for fishy treats.And they are better off being free to swim in the open ocean than being trapped in penned in areas for "research" and "education".I won't do it again and I will avoid buying Japanese anything until they stop the slaughter. ... Read more