Turtle Island Dreaming

A life-changing debut novel, Turtle Island Dreaming is the inspirational story of a woman's journey across a magical island of self-discovery.

Poems.

A fascinating exploration into the world of turtles across the globe; Laufer charts the lore, love, and peril to a beloved species. Dreaming in Turtle is a compelling story of a stalwart animal prized from prehistory through to today—an animal threatened by human greed, pragmatism, and rationalization. It stars turtles and shady and heroic human characters both, in settings ranging from luxury redoubts to degraded habitats, during a time when the confluence of easy global trade, limited supply, and inexhaustible demand has accelerated the stress on species. The growth of the middle class in high-population regions like China, where the turtle is particularly valued, feeds this perfect storm into which the turtle finds itself lashed. This is a tale not just of endangered turtles but also one of overall human failings, frailties, and vulnerabilities—all punctuated by optimistic hope for change fueled by dedicated turtle champions.

When Turtle dreams Mother Earth is in trouble, Turtle springs into action. Can Turtle come up with a plan to save Turtle Island? With no time to lose, Turtle sets out in the forest to share the Dream. Now-will the Animals and People play their part? On October 27, 2009, while staying with Navaho/Dine friends in the Four Corners of the American Southwest, Delphina dreamed Turtle's Dream. "All of life is part of the Sacred web of creation. Turtle Island, Mother Earth, is now calling for our help." explains Delphina Nova, a member of Ontario's Eastern Woodlands Tribe. Author, Spiritual Advisor and intuitive healer, she mentors youth and adults to follow their dreams. Illustrator Curtis Yanito is a member of the Navaho Nation, and has won numerous awards for his art.

"Grand Cayman: Jewel of the Caribbean" is a comprehensive guide that invites readers to explore the enchanting beauty and cultural richness of Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands. With its stunning natural landscapes, captivating marine life, vibrant history, and warm hospitality, Grand Cayman is a tropical paradise like no other. The book takes you on a captivating journey through the island's past and present, from the bustling streets of George Town to the serene shores of Seven Mile Beach. With vivid storytelling and in-depth insights, readers will uncover the island's intriguing pirate legends, explore its lush and diverse ecosystems, and dive into the crystal-clear waters to discover a world of underwater wonders. Readers will also have the opportunity to savor the tantalizing flavors of local cuisine, dance to the rhythms of cultural celebrations, and immerse themselves in the island's customs and etiquette. Whether you're a curious traveler, an adventure seeker, or a culture enthusiast, "Grand Cayman: Jewel of the Caribbean" offers something for everyone. This book is your key to unlocking the hidden treasures and well-known gems of Grand Cayman, providing an in-depth and rich understanding of the island's natural wonders, history, and the warmth of its people. Whether you dream of relaxation on the beach or thrilling underwater adventures, this guide will help you make the most of your visit to Grand Cayman, the Jewel of the Caribbean.

From the award-winning creator of I'M THE BIGGEST THING IN THE OCEAN comes an inspiring tale of friendship and belonging that's perfect for fans of THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE, OWEN AND MZEE, and Oliver Jeffers's LOST AND FOUND. Turtle is big. But the ocean is bigger. And Turtle is all alone. Until four shipwrecked folks--a bear, an owl, a frog, and a cat--climb to safety on his shell. Before long, they're fast friends, and the sea doesn't seem so vast anymore. But when Frog confides that he misses his family, Turtle doesn't understand. Isn't he their family? And when the group decides to sail for home, will Turtle be left behind? Never fear--a surprise on the horizon promises friends, family, and a home at last. Uplifting and heartfelt, this is a book about the power of friendship and making a home of one's own.

350 BC (Before Columbus) in the land between Niagara and the Great Salt Sea, in a world where no Europeans had set foot, there lived Five Great Nations caught up in a cycle of bloody revenge wars until a holy man showed them the path to peace. Turtle Island is the gripping saga of the downfall of the powerful chief Hiawatha after his four daughters are murdered in a blood revenge, his quest for vengeance, his conversion to the cause of peace by the Great Peacemaker Dekanawida, and his rise to fame as the charismatic orator who helps Dekanawida heal the wounds of the Iroquois Nations and form the first democracy on the American continent. And it is the tale of Orios, a young poetic flute player in love with Hiawatha's daughter who comes of age in his harrowing adventures with Hiawatha. Set in a matriarchal culture in the lake region of New York, Turtle Island takes the reader back to a time when people respected the Earth as the mother of life and based their democracy on what it means to be a true human being who cares for Mother Earth and the welfare of her unborn children. The novel deals with profound issues of family, spirituality, war, peace, democracy, and the nature of good and evil. It has a special appeal for any reader interested in history, feminism, Native Americans, spirituality, ecology, or a bloody saga of murder and revenge. The action and adventure in this quest for spiritual healing and peace gives the book a dramatic momentum with a powerful message for the modern world currently immersed in similar revenge wars and a divisive struggle to protect the resources of the earth for future generations.

Unlike most books that chronicle the history of Native peoples beginning with the arrival of Europeans in 1492, this book goes back to the Ice Age to give young readers a glimpse of what life was like pre-contact. The title, Turtle Island, refers to a Native myth that explains how North and Central America were formed on the back of a turtle. Based on archeological finds and scientific research, we now have a clearer picture of how the Indigenous people lived. Using that knowledge, the authors take the reader back as far as 14,000 years ago to imagine moments in time. A wide variety of topics are featured, from the animals that came and disappeared over time, to what people ate, how they expressed themselves through art, and how they adapted to their surroundings. The importance of story-telling among the Native peoples is always present to shed light on how they explained their world. The end of the book takes us to modern times when the story of the Native peoples is both tragic and hopeful.

Rain, now a 12-year-old, is visited once again by the eagle, but this time in a dream. As Rain sleeps, Sky Heart, the eagle, sings a song to him that ends with the refrain, 'a boy must help us.' In the song, Sky Heart provides clues about strange vanishings on the Medicine Cave Indian Reservation. Thistle, the rabbit, has suspicions that Coyote is behind the disappearance of fossils from an ancient turtle, the sudden evaporation of water from the reservation's rivers, and the ominous absence of a 7th grader from Thunder Rock Middle School. Searching for the meaning of the dream, Rain seeks the help of Boomer (Thunder Cloud), Simon, and Hummingbird. Unknowingly, the four friends are drawn into the coyote's game and the criminal activities of a dangerous fossil poaching ring. Deep within the gullies of Shell Ridge, an escarpment that borders the bed of an ancient sea, Rain follows Coyote to a mysterious cave where he discovers the origins of the reservation's water and confronts the notorious fossil thief, Vernon Smeed -- risking everything to save one that he loves. With his pranks and deceptions, Coyote puts Rain through many tests. The trickster teaches the boy lessons that will last a lifetime, but he, too, learns an important truth -- Sky Heart has chosen well. The great bird has entrusted his messages about health and the wisdom of Native knowledge to a remarkable boy whose strength is founded in the steadfastness of friends and love of family.