Title: Turtle Dolphin Dreams

Author: Marian K. Volkman

Publisher: Loving Healing Press

Turtle Dolphin Dreams written by Marian K Volkman is a thought-provoking tale, told by a beautiful creature named Turtledove.   What would it be like to communicate with other species on our planet?  In Turtle Dolphin Dreams we have the opportunity to experience communication on a metaphysical level. 

Turtle Dolphin Dreams is told through the eyes of a turtle named Turtledove.  Turtledove is our communication link between humans, turtles and dolphins in a dreamlike state of consciousness. Turtledove, is our liaison between the aquatic and land world.  Turtles can relate to both species due to their ability to walk on land and swim in water.  Dreamtime is shared when turtles are in hibernation; this is when they can connect with a specific group of dolphins.  We as humans are invited into this dreamtime world to communicate.

Humans are not all that different from the dolphin species.  We share family units, food sources, mourn loss, raise and protect our young, feel pleasure and pain and most importantly share the same planet.  Often we don’t think about how our actions affect other species. Turtledove shares communication between our two interconnected worlds.  Turtledove helps us to realize that we are not all that different.

What attracted me to this book is that it’s fiction; new age genre reads like a non-fiction book.  Marian K. Volkman gives us the unique opportunity to interact with other species and enlighten us to the possibilities of connecting on a different level.    I would highly recommend this book to older children and adults.  It is a great experience of thought provoking, literature.  A favorite quote from Turtle Dolphin dreams sums it all up…“We are, each and all, interconnected with every living thing on this planet.”

Reviewed on 02/21/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Michelle Poe

Marian K. Volkman describes a beautiful concept of different species connecting and coming together on more then just a physical level. Humans, dolphins, and turtles all coming together spiritually in a dream like state. The dolphins really just want humans to open up and of course to have fun in everything that they do.  Humans desperately  search for life on other planets but fail to understand the other life forms that that they interact with on a daily basis. Of course other species have real thoughts, emotions, and everything else that humans do, they just fail to take notice of any of it.  The dolphins hope and pray that someday the humans will come around to this new idea, and join in to connect to one another and above all else to have fun. 

The book is told by a turtle named  TurtleDove, that communicates to the human and the dolphin. The turtle is the middle man in the story because he/she can relate to both species, having the ability to both walk on land and to swim in water. The turtle also during its summer months is more like the humans in that they are busy and dont dream. But when the turtle goes into hibernation for the winter they become more like the dolphin to dream, connect, and have fun. With the qualities of both sides the turtle connects the three together to form one. 

Some of my favorite quotes include:

"Do not fear to lose your identity. You are always you."

"We are all naked in the dream state. We neither have, nor need shells to protect us. You neither have nor need pretend feelings, pretend identities. Dolphins are strangers to both shells and pretense."

"We are, each and all, interconnected with every living thing on this planet."

In these quotes the author brings together  the entire book. Humans need not to be afraid to let go and dream (connect) with the dolphins or the turtles, everyone is the same in this dream state, and we are all connected already we just need to accept and let go to this idea. Above all else to have fun in everything we do.   

Beautifully told and a concept I hope that every Human takes hold of.

Reviewed on 09/28/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jessica Williams

Marian K. Volkman has written and illustrated a beautifully imaginative scenario with this book. We have no problem with trying to learn to communicate with other cultures, and even imagine what it might be like to communicate with beings from other worlds, but how often do we think of those other worlds as being right here on Earth?

A fable in the true sense of the word*, the story is introduced by a turtle, named Turtledove for the benefit of humans who think every being should have a name.  Turtledove speaks of a time when dreamtime, in winter for turtles during hybernation, became shared dreaming, interspecies, in this case with a specific group of dolphins. The dolphins in turn have been sharing dreaming with other aquatic species but required a species both aquatic and land-going to bridge a gap to humans, hence contact with the turtle.

Whimsical and thought-provoking, inspiring in it's creative message, Turtle Dolphin Dreams was originally written in 2005, but with recent events it may hold even greater meaning here in 2010. The reader is taken through metaphysical voyages of delight, a balance of nature, while remaining earthbound but connected. A truly unique book with several messages presented, a journey worth taking.

*Definition from About.com, fable:  A short allegorical narrative making a moral point, traditionally by means of animal characters who speak and act like human beings.

Reviewed on 05/31/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Betty Gelean

Reviewed on 01/11/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jenifer O'Neill

 The concept of being able to communicate with other species on our planet has long intrigued and baffled the human race.  None verbal communication with our own kind is almost unheard of.  If a species was able to psychically connect with it’s own parents, siblings and mates, would they ever be able to connect to another species?  How would that connection begin?  How would different species be able to understand each other?  Would there be a way for a creature of the ocean (like a dolphin) to ‘talk’ to a creature of the land (like a turtle)?  Can a human ever dream of being a part of all that?  The information that could be shared and passed along to each participating group could be beneficial to that species and to the world.  If only someone was able to ’talk’ to the animals.  What can a hibernating turtle named Turtledove tell us about the life of a dolphin?  What would we say?  

Reviewed on 08/25/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Debbie Berry