Marine Life Books

This book touched me so deeply. The stories are powerful and incredibly moving. It's a must read for anyone who calls themselves an animal lover. I have a new found respect and insight for the dolphins, as well as, the people who put themselves at great risk to save them. I, like many others, merely think about helping these wonderful creatures... thank God there are actually people out there that walk the talk and are making a difference for the lives of these amazing and beautiful beings. This book has lifted my spirits and inspired me in way that no other book has done before. Bravo!

This book was amazing. It was an elegant yet honest exploration of swimming with dolphins and dolphins in general. It was like taking an outdoor class with some of the world's best and most varied dolphin experts around the world. Nowhere else can I learn about dolphins in original pieces by Jean Michel Cousteau, Marc Bekoff, Sy Montgomery, Kathleen Dudzinski, Diane Ackerman, John Lilly, Paul Spong, and other stellar dolphin pioneers. I'm a marine biologist and yet I learned things about dolphins and interspecies communication that I never have learned anywhere else. It opened my eyes to new things about dolphins and people ... how dolphins save human lives, how people save dolphins, and how people can even unintentionally hurt dolphins because they want to be so close to them. I drank this book up, and when I see dolphins now, I relate to them so much more. The only downfall was that the book had some sad notes, but that is how the real life of a dolphin is. Overall I thought it was incredibly inspiring and I felt like I'd been swimming with dolphins for years after reading it!

Finally, a book that looks at dolphins and people from a scientific perspective and not just the standard New Age hype. It was exciting to read essays by the leading experts in this field - some of the world's leading nature writers and dolphin biologist together. The writers aren't afraid to take an honest look at how we influence dolphins, which may be surprising for those who frequent Sea World waiting for a free ride from a dolphin. Instead, look forward to a seminal collection about how far (or little) we've come since John Lilly first spoke about human dolphin communication 25 years ago.

One look at researcher Paul Thompson's book and it's easy to see why bottlenose dolphins continue to be the world's favorite aquarium animal. Thompson's incredible knowledge coupled with lively photographs of bottlenose dolphins effortlessly flying from the ocean in unison and weaving in the depths of the azure sea make for a treasured book. He explores the world of these fascinating creatures from physical to sociological structures. Thompson writes of the dolphin family structure; feeding habits; and relationships with humans and whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Informative and beautifully photographed! Recommended for those seeking to view dolphin photos and covers the areas from birth, conservation and politics to general statistics. Enjoy it!

Unlike so many other books about dolphins this book focuses only on the bottlenose dolphin. It gives the reader a basic idea of the life of this species and includes a lot of interesting facts about them. The authors are not writing down second hand info but are both researching these dolphins off the coast of Scottland. Instead of having school book like anatomical drawings and graphs this book remids me more like talking to a dolphin expert while going on a boat watching them in the sea.

I saw this book at a friend and liked the photos so much that I knew I needed it for my collection, too. Being a wildlife photographer (with a special focus on dolphins) I always enjoy looking at as good photos of dolphins as found in this book. This book makes an excelent gift for any dolphin fan.

Chessie the Travelin' Man is a sensitive and wonderfully written book that details the amazing true story of a very special creature. My children love the illustrations in this book as well as the rhyming prose. This story is not only charming, it is filled with factual information about a rare and endangered species. I would reccommend it to any parent or educator!

Lovely book, all in rhymes which my 6 yr old son loved. Based on a true story about a manatee that somehow makes it up the northern atlantic coast two years in a row. He is tagged and followed. Includes gentle info about how manatees get hurt by boats, and how few there are left in the world. Beautifully illustrated, and received a Parent's Award. "Chessie" is for the Chesapeake Bay, which he entered on this first trip. Five stars because my son loved it so.

Lovely book, all in rhymes which my 6 yr old son loved. Based on a true story about a manatee that somehow makes it up the northern atlantic coast two years in a row. He is tagged and followed. Includes gentle info about how manatees get hurt by boats, and how few there are left in the world. Beautifully illustrated, and received a Parent's Award. "Chessie" is for the Chesapeake Bay, which he entered on this first trip. Five stars because my son loved it so.

Chief: Marine Corps Warrior is the candid and dramatic biography of Lieutenant Colonel John P. "Pat" Flynn, Jr., as written by his son Sean J. Flynn. With special emphases on John Flynn's loyal and courageous service in the Marines, as well as conveying his loving family life, triumphs, and foibles, Chief: Marine Corps Warrior is an inspirational military biography and a welcome, appreciated addition to the growing library of World War II memoirs and biographies.

My Uncle was a just person who valued everyone. In a time when mostly guys were honored, he took me duck hunting. My brothers watched as I waited with my Uncle. We watched the ducks come in. My feet were freezing and he warmed them in his coat.We never did get a duck, but I have never felt so valued. I think I am the only one in my family to fly with Uncle Pat. He showed me how to do dive bombs on clouds. My brother Bob served in Desert Storm...He also died...There are precious people that we love..they show us what honor is about.

Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, the author of "Into the Tiger's Jaw", said Flynn taught you "how to rise above all the racism" without being "confrontational toward the Marine Corps . . . You had to follow him. Everybody respected him. Everybody loved him. I have never met another man with the sincerity, conviction, and strength of [Flynn]. Chief was a legend."

I personally know author Sean J. Flynn and was the first in line to pick up this book at his book signing in Mitchell, SD, where Professor Flynn is an assistant professor of History at Dakota Wesleyan University. In "Cheif - Marine Corps Warrior", Flynn follows the military life of his father, John P. "Pat" Flynn (also known as "Chief"), a direct descendent of Chief Spotted Tail, the uncle to Crazy Horse.

Pat Flynn's military career began as a Corsair pilot in the Pacific during World War II as well as a Corsair pilot during the Korean War, where he was shot down and taken captive for nearly two years.

Flynn's determination and Faith sustained him during his time in the hands of Chinese Communists where he was placed under enormous physical and psychological strain, which is greatly described by Sean Flynn.

This book is a tribute to one of the greatest heroes of South Dakota and the United States. If I could've given this book more than five stars, I would have.

This is a damn good book about a damn good American.

This book is written in a matter of fact way that provides an excellent understanding of the trials medical personnel underwent during the Battle for Iwo Jima. I began to read it one evening after work and couldn't put the book down until I had read the final page! It is rare to find such a book that captures your attention for such a long time. I recommend this book.

I am happy to see that this book is now available in paperback. I just finished reading Dr. Vedder's book - I had found a 1984 hard-cover edition in a used book store. This is a great narrative about brutal combat on Iwo Jimo, but from the perspective of the physician, working under rather extraordinary conditions. This is an excellent book for any reader interested in WWII in the Pacific, and especially for those interested in military medicine.

Finally back in print, Vedder's Surgeon On Iwo is a classic. The most detailed account of combat from the medic's point of view I have ever read. It never gets too wordy or trite but paints an accurate picture of combat and saving lives in America's worst battle. As a career military physician I recommend this as must reading for anyone wanting to know how bad it can get, both for the medics and combatants. The writing style is matter of fact, almost stark. The best description of intensly contested, unrelenting battlefield conditions in print. All war libraries must have this book.

Do not be discouraged by the fact that this work is the author's first book. It is an excellent work with the content being ratified by some of the world's leading experts.

Aimed at any ordinary member of the public who is concerned about the need for protecting and conserving Coral Reefs, William Gray hits his mark spot on. The book is skilfully divided into 6 main chapters which allow the author to carefully build on what has been written so far as he brings the level of knowledge of the reader slowly forward.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with outstanding photographs and excellent graphics, I learned a lot from this book. It is the one book every scuba diver and concerned person should read on this topic.

NM

Do not be discouraged by the fact that this work is the author's first book. It is an excellent work with the content being ratified by some of the world's leading experts.

Aimed at any ordinary member of the public who is concerned about the need for protecting and conserving Coral Reefs, William Gray hits his mark spot on. The book is skilfully divided into 6 main chapters which allow the author to carefully build on what has been written so far as he brings the level of knowledge of the reader slowly forward.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with outstanding photographs and excellent graphics, I learned a lot from this book. It is the one book every scuba diver and concerned person should read on this topic.

NM

This stunning, comprehensive guide to coral reefs and islands goes beyond your average natural history book. It takes you beyond the page and transports you to the breathtaking world of coral reefs and islands. The text is evocatively written and supported by stunning photographs and detailed illustrations. Educational and informative. ~A must-have!

Another beautiful book, nice text, beautiful artwork, nice story about a child learning about horseshoe crabs and their lives and their place in the natural cycle. Well worth having for children, and especially at a beach house.

This book is a really nice story about how you can get to know horseshoe crabs better. I love the night time illustrations. I like remembering when my family went out looking at horseshoe crabs near Cape May New Jersey. It was very special like the story in this book. I wanted to know even more about horseshoe crabs than a picture book can tell you so I also read Extraordinary Horseshoe Crabs by Julie Dunlap. If you have both of these books you will really know a lot about horseshoe crabs which are really cool.

Crab Moon is a gem. Ruth Horowitz's evocative prose brings to life an experience that few people will get to have--witnessing thousands of horseshoe crabs massing on the beach under the full moon for their annual egg-laying. Kate Kiesler's paintings express the mood perfectly.

The book tells a simple story. Daniel is woken in the night by his mother, and taken to the beach to watch the crabs. The next morning, he goes out alone to find a crab stranded on her back. He empathizes with the odd-looking creature, and finds a way of turning her over so that she may return to the sea.

Crab Moon is salted with interesting horseshoe crab facts, and it allows readers to share in Daniel's feeling of connection with a threatened and misunderstood species. But while the book both informs the reader and evokes respect for nature's creations, its tone is always poetic rather than pedantic or preachy. In fact, with its warm, dreamy feel and its invoking of ancient natural rhythms, Crab Moon should make an ideal bedtime story.

We have been reading this book, on and off for three years now and Felix and his parents still havent tired of it. It really is a wonderful book and it is a shame that most of his books are out of print. The pop-ups are brialliant - they really are sturdy, although Felix has ripped some of them I was able to tape them.

My 3 1/2 Year old loves this Book! Big Colorful Pictures, and Easy Pop-Up actions he can do Himself. Great Intro to Reading

This is my 4 1/2 year old daughters favorite book. We read it every night before bed and she loves doing the actions along with the story. It's a sturdy book with colorful, pop-up, illustrations.

Davy dares to pursue his dream of sailing among the orca. He turns a deaf ear to pessimistic adults and sets out. But -- his dream is illusive and avoids him. A quick "refit" and he makes contact with the whales. Well drawn / illustrated, a story from and for the heart. [ I had the privilege of hearing the author tell about making the book -- his first -- to an audience of elementary school students. ] A great story of inspiration, better than the Little Engine that Could's "I think I can" -- this one says "I'll go do it!"

While this is an inspiring story to encourage kids to "follow their dreams," what attracts me back to this book are the illustrations.

As a native of Washington State, I spent my youth attending summer camp on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands, near the Canadian border. While at camp, we sometimes experienced "Killer Whale" sightings, which the counselors used to enjoy frightening us with.

We spent many lazy days on the beach, or boating to neighboring islands, where we would campout, hike, go clamming and crabbing on the beach or build rafts. Although we didn't spend any time in a sailboat at camp, I spent a good deal of time sailing with my older brother on Lake Washington during those carefree days of summer.

Paul Owen Lewis' paintings in "Davy's Dream," with the predominance of greens and blues, contrasted against the black and white of the orcas, vividly captures the essence of the San Juan Islands and the dreamlike state one can experience in this breathtaking environment. To his credit, Lewis lets his pictures tell Davy's dream for several pages, without the help of words.

I guess I just want to say that this book rings true to my experiences as a youth in the Pacific Northwest.

Whenever I read this book aloud to students in my elementary school library, they always listen with awe and then line up to check it out.

Davy's Dream, written by my brother, Paul Owen Lewis, has inspired many school children over the years. It takes Davy on a journey of believing in what he knows to be true, in spite of the nay-sayers in his life. Your children will love the illustrations and even notice Paul's cat, Guenivere on every page! Your whole family will enjoy the amazing things that happen to Davy and especially if you are Keiko fans. Enjoy!

Alice lived by the sea. She was a very brave little girl and wasn't scared of many things. Spiders, the dark, even thunder and lightning didn't bother her. But there was one thing she couldn't handle...the deep. The water looked beautiful, but it is so deep. The bottom cannot be seen and that frightens Alice. Her brothers couldn't convince her it was safe. Watching her parents jump in didn't help either. Spotting several dolphins, she wades into the water and something wonderful happens. These sea animals help Alice gain new confidence. The absolutely amazing paintings that illustrate this book make the tale come to life. A wonderful addition to any youngster's library.

Beautiful, inviting pictures and thoroughly re-readable text, this is the story of how Alice overcomes her fear of deep water with the aid of some friendly dolphins.

My two year old loves having this read to her, she points to the pictures of the dreamy underwater world and squeals wth delight, 'She's swimming!!!' Older children will enjoy reading it themselves, and perhaps they will come to see that their own fears can be overcome too.

This combines Winton's knowledge about kids with his love of the ocean. About a family who love to swim off the pier in the ocean, the young girl is afraid of going too far into the deep water.

It is not one of those stridently didactic books that sacrifices literature for a "good message". It is a terrific book to share with children who are facing particular fears (my son was scared of the water) - and acknowledging that fears are usual but can be overcome.

The illustrations are also lovely, the water that special Australian ocean blue!