Totem Tales Blog
New and InformationFields of Dreams Slowly Becoming a Reality
A new project, Fields of Dreams, is slowly becoming a reality. Fields of Dreams is a comic book is the story of a scarecrow that daydreams while standing in his corn field. As you have guessed, the comic is about imagination. Events that transpire around him will trigger his imagination and his day dreams. In his own mind, he looks more human than his true scarecrow form. It’s very “Don Quixote” in his mind. He battles dragons, monsters, a dark knight, space aliens, and whatever he can dream up.
The cast of characters includes the Farmer, the Farmer’s wife, their mean-spirited granddaughter Dot, Winston the old barn dog, and two crows named Sid and Marty.
Although the comic will have limited “text”, the story will be very imagination based. It’s our position that today’s video games, toys and even some books, tend to diminish a child’s use of imagination.
We are proposing a FREE volume zero issue, and potentially a digital comic available for download.
Please leave feedback and let me know your thoughts on this project.
Polar Bear Journeys Postponed
The project known as Polar Bear Journeys is currently postponed. It’s going through a new concept consideration to turn it into a fun-fill, fact-filled educational tool. The project follows a polar bear named Hugh who, along with his two penguin friends, decide to leave their home and go on vacation. Their first trip, which they stumble into, takes them to New York.
Originally it was designed to be a zany comeddy, but since it is location based, we beleive it could serve as an education tool with each episode / volume taking them to a new area.
We are also taking this time to work on another project, Fields of Dreams.
Midwest Book Review
Recently the Midwest Book review requested a copy of The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle to review for their web site. I received a letter in the mail today indicating that not only did the book receive a great review, but it was selected as a “Reviewer’s Choice”.
Here’s what they had to say ….
“The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle” is a colorful child’s eco-tale with a real sea turtle as a heroine. Eartha is a beautiful sea turtle who becomes hopelessly entangled with string from polluting trash in the ocean. She is rescued and treated at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center at Juno Beach, then released back to the ocean. Children are encouraged to care about the sea environment and to take steps to help make it clean and safe. “The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle” ends with a Parents’ Page that directs parents to visit www.EarthaTheSeaTurtle.com to learn how their child can adopt a sea turtle. Finally the Native American proverb is quoted: “We do not inherit the land from your ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” “The Tale of Eartha The Sea Turtle” is inspirational eco-education for children ages 4-8, and highly recommended.
I’m very glad that Eartha’s story is being seen as an eco-tale for children. The review will be seen by many libraries, and schools throughout the midwest, an area lacking in “sea turtles”.
To see the full review, visit the Midwest Book Review website.
Animal Totem Cards App
We are pleased to announce our first in-house created iTunes App. The Animal Totem Cards App is a virtual card deck containing photos and information on different animals.
Though out history many ancient civilizations saw truth and meaning in the animal life around them. We all go through our daily routines ignoring signs around. Signs that may provide clear answers to all of our questions.
Native Americans believe that animals hold deep meaning and messages. Chance encounters with animals do not exist. They believe that the animals comes to us with messages to help us through life.
The Animal Totem Cards App provides you with a quick reference to these meanings. Here’s an example.
Let’s say in the morning you get up, and head out the door to work. You see a dragonfly swoop passed you. At the office, one of your co-workers is wearing a dragonfly pin on their tie or collar. You attend a meeting and watch a presentation by one of your co-workers. One of the photos in the presentation is a dragonfly.
Some people may consider this all coincidence. But not you. You know this is a message. The Dragonfly is trying to give you a message. So you open your App and select Dragonfly. The App card indicates that dragonfly’s message means you may be resisting change, or that life is too stagnant. It also tells you to look beyond what you see.
How the message relates to your current stance is all up to you. The meaning may not be clear right away, but often they lead to “aha!” moments.
The app provides meanings for over 40 animals, and is updated remotely with new animals as they become available. It also has a journal option to keep track of animal totem encounters.
For more information on the app, visit the official web site.
Eartha receiving great reviews
The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle, by Dan Bodenstein, has been recieving great reviews on Amazon.com. Amazon allows users to review and rate books on their web site. This allows potential customers to get an idea of what others think about the book prior to purchasing.
Here are just a few of the things people had to say…
The book has very brightly colored illustrations that were found highly attractive when I shared the story. In fact, they made me stop and go back a couple times to get to see the pictures again. Kids get to know and love the true story of Eartha the sea turtle. (which makes this tale so much better…being able to tell them it was real, which it is. It even has the real turtle’s picture on the back!)
A great story for both boys and girls alike – don’t be surprised if “The Tale of Eartha” is put into heavy rotation for bedtime reading.
Dan Bodenstein tells a fact-based story with a contemporary moral that inspires empathy and closes with a happy and hopeful ending.
If you’d like to read more reviews, visit Amazon.com.
Eartha on the iPhone
The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle is available as an App in the iTunes store.
You can now enjoy the Tale of Eartha on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The App features flippable pages, and you can choose to have it read to you in two different styles, or without audio.
Reviews
My son loves this book and I think the illustrations are amazing, looks Disney quality. The story has a great message too which I always appreciate.
My daughter loves this book – she really relates to the characters and understand what trash in the ocean can do. great book – more please!
The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle
The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle by Dan Bodenstein.
Based on the true story of a loggerhead sea turtle name Eartha, this enchanted tale tells the story of a young sea turtle who finds help in the last place she expected. Through colorful imagery it helps children learn how important it is to help animals who become injured due to man’s negligence.
After witnessing her release back to the sea, author Dan Bodenstein was inspired to write a children’s book to teach kids about the dangers of littering our oceans.
If you purchase The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle through Totem Tales Publishing’s website during the book fair, you’ll receive a FREE sea turtle bookmark, and one of FOUR collector photo postcards of the REAL Eartha. The author will also personally sign your book for you. Click here to order.
Reviews
“Dan Bodenstein tells a fact-based story with a contemporary moral that inspires empathy and closes with a happy and hopeful ending. He aims at younger children and scores using the simple, brilliantly colored, yet skillfully anthropomorphic illustrations of Brian C. Krumm. Shouldn’t the “Gold Standard†in pre-school children’s books be bestowed on those a child need not read to understand? This little jewel of a book qualifies. Your children will love Eartha even if they don’t know her name.†– John Hudspeth via Amazon.com
“A story sure to delight young nature lovers, all the more powerful because it is true! Beautifully illustrated, the story focuses on how people are working to save their fellow creatures, and that even the smallest among us can have a profound effect!†– Book Mama via Amazon.com
“This is a really cute book with an amazing message that gets kids excited about marine life and conservation. Illustrations are extremely vibrant and adored by my 3 year old son.†– Jack Sears via Amazon.com
www.danbodenstein.com
www.earthatheseaturtle.com
Follow Eartha on Twitter for Sea Turtle news.
