Coral Reefs

Hiding on the floor of Earth’s tropical oceans are magnificent and colorful coral reefs. (Hardcover, paperback and eBook now available!)

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School Library Journal

Gr 2-5–Simon has been luring kids into science for years through simple, informative texts on interesting topics ranging from systems of the human body to the reaches of space, all lavishly larded with brilliant color photos. Here he opens a window into the watery world of the coral reef, providing facts on a variety of corals and on some of the critters that make these reefs their homes. He includes information on the environmental changes challenging the very existence of these sensitive biomes, from global warming to toxic runoffs from the shore to mining coral for construction use and for use in the souvenir industry. A brief glossary and several websites for further investigation complete this eye-catching and rewarding package. Pair it with Lynn George’s colorful Coral: Reef Builders (Rosen, 2010) for a super-colorful look at this underwater world. –Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Gr 2-5–Simon has been luring kids into science for years through simple, informative texts on interesting topics ranging from systems of the human body to the reaches of space, all lavishly larded with brilliant color photos. Here he opens a window into the watery world of the coral reef, providing facts on a variety of corals and on some of the critters that make these reefs their homes. He includes information on the environmental changes challenging the very existence of these sensitive biomes, from global warming to toxic runoffs from the shore to mining coral for construction use and for use in the souvenir industry. A brief glossary and several websites for further investigation complete this eye-catching and rewarding package. Pair it with Lynn George’s colorful Coral: Reef Builders (Rosen, 2010) for a super-colorful look at this underwater world. –Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

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BOOKLIST, Carolyn Phelan

Taking readers underwater to explore coral reefs, Simon provides basic information about this “gigantic community of living things.” After introducing the two types of coral and the many forms they can take, he discusses coral reefs and the wide variety of animals they house, feed, and protect. A few examples, such as the porcupine fish, the giant moray eel, and the sunflower sea star, are spotlighted with paragraphs of information and close-up photos. The discussion ends by considering the threats endangering coral reefs as well as the many benefits of reefs to our world. Often remarkably clear, the book’s many large color photos offer striking views of coral reefs and the life they support. In some shots, it’s difficult to get a sense of scale, but even those photos serve well to illustrate points made in the text. Well organized and clearly written, this book gives readers an eye-catching introduction to coral reefs.

Taking readers underwater to explore coral reefs, Simon provides basic information about this “gigantic community of living things.” After introducing the two types of coral and the many forms they can take, he discusses coral reefs and the wide variety of animals they house, feed, and protect. A few examples, such as the porcupine fish, the giant moray eel, and the sunflower sea star, are spotlighted with paragraphs of information and close-up photos. The discussion ends by considering the threats endangering coral reefs as well as the many benefits of reefs to our world. Often remarkably clear, the book’s many large color photos offer striking views of coral reefs and the life they support. In some shots, it’s difficult to get a sense of scale, but even those photos serve well to illustrate points made in the text. Well organized and clearly written, this book gives readers an eye-catching introduction to coral reefs.

[ Read more ]