Review by Booklist Review
Similar in format and concept to Redwoods (2009), Chin's latest book offers a straightforward text discussing coral reefs, while the well-composed illustrations create an imaginative narrative running in parallel. A girl takes a book on coral reefs from the library shelves. As she reads, corals appear on the tables, water pours in through a window, and the room gradually transforms into a coral-reef ecosystem. Magically, book in hand, the girl swims underwater and observes sea creatures interacting with one another. Further information on reefs, corals, and Chin's research is appended. The attractive endpapers feature precise, shaded pencil drawings of individual sea creatures living in Caribbean reefs. Although the watercolor illustrations are engaging, the text takes on an enormous subject and may leave children puzzled at times. For example, polyps, corals, and algae, all introduced in the first two pages, need more explanation in the text, and the appended cross-sectional drawings would be more helpful at the beginning. Still, the book offers children a visually beguiling introduction to an important ecosystem.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As he did in Redwoods, Chin combines a thrilling imaginative journey with approachable, informative prose and naturalistic depictions of the wild. At the New York Public Library, a sandy-haired girl picks up the very book readers have in their hands, and as she reads, the library transforms into a coral reef. Completely submerged in light-infused water, the girl spies a sea turtle, witnesses the food chain in action, and observes how adaptation and cooperation enable coral reef animals' survival. Finally, urban features rematerialize, and the girl appears dripping wet on the steps of the library. An immersive educational adventure that demonstrates both the power of reading and the wonder of nature. Ages 5-9. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-As a young girl is visiting the library and beginning to learn about corals and their properties, water begins to seep into the library around her, until she soon finds herself being swept away by the sea and learning more about coral reefs and the animals that are part of the coral's environment. Exciting narration, along with a suspenseful score and background sounds such as bubbles and waves, bring this adaptation of Jason Chin's nonfiction picture book to life. Together, the strong instrumental music and illustrations that sway to and fro will make it seem as if viewers are watching a full-length documentary. Threats to coral reefs and ways to help are followed by information about corals and algae. A gorgeous adaptation highlighting an important ecosystem. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The author of Redwoods (rev. 5/09) applies his creative integration of nonfiction text and fantastical illustrations to a biome modeled on the tropical marine corals off the coast of Belize. Chin's text is a straightforward description of corals, their growth into reefs, the food webs that exist in these ecosystems, and a survey of some of the more interesting inhabitants. The illustrations, however, tell a story built around the text, in which a young girl in the New York Public Library pulls out this very book, starts reading, and embarks on an adventure where the contents come to life. As she reads about coral reef formation, polyps grow up around her, water pours into the library, and she floats out into the reef and among the sharks, fish, and turtles that live there. Chin's detailed illustrations capture the dappled light of shallow water and the bright tropical colors and patterns in the featured flora and fauna. Things return to normal as the girl, dripping a bit, reaches the end of the book and passes it on to others. Readers shouldn't skip the information at the back, which explains the serious problem of coral bleaching due to global warming. danielle j. ford (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A book on coral reefs transforms the New York Public Library into a reef for its reader as she eagerly learns about those who make and dwell in those unique ecosystems, "cities of the sea."Chin, who pioneered this hybrid form of straightforward nonfiction text and fanciful pictures withRedwoods(2009), offers another a statement about the power of reading for an imaginative child with this appealing introduction to a complex world. He opens and closes his narrative with accurate and clearly labeled pencil sketches of a large variety of reef-dwellers. Inside, realistic watercolor images, some in panels, some in full-bleed pages and even double-page spreads, complement the text. Sharp-eyed readers will see and be able to identify the creatures (not always those in the narrative) and will enjoy the dreamlike elaborationespecially as the coral reef begins to turn back into a city complete with appropriate signage. The species shown are all found in Caribbean reefs; Chin visited one off Belize in the course of his research. The backmatter includes an afterword describing the threat to coral reefs and providing additional facts as well as selected sources.As in his earlierRedwoods,the child reader shares her reading, passing on the book to others. Real-life readers will be eager to do the same.(Informational picture book. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
