Review by Booklist Review
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 lucidly written, this book gives readers an eye-catching introduction to coral reefs.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
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 (c) Copyright 2013. 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
Simon takes readers under the seas to view beautiful coral formations in warm water environments, as well as the plentiful animal life that lives in and around the reefs. Along with scientific definitions and facts, Simon addresses the threats to coral reefs as a result of human activity and climate change. Gorgeous, full-page photographs of tropical fauna invite careful scrutiny. Websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2013. 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
The author of over 250 science books for children turns his attention to coral reefs. Coral reefs, readers learn, are both the skeletons of reef-building corals and the community that makes use of them. Although they make up only a tiny portion of the ocean floor, they provide a home to a quarter of all underwater ocean life. Only a rain forest ecosystem supports more plants and animals. In an expository text that sometimes reads like a set of lecture notes, Simon's introduction covers reef formation and locations and describes some inhabitants: different kinds of coral, fish and invertebrates. He notes that activity is different at night, and he mentions both the value of these areas and threats to their survival. Beautiful stock photographs, some stretching across the fold and some showing humans exploring that marvelous world, make this a treat for the eye. But this is eye candy, not nourishment. There are no labels. Images usually connect with something in the accompanying text, but without previous familiarity with the subject, readers will find them hard to interpret. A nighttime scene features a lionfish, but there is no mention of the danger that invasive species poses to Atlantic reefs. For research or for pleasure, titles by Jason Chin, Sneed Collard or Gail Gibbons offer more. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 6-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
