Welcome to the wondrous undersea world of the coral reef, now under stress from climate change. Learn how scientists are seeking solutions and what people can do to help.
Imagine being a butterflyfish, living in warm waters, surrounded by strange rocky shapes in all colors. Some are long and branching, others resemble big round stones or lacy fans. This is the coral reef, full of burgeoning life, home to brightly colored fish, shrimps, octopuses, jellyfish, sea turtles, even sharks. In this rainbow-tinted world, millions of tiny creatures live inside little animals called coral polyps, producing food from which coral reefs grow and sustaining the butterflyfish and others in turn. Until, that is, something goes wrong—like when water temperatures rise, resulting in “coral bleaching” that leaves the beautiful formations a ghostly white. Martin Jenkins’s engaging prose and Jason Cockcroft’s brilliant illustrations introduce children to the wonders of a coral reef, while back matter delves further into the basics of climate change, how it affects the reefs, and positive steps we can take.---from the publisher
32 pages 978-1536250091 Ages 5-9
Keywords; coral reef, sea creatures, how things work, oceans, climate change, marine life, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, scientists, science, Science Curriculum
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Imagine you’re a butterflyfish. Where do you live? It’s a place that’s warm all year round, not too deep and full of life: it’s a coral reef!
If you live or visit Australia's coast, one of the longest in the world, chances are it is protected by a reef whether it's the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, the Great Southern Reef a fringe of interconnected underwater systems that span 8000km from the NSW/Queensland border, around Tasmania and its islands, along our great southern coastline and up to Kalbarri in Western Australia., Ningaloo on the north-western coastline or any of the other systems that dot the shoreline and encircle the continent.
While each has its own ecosystem perhaps it is the colourful inhabitants of the coral reefs that first spring to mind, and in the new addition to the Protecting the Planet series which includes Ice Journey of the Polar Bear, The Season of Giraffes, Emperor of the Ice, and The Secret World of Seahorses, young readers are introduced to how such reefs are formed, the creatures that are dependent on their survival and how they are dealing with the challenges of climate change and other factors that threaten their survival. They learn about the amazing biodiversity of the reef and the interdependence of each species, as well as how vulnerable each is and what even an individual can do to help it survive and thrive.
https://youtu.be/Kg_y0IE6tFw?
Protecting the Planet: Creatures of the Coral Reef is one of a list that Publishers Weekly have put together a list of children's picture books that encourage children to explore the world around them and consider how to care for it to acknowledge Earth Day today, and although most on that list are US publications, Australian authors, illustrators and publishers have produced a plethora of books on this theme, including those about the reefs that surround Australia, it could be an opportunity for STUDENTS to search the shelves for stories that reflect their personal interest in the environment to create a library display, Apart from enhancing their skills at using the OPAC, if they are also required to read the book and write a synopsis of its central message so others can make informed choices about borrowing it then there is purpose for both the display and their reading.
On this blog alone there are over 450 titles with the Environment and Sustainability tag so there are plenty for even our youngest readers to begin to explore and think about what they can do to make a difference. Perhaps a class might even adopt a particular project giving the whole task even greater context and purpose.
This review can also be found here.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
