Here Is the Coral Reef

By Madeleine Dunphy

Book Overview

Using cumulative verse, this picture book introduces children to the sea turtles, moray eels, sponges, parrotfish and
remoras that are all part of the coral reef ecosystem, while giving young readers an understanding of the
interdependency of life in this ecologically diverse environment.

Set in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, this lyrical tale introduces young readers to some of the coral reef's most
striking residents. From the sleek shark to the colorful coral cod to the deceptively beautiful sea anemone, each
creature in this abundant undersea world relies on another for its existence. Beginning with coral, the very element
that defines this ecosystem, Madeleine Dunphy uses a cumulative approach, combining simple yet forceful verse with
repetition to reveal the fragile chain that links each of the animals in this unique environment. Tom Leonard's vibrant
paintings capture this miraculous circle of life.

Other Books in the Series: HERE IS ANTARCTICA, HERE IS THE AFRICAN SAVANNA, HERE IS THE ARCTIC WINTER, HERE IS THE
SOUTHWESTERN DESERT, HERE IS THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST, and HERE IS THE WETLAND. Free downloadable activities can be
found on the publisher's website.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977379558
• ISBN13: 9780977379552
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Web of Life Children's Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 3 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Here is the Perfect Kids' Book Series!

Not only does my niece love this book, I'm quite fond of the series, too! The illustrations are detailed and painstakingly accurate, but the real treasure is Dunphy's language. The motif may seem simple, but it actively tunes in a child's curiosity, making her or him eager to turn the page and see what's next.

Excellent for teaching about ecological systems, fun!

I really enjoy Madeleine Dunphy's "Here is the Coral Reef," as I do all of her other "Here is..." books (rainforest, arctic winter, southwestern desert, and wetlands). "Here is the Coral Reef" provides parents a fun, colorful medium for teaching children about the coral reef ecosystem. The cumulative verse format is an elegant way to teach about the interconnections between all life. The illustrations are gloriously bright, with just enough action to keep the kids going, but nothing gory. The story grows incrementally with each page, tracing the unseen threads of biological systems, and culminating in a montage of its reef-dwelling characters. Kids seem to like the repetition...but any parent knows how much children enjoy repeating their favorite stories, songs or videos over and over and over! I would highly recommend this subtle yet effective book for parents and educators (*****).