Keepers of the Reef
by Sharon Wismer (Author) Alice Wong (Illustrator)
Sharon Wismer--reef ecologist and mom--is the best tour guide a kid could have for a visit to the underwater world of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Alice Wong's richly detailed, accurate watercolors take a boy and girl snorkeling to see the fishes that maintain the ecological balance between the corals and their main competitor, algae.
Without the fish species that brush, crop, scrape, excavate, and browse the algae, coral reefs would die. A coral reef is a brilliant and colorful example of how a complex ecosystem functions and why its keystone species are critical to its health.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of Earth's most celebrated natural treasures. Here children discover why the reef is threatened and what we can all do to help protect it. Endorsements are coming from Charlie Veron ("the godfather of coral," featured in the 2017 film Chasing Coral) and David Bellwood, a world-renowned reef fish ecologist whose lab is the source of much of the information in this book.
Keepers of Reef is the rare children's book combining cutting-edge science with narrative and pictorial magic. Thorough backmatter sources and resources are included.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2--For newer readers, this title offers a close look at coral reefs and how to care for them. In full-page watercolor and pencil illustrations with a shot of sunlight to further illuminate the image, the book details how coral reefs are created and the kinds of creatures who live there. The focus is on the "keepers of the reef" who help protect it, such as the small parrotfish who scrape the turf algae from dead corals. The book also touches on the dangers that coral reefs face and how to protect them. Throughout the book, a silent white blonde girl and a light brown-skinned boy explore, with the girl's wild wavy hair adding dimension to the water's movement. The story ends rather abruptly, and after sharing some of the innovative ways people are helping reefs, readers are invited to assist, too. Back matter consists of a glossary, further reading, resource suggestions, and web links. A list offers suggestions for how to earn points for helping, although this is confusing. Children will appreciate the evocative illustrations and explanations in the book, but may be deterred by some verbose phrasing. VERDICT A wordy guide with feasible recommendations for how to keep coral reefs in our world, this is an additional purchase.--Elissa Cooper
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JNF003150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Marine Life
JNF003090 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Fishes
