Here Is the Coral Reef Book

Set in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, this lyrical rhyming tale introduces young readers to some of the coral reef’s most striking residents. From the sleek shark to the colorful parrotfish 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 plants and animals in this unique environment. Tom Leonard's vibrant paintings capture this miraculous circle of life.

Children's Literature

As with others in the "Here Is" series, Dunphy describes the coral reef habitat with a lyrical cumulative text. It is a delightful way for kids to learn about the inhabitants of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The interdependence of life on the reef is reinforced with each succeeding page. For example, the wrasses live off of parrotfish, which in turn eat part of the coral reef. The bright, bold illustrations of fish, sponges, eels, and the like are depicted in each spread. It is a spirited and informative introduction to this watery world.