Here Is the Coral Reef (Web of Life, 3)

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.

Madeleine Dunphy is an educational consultant who teaches children about endangered environments. She has studied and visited many of the world’s ecosystems, and was inspired to write books about our world’s great diversity of life. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Gwendolyn. For more information about Madeleine, her books, and her school presentations visit www.mdunphy.com.

Tom Leonard’s beautiful paintings have graced the pages of many children’s books including One Small Place by the Sea and One Small Place in a Tree by Barbara Brenner. His stunning artwork has been praised by Booklist as having “great visual flair,” and School Library Journal wrote that his colors “delight the eye.” He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Rose, and teaches at the University of the Arts. For more information visit www.tomleonard.com.