One Night in the Coral Sea [Paperback]

Sneed B., III Collard (Author), Robin Brickman (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–Although Collard provides a basic introduction to other animals found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, he concentrates on its variety of corals. In particular, he describes the mass spawning that occurs every spring. On one night, more than 100 species release millions of eggs and trillions of sperm. By morning, those coral from the same species have united to form thousands of larvae that drift on the ocean. Those that escape predators and reach a reef attach themselves and undergo a metamorphosis into a coral polyp. Brickman created colorful three-dimensional illustrations by painting and sculpting paper, and these layered textures work well with the subject. For example, hungry fish trying to eat larvae can barely be seen through the multicolored masses of tiny creatures floating around and over them. Although limited information about mass spawning appears in some books for older readers such as Collard's Lizard Island (Watts, 2000), most titles for younger readers about coral reefs provide a basic, general introduction to the ecosystem. Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's general overview in Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs (Walker, 2003) would work well with Collard's introduction to an amazing event that scientists discovered little more than 20 years ago.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. On a single spring night, after a full moon, the coral in the Great Barrier Reef releases millions of eggs into the ocean. Veteran science writer Collard explains the unique spawning event and provides some background about coral and the sea creatures that share the reef. His text is mostly clear and direct; still, younger children, particularly those who haven't encountered basic reproductive concepts, will need help grasping the science. But whether or not children understand the specifics of fertilization, they will be captivated by Brickman's realistic, astonishingly detailed colored-paper collages of the brilliant underwater world. A closing image of a silvery moon illuminating dolphins splashing through a placid sea extends the shivery sense of mysterious, fascinating life teeming beneath the surface. Further information, a glossary, and resources are appended. Teachers may want to pair this with Lawrence Pringle's Coral Reefs (1995), which features excellent color photographs that will partner nicely with Brickman's collages. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570913900
• ISBN-13: 978-1570913907
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Water

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings Australia's Great Barrier Reef to life for young readers ages 6 to 11, July 6, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Night in the Coral Sea (Hardcover)

Superbly pictured in marvelous and colorful detail by Robin Brickman's cut-paper illustrations, One Night In The Coral Sea by science writer Sneed B. Collard III brings Australia's Great Barrier Reef to life for young readers ages 6 to 11. It is a night in the late spring just after the full moon and something is occurring that only happens once a year. Dozens of coral species simultaneously release thousands, millions, trillions of eggs and sperm into the sea. These then form new coral polyps that will settle onto the coral reef and form new colonies, extending the reach of the reef along the Australian coast. Enthusiastically recommended for both school and community library collections, One Night In The Coral Sea is an entertaining as it is informative.

5.0 out of 5 stars takes a hard to visualize concept and brings it to a child's level, November 29, 2009

By 

A Bookfair Mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Night in the Coral Sea (Paperback)

This is a great non-fiction book that takes a rather hard concept for a kid to visualize--coral reef reproduction--and brings it to their level. Brickman's gorgeous illustrations and Collard's masterful storytelling layout a life cycle of an organism that doesn't get much press.

I think its a good book for kids who are really into non-fiction--and you'll know if you've got one--they take out books on ocean life and insect life. This title is a little "drier" than "Wings" and "Beaks," two other Collard/Brickman collaborations. If you've got a reluctant reader, they may not be as mesmerized by the subject, though its hard not to be mesmerized by the illustrations. Collard is very successful in building a story with a plot.