Customer Reviews

One Night in the Coral Sea

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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.

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.