The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle [Hardcover]

Lynne Cherry (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

A look into a unique ecosystem, one that is endangered in many places

A seed is jostled from a branch of a mangrove tree and floats to a lagoon in the Caribbean Sea. It takes root, sprouts leaves, and slowly begins to grow. Over many years, the mangrove will provide a home and nourishment for numerous creatures of land and sea. Among its roots come to live fiddler crabs and shrimp; in its branches dwell lizards and hummingbirds. Soon the tree is dropping seeds of its own, and other mangroves are growing, creating a tangle whose benefits extend even to large mammals like dolphins and manatees. There are endpaper maps that indicate where mangroves are located and the names of common animals and plants found in them.

Ever threatened by hurricanes and even more by human destruction, the mangroves of our planet are endangered, but in Lynne Cherry's richly illustrated story one such habitat survives, giving readers hope and inspiration for preservation of these ecosystems in the real world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–Using a beautifully balanced format that combines panoramic illustrations with a storylike narrative, Cherry imagines the life cycle of a mangrove over a period of more than 100 years, from propagules (sprouting seeds) to a single tree to a tangle (a cluster of trees) to an island. As the unusual tree slowly increases in size, it sends out dozens of visible prop roots that anchor it to the sea floor at the edge of a Caribbean lagoon and becomes both shelter and food source for an amazing array of living things. Richly hued watercolor-and-colored-pencil paintings show birds, fish, and sea creatures in sufficient detail to allow for easy identification. The endpapers feature maps of mangroves around the world surrounded by borders containing a small, labeled painting of each species. An introduction and author's note explain the importance of mangroves to their ecosystem and encourage their preservation. Although Cherry has chosen to anthropomorphize a few of the animals by including snippets of conversation, the information is well researched and clearly presented, and the lesson in ecology is an important one.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. Cherry offers another handsomely illustrated picture book that traces the life of a mangrove--from seedling to a full island of tangled roots and branches capable of withstanding a hurricane while sheltering myriad sea creatures. Many children will need help with basic science concepts, such as decomposition and pollination, and they may have trouble matching the sea species mentioned in the text with the images. But, as in her previous titles such as The Great Kapok Tree (1990) and A River Ran Wild (1992), Cherry paints lustrous, detailed scenes that, together with her accessible narrative, will spark children's interest in a magnificent, endangered ecosystem. An author's note offers more information about the beneficial role that mangroves play in coastal habitats and the threats to their survival. Teachers will want this for elementary-school units about the environment and the web of life, but children may choose it on their own for the rich, underwater scenes of tropical sea life. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374364826
• ISBN-13: 978-0374364823
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Flowers & Plants

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR YOUNG READERS, October 14, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle (Hardcover)

Lynne Cherry, a passionate protector of all living things, presents an account of the interdependence of flora and fauna in this fictionalized story of one mangrove tree. As the author is quick to note all of the creatures featured in this book are not found in one particular area of mangroves. That fact does not at all detract from the message she brings.

As our story opens, a flock of pelicans fly around a mangrove island. The branches of these mangroves hold sprouting seeds or propagules. When a pelican lands, he bends a branch causing a propagule to fall into the sea where it is carried to a far away lagoon. Once there it takes root and grows.

Mangroves are particularly noted for their root structure, and by the time it has grown for 50 years the tree has a root base that allows it to outlast storms. In years to come crabs, anemone and sea coral make their homes among these sturdy roots. They are joined by other sea creatures.

Along the way this mangrove has dropped seeds of its own, which causes other mangroves to grow and the tangle of mangroves continues to enlarge. It will eventually become a home for larger sea creatures such as dolphins.

Ms. Cherry's splendidly vivid full page illustrations bring to life the world beneath the sea. She concludes her story by urging readers to visit several Web sites in order to learn how to help save the endangered mangroves.

- Gail Cooke

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kasey and Leah's Book Review, February 21, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle (Hardcover)

The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle
By: Kasey Lorentzen and Leah Benjamin

The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle tells about a Mangrove Tree. The tree saves many animals and plants' lives. When a hurricane comes, all of these things rely on the tree to help them survive.

This book talks about how different animals survive. For example, crabs eat the Mangrove tree leaves and snails eat the algae. This colorful book shows about sea life. In the pictures they show many different species among the Mangrove Tangle. The story tells about new life. Winds carry seeds from the original Mangrove tree to a new location.

Everyone will enjoy this book about survival. It shows how a lot of different things can rely on 1 thing. You should read and buy this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educational and Entertaining, August 24, 2005

By 

Marine Educator (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle (Hardcover)

A fantastic book! I highly recommend this books if you are looking for a book that accurately describes mangrove ecology yet is very readable for young children. My 3 yr old daughter enjoys the book from beginning to end and has fun finding the different animals that live within the mangrove tangle.