Here Is the Coral Reef

Web of Life #3

by Madeleine Dunphy, Tom Leonard (Illustrator)

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 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.

Genres: Nature, Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Environment, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1998

About the author

Madeleine Dunphy’s books have been published by Hyperion Books for Children, Millbrook Press, and her own publishing company, Web of Life Children’s Books—a publishing company devoted to publishing picture books about the environment. Madeleine is also a teacher, activist and mother.

Madeleine has taught special programs at the California Academy of Sciences, Lawrence Hall of Science, Museum of Children’s Art and at dozens of elementary schools in northern California and abroad. She has a BA in anthropology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a MA in education from Mills College.

Madeleine has traveled extensively to research her various books. Her travels include visiting the mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, camping out in the Amazon rain forest in Peru, visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and scuba diving with sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Madeleine lives in Oakland, California with her husband, daughter, dog, two cats and a hamster.

Reviews

[Caroline Herfindahl]

A cumulative tale that also teaches about the residents of the coral reef and how they interact. If you are looking for a non-fiction cumulative to supplement all those great fiction titles this would be an excellent one. Beautiful painted illustrations.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A building repetitive book about how animals on the coral reef feed off each other. Early elementary

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cumulative story about life in the coral reef and the various creatures that live and survive in a symbiotic habitat.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside Cover:
The coral reef, an abundant undersea world, is teeming with a stunning variety of plants, fish, and other sea creatures. In this balanced ecosystem every living creature from the simple coral to the sleek shark relies on another for its existence. Environmentalist author Madeleine Dunphy uses a cumulative approach, combining lyrical verse with repetition to gently reinforce this lesson of interdependence. Tom Leonard's vibrant paintings beautifully recapture a wondrous miracle -- the circle of life.

11/10: It is pretty and lyrical. The boys enjoyed learning more of the place "Where Nemo lived."

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story with narrative that builds upon itself and gorgeous illustrations of the coral reef and the creatures who live there. The grammar doesn't feel quite right as I read it aloud, something about the coral being used in the singular, but otherwise it's a fun book to read aloud.

[Myles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has really good pictures.