Coral Reefs

April 15, 2016
Grades 4-8 Coral reefs are probably the prettiest places in the ocean, bursting with color and bountiful biodiversity, and that seems as good an excuse as any to make them the subject of a graphic novel. But Wicks proves that these bright stalks and tendrils are more than just a handsome picture. In cheerful panels with friendly sea creatures and a cute, bespectacled yellow prawn goby as a narrator, this entry in the Science Comics series lays out the basics of corals, their crucial role in the ocean, the many varieties of reef-dwelling animals, and current man-made threats to their livelihood. The friendly tone breezily introduces concepts like classification, photosynthesis, symbiotic relationships, and so on. The largest chunk, and perhaps the most thrilling, is the field-guide chapter offering beautifully illustrated snapshot overviews of some coral reef dwellers. Wicks' cartoonish art style simplifies each creature, but not so much that the animals aren't identifiable. The jokes, puns, and humorous commentary will draw sea-life fans to this informative, tropical-hued introduction to coral reefs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
As the series title suggests, this introduction to coral is given the graphic-novel treatment. The panel illustrations are bright and colorful; a clean design makes the information accessible. The content is somewhat advanced, making this appropriate for upper-elementary-age readers. The lighthearted text, narrated by a fish, includes humorous asides along with a solid presentation of the facts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-Engaging glimpses into big chunks of current and historical science topics. While older students might understand the text more, the subject matter of both books has wide appeal for the elementary set and fits in with both elementary and middle school science curricula. Narrated by a spunky little fish, Coral Reefs provides a tour of the life that exists around these important aquatic "cities," from jelly fish to octopuses, and explains how photosynthesis keeps the whole system up and running. Author and illustrator Wicks's experience shines through with accurate facts and appealing, colorful drawings. Dinosaurs explores various important paleontological discoveries, from William Smith (1769-1839), who made significant geological findings while building canals in England, to Mary Anning (1799-1847), who started as a seashell seller and became a renowned paleontologist. The artwork and text are attractive and interesting, and readers will learn how dinosaur bones became fossils and how their remains were eventually discovered.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.