Science Comics--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.)