The non-fiction picture book One Night in the Coral Sea by Sneed B. Collard III (illustrated by Robin Brickman; Hyperion, 2006) tells about the yearly spawning of coral. Brickman’s three-dimensional painted paper illustrations make this book stand out in the pile. But also Collard’s detail about the mass spawning of the coral in the world fascinates a ready older reader. About 75% of this book details the reproduction of coral, with details about fertilization and larva development. The other 25% covers basics about the coral reef ecosystem.
As a read-aloud, it may be difficult to keep children’s attention for the entire book, but the catchy illustrations may allow the reader to simplify the text and summarize instead. Or, an older child that is interested in coral will love the abundance of details about the coral life cycle. The end matter includes a detailed glossary, an index, and suggested websites to visit for more information.
