Science Comics: Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean

The book tells us about the reef including the animals that live there and how coral reefs are important to the whole planet. I already knew a coral was an animal. They are cnidarians, like jellyfish. They have “harpoons” to capture their prey. Coral reefs take a long time to grow. Zooxanthellae, a type of algae, has a relationship with coral: photosynthesis. Most coral needs sun, salt water, and a warm temperature.

My favorite name for a roly-poly is a “potato bug.” That’s a common name. A scientific name is a name used around the world.

I like spiny flower coral. It’s pretty. Branching Fire Coral stings a lot, and it’s not a coral. Sea urchins vacuum the reef. Sharks are cartilaginous fish. Dolphins and humans are mammals. Phytoplankton and algae make most of the oxygen.

The narrator is a yellow prawn-goby. There’s lots of information in this book. I learned a lot! The narrator is fun. There are a lot of words people can’t pronounce. The author tells how to pronounce some. It’s a graphic novel. The pictures are great. The part on global warming made me sad. I’m afraid people are just going to keep doing those things. I love this book! I’d like to read more of these books.