World Reef Awareness Day is a time to reflect on the fragile ecosystem of our ocean's coral reefs.
Coral reefs are living communities of colonial organisms made of individual polyps that excrete a bone-like skeleton. This skeleton forms large rock-like structures that are homes for thousands of organisms. The reef ecosystem is a significant life support system for plankton to algae to the enormous sea creatures.
The students I teach are very aware of The Great Barrier Reef because it is in Australia, it is in trouble and many of them have visited it. They marvel over books that show the life on the reef.
Look for these books in the library:
It might also be a good time to revisit Kim Michelle Toft's books. Her exquisite illustrations of North Queensland marine life are created by hand painting on silk.
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