Under the Sea: Corals

Children are natural scientists, fascinated by the living world around them. Each volume in the Under the Sea series introduces young readers to a single ocean organism. A lifelong interest in science can begin as students improve their informational reading skills with these leveled Pebble Plus trade books. This volume examines the coral, which looks more like a plant than an animal. Showing soft and hard (reef building) corals, the author describes the anatomy of this invertebrate. Stinging cells that immobilize prey help students understand the behavior of simple predators. Readers will enjoy the photos of reef habitats in shallow ocean waters. Each volume contains beautiful color photographs accompanied by text suitable for a beginning reader. The book can also be used to read to an entire pre-school or kindergarten class, since the pictures are large enough to be easily seen by a group. The book includes a short glossary of new words and an Internet site geared to a young reader’s interests.