Creatures of the Coral Reef, written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2026. $26.99 ages 5 and up

"Everywhere you look, there's 
something darting about: 
brightly colored fish, crabs, 
and shrimps with bony claws, 
knobbly-looking octopuses, 
curly seashells ... 

Sometimes a jelly fish, 
a graceful sea turtle, 
or even ... 

       a shark."

Martin Jenkins begins his new book by asking his readers to imagine themselves as a butterflyfish, graced with a 'pointy nose, a flat body, and a stubby little tail'. Then, he questions where they might be found. Offering clues, he leads them to learn a lot about their habitat. He includes their surroundings and also the many forms of life that surround them. 

He then tells them they are in a coral reef, and goes on to provide clear information about the tiny animals called coral polyps and their many distinguishing features. He explains how a coral reef forrms over thousands of years to become home to many marine animals, including the butterfly fish. A butterfly fish lives with its mate in the reef where all of its needs are satisfied; in fact, its favorite food is coral polyps! No worry about devouring the entire reef; it continues to grow slowly. 

Until it doesn't! Coral bleaching is happening to coral reefs around the world. When conditions change in the reef, the coral polyps rid themselves of what lives inside them; they stop growing and turn white. Recovery may take place, if organisms return to the corals. If not, the corals will die. The causes for coral bleaching are described clearly and without alarm; these facts are there to inform readers about the changing climate and its effects on the beautiful reefs. 

If the reefs don't survive, life for the butterflyfish will become tough. There is hope from scientists working to help the reefs survive, or by encouraging the growth of corals in other areas. They won't give up even though there are only few of them working to make the changes needed. 

"They know what amazing places coral reefs are, 
and they're working as hard as they can to make
sure they don't disappear." 

Bravo! 

Accessible information is provided in a most effective way, while the realistic digital art takes readers into the ocean realm where these magnificent creatures thrive, survive, and feed a plethora of other marine animals. Two pages of back matter offer timely data on the reefs, climate change, and the help we can give to make a difference.