Science Comics: Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean by Maris Wicks

Science Comics

by Maris Wicks

Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic--dinosaurs, coral reefs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, flying machines, and more. These gorgeously illustrated graphic novels offer wildly entertaining views of their subjects. Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these books are for you!This in Coral Reefs , we learn all about these tiny, adorable sea animals! This absorbing look at ocean science covers the biology of coral reefs as well as their ecological importance. Nonfiction comics genius Maris Wicks brings to bear her signature combination of hardcore cuteness and in-depth science.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Science, Middle Grade, Childrens, Comics, Nature

Hardcover

First published March 29, 2016

About the author

Maris Wicks lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. She has harnessed the power of her various biological systems to draw comics for Adhouse Books, Tugboat Press, and Spongebob Comics, and has written stories for Image and DC Comics. Wicks is the illustrator of New York Times bestselling Primates, with Jim Ottaviani. Her solo graphic novels include Human Body Theater and Science Comics: Coral Reefs. She is quite fond of being in the water, whether it's swimming in ponds or scuba diving in the Atlantic Ocean.

Reviews

[First Second Books]

Maris' wonderful cartoony art and super-awesome scientific knowledge combine for a great comic about the science of coral reefs in this graphic novel!

This is wonderful first entry to First Second's Science Comics series. You'll fall in love with Maris' adorable fishes and never look back!

(Also I love that the underwater fish narrator wears glasses! That's so great.)

[Harker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour.

The drawings in this book were the most charming part and it was quite fun to read it to my son. Now, given his age, I didn't read the exact text to him because it's definitely above his pay grade. Reading it myself, I found it very educational, though a bit steep in some parts considering the intended audience. It was in depth and luckily the artwork made the facts more palatable than if they'd been straight text.

There was such a variety of creatures. I was impressed by the amount of research that must have gone into this book. I am interested in reading some of the author's other works, as the detail was such that I'm sure she could make quite a few other subjects fun to learn about.

[Clare Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool series! Highly engaging and informative for ages 8 and up.

[RandomReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book to read, with so much information that kids and adults will enjoy knowing. I really had fun reading it and wish I could find the rest of the series. The coloring is awesome, and while the illustrations are not my style, but I liked them though.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book along with me to babysit a few weeks ago, and as soon as the seven year old (let's call him Fox) saw it, he said, "No, not a chapter book!" I explained that it wasn't a chapter book, and opened up to a random page. His eyes got so big and he shouted, "It's a comic book!!!" He immediately demanded that we read it before bedtime.

Here's what we thought...

There is a wordy intro by a marine scientist that Fox wasn't interested in, but I read it myself after the kids went to bed and it's a great introduction to coral reefs and their importance.

The illustrations are fun and entertaining.There is a little yellow fish with glasses that is basically the narrator/teacher of the book and Fox had fun finding him hidden in various panels throughout the book. The pictures have enough details to be realistic, but still cartoonish enough to keep kids interested.

Full review on blog: https://bookstacksamber.wordpress.com...

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coral Reefs  
 
The Science Comics series uses the graphic novel format to inform kids (and adults) about popular topics. In this case, the topic is coral reefs. The narrator is a sassy yellow goby fish who explains the facts about coral reefs and their inhabitants. There is a wealth of information in this book, and it may be a bit much for younger kids. Then again, if they are interested in the subject, kids can remember a surprising number of facts. The illustrations are bright and beautiful, and labeled diagrams are provided to help explain the facts. In the back of the book, readers will find a glossary, bibliography, and a list of additional resources. The book also gives information about conservation and real examples of what kids can do to help.
 
The book was a fun read and I learned a lot about coral reefs. 

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in the Science Comic series had illustrations and just an overall feel (like bigger comic boxes) that was much more juvenile than the other books in the series that I've read. It was interesting though and taught a lot about coral reefs, along with many other things like animal classification systems, global warming and how humans can help the planet.
I wasn't a fan of all the little quips that author had at the bottom of the pages outside of the comic. They were really distracting. I also think that the part where the different organisms were described was a little dragged out/didn't flow well.
But the book still has a lot of great information.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

for Beverly's club in Children's Books group, June 2020...

I really liked this. A little bit choppy in places, and a little bit simplistic, but overall a good introduction to marine biology. I really appreciate that the author makes it very clear how important the health of the ocean and corals are (even to people who live inland and don't eat seafood), and how important it is to do science to know how best to take care of them.

I learned that 'c' can be a silent letter, as in cnidarians.'

Oceans are much more important photosynthesizers than trees. Planting a tree is good, eliminating as much plastic as you possibly can from your purchases and routines is better.

"By studying the immune system of other animals, humans can help better understand and strengthen their own. Corals produce chemicals called secosteroids that protect them against disease... [and in humans] can treat asthma and arthritis."

Includes glossary, bibliography, further resources, and an appendix detailing a coral polyp.

And I showed one panel to my 24 yo son and he sat down and looked at several pages, even doing further research on my tablet and learning stuff he didn't know... so that's a bonus star there. In fact, I believe that this series is probably very successful, because even though I wasn't particularly interested in the topic (after all, I do know the basics), I was engaged throughout.

I definitely will try to find more in the series. I do have the one about dogs to read next.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I would never bother to pick up a book that looks like this, but it was *well done* and my kindergartener loved it! We have a saltwater aquarium, she loves learning, and she is into recycling and eco-friendly habits like me, so this book was right up our alley. The back cover has a list of “coming soon” titles that I’m headed to look up now.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an informative book. I love the illustrations and colors used. I love that a little fish is the narrator and takes you on an awesome journey through coral reefs and some of its inhabitants. Probably my favorite Science Comic I have read so far.

[Jolene Yaksich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book for kids to read amazing information about coral reefs with great illustrations.

[Mary Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th BOB read. Very informative and lots of content ties into 5th Grade science!

[Stephanie (Reading is Better With Cupcakes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I will be the first to admit that I have never really had much of an interest in coral reefs. To me they were just a thing in the ocean. I don't even know if I ever really considered them to be a plant, an animal, or even alive.

Needless to say, I really didn't know very much about them and what little I had learned way back when I was a kid had obviously been forgotten.

Not any more though. This book is full of information! And it is put into an easy and fun format. I definitely learned a lot while reading through this "comic."

That being said though, there was a lot to learn in this one little book. It is something I could read multiple times over and still have more in there to learn and to commit to memory. I was actually pretty surprised by how much information was put into this book and I am pretty sure it is only the very tip of the ice berg when it comes to information on coral reefs and the things that live within them.

This book though, is not entirely information. It is done in a comic book style. The "teacher" is a tiny little fish. He cracks quite a few jokes while telling you all about coral reefs which helps to keep the whole thing light and entertaining even though you are learning. And then there is the artwork. It is very bright and fun to look at.

All in all, Coral Reefs is a very nicely done book filled with a lot of information.

This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and informational introduction to coral reefs, this book contains TONS of science info. Maris Wicks does a great job of starting from the beginning with each subject, whether it's the difference between animals & plants when introducing the reader to coral or what climate change is when talking about how the environment affects coral reefs. Even kids who think they know a lot about coral reefs and the ocean will probably learn something new from this book.... and they will enjoy doing it!

Wicks's cute, cartoony style is a great medium for the information. She puts in lots of funny little asides and cute, humorous illustrations. One of my favorites is an illustration of flowers "eatin' up the SEE-OH-TOO"/"fartin' out the oxygen". The book is filled with funny little things like that that will keep readers laughing and poring over the illustrations for more.

Highly recommended for kids who like informational comics or who are interested in science and/or oceans.

(Also: I LOVE the idea of the Science Comics series! If all the installments are as entertaining and informative as this one, we are in for a real treat!)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicks and First Second has done the world of children's literature a favor by creating these Science Comics that highlight fascinating information about the world. The bright, colorful illustrations are bound to attract loads of young readers and the fascinating facts and funny narrator (a fish) are bound to keep them turning the pages. This short quick read was surprisingly full of information and may lead young readers into seeking out other books on the same topic. A fabulous choice for children who enjoy both comic books and the natural world.

[Paul Orsino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT resource and nonfiction book. Students will be thrilled to find the nonfiction genre delivered through the graphic novel medium. The humor and illustrations will grab the attention of any reader. I can't wait to continue reading this series!

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding science information and a playful tone. Must-own for classroom and school libraries.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start off with, this is a book about coral reefs, so how did they manage to add at least two fart jokes and a belch? Very ingeniously! This book is the basics of coral reefs. We see how they have inspired human inventions and architecture by the size, shapes, forms, and even the creatures that live among them. While the images are almost basic, there is a lot packed in. However, most pages are not too crowded. A few can be, but not in any way that is taking away from the information. Overall, this graphic novel is humorous and informative, and even this adult learned a few things. I enjoyed how this was a bit more simply presented than some of the other Science Comics from First Second, but does not lose anything that is needed to present the wonderful world of coral reefs. And while some of the additional resources might be dated (this book was originally published in 2016), the information inside is not. There are no specifics (such as in Australia at points X and Y, ten sea horses still remain) allowing this book to never really be outdated.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems to be aimed at a slightly younger crowd than other Science Comics...or maybe it just actually has concepts broken down for the right age group. Our little gobi fish guide breaks things down clearly without leaving gigantic words undefined (Plagues) or getting into tough concepts in the first 20 pages (Dogs). We go only as deep as we need and we cover a lot of information both directly related to reefs and related to science: classification, the water cycle, climate change. Probably the most difficult subject tackled (toward the end, thank goodness!) is the acidification of the ocean, but it's a lot easier to grasp with Wicks' simply-colored molecules than some of the immune system components were in Plagues. Kudos also to Wicks for funny 4th-wall-breaking comments at the bottom of some pages and for talking about climate change without getting too depressing.

I get why this was one of the first Science Comics published! It would be a great first entry for kids starting the series.

[SaraKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit, I found this boring and dry and more like reading an encyclopedia than what I was expecting. I read another in this series (about dinosaurs) first and it was so good that I was expecting more from this one. Putting a cartoon fish in the book and having it make really terrible jokes the whole times doesn't jazz up an encyclopedia. I feel like the content is for an older age than would enjoy the cartoony, juvenile humor. And I found one portion unforgivable. The author presented an example of a coral reef food web and added in arrows facing the wrong direction! This is a tough thing to get into students' heads, so I never appreciate an informational book that undoes my work. It also doesn't include domains in the section on classification, which is odd, because every other scrap of information in the world IS included.

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Science comics are a lot of fun and this was a fast paced topic, which is impressive if you take a look at how much ground it covers. Animal Kingdoms and Phylums are kind of where I'm interested in improving my knowledge of (just because I think it'd be cool). This book introduced lots of complex concepts in a silly, easy to grasp dialogue.

My biggest criticism is the lack of calling out the biggest perpetrators of pollution and contributions to climate change: factory farming. Without a massive overhaul of the way we farm and treat agriculture in the present, we're looking at a lot more dire circumstances down the road. All the recycling and waste reduction in the world can't make as big a contribution to action against climate change as voting for policy and reaching out to the public who are unaware.

I recommend this book to curious kids of all ages.

[Keith Mannina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a child in your house that is just starting the early sciences fourth fifth and sixth grade, I would definitely recommend this book! It has a really cute narrator character who is a plankton! It explains what corals are and the fact that they are actually animals and plants like some people would think. It explains the complex ecosystem of coral reef’s as well as the lifecycles of those particular animals, such as jellyfish and enemies and even the coral them selves. Whenever a particular word is especially complex, your little host fellow breaks it down pronunciation and explains exactly what it means. It also talks a great deal about conservation and the causes of reef erosion. If you have a little budding environmentalist running around your house, I would definitely recommend this book for him/her/them!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the graphic novel "Primates" by the same illustrator, I dove into the other science comics that she has written & illustrated, starting with this one. While a lot of the scientific concepts are simplified (obviously), the accessibility of big ideas - coral bleaching, climate change, ocean acidification - makes this a really great starting point for those interested in coral reefs and their impact on us all, even if we live thousands of miles from the ocean itself! 77

Definitely a powerful book for young readers, and adults, too! Narrated by a small goby fish in a really big ocean, hijinks ensue!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Science Comics are a great way of providing really detailed information in a visually detailed way. The level of content and scientific terms means these could easily be used by high school students. Reading it with someone younger, think about dipping in and out of the book with the parts that interest them and talking about the pictures.

Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better way to explain the cities of the ocean aka coral reefs than with a gorgeously designed graphic novel by Wicks who is a master graphic novelist. Then you add a layer of awesome research with a goby narrator with a sense of humor and you've got the best kind of science comic-- one that is equally informative and entertaining.

Wicks details the science of its creation and maintenance and also how it's threatened, spending quite a bit of time introducing readers to the various organisms that lives inside of it which is why its a great break from the science at the beginning and advocacy asked by the end. Perfect science comic addition by First Second (which is fabulous anyway!)

[Pug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cool and fun and informative science book, disguised as a colorful and entertaining and humorous graphic novel. There was a lot of info (such as, digging into all the ecosystem and classification of every species living in the coral reef), so it wasn't exactly "lite" reading, but I learned a lot!

Beautiful coral reefs, teaming with incredible plants and animals... I have snorkled a handful of times in my life, and it's awesome.

[Shannon Leal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
Genre: Informational
A unique feature about this book is that it is all informational in comic book form. It is full of a TON of information, but instead of reading it in a text book, it is more fun because it is like a comic book. I can't believe how much information they were able to put in this book!

Grades: 3-8
Date Completed: November 20

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine introduction to coral reefs. But not awesome. Very dry and the light humor from the framing device only served to distract. Not sure how you get past this to cover a subject, but it can be done. Usually with an intrusive framing device, which is not something I'd want to see. Good enough art, good enough writing.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun graphic novel jam-packed with information. The book explains coral reefs, the animals that live there complete with Latin names, the water cycle, the food chain and much more. Perfect for my many budding marine biologists.

[MaryBeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear introduction to coral reefs, as well as some basic science concepts like the classification system of living things, the water cycle, and climate. The illustrations are detailed. The humor in this book will appeal to readers in the middle grades.