ReadItDaddy's First Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 8th June 2018: "The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the world's coral reefs" by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe (Chronicle Children's Books)

Our first Picture Book of the Week this week couldn't be more timely if it tried...Once again, it's time to look to our oceans and how to protect them...
The truly stunning "The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the world's Coral Reefs" by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe starts with one boy's love of the ocean - and as that little boy grows into a man, his quest to save one of the most amazing natural phenomena on the planet.

The vast living colonies of coral, in particular the largest in all the oceans, the Great Barrier Reef, have been under threat for generations.

This book sensitively and beautifully weaves a tale of the boy and his efforts to bring life back to the oceans.

One boy's dream to protect the ocean, Ken Nedimyer was determined to make a difference.

Coral is amazing stuff, one tiny polyp can be the building block for an entire reef and through careful ecologically sound management, and a duty of care it may not be too late to do something about our amazing coral.

The shock of finding vast swathes of dead coral, destroyed by our mistreatment of the oceans, was the spur for Ken's efforts

The ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the world's coral reefs—with hammer and glue, and grafts of newly grown coral—are the living legacy of Ken Nedimyer - the boy in the story and founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. It's an utterly gorgeous version of the true story of the coral restoration pioneer in this brilliant tribute to the wonders of nature and the power of human hope.

Coral is amazing stuff. One tiny polyp can be enough to start a colony.

It's breathtaking stuff, we absolutely loved it and it's bang on point for kids who are just beginning to learn how important our oceans are, and how those habitats deserve our protection rather than abuse.

C's best bit: Learning more about the amazing Great Barrier Reef and the coral there.

Daddy's favourite bit: Happy memories of diving the reef were brought back for me, and also the memories of how much of it was dying (when I visited nearly 20 years ago). Books like this are fantastic for building the next generation of eco-pioneers like Ken who may help us save the planet one day themselves.

(Kindly supplied for review)

"The Brilliant Deep" by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books.