The Brilliant Deep

April 15, 2018
The story of Ken Nedimeyer's brilliant idea and his work to restore troubled coral reefs.Nedimeyer, son of a NASA engineer, grew up exploring Florida's underwater world. As an adult, he became aware that the coral reefs he had loved were fading, even dying. He experimented with transplanting staghorn corals that had grown in his live rock farm. The transplants grew and became the impetus for his founding of the Coral Restoration Foundation, which now works internationally. Aimed at quite young readers and listeners, Messner's hopeful tale begins with the one coral gamete that can found a colony and ends with an image of this one man whose efforts have spurred restoration. In between, she touches on how corals grow and form an underwater community and how this white scientist worked with his daughter and others to rebuild the reefs. In Over and Under the Pond (illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, 2017) and other titles aimed at slightly older readers, the author has depicted habitats with convincing details about the animals. Here, it's the pictures that portray the colorful underwater world; the text places more emphasis on a human's background and his process. The unusual palette and soft edges of Forsythe's large-scale illustrations add mystery to the marine world and will show well.A charming piece of environmental good news for storytime. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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May 7, 2018
Messner draws a poetic analogy between people and corals in this story of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation: “Some drift in the currents until they come to rest, not too deep, on the ocean floor. If one is lucky, it lands in a place where it can grow.” Messner describes Nedimyer’s upbringing in Florida, where he is entranced by the ocean—a passion that continues into his adulthood as he works to cultivate marine life on rocks for use in aquariums. This endeavor sparks an idea to plant healthy colonies in dying coral reefs. Readers are likely to be intrigued by the hands-on process of regrowing the reefs: “With a careful dab of epoxy—just the size of a Hershey’s Kiss—volunteers attach the coral colonies. Piece by piece, arm by arm. Hoping they will grow on their own.” Forsythe’s grainy scenes of Nedimyer diving are infused with a golden glow that emanates from the healthy coral colonies—a hint at the wonder that ocean life inspires in the subject. Messner delivers a quiet homage to Nedimyer and the power of innovation. Ages 5–8.

July 1, 2018
The same sentence-- It starts with one --opens and closes this account of the threatened Florida Keys coral reefs and one man's efforts to restore them to heath and vigor. Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, is a Florida native and longtime marine-life enthusiast. As a boy, his love of all things aquatic was fueled by watching Jacques Cousteau TV shows, snorkeling in the Florida Keys, and raising fish in tanks in his home. As an adult, he noticed the decline in coral reef health as species started to die out. Messner walks readers through Nedimyer's innovation: growing staghorn corals in live rock farms and transplanting them to dying natural reefs. Forsythe's illustrations are a unique take on tropical waterscapes, juxtaposing kaleidoscopic color washes with dark and light foundational structures to capture details of the corals and their protectors. The message of positive advocacy for the environment will inspire young naturalists who are also eager to translate their love of nature into action. Appended with two pages of back matter, including a brief bibliography, a glossary of coral reef vocabulary, and some answers to How Can Kids Help? danielle j. ford

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2018
Messner describes the threatened Florida Keys coral reefs and the efforts of one man--Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation--to restore them to health and vigor. Forsythe's illustrations are a unique take on tropical waterscapes, juxtaposing kaleidoscopic color washes with dark and light foundational structures to capture details of the corals and their protectors. "How Can Kids Help?" section is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 1, 2018

Gr 2-5-A child's fascination with swimming in the ocean leads to important work in his adulthood. This picture book biography touches on useful lessons beyond the fall and rise of the world's coral reefs. Messner begins and ends the story with a potent line: "It starts with one." Following a short introduction to coral reefs, Messner quickly turns to Ken Nedimyer's Floridian childhood and his love of aquatic life. ("At one point he had thirty aquariums in his bedroom, all bursting with life"). Nedimyer continued to pursue his love of the ocean, first in live rock farming, which then led to his successful efforts in growing corals and replenishing reefs. There's a lot to this story, and at the same time it's a quick brush of science, conservation, and a life well lived. The early years of Nedimyer's life are simply told, but readers may be a bit lost from the start if they aren't already familiar with coral and algae. The concluding glossary is pretty technical. Teachers and librarians would do well to pair this with any of the fine children's books on coral reefs listed in the bibliography. Forsythe's broad pastel sketches sweep viewers along nicely through ocean life and human work. Explanations of coral reef decline and ways children can help urge monetary contributions to the work of restoring the reefs conclude this riveting title. VERDICT A book that can be used in so many ways-a study in biography, science, conservation, and volunteerism. A must for nonfiction collections.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

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