WhaleTimes, Inc.  connects kids with the ocean and on-going ocean research in many ways, from classroom visits, live virtual events, curricula, and now, picture books!

 

Our newest series is out! These books are part of WhaleTimes Inc’s Exploring Deep-sea Coral series that highlights the important research of ocean experts Dr. Baco-Taylor (Florida State University), Dr. Brendan Roark (Texas A&M University), and Dr. Katie Shamberger (Texas A&M University).

All About Coral Reefs

Coral. Alone, it’s a tiny delicate animal. Together, corals create reefs and build gigantic and essential habitats that are important to the health of the ocean. Discover how this tiny animal feeds, grows, and provides a home to other sea life. ALL ABOUT CORAL REEFS guides you through the intricate lives of shallow and deep-sea coral.

Cities of Mystery: Discovering Deep-Sea Reefs

Scientists recently discovered a city full of creatures that are mostly tentacles and mouths. Creatures from deep space? No, coral. They build complex reefs, like cities in the sea. Reefs provide food, shelter, and even nurseries for fish, sharks, crabs, dolphins, octopus, and more. But what is coral? Where do they usually live? And, why they are important? Dive into the deep and learn about coral reefs and the scientists who study these newly discovered cities of mystery.

What is this Reef Doing Here? Deep-Sea Coral Research

More questions than answers surface when ocean scientists Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor and Dr. Brendan Roark discover a deep-sea coral reef where it doesn’t belong! Hard-corals rely on seawater to help build their skeleton. The must live somewhere with an ideal chemical balance, otherwise their skeleton – and the entire reef would dissolve. The seawater in the Northern Pacific is not the right mix for a reef to grow. So how do scientists explain these deep-sea reefs thriving where they shouldn’t exist? Join the team of scientific detectives who begin to unravel the mystery.

 

Find out more about this research.

 

Seasons in the Sea: A Year in the Gulf of Alaska

Many know that halibut and red king crab are vital to fishing communities in the Gulf of Alaska. But did you know they depend on a tiny copepod that scientists call Neocalanus flemingeri? 

SEASONS IN THE SEA: A YEAR IN THE GULF OF ALASKA follows these  copeods, along with halibut, sand lance, and red king crabs.

Author Christy Peterson and artist Paul J. Lopez worked closely with Petra H. Lenz (Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa) and science team members to bring you a fascinating look into the lives of  Neocalanus flemingeri and other animals that interconnect in the Gulf of Alaksa.*

Lively text and beautiful illustration illuminate these important relationships for young readers. Dive into SEASONS IN THE SEA…right now in this free pdf format!

SEASONS IN THE SEA  is also available for purchase in print and Kindle formats at Amazon.

*Research funded by National Science Foundation grants: OCE-1756767 and OPP-2222376