On the Reef

On the Reef brings to life the importance of maintaining a healthy ocean environment in a way that children can understand and appreciate. When their father wins a free vacation in the Bahamas for himself and the family, the children, Pierce and Marley, age 10 and 12, find themselves introduced to a whole new magical world while snorkelling on a coral reef.

But even more adventure awaits as the children find a huge Leatherback turtle that has become entangled in some of the plastic that pollutes the world's oceans. With the help of their guide and other locals, the huge turtle is brought to shore and the family anxiously waits for professional help to save the turtle's life.

Only when they are back home and the warm waters of the ocean are just a pleasant memory do they learn that the turtle has survived his ordeal.

Beautifully illustrated, this book captures all the beauty of the coral reef, one of the most endangered parts of the marine ecosystem, while teaching the importance of preserving the fragile balance of life in the oceans. Thanks to this wonderful holiday, the children discover that the beauty of nature is something to cherish and protect.

This important and timely story is accompanied by the artwork of renowned naturalist painter Robert Bateman and The Tobin Island Artists (D. A. Dunford, Karen Genovese, Susan Gosevitz, Loretta Rogers, Darcey Sills, Megan Torisawa, and Simon Dunford).

Judith McMurray is the author of the national bestseller, Larry the Loon. She has written several children's books, including Chucky the Lonely Inukshuk, Nanasaurus and the Nanamobile, The Adventures of Rupert the Flying Squirrel and Next the Unhappy Lobster, all inspired by her grandchildren. Judith lives with her husband in Toronto.

Shandley McMurray is a writer for magazines and websites in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. She is the author of Hey Baby! What's Your Name? A Canadian Guide To Naming Your Baby. This is her first children's book. Shandley lives and adventures in London, England with her husband and two children.