Over and Under the Coral Reef

Discover the colorful wonder of the Caribbean in this fascinating and beautiful exploration of the coral reef from the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series!

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Wetland, and Over and Under the Snow, this volume takes readers on a journey into the colorful and lively coral reef of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean.

Over the reef, terns circle and frigate birds soar. Sea turtles paddle and balloonfish float through the sparkling waves. But under the reef's arms, where nurse sharks prowl the seafloor and octopuses slip away into shadows, there waits a living rainbow of peacock flounders and blue damselfish, pink anemones and creamy conch shells. Discover the dazzling world just beneath the waves--over and under the coral reef.

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and dazzling illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the reef, with waters full of coral and animals that are as lively as they are lovely to see--and full of secrets to fire up young readers' curiosity!

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS MADE WONDERFUL: Preservation of our wilderness--and especially of our coral reefs--is essential, and this book makes a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world's natural habitats and ecosystems.

GREAT SET OF NATURE BOOKS FOR KIDS: Acclaimed author and artist Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal have made dozens of beloved and critically acclaimed books. The entire Over and Under series--including Snow, Garden, Pond, Rainforest, Canyon, Waves, Wetland and more to come--is a joy to read and a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library.

Perfect for:

• Fans of the Over and Under series and The Brilliant Deep
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking for a book about nature to share with kids
• Teachers, educators, and librarians seeking beautiful nonfiction books with STEM content
• Anyone seeking a distinctive gift for an animal- or nature-loving child

Author: Kate Messner
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Published: 08/26/2025
Pages: 60
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.11lbs
Size: 12.38h x 8.34w x 0.47d
ISBN: 9781797225357
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025

About the Author
Kate Messner is a New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty books for young readers, including The Brilliant Deep, the Over and Under series, the History Smashers series, and more. Kate is the 2022 recipient of the Empire State Award for excellence in children's literature. Her science-themed picture books have been honored with the Green Earth Book Award and the Riverby Award for Natural History Writing and have been finalists for the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences/Subaru SB&F prize for excellence in science writing. A former middle school teacher, Kate now splits her time between Lake Champlain and Florida's Gulf Coast. Learn more at katemessner.com.

Christopher Silas Neal is the award-winning artist of the Over and Under series, and he's the author and illustrator of Everyone and the Animals Colors, Animal Shapes board book series. His work has been published in a variety of books and magazines and featured on television. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn. Find out more about Chris at csneal.com.