A Creative Response to a Global Challenge
We believe that everyone has a role to play in protecting coral reefs. However, action starts with awareness, and awareness starts with education. For children especially, scientific information must be communicated in a fun, imaginative, and developmentally appropriate format, and we have advocated this for several years, giving rise to our wider Endeavour Project of research-informed storybooks and resources.
And that’s where storybooks come in.
Through this project, we have explored how storybooks, informed by evidence, theory and expertise (both within our institution and external stakeholders) can support children’s learning and social-emotional development. Indeed, well-designed storybooks can provide children with the tools they need to explore complex or difficult topics in a safe and engaging format (particularly with the integration of fun facts and finding character activities within the book!).
Storybooks help children to make sense of their world, build emotional literacy, and develop empathy. They can also empower young readers to see themselves as capable of making a difference, and this is something particularly important in discussions around environmental challenges.
Ocean Image Bank / Fabrice Dudenhofer
The Coral Reef Conservation Storybook
The new coral reef conservation storybook builds on this foundation CORAL RESCUE – A mission to save our seas : Sweet, Prof Michael, Petronzi, Dr Dominic, Petronzi, Rebecca, Seymour, Peter: Amazon.co.uk: Books. Designed with both scientific accuracy (based on the internationally recognised work of Professor Michael Sweet) and child-friendly storytelling in mind, the book brings to life the beauty and fragility of coral ecosystems. Through showcasing the beauty of corals and the array of life within them, to an uninhabited and barren world because of human impact, it communicates key facts about coral reefs and the threats they face, from climate change to pollution.
One message we highlight is how our everyday behaviours can have far-reaching environmental impacts. For example, around 80% of plastic pollution in the oceans comes from rivers. What happens to the plastic bottle we discard, or the packaging we throw away, can ultimately affect life under the sea.
Even the sunscreen we use can contribute to reef damage, depending on its chemical composition. These examples are woven into the story in accessible, non-judgemental ways, helping young readers and their families make the connection between personal choices and global impacts. Speaking from a psychological background, we refer to this as behaviour change, and small changes can ultimately lead to positive impact.
Ocean Image Bank // Beth Watson
Building Awareness, Building Hope
One of the most powerful aspects of storybooks beyond education, is their ability to inspire. By introducing children to the wonders of the ocean and the urgency of its protection, the storybook aims to spark a lifelong love of nature and a sense of environmental responsibility.
We do not want children to feel overwhelmed or hopeless. Indeed, the storybook draws on the hope of the incredible research taking place at the advanced aquatic research facility at the University of Derby. The storybook promotes small, achievable actions and the idea that everyone, no matter their age, can be part of the solution. By fostering a sense of connection and urgency, the story encourages readers to take positive steps in their own lives.
Although designed with children in mind, this storybook is a resource for anyone interested in coral reef conservation. It can be used in classrooms, at home, in environmental workshops, or as part of broader outreach campaigns – we will certainly be using this as part of our university outreach activities! It is a creative tool that complements traditional scientific communication by offering an accessible and emotionally engaging route into complex issues.
More broadly, it is a call to action. Coral reefs are irreplaceable ecosystems, and their protection requires urgent global cooperation and local stewardship. By investing in educational resources that speak to hearts as well as minds, we can help build a generation that understands, values, and fights for the natural world.
By reaching children early through stories that inform and inspire, we can lay the groundwork for meaningful, lasting change.
