Recommendations for Tropical Marine Reference Books for Kids?

[scove]

We find it essential to have a few good marine references on board for our kids to help them explore and understand their local environment. Most of our references are for the PNW climate so we are now looking for good reference books for the tropics. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Cheers,

-sc

[_Oxygen_]

The reef aquarium and probably any book by these 2 authors.

Amazon.com: The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates (Volume 1) (9781883693121): Julian Sprung: Books

[scove]

Thanks!

[bstreep]

Julian Sprung is a GREAT author - and speaker too. He knows his stuff.

However, for what you are looking for, I'd suggest a Field Guide instead. Then choose a guide for whatever area of the tropics you are going. The Caribbean is VERY different from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Where are you going, and I can give you a better recommendation? One of my other big hobbies is reef aquaria.

[scove]

We're focusing on the Caribbean for now and if all woks out well (fingers crossed) we'll be down there for the 2010/2011 season.

[bstreep]

I'd probably opt for one of these:

Amazon.com: Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life: Florida Caribbean Bahamas (9781878348104): Paul Humann, Ned DeLoach: Books

or

Amazon.com: A Field Guide to Coral Reefs: Caribbean and Florida (Peterson Field Guide Series) (0046442002110): Eugene H. Kaplan, Roger Tory Peterson, Susan L. Kaplan: Books

Unless the kids are REALLY into it, the field guides are your best choice. If they show a further interest, there are some excellent books on care and feeding...

[nomadic mama]

BStreep, do you have any recommendations for the south pacific?

We are headed from MX to French Polynesia, Cooks, Tonga & who knows where else this coming year. May find ourselves up in the Marshalls or south in NZ a year from now, we're not sure yet! Our kids are 10, 7 and 5... our son (age 10) especially LOVES to reference field guides for all the fish we see... his stated goal in life is to be an icthyologist.

For folks browsing this thread who may come to Pacific Mexico, we found "Sea of Cortez Marine Animals: A Guide to the Common Fishes and Invertebrates Baja California to Panama" to be an invaluable reference this past year. Friends of ours rave about this companion book as well.

Behan

[LuvToSail]

I just found a used first edition of the:

Title: Marine Animals of Baja California: A Guide to the
Author: Daniel Gotshall
Quantity: 1
Book Price: US$ 5.33

Shipping Price: US$ 3.97

on Abebooks.com

I have been using Abe with great success and good prices.