The Octonauts and the Great Ghost Reef Hardcover – Illustrated, 1 October 2009

This is the last book of 4 in the original series that inspired the TV show and it differs slightly to what you get on the show.The Octonauts are preparing to holiday in the Great Reef City, built on coral, when a look out of their Octopod reveals the reef is a ghost-town and bleached instead of colourful and thriving with sea life... The Octonauts enter the City to investigate.The last remaining occupant - a wise, old turtle, tells the Octonauts how the ghost town developed. Four of the Octonauts help him to relocate his home and they tour through the tropics to find him a suitable new location. In this book the Octonauts teach the kids the importance of the relationship between the sea animals, plants and animal habitats.This is the Octonauts so there is an environmental protection message in all 4 original books, but the message is strongest in this one. There is no subtle double meaning. This one is direct, yet it is delivered gently and with colourful, lovely characters.The illustrations are gorgeous throughout the book and they are packed with details you may miss the first time, and pick up on the second and subsequent readings. The colours are so pretty and bright, and there is a clever play on words in the illustrations that older readers appreciate. There is a sharp contrast between the healthy environment and the Ghost Reef.Once again, the book required rotation several times to view the illustrations and text, and this added interest.The “end paper” (blue portraits of the Octonauts) at the front of the book differs to the end paper at the back of the book. I love that attention to little details.Did you see the special message at the bottom of the Dedication page?This book is a winner in our home.