The Coral Keeper

Melissa Cristina Márquez returns with a story about responsibility, care, and community in this picture book centering environmental protection and the ways we can all help!

Mateo comes from a long line of Hijos del Agua, or Guardians of the Sea, and it's finally time for him to learn which sea animal he's been tasked with protecting. Though he hopes for something swift like sharks or wise like octopuses, his talisman reveals something completely unexpected, and while disappointment is his first reaction, he quickly realizes that all parts of the sea are important. 

He learns this firsthand when threatening shadows arrive on the shores of Mateo's home and he must fulfill his duty as the latest Hijo del Agua to protect the ocean he loves. With Melissa's moving words and Maria Gabriela Gama's lively art, The Coral Keeper is full of heart and excitement and is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the actions they can take to help protect our environment.