Ali Miller Reads 'How Cara Lost Her Color' - Coral Reef Kids Call to Action

CAN HUMANS SAVE CARA THE CORAL POLYP AFTER HER ALGAE FRIEND ZOEY DISAPPEARS FROM THE REEF?ALI MILLER’S PICTURE BOOK, _HOW CARA LOST HER COLOR,_ IS A BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING CALL TO ACTION FOR KIDS AND PARENTS When Ali Miller arrived in Maui in 2015, after living in Reno, Nevada her entire life, she was shocked to see firsthand what was happening in the ocean. Her arrival to the Hawaiian island followed one of the warmest summers on record. Corals around the world were dying in one of the largest mass bleaching events in recorded history. Without the reefs, fish populations and ocean ecosystems are at risk of collapse. “Although I’ve always been fascinated by sea creatures, I grew up far away from the ocean. It’s an understatement to say I was excited to be in Hawaii studying marine science. This event was truly devastating,” Ali says. “I was determined to find a way to teach children about the effects of warming oceans so that they can adopt sustainable practices into their lives as they grow up." For non-scientists, here’s how coral bleaching works- As ocean temperatures rise, corals become stressed and turn white. The coral animals (polyps) lose the symbiotic algae that lives in their tissues and produces their food. During this process, corals become more susceptible to disease and inevitably die off unless temperatures cool down and conditions improve. _HOW CARA LOST HER COLOR_ is beautifully illustrated in colors inspired by Hawaiian reef fish. Through relatable characters and words that rhyme, kids connect with corals as animals and learn how vital they are to all marine species. In the story, Cara the coral polyp and her algae friend, Zoey, live happily alongside many other sea creatures who call the reef their home. But when human activity causes the ocean temperature to rise, Zoey must escape with her family and leave Cara behind. Can humans help bring Zoey back and save the reef? The author believes they can. “I want children to grow up with an understanding of how climate change impacts the ocean and what humans can do to protect the reefs. Everything from the clothes we wear to the food we eat comes with a carbon price tag. We must change our way of thinking in order to take that next step toward a sustainable future. We need communities to support sustainable solutions.”   ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ali Miller is a student at the University of Hawaii, Maui College where she is studying marine biology and sustainable science management. She earned her Marine Naturalist certifications from the University of Hawaii Maui College and enjoyed working in the education department at the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium for two years. Ali never expected that a career in marine education was in her future. ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Anastasia Yatsunenko is an artist and illustrator from the city of Kiev, Ukraine. She has always thought of the ocean as an unexplored universe, and although she grew up far away from the water, she loved visiting the beach with her parents as a child. _HOW CARA LOST HER COLOR_ by Ali Miller with illustrations by Anastasia Yatsunenko For ages 4 – 8 years old. EVENTS FOR HOW CARA LOST HER COLOR BY ALI MILLER Children's Story Time and Book Signings: December 22, 2019 Wailea-Maui, HI Grand Wailea Resort - 5:00 PM ################## January 11, 2020 Long Beach, CA Barnes and Noble - 11:00 AM Marina Pacifica Mall, 6326 East Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90803 562-431-2253 https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2651 [https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2651] ################## Saturday, January 11, 2020 Santa Monica, CA Underwater Parks Day at Heal the Bay Aquarium Heal the Bay Aquarium - 3:00 PM Heal the Bay Aquarium 1600 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica, CA 90401 T: 310.393.6149 x 103 www.healthebay.org [http://www.healthebay.org/] ################## Sunday, January 12, 2020 Huntington Beach, CA Barnes and Noble- 11:30 AM Bella Terra, 7881 Edinger Ave. #110 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-897-8781 https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2743view= [https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2743?view=]   ##################   Saturday, January 18, 2020 Reno, NV Barnes and Noble - 11:30 AM Meadow Wood Court 5555 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502 775-826-8882 https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2938 [https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2938?]   ##################   Saturday, January 25, 2020 Emeryville, CA Barnes and Noble - 11:00 AM Barnes and Noble (Bay St. at Emeryville) 5604 Bay St. Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 547-0905 https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2072 [https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2072]   ##################   Sunday, January 26, 2020 San Francisco, CA Books Inc. - 2:00 PM Books, Inc. on Chestnut 2251 Chestnut Street San Francisco, Ca. 94123 415-931-3633 https://www.booksinc.net/SFMarina [https://www.booksinc.net/SFMarina]