CHARLESTON, S.C. - When Dr. Cheryl Woodley of the Grice Marine Lab in Charleston was searching for material about coral reef pollution for elementary school kids, she couldn't find anything suitable to give students at career days.

Woodley contacted Nancy T. Lucas, a cartoonist from Charleston and daughter of William and Bettylou Terry of Denmark, to create characters and write and illustrate a book about coral reef pollution and the triumph of cleaning up an abandoned reef.

Formatted like a comic-book, the 24-page "Peppy's Coral Kingdom" is written for kids ages 8-10 to teach them about coral reef pollution, Woodley said.

Throughout the book, there are scientific facts such as: "Why do coral get sick?" and "What is an artificial reef?" At the end of the book, there are several ways to help Peppy and her friends by being the eyes and ears of the reef. Several Web sites are listed for readers to visit for more information, including the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association and other dedicated coral reef sites.

The following review is from the publisher announcing the book's recent release: "In 'Peppy's Coral Kingdom,' Peppy is a young, homeless coral planula -- a baby coral polyp. She desperately needs to find out how to clean up an abandoned reef so that she can rebuild it with all her brothers and sisters and cousins. During her quest, Peppy meets Queen Connie, a conch who was banished from the beautiful Natural Reef by the Royal Moray Eels, and her advisor, Brian the Brain Coral.

"Peppy is a smart little coral planula. She and her friends must also convince the Land Sharks that coral reefs are important because they protect land from destructive waves created by storms and earthquakes. Pollution and global warming are massive threats to everyone in the world, not just tropical coastal communities. Scientists believe that dying coral reefs are the first indicator of a permanently changing world ecosystem. If the water warms up and reefs die, then all other living things on the planet may not have much time left either."

"Peppy's Coral Kingdom" is available at www.amazon.com and Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston for $14.95. For wholesale orders, visit www.booksurge.com. To view pages from "Peppy," visit www.thirdfloorcell.com/peppy.html.

Lucas has been drawing cartoons since her days at the College of Charleston. She is currently a regular contributor to the "Charleston Mercury," which is published twice monthly, and is the cartoonist for the monthly exercise magazine Oblique. Both publications are based in Charleston.

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