While I was researching this book, my family visited the Mexican Riviera, and we could go snorkeling along the coral reefs right off the beach of our resort. How cool is that! My husband and I saw many different kinds of corals, including wrinkly brain coral and sea fans in every color of the rainbow. We also saw sponges, sea stars, and an amazing array of fish, such as box fish, parrotfish, groupers, butterflyfish, and even a manta ray. My brother-in-law won the prize for the best sighting, though—a moray eel. My undersea explorations helped me bring the coral reef habitat to life for all my readers.