22 Adventurous Ocean Books for Kids to Love
The ocean is amazing and covers 70% of the planet. It is only natural that there are so many amazing children’s books about the ocean. The list below features some of our absolute favorite ocean books for kids. These books are perfect for bringing to an aquarium, a day at the beach, or just for reading at bedtime. You’ll find a mix of fiction and non-fiction picture books sure to delight your favorite little reader.
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Ocean Books for Kids
Ocean Books for Toddlers
Plot
Sing along with this classic song as you turn the pages. Beautiful illustrations bring Raffi’s famed song to life.
Why Kirsten loves it
I adored reminiscing about my childhood with this picture book. It’s a must-have book for a 1-year-old music lover.
Find this book in: Best Books for 1-year-olds / Ocean Books for Kids
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
This is an adorable pick if you are looking for ocean books for that rhyme as well. This is a collection of poems about the animals in the ocean and it is a delightful book that is perfect for young readers.
Language Activity: See if you can pick out words that rhyme. Or, for a younger reader, you can identify the rhyming words for them.
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Eric Carle books are always so wonderful and colorful. This book about the ocean is no exception. As the daddy seahorse cares for the eggs before they hatch, he meets all the other animal dad’s in the ocean caring for their young.
I love this adorable book.
Pop-up Peekaboo Under the Sea by DK
This pop-up book is an adorable choice from ocean books for toddlers. Striped fish meets other animals in the ocean as your toddler gets to lift the flap and see who is hiding!
Preschool Books About the Ocean
The Pout-Pout Fish
Author: Deborah Diesen
Illustrator: Dan Hamas
Year: 2013
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 1 – 5
More info: Part of the Pout-Pout Fish series
Plot
This is a classic children’s book about the ocean and the first book in the best-selling series. In it, Pout-Pout Fish learns that it is not his destiny to always be gloomy.
Why Kirsten loves it
With it’s adorable rhymes and sweet message, this book is rights up my alley. There is alot of repetition in this story, which is makes it a wonderful choice of picture book for a beginning reader too.
Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Ocean Books for Kids / Kids Books About Fish
Wish for the Fish: All About Sea Creatures by Bonnie Worth
The second generation cat in the hat books are so educational and fun, I absolutely love them. In this children’s book about the ocean, your children will learn about the food chain, the different parts of the ocean, and so much more
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
This is one of the ocean picture books that not only teaches about the animals in the ocean but also teaches the concept of bigger!
Language Activity: Ask your child questions like “Who is bigger?” or “Who is smaller?”
Plot
Beaver and Platypus are best friends who want to surf. But they cannot because there is a shark in the ocean! You will not believe what happens when the shark approaches.
Why Kirsten loves it
This entire book is told with one word – DUDE. As you read it, you’ll need to use different tones and inflections. It’s funny, but it’s also a great way to teach kids about language development
Find this book in: Best Books for 4-year-olds / Kids’ Books About Sharks / Ocean Books
Children’s Books About the Ocean
Flotsam
Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Year: 2006
Genre: Picture Books
Age: 3 – 7
More info: Caldecott Medal Winner
Plot
A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam–anything floating that has been washed ashore. When he discovers an old underwater camera and gets the pictures developed, he is shocked by what he finds.
Why Jackie loves it
David Wiesner is one of my favorite writers of wordless picture books ever.
Find this book in: Ocean Books for Kids / Best Books for 4-year-olds / Wordless Picture Books
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
Author: Jess Keating
Illustrator: Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Year: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
More info: Best Children’s Book for 2017 by Parents Magazine
Plot
Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks the first time she saw them in an aquarium and made it her life’s work to show the world what beautiful animals they are. This is a perfect book about sharks and the power of truth.
Why Kirsten loves it
This children’s book about the ocean is a remarkable and true story and one that resonated with my childhood self – because at one point, I too was obsessed with ocean animals and marine biology.
Find this book in: Kids’ Books About Sharks / Ocean Books / Best Books for 3-year-olds
Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan
This Children’s book about the ocean has some of the most gorgeous illustrations. It is a book about a young boy named Finn who builds a boat to sail to the place where the ocean meets the sky in honor of his grandfather.
This is a must-read ocean book for kids. It is imaginative with a sweet message as well.
Ocean: a Photicular Book by Dan Kainen
This is one of the picture books about the ocean that you have to see to fully appreciate. The photos are placed in such a way that they move as you move the cover. This is such a fun ocean picture book and we are sure your little one will love it.
Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden
We love Nina Laden and this pick from kid’s books about the ocean is no exception. The lyrical prose and beautiful pictures make this one of the ocean picture books that is perfect for a relaxing read at bedtime.
Aqualicious by Victoria Kann
Pinkalicious and her family go on a trip to the beach for a day of fun and what could be more fun than finding a mini-mermaid?
Pinkalicios decides to help Aqua find her way home after showing her all the fun things there are to do at the shore. This children’s book about the ocean is silly and fun for everyone.
More Picture Books About the Ocean
Pearl by Molly Idle
This is a beautiful children’s book about the ocean written by Caldecott Honor author-illustrator Milly Idle. This pick from picture books about the ocean has the beautiful message that even the smallest actions can have a huge impact.
Pearl wants to care for the beaches and reefs and is sad when she is asked to care for a grain of sand instead. See what happens in this beautiful book.
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne
Jacques Cousteau is one of the most famous oceanographers in the world. This is one of our favorite ocean books for kids. With gorgeous paintings and poetic text, this is the biography of the man who would forever change how we view the ocean.
Layer by Layer: Under the Sea By Anne Rooney
In this pick from children’s books about the ocean, your little one can explore the oceans in 6 interactive layered scenes. Each picture allows children to peel back a layer to discover the plants and animals below.
Deep in the Ocean by Lucie Brunellière
This children’s book about the ocean is filled with gorgeous illustrations of the sea and all its creatures living below. This is one of the ocean picture books that is extra special because it has a free soundtrack that goes with it! You and your child can be fully immersed in the book (pun intended)!
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe
This pick from ocean books for kids is the winner of the ALA Notable Children’s Book Award. This is the perfect pick from picture books about the ocean for kids 5-9 who are transitioning to longer books. It is written by conservationists who want to show the power of readers to help save the planet.
Ocean Toys for Toddlers
If you love this post, check out our Post Kids’ Books about Sharks
Best Books for a 3-Year-Old Learning to Grow
If you love these preschool books about the ocean and are looking for more, check out the best books for a three-year-old.
Best Books for a 5-Year-Old Getting Ready to Read
If you love these Children’s books about the ocean, check out our picks for the best books for a 5-year-old.
