Let’s talk about ocean science books for kids! My kids are VERY interested in all things ocean related right now. Sea creatures and the different oceans and types of animals and fish that live in them are common dinner-time (and all-the-time) conversation topics in our home. I have been quizzed about various sea creatures more times than I can count and the list below includes our favorite books on this topic!
The Ocean Science Book List
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National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean by Catherine Hughes
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is one of my absolute favorites for learning about the ocean and the creatures that live in it. The photos in this book are gorgeous! This book details many of the most common sea creatures. Each sea creature covered has a one or two page spread containing beautiful, real-life photos, details, and fun facts about the creature. The text is short and National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean can be modified for younger listeners simply by reading only some of the facts (rather than every single one listed on the page). This one is definitely a favorite in our home!
Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever (National Geographic Kids) by Christina Wilsdon
Also by National Geographic, the Ultimate Oceanpedia book contains even more sea creatures. This book has longer text descriptions of the various sea creatures and works better for older kids. However, it also covers more animals and fish than the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean. If your kids are as interested in ocean science as mine are, this book makes a good deeper dive.
The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole
The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor is perfect for an overview of ocean science! I find that reading the main story and just a few of the extra fun facts on each page works well. If you have listeners with a longer attention span, reading all the detailed sidebars on each page would give an even deeper look into the topic of ocean science. In this story, Ms. Frizzle and the kids take an adventure in the ocean – all the way to the deepest parts of the ocean. I always enjoy learning more about science with Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor enjoyable way to introduce your kids to ocean science.
Tadpoles and Frogs by Anna Milbourne
Tadpoles and Frogs is perfect for a deep-dive on all things frogs. This book covers the life of a frog from egg to adult. In addition, Tadpoles and Frogs gives details on various types of frogs and their habits. The text in Tadpoles and Frogs is broken into shorter pieces that are connected to the illustrations and can easily be adapted to the attention-span of your listener.
National Geographic Readers: Dolphins, Sharks, Sea Turtles, Coral Reefs, Weird Sea Creatures, Sea Otters
The National Geographic Readers series on ocean science and sea creatures is a great way for beginning readers to learn more about the ocean and the creatures that live in it! These books contain the beautiful photos characteristic of National Geographic with simple, short text on each page for beginning readers.
Made by God Sea Creatures by Zondervan
Another book for beginning readers, Made by God Sea Creatures is a fun book about sea creatures from a Christian perspective. This book covers several of the more common sea creatures. Along with details on the various creatures, the fact that God created all the animals is referenced often.
Fun Stories about Sea Creatures
While the books above are full of facts about ocean science and sea creatures, the books below are some fun stories about sea creatures that you can read aloud with your little ones.
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Swimmy is the only black fish in his school of fish. When the rest of his family are eaten, he goes in search of new friends. Once he finds a school of fish like his own, he convinces them to go and see the ocean with him by coming up with a creative way to scare away bigger fish and protect their group.
Cannonball and Finn by Ruth Kirkwood
A sweet story about a dolphin and a jellyfish. Cannonball and Finn tells of a dolphin who saves his friend, the jellyfish, from being eaten by a mean sea turtle. Simple and fun, this story is great for younger listeners.
An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni
An Extraordinary Egg is the adorable story of a frog named Jessica who loves to find treasures and bring them home to her two frog friends. One day, she stumbles upon an egg and when it hatches, Jessica has a new friend – who she THINKS is a chicken. It’s adorable and funny and I love reading An Extraordinary Egg with my kids whenever I get the chance.
A Fish Out of Water by Helen Palmer
A boy buys a fish and is told not to feed him too much…or something may happen. The boy disregards the advice of the pet shop owner and feeds the fish too much. Soon he has an enormous fish on his hands and has to keep moving him into bigger and bigger water containers. Finally, he admits his mistake to the pet shop owner who helps him get his fish back to normal size. A Fish Out of Water is part of the Beginner Books collection and has the familiar rhythmic text of a Dr. Seuss book.
The Tiny Tadpole by Judith Nicholls
The Tiny Tadpole is a cute story about a tadpole who wants to be a frog! With textures and a lift-the-flap on the last page, this story is perfect for preschoolers and below. This book is a fun way to introduce little ones to the life of a tadpole becoming a frog. I have been reading The Tiny Tadpole to my kids for years and it’s a delightful read.
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Hermit crab grows out of his shell and must find a new place to live. Month-by-month, he adds decorations and friends to his house until he needs another, even bigger place to live. A House for Hermit Crab is by Eric Carle and has the distinctive illustrations familiar to his books. This story is fun for learning about hermit crabs but also for familiarizing young readers with the months of the year as the hermit crab goes through the year.
Let’s Get Reading!
Ready to dive into learning about the ocean? Whether your kids are in early elementary or preschool, reading aloud about the ocean and the creatures that live it in are a great way to get started! Happy Reading!