The ocean holds an endless amount of marine life that is beautiful, strange, and exciting to learn about. Teaching young readers about the fascinating qualities of aquatic life through immersive books and colorful illustrations can help get them excited about the world they live in. The education of our ocean will build future scientists and ocean conservators who will help save our ocean from its dwindling decline. To help get kids excited about the life that lives in our ocean, take a look at these six children’s books on marine life for ages one to nine.
Ocean: A Peek-Through Board Book by Britta Teckentrup
For ages one to three, this peek-through picture book is a mesmerizing read for younger readers to learn all about the extraordinary life that swims in the ocean.
With glimpses at sea horses, whales, and tropical fish, Teckentrup reveals all the little and big details that make up the ocean’s marine life. This nonfiction book is fun, interactive, and colorful for readers to engage with and learn about all the fantastic creatures that live in our oceans. This is an excellent read for kids to learn about the importance of keeping our ocean clean as they discover what makes the sea captivating and lively. Teckentrup writes children’s books that are educational and fun to teach children about the beauty of our Earth and everything it contains.
The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer
For ages two to six, this is one of many in the Big Book Series for young readers to learn about what lives in the ocean and how they survive.
Young oceanographers learn about the slipperiest and strangest underwater animals and how they survive underwater, along with the different families they belong to. Creatures like sea turtles, whales, and seahorses have dedicated pages that show their habitats and lifestyles. Zommer also includes information about endangered animals, how to spot creatures, and what we can do to protect sea life. This book is excellent for young readers interested in the ocean and its living creatures as they get stunning illustrations and remarkable insight into the underwater world and its current state.
Deep in the Ocean by Lucie Brunellière
For ages three to five, this board book holds vibrant colors and an exciting adventure for readers ready to dive into the ocean’s depths with the scientific team aboard the Oceanos.
The ocean covers two-thirds of our Earth and holds some of the world’s most exquisite and exciting creatures ever to exist. Brunellière takes children on an ocean adventure they won’t forget as they study life that lives in the water. With beautiful illustrations and lyrical prose, young oceanographers get a multilayered, enjoyable, and educational experience. Along with a free downloadable soundtrack, this book is immersive and one-of-a-kind to indulge young readers’ imagination into the known parts of our deep blue sea.
Marine Biologists on a Dive by Sue Fliess, Illustrator Mia Powell
For ages four to eight, kid scientists take children deep into the sea on an exploration to track a group of traveling whales to learn about how they communicate with one another.
Maggie is a marine biologist, and after months of research, she is ready to take her team and young readers on a journey into the ocean water. Following a group of traveling whales, this team will record their songs and learn first-hand how whales communicate. As part of Fliess’ Kid Scientist series and illustrated with Powell’s immersive designs, young oceanographers will get excited about this voyage, teaching them about whales and how they interact with one another in their community.
Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner, Illustrator Christopher Silas Neal
For ages five to eight, this part of the Over and Under Series delves into a myriad of facts about the natural world while also showcasing the underwater world in its illuminating light.
Over the waves live the sounds of sea lions and seagulls, but underneath holds bodies of interconnected ecosystems and their inhabitants. Full of whales, sea bass, leopard sharks, and jellies, discover the depths of the sea and the species that preside in it. Following the Next Generation Science Standards K-2 curriculum, this educational read is an excellent resource for children with a fascination for marine life. Messner and Neal make the concept of conserving marine life approachable while appealing to young readers with eye-opening illustrations and lyrical prose. This book is an excellent start to discussing the importance of protecting our world and its natural ecosystems.
Earth’s Incredible Oceans by Jess French, Illustrator Claire McElfatrick
For ages seven to nine, discover the plants and animals that live in the ocean and learn about what we can do to help them.
Filled with fun and unusual facts about the world of ocean life, this book contains information about the sea that goes beyond the curriculum kids are learning from. With detailed illustrations and photographs of marine life like fish, shellfish, and mammals, kids are taken on an underwater journey that showcases the beauty of the sea. Along with learning about what inhabits the sea, readers will be educated on how the ocean functions and how animals find ways to have fun. This book is perfect for young oceanographers looking for fun and factual books to teach them about all the exciting aspects of the ocean lifestyle.
Getting young readers excited about marine life is the start of sparking genuine curiosity in kids’ minds. As they learn more about what makes this Earth beautiful, we must provide engaging and entertaining resources that fuel their fascination and educate them in the process. Hopefully, these books can be that spark for any kid ready to discover all the knowns and unknowns that lie in our deep blue sea.
For book recommendations on ocean books, click here.
For these book recommendations and more for young readers, check out our Young Reader’s and Children’s Holiday Recs bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
