Ocean and sea life books for children
Children’s books about oceans and underwater life. Why should kids dive into books about the ocean? Well, for starters, they’re a window into a world teeming with fascinating marine creatures – think curious octopuses and glowing jellyfish. Along the way, they’ll pick up sea-inspired words (when else do you use “anemone”?) and sharpen their reading skills without even noticing. These stories also spark imagination, whisking kids into underwater adventures where anything feels possible. Plus, they highlight why it’s worth protecting our oceans and might even plant the seed for future careers – marine biologist, deep-sea diver, or eco-warrior, anyone? It’s learning, dreaming, and exploring all rolled into one. This list features books by Alex Bell, Lauren James, Jess McGeachin, Nicola Davies, Michael Morpurgo, Yuval Zommer, Britta Teckentrup and Ken Wilson-Max.
Oceans books for children – our recommendations
Ocean and sea life picture books
Lifesize Ocean Animals by Sophy Henn
3-6 year olds will love this stunning interactive book that features real-size illustrations of ocean creatures. Compare yourself to turtles, megalodon teeth, anglerfish, and a giant spider crab using the spectacular illustrated fold-out pages. This large-format book is ideal for young learners fascinated by marine life and the natural world. Highly recommended.
Our Underwater World by Sue Lowell Gallion, pictures by Lisk Feng. 
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz. 
Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Nick Maland. Animal Homes: Ocean by Natasha Durley
There are starfish, whales and pointy teeth to find! For small hands, this new series is literally gripping. A wonderfully realised concept – highly recommended for preschoolers.
Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davies, illustrated by James Croft. 
Under the Sea by Little Explorers. 
Down Down Down in the Sea by Maxime Lebrun. Whisper on the Wind by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
This atmospheric and moving large format picture book blends evocative verse with spellbinding illustrations to enchant younger children. When the whisper from Ren’s dream is plucked by the wind and carried through waves, moonlight and oceans, it eventually reaches a distant sailor in this story with powerful themes of separation and reunion, family and love. It’s a wonderful and inspiring book to read and share with KS1 classes.
Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 
Flotsam by David Wiesner. 
Somebody Swallowed Stanley by Sarah Roberts, illustrated by Hannah Peck Aqua Boy by Ken Wilson-Max
Aaron loves the ocean but fears going underwater. But he gains confidence during a beach cleanup when he helps rescue a stranded octopus. Living by the sea with his family, who are ocean guardians, Aaron’s story, depicted through glorious picture book artwork, encourages environmental stewardship and empathy for marine life. Highly recommended.
Manfish by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Éric Puybaret. 
The Ocean Gardener by Clara Anganuzzi. 
Seal Surfer by Michael Foreman. 
Under Water Activity Book by Aleksandra Mizielinski. 
The Whales’ Song by Dyan Sheldon and Gary Blythe. 
Dolphin Boy by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman. There Are Fish Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup
This spectacular large-format picture book contains fish of every size and description, presented differently and excitingly on each page. The reader is transported on a journey of piscine perception that includes types of fish, the properties of fish, the history and habitats of fish, fish food, lifestyle and families; and finally, the impact of humans. Not simply a detailed science book – the artwork is stunning – perfect inspiration for topic work and art displays.
The Sea Book by Charlotte Milner. 
A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea by Jessica Law, illustrated by Jill McDonald. 
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins. Ella and the Waves by Britta Teckentrup
When Ella is all alone in a small boat on stormy seas, she thinks her situation is hopeless. But from underneath the waves, there are voices of encouragement. Slowly Ella realises she is not alone and there are creatures that will help her overcome her anxiety and fears. Ella and the Waves is a moving story of finding confidence in the face of adversity. With beautiful and almost luminescent over and underwater illustrations, this is a magically captivating picture book that’s full of light and positivity. It’s a great story to read and discuss in EYFS and KS1 at the start of a new year, especially in classes with a lot of new starters.
Shark Lady by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns. 
The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe. 
The Storm Whale by Benji Davies. Sharks! Sharks! Sharks! by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker
Find out whether a shark really wants to eat you or not in this awe-inspiring nonfiction book that’s packed with detail. And it’s not just a fabulous fact book about sharks, but a deeper dive into how they live, work together and protect their young. Beautifully illustrated, this large format hardback is perfect for KS1 and lower KS2 libraries.
One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jane Chapman. 
Can You Catch a Mermaid? by Jane Ray. 
Into the Blue by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Abbie Cameron. Oona and the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio and Raissa Figueroa
When Oona, a mermaid, wants to be friends with a shark called Stanley, she faces a big challenge! Whatever she does, he just doesn’t seem to like her. But, like a true mermaid, Oona never gives up in this charming story of resilience and perseverance. A diverse and vibrant picture book with sparkling text – perfect for preschool children.
Above and Below by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Hanako Clulow. 
The Big Book of Blue by Yuval Zommer. 
Once Upon a Raindrop by James Carter and Nomoco. Soren’s Seventh Song by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Mark Hoffmann
6+ year olds will love this immersive picture book that blends fiction and nonfiction. Humpback whale Soren takes the reader on a journey of perseverance, friendship, and imagination. Weaving, laugh-out-loud moments and scientific facts, it’s an ideal book for both home and school. Luna Valentine’s gorgeous illustrations will appeal to teachers looking for texts to support topics related to the undersea world.
Ocean and sea life books for KS2
The Tindims of Rubbish Island and the Deep Sea Treasure by Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry
Join the resourceful Tindims on an underwater escapade as they transform everyday rubbish into extraordinary treasures. In the sixth story, readers meet the scary Garbage Gobbler as well as new friends like Skywhistle and Eggnot. There is a page-turning adventure, recycling awareness, vibrant characters and a satisfying ending in this accessible and dyslexia-friendly illustrated short chapter book that will appeal to inquisitive but less confident KS2 readers.
The Sandman and the Turtles by Michael Morpurgo. 
Deep by Jess McGeachin. 
Who’s Afraid of the Light by Anna McGregor. Super Ocean Weekend by Gaëlle Alméras
Castor, Squeak, Orni, and Echid take an unforgettable camping trip where they explore ocean life and conservation. This bite-sized, fact-packed, full-colour paperback with thick stock pages uses a graphic novel format to explain marine science, including tides, fish behaviour, and ocean ecosystems. It is perfect for children aged 7-12, KS2, and S3 libraries, and book clubs focusing on environmental issues. Highly recommended.
Ocean (Life on Earth) by Heather Alexander, illustrated by Andres Lozano. 
Secret Histories – Mermaids by Ari Berk. 
Earth’s Incredible Places: The Great Barrier Reef by Dr. Helen Scales and Lisk Feng. The Magnificent Book of Ocean Creatures by Tom Jackson and Val Walerczuk
Explore the captivating world of marine life with The Magnificent Book of Ocean Creatures. Written by Tom Jackson and illustrated by Val Walerczuk, this hardback dives deep into the lives of 36 extraordinary creatures, offering an immersive experience for young readers eager to discover the wonders of the oceans. Focussing on global biodiversity, it introduces species from different regions and encourages 7-11 year olds to find out more about the planet’s ocean inhabitants. Highly recommended for primary school libraries.
My Encyclopedia of Very Important Oceans by DK. 
Smart About Sharks! by Owen Davey. 
Whale Boy by Nicola Davies. Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
Experience the life of an iceberg, during night and day, all four seasons and through the eyes of creatures living above it, on it and below it. This spectacular narrative nonfiction picture book includes an undersea foldout panorama and lyrical text with rich figurative language and powerful verbs that will appeal to teachers in KS1 and lower KS2. Perfect to read and discuss in literacy lessons, Iceberg is also ideal to inspire class work on Antarctica, climate change and the ocean.
Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird. 
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by Lucy Letherland. 
The Deep-Sea Duke by Lauren James. Ocean Squid Explorers’ Club by Alex Bell, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
Ursula is a submarine engineer in this exciting underwater problem-solving adventure with strong female characters. The blend of realism, fantasy and mermaid mythology gives this book a unique feel that will appeal to imaginative children in UKS2. There’s also a depth of characterisation and crisp description that will appeal to literacy and English teachers.
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Ocean and sea life resources for teachers
- WWF has got together with TES to produce a 21-page downloadable oceans and plastics handbook for KS2 teachers. It includes infographics, pictures, six classroom activities and a thorough glossary.
- World Ocean Day is celebrated worldwide annually on June 8th. There are lots of ideas and resources to support whole school assemblies on their website. There’s a free teacher toolkit from the Ocean Conservation Trust covering primary and secondary age groups.
- BBC Teach offers a selection of videos and activities for KS1 geography lessons about oceans and seas a science lesson about animals that live in the sea, and a dance lesson titled ‘Ocean Motion‘! There’s also a ready-made assembly piece to introduce World Oceans Day, a Blue Planet live lesson,
- Geographical Association has published a fascinating resource to help teach students about the extreme environments of frozen oceans. There are activities and lesson plans for KS2, KS3 and KS4.
- National Oceanography Centre’s website has a vast range of free resources for schools and teachers, including activity sheets, profiles of oceanographers and ocean engineers, and ideas for KS2, KS3, Ks4 and KS5 lessons.
- Oak National Academy offers teaching units for KS1: What is an Ocean? and What Lives in the Ocean? These include lesson plans, activities, videos and quizzes.
- Google Maps features some spectacular 360 degree interactive panoramas of oceans and undersea life, including the Great Barrier Reef, underwater diving in Bali, and humpback whales in the Cook Islands. These moving panoramas look spectacular on big screens or interactive whiteboards.
BISAC JNF037070, JUV000000 Wildlife and habitats: Oceans and seas, children’s fiction | Thema YNNB1, YFB
