Best Ocean Books for Kids: Picture Books, Nonfiction, & Chapter Books

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

-from Amazon

Take a deep breath and dive right into this jam-packed reference book, which covers everything from tsunamis and sea turtles to riptides and reefs! Learn all about the creatures, science, and ecology of our oceans, which cover more of the planet than all the continents and are just as important! Travel through all parts of the ocean to learn how it affects of our world, including storms and climate. Amazing facts, photos, illustrations, and diagrams are found throughout this book, along with conservation tips, weird-but-true facts, and a mini ocean atlas. 

-from Amazon

From glowing jellyfish to deep-sea dwellers, children will discover the incredible secret world of life under the sea. This ocean book is filled with a combination of gorgeous photographs and colorful illustrations that will delight and inspire kids - teaching them the importance of the ocean and how to help take care of it themselves. Little ones will be intrigued by sea life like sharks, narwhals, sea birds, ocean reptiles, and so much more. They will learn interesting facts, and explanations about how the ocean functions, like how underwater plants and species rely on each other, and how ocean animals have fun and look after their young. 

-from Amazon

This large-format book takes a vertical look at the ocean. Each double-page spread explores a certain habitat, from the seashore, kelp forest, and coral reef to a zone-by-zone tour of the sea itself. The pictures move down from the surface waters through six depths of water and ocean floor to the deepest area, an ocean trench. Fully illustrated with colorful paintings of each region, including its creatures and physical features, the presentation also includes several paragraphs of descriptive text on each spread. A fresh perspective for those intrigued by oceans.

-from Amazon

Dive thirteen thousand feet below the ocean’s surface, where no ray of sunlight can penetrate. Resources are scarce, and fellow inhabitants scarcer. This is life in the midnight zone—life for the anglerfish, known as the Seadevil of the Deep. Still largely a mystery to scientists, the deep-sea anglerfish is a true source of fascination and awe. In Anglerfish, author Elaine M. Alexander and illustrator Fiona Fogg shine a small light on this mesmerizing, unforgettable creature.

-from Amazon

There is light, and there is dark. But sometimes the dark creeps up and surrounds you. Still, even in those deep, dark moments, you can always find a spark of light, if you look. 

Author-artist Pam Fong’s gentle text and luminous artwork guide readers through the dangers and marvels of the deep sea with an expressive little fish who must find its way home. A lush and moving picture book that gives young readers—and their parents—a way to think about and talk about the wide ocean of emotions that everyone feels.

-from Amazon

The giant squid is one of the most elusive creatures in the world. As large as whales, they hide beyond reach deep within the sea, forcing scientists to piece together their story from those clues they leave behind.

In this beautiful and clever nonfiction picture book about the giant squid, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann explore, both visually and poetically, this hidden creature's mysterious life.

-from Amazon

The surface of the moon is more familiar to us than the deep sea of our own planet. Many oceanographers are trying to change that. To explore the deep sea, they climb into submersibles and employ Remotely Operated Vehicles to find out more about the ocean and ocean floor.

In Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea, nonfiction rockstar Gail Gibbons invites readers along for a journey to the depths of the ocean. Without leaving home, readers will learn about the types of animals found at different sea levels. With her trademark combination of clearly-labeled diagrams, infographics, and accessible language, Gibbons explains the technology for exploration, and the many fascinating discoveries scientists have made in the darkest reaches of the ocean.

-from Amazon

Ayla lives on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by a coral reef. Her mom is a marine biologist, and every day, the two go exploring together. One day, Ayla notices that many of the fish have disappeared, and the once-vibrant corals have turned pale. She and her mom set out to save the corals--but is it too late? Includes back matter about reef restoration and the real person who inspired the story.

-from Amazon

In Coral Reefs, we learn all about these tiny, adorable sea animals! This absorbing look at ocean science covers the biology of coral reefs as well as their ecological importance.

Nonfiction comics genius Maris Wicks brings to bear her signature combination of hardcore cuteness and in-depth science.

-from Amazon

Marine biologists believe coral reefs existed 400 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Today this active environment is home to about 20,000 kinds of brilliantly colored corals, plants, and animals—more sea creatures than are found anywhere else in the world. Children in early elementary grades will enjoy Gibbon's informative text and clear, detailed illustrations on this journey into the unique lives of coral reefs.

-from Google Books

Simon and Olive love playing “I Spy” in Coral Jungle because there are so many things to see! There are different types of coral, seagrass, and all sorts of fish. But one day they spy…a shark! They swim away as fast as they can, but the shark catches up to them and introduces herself. And it turns out Simon and Olive—and all of Coral Grove—have a lot to learn about sharks.

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Not-So-Tiny Tales of Simon Seahorse chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

-from Amazon

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish are best of friends and swim up, down, around, and through their ocean home.

Crabby is their neighbor. He is not their best friend.

But when Crabby gets in trouble, will Peanut Butter and Jellyfish come to the rescue?

You bet they will!

From award-winning picture book creator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, this is a funny and touching story of friendships old and new, and about being brave enough to apologize.

-from Amazon

For fans of Ryan T. Higgins and Jory John comes a humorous and "splashy" story from a former Disney animator, about a jellyfish with an identity crisis who learns how to be himself with a little help from friends.

Edgar is a jellyfish, but he doesn't look, act, or feel very much like a "fish." With a little help though from some friendly starfish, Edgar realizes that labels aren't important, and he should celebrate what makes him unique!

-from Amazon

Spencer and Vincent are jellyfish brothers who live together in the sea, their wet and shining home. 

One day a wave of superior magnitude separates them! The brothers know they have to do whatever it takes to find each other again. And they’ll need some help along the way…

-from Amazon

Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do both love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together.

A wonderfully silly early graphic novel series featuring three stories. Ben Clanton showcases the joys of friendship, the benefits of working together and the power of imagination in the delightful Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea.

-from Amazon

Did you know that an octopus has three hearts? And that they are particularly intelligent, with some being known to use tools?

Dive into this fascinating illustrated guide all about the aliens of the deep. From the truly terrifying giant Pacific octopus to the inventive common octopus, find out where they live, what they eat and how we can protect them. 

-from Amazon

Octavia Octopus and her sea-animal friends love playing camouflage games to practice how they would hide from a big, hungry creature. Octavia, however, just cannot seem to get her colors right when she tries to shoot her purple ink cloud. What happens when the big, hungry shark shows up looking for his dinner? This creative book introduces basic colors along with the camouflage techniques of various sea animals—a great introduction to marine biology! 

-from Amazon

Dive into this fascinating counting journey through the amazing and mysterious world of octopuses.

Everyone knows octopuses have eight arms. But did you know that they have three hearts and nine brains? This intriguing exploration of octopuses goes through numbers one to ten, with a snappy rhyme and fascinating octopus facts for each number. The book also includes octopus crafts and activities for more learning fun!

-from Amazon

For preschoolers, windy fall days mean excitement and play. Strong winds stimulate children and their surroundings, as though an invisible hand is shaking the world. Gentler breezes help plants scatter their seeds, set pinwheels in motion, and keep kite strings taut. But fiercer winds begin to sting the cheeks as they bring about a new season…

-from Amazon

Far, far out at sea lives one of the world’s most mysterious creatures, the Loggerhead turtle. For thirty years she swims the oceans, wandering thousands of miles as she searches for food. Then, one summer night, she lands on a beach to lay her eggs—the very same beach where she herself was born. Nicola Davies’s lyrical text offers fascinating information about the journey of the tiny, endangered Loggerhead, while charming paintings by Jane Chapman vividly illustrate one turtle’s odyssey.

-from Amazon

With colorful, clear illustrations and straightforward text, Gail Gibbons introduces the eight kinds of sea turtles living in the ocean today. Learn the similarities and differences with labeled diagrams and experience the hatching of the tiny turtle babies with detailed illustrations. 

-from Amazon

Wilson Bentley was always fascinated by snow. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle and wanted to understand them.

His parents supported his curiosity and saved until they could give him his own camera and microscope. At the time, his enthusiasm was misunderstood. But with patience and determination, Wilson catalogued hundreds of snowflake photographs, gave slideshows of his findings and, when he was 66, published a book of his photos. His work became the basis for all we know about beautiful, unique snowflakes today.

-from Amazon

OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD—Double-gold medalist begins simply in baby sea turtle's voice: "I'm coming Mama, I'll see you soon, I know just how, I'll follow the moon."

Celebrating the love between mother and child comes an achingly beautiful story that has captured hearts around the world. Written by a new mom, by accident, when she sang a little song to her fussing newborn, I'll Follow the Moon proudly donates proceeds to charity: every book saves a turtle.

-from Amazon

Will it be warm or cold? Should we wear shorts or pants? Shoes or rain boots? What Will the Weather Be? uses colorful, simple diagrams to explain meteorology in a fun, engaging way. Perfect for young sciencists and budding meteorologists, this bestseller features clear explanations of everyday weather instruments like thermometers and barometers.

-from Amazon

For over 400 million years, sharks have been the ocean's top predator! They're vital to our ecosystem, but their importance is often overshadowed by our own fear―even though they hardly ever threaten humans.

Dive in for an intimate look at the dynamic hammerhead, infamous great white, primordial megalodon, and the gentle nurse shark, the rare species that will let a scuba diver pet them! This book is filled to the gills with jaw-dropping illustrations and razor-sharp facts that shed light on these fascinating creatures of the deep, including their undersea terrain, cunning adaptability, and staggering variety.

-from Amazon

In the first book of a Shark School series spin-off, young hammerhead shark Harvey Hammer has his first day at school!

It’s Harvey Hammer’s first day at Kelpmentary School. Harvey dreams of being just like King Krusher, his comic book hero, but as the new shark in town, he worries he’ll sink before he swims with the rest of the kids.

-from Amazon

-from Amazon

With the ocean her home, an ochre sea star hunts for her morning meal. She folds over her rays and grips the rocky shore with sticky feet as she feasts on shellfish. When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her and Sea Star becomes easy prey. But she is built to survive and eventually makes her way back to the sea, although with one less ray than before. This inspiring story informs young children about the important role of a small but fascinating sea creature.

-from Amazon

A young girl finds a starfish on the beach and wants to show it to her mother at home, but doesn’t want to take it from its home. With encouragement from her dad and a little imagination, Ana is able to let the sea star go and yet keep it with her at the same time. This beautiful picture book celebrates the power of imagination and an appreciation of the natural world. 

-from Amazon

This age-appropriate, accessible main text puts the focus on echinoderms, which include starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. Readers learn about the different life cycles, habitats, eating habits, and behaviors of these interesting sea creatures. Colorful and creative design elements draw readers in, giving them a detailed look at these unique organisms. Fun fact boxes, useful graphic organizers, and a detailed glossary provide additional information that supplements basic science curriculum topics.

-from Amazon

Introduces counting by fives by counting the number of arms on starfishes. Readers are invited to find hidden numbers on an illustrated activity page.

-from Amazon