Books about the Ocean for Preschoolers

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One of my son’t first things he was “into” was the ocean. He LOVED fish and the water. Which was great, since we lived in Los Angeles and could visit the beach and Aquarium of the Pacific often. The ocean is an amazing place filled with so many wonderful creatures, so I didn’t mind his obsession a bit. And yes, we also went to the library a LOT.

But, searching through all of the books was time consuming and with a toddler/preschooler, you know they don’t have much attention span. That’s why I compiled this list of books about the ocean for preschoolers, so that you save your time and just pick up some awesome books. You’ll also likely build life-long memories about the sea and the amazing creatures in it.

The Big Book of the Blue
If you have a little one who loves this ocean, this book is amazing! The illustrations are well done, with lots of color. While staying age appropriate, it also gives lots of really cool facts about the ocean and the animals that live there.

Somewhere in the Ocean by Jennifer Ward. A counting book of different sea animal mothers and their babies.

Simple and fun to look at, this is a great beginning book about the ocean and its animals.

I’ll Follow the Moon by Stephanie Lisa Tara, is a book about sea turtles finding their way from their nests into the ocean. It was inspired by a night when the author saw hundreds of sea turtles crossing the beach in the moonlight outside her home in Florida. The illustrations are adorable and the repetition is perfect for little ones.

If I Were a Whale by Shelley Gill, is rhyming board book describing different types of whales with easy to understand facts like where they live and what they eat. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers alike.

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies is another cute book about sea turtles making their way to the ocean. Written both in easy to read and understand prose and smaller text that gives more “facts” about sea turtles, this book blends fiction and non-fiction beautifully.

A Swim through the Sea by Kristin Pratt-Serafini is an alphabet book for parents and children. Each letter represents a different sea creature, with an alliterative description led by a cute seahorse.

Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl is a fictional, easy to follow story with pretty illustrations. It teaches kids about the need to save the ocean through recycling and conservation.

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin by Michelle Cusolito lets readers experience a day in the life of an Alvin pilot. You’ll join scientists at the seafloor to collect samples and conduct research. Alvin is a robot/submarine that can travel deep into the water to discover things there. It also explains how Alvin works, describes the author’s research, and includes a glossary and further reading list.

Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins is one of my favorite books about the ocean for preschoolers. It’s very simple and perfect for toddlers, but my seven year old still loves it too. The illustrations are fun a whimsical and the rhyming and poetic writing will keep them engaged.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson is a beautiful rhyming book about a snail in search of adventure. He finds a whale who takes him on one and they become friends. But when the whale is in danger, will the tiny snail be able to help?

Manfish: A story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne, is an easy to understand, large text story about Jacques Cousteau. The illustrations are fun and the story about the famous oceanographer is engaging, even for little ones.

Down, Down, Down, a Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins, has beautiful illustrations. Plus, this simple word story about creatures of the deep will keep young children fascinated by the interesting facts they learn.

With this list of books about the ocean for preschoolers, your little one is sure to satisfy their love of the ocean and sea animals. And they’re a beautiful addition to your home library too!

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