Mister Seahorse from Eric Carle is the perfect book for a child and their father to read together. It would make a great father’s day gift for a child to give to his or her dad with some read with me tokens and with classic Eric Carle illustrations it’s sure to be a great bedtime story. Commotion in the Ocean The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales. In this book about the deep sea’s elaborate ecosystems, marine biologist Helen Scales highlights the wild fact that the deep sea is a realm we know less about than the moon! When we think about the sea, most of our attention is paid to areas like the ocean’s surface and coastlines. But thriving in the deepest corners of our ocean is a treasure-trove of interconnected ecosystems teeming with life forms we may never have expected … Yet, these seemingly far-removed systems have a massive impact on our daily lives, especially when it comes to climate and weather. In this book, Scales illuminates the wonder that resides within the deep, while also shining a spotlight on the reality that how we care for it (or fail to do so) could have drastic impacts on our planet’s future, for better or for worse.

As a teacher, this hasalways been one of my favorite themes with young children. The underwater theme leaves so much to be explored that the biggest problem is always narrowing down our activities and deciding which ones are the best. I’ve said it before and I will say it again the National Geographic series of books are fantastic for kids. This one National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is aimed perfectly at preschoolers and an ideal additional to your book basket for any ocean or under the sea themed topics. Children’s Guide to Sea Creatures Along with National Geographic, we also love the Eyewitness guides from DK and DK Eyewitness Books: Oceanis full of information with fantastic images and another that will last through the years so a good investment. Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef Look and Learn with this National Geographic favourite for toddlers – with simple words and bright colourful pictures National Geographic Kids Look and Learn will grow with you and your child. Ocean Story Cloth Book A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue by Catherine Barr. If you’re looking for a book that can help introduce children to the challenges facing our ocean today in a gentle but captivating and action-inspiring way, this book is a winner. In A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue, a sea turtle guide takes young readers on a tour of Earth’s five oceans, showcasing the fascinating wildlife that live there, the important roles they play and the problems they need our help with most today. The book concludes with the turtle guide sharing what kids can do to help support and protect these precious animals and their home, no matter where in the world they are.With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. I'm sure you've heard of this one before and if you've already read the original there are also some spin-off books too. Another favourite children’s author of our’s Leo Lionni is the author and illustrator behind Swimmya story with a moral and a wonderful book to read aloud to your children. More Animal Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers Create a Storytelling Wheel to help your child retell the story of the snail and the whale Mister SeaHorse

Tip: Plan ahead and reserve these at your local library if you don't want to buy them - although after re-reading my list, these would all look good on my bookshelf!)

If you want to combine these books with some fun under the sea crafts & activities then you'll love THESE toddler activities. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. There are thousands of books about the ocean out there but we’ve assembled a few of our favorites. These books are a mix of fiction, memoir, and non-fiction that all pay tribute to the beauty, mystery, and power of the oceans to capture our imaginations and fascination. Wait, there's more... Do you like your story books to come with an extra challenge? We also make puzzle adventure books where you can look for clues and solve riddles while you read! Try out our Twinkl Puzzled Adventure Books, including Adventure at Dragon Castle and The Lost Astronaut. Ocean pollution resources available to support the story include:

With a finger puppet and in board book format In My Oceanis perfect to read with babies and toddlers. Read along and discover what makes the ocean such a great place for the little dolphin to live in. Favourite Under the Sea and Ocean Animal Fiction Books

The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson. I’ve read many a review on this book that reported that if you enjoyed The Soul of an Octopus , there’s no doubt this will fascinate you as well. In a focused examination of the world’s most elusive fish, The Book of Eels details just how very little is known about the European eel … so much so that for hundreds of years, scientists and philosophers have curated a fascination with “the eel question:” What are they; fish, or some other creature? Where do they come from? Even today, we don’t know what drives these animals to swim extreme distances to the ocean after thriving for decades in freshwater systems. And by the way: no one has ever seen eels mate or give birth. Major facets of their life stories remain a mystery. In this book, Svensson documents the history of the mysterious web that so many great philosophers, psychologists, conservationists, biologists and more have yearned to unravel for centuries, and points out the parallels of this “eel question” to the complexities of the human condition.