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Under the Sea Topic

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Under the Sea Topic Booklist (EYFS & KS1)

Dive into the Under the Sea topic and make a splash – there’s so much to explore! From crabs and coral reefs to shorelines and sharks, we’ve got it all covered in our hand-picked selection of the best children’s books about oceans and seas for children in EYFS and KS1.

NB: This booklist is aimed at children aged 4-7. For sea-themed books for older children, try our Oceans and Seas KS2 list.

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Books about fish

Marcus Pfister
Picturebook
A classroom classic that his become treasured by children and adults alike. Rainbow Fish has glittering scales and is the most beautiful fish in the ocean. When his vanity gets in the way of friendships with the other ocean creatures, Rainbow Fish becomes lonely and isolated. He shares his beautiful scales and learns that connecting with others is much more important than being the shiniest fish. A lovely storytime favourite about he value of sharing and friendship.
Jarvis
Picturebook
This vibrant picture book captures the incredible kaleidoscope of colour belonging to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Terry is NOT a fancy fish – he's humdrum-coloured, which means the spectacular tropical fish don't notice him. So, Terry uses seaweed and bits and bobs to construct a rainbow tail. Now the tropical fish are desperate to play with Terry....that is until a big hungry eel arrives looking for dinner! This funny picturebook with brilliant dialogue is a tropical treat.
Kate Read
Picturebook
Boo!: A Fishy Mystery is a glorious underwater adventure from the creator of the award-winning One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller, featuring a host of sea creatures from an orange crab to a green turtle, a yellow eel and even a purple puffer fish It all begins with one tiny pink fish who sets off a chain reaction of chaos beneath the waves until suddenly - SNAP! - she finds herself all alone in the ocean. Where has everyone gone, and how can such a tiny creature rescue her friends? Kate Read's stunning illustrations are as rich and bright as an aquarium of tropical fish and readers will love following the trail of colourful creatures through to the surprise ending. There's even a page at the end showing you how to mix your own colours.
Lucy Cousins
Picturebook
Here at BooksForTopics HQ we are big fans of Lucy Cousins' bright and colourful artwork. This simple rhyming text showcases a whole host of imaginative fish in all their splendour, including ele-fish, eye fish and curly-wurly fish! This is a great book to get imaginations whirring in EYFS.
Julia Donaldson
 & Axel Scheffler
Picturebook
Tiddler is a fish who is always late for school. Every day he arrives with a different tall story about why he is not there on time, until one day he finds himself caught up in a big adventure that will make him very, very late indeed! A fun, rhyming story with a repeated refrain.

Olaf Falafel
Picturebook
A heartfelt and humorous adventure from the bottom of the sea and beyond, following one fish on an epic journey. Deep, deep, deep under the sea … lives Blobfish! Blobfish loves telling jokes, although he has no one to share them with, so he sets off on an adventure to find a friend. But sometimes friends turn up in the most unexpected places, even at the bottom of the ocean. This heartfelt and humorous story gently introduces children to themes of friendship, belonging and the issue of plastics in our oceans.

Books about whales, dolphins and sharks

Rachel Bright
 & Jim Field
Picturebook
Humphrey the whale is on a quest: to find the one perfect object that will make him feel complete. He roams far and wide, gathering endless undersea treasure as he goes. Yet, no matter how many goodies he accumulates, Humphrey still doesn't feel content. Could it be friendship, not possessions, that will really make Humphrey's heart sing? A sparkling rhyming tale that encourages sharing and kindness, this heartwarming story of friendship is perfect for reading aloud.
Benji Davies
Picturebook
Noi lives by the sea with his fisherman father and life there can feel pretty lonely sometimes. When Noi discovers a little whale washed up on the beach, he takes it home to care for it in his bath tub. But there are two problems; the first is that keeping it a secret from his dad will be tougher than he thinks and the second is that whales really belong in the depths of the sea. This engaging and empathetic picture book is a great choice for KS1.
Jess Keating
 & Marta Alvarez Miguens
Picturebook
This is the inspiring story of real-life scientist Eugenie Clark, who loved sharks so much from a young age that she became determined to study them and show the world how wonderful the creatures actually are. Written by a zoologist, this is a great story representing girls who follow their aspirations in STEM careers.
Michael Morpurgo
 & Michael Foreman
Picturebook

A longer illustrated story from Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman, all about a boy from a cornish fishing village who helps a beached dolphin find its way back into the sea. This heartwarming story tells of the special bond between children and animals, which is characterised by unconditional love and loyalty. Poignant at times and magical at others, we love this beautifully rich story of a friendship between a boy and a dolphin, which never fails to captivate KS1 audiences at storytime.

Books about other sea creatures

Becky Davies
 & Jennie Poh
Picturebook

It’s time for Little Turtle to leave the nest and venture out into the vast, beautiful ocean. As she grows, so does her love of her new surroundings as she swims further and journeys to the other side of the world, and back. On her return, Little Turtle realises that she does not recognise the ocean she loves. Something has changed and not for the better. Where are the other creatures? Why are they silent?

Michael Foreman
Picturebook
A boy and his grandfather watch as a baby seal is born on the rocks near their home and from that day a special friendship is created between them. Despite his disability, the boy is a keen surfer, and he enjoys many afternoons surfing with the seals. One day, however, he gets into trouble in rough seas, and the young seal saves him. Their friendship brings happiness and meaning at the important stages of the boy's life
Anna McGregor
Picturebook

Meet Fergus. He has two eyes, a swishy little tale and an adorable little mouth . . . or has he? During our brief tour of the ocean’s depths, Fergus is determined to stay out of the light. He stays out of sight as we meet the fearsome-looking angler fish, the bizarre-looking spookfish and a scary pair of vampire squid. These amazing creatures disappear from view as quickly as they appear. But where do they go? And could the mysterious Fergus have something to do with their hasty disappearances?

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book, set in the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean with bright, colourful illustrations on an inky black background. It is a great early introduction to some of the fantastic and unusual creatures which lurk in the deepest oceans and contains a fabulous, unexpected twist at the end. At the back, there is a double-page spread of facts about the creatures which live deep under the surface and information about deep-sea exploration and bioluminescence. This is a brilliant read-aloud picture book with broad appeal to both young children in general and those with a more specific interest in sea life and the science of light.


Patricia Hegarty
 & Britta Teckentrup
Picturebook
Discover a world beneath the waves that is teeming with life, from tiny graceful seahorses to darting tropical fish and from electric eels to humpback whales. A colourful array of sea creatures is brought to life by award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup in this delightful peep-through picture book.
Sarah Roberts
 & Hannah Peck
Picturebook

This is a wonderful book that follows the cycle of a mysteriously individual jellyfish-like creature named Stanley as he travels through the ocean. As he meets other sea creatures, differences between him and them start to become apparent – like his two handles and colourful stripes. Various creatures swallow Stanley as he tenaciously continues on his journey until he is found by a human, on the shore, who chooses to put Stanley to much better use. A fun and brightly illustrated picture book with a clear message that plastic does not belong in the sea.

Books about exploring the oceans

Laura Knowles
 & Vivian Mineker
Non-fiction
This charming concertina book follows the journey of a little submersible on a voyage beneath the waves, down into the deep dark ocean and back again. Folding out to nearly 2.5 metres, children can look at all the different things the sub sees on its way, as it travels past a shipwreck, through a coral reef, near to a pod of orcas hunting for their lunch, close to a leatherback turtle feasting on jellyfish, and past some rather strange deep-sea fish. Playful text guides the journey, providing a fun shared experience and a conversation starter for parents and young children. The reverse side of the concertina features spot illustrations picked out from the main scene, with more expansive information about submarines, ocean life and the dangers it is facing.
Caryl Hart
 & Bethan Woollvin
Picturebook

This delightful, illustrated adventure is the perfect introduction to the sheer variety of habitats beneath the waves and the different types of oceans and seas around the planet. Little ones are introduced to sea creatures, ocean climates and the importance of caring for our seas through a rhyming story that sees the different oceans gently personified. Fun and original, this is a great choice for curious minds in younger classrooms and was also voted ‘Best Curriculum Support’ in our Teachers’ Favourites awards.

Clara Anganuzzi
Picturebook

From its tactile front cover to its inspiring story and vivid illustrations, Ocean Gardener is a book to treasure.

The book has a hard cover impressed with water bubbles which will intrigue curious little fingers. The author’s glorious illustrations of seabed, sunsets and seascapes set the scene for an uplifting story with an all-female cast! Clara Anganuzzi teaches us about the coral reefs of her island home. Her super-mum character is pro-active and positive. As mother and daughter complete their daily rounds checking on the coral reef that surrounds their island, they realise that the reef is changing. The immortal words, ‘Mum had a plan’, lead to pragmatic and innovative actions to help solve the problem.The last part of the book includes information about real life marine biologist, Chloe, who works in the Seychelles, as well as an information page about coral reefs; how to protect coral; and ways to find out more.

Non-fiction books about the sea

Yuval Zommer
Non-fiction
This large-sized informative compendium is the kind of non-fiction that children like to come back to again and again to pore over its pages. Each double-page spread dives into a different sea-themed question, such as 'Are jellyfish made of jelly?' or 'Why do crabs run sideways?'. There is never too much text on each page, but what you find is accessible chunks of information cleverly interspersed into each ocean scene. The illustrations are stunning and come together to make wonderful spreads that serve as a treasure trove of visual delights for young eyes, as text and pictures work together to build an understanding of underwater habitats and the life they hold.
Megan Cullis
 & Bao Luu
Non-fiction
This non-fiction text is a celebration of life under the sea. Its flaps and cartoon-style illustrations will keep children engaged as they learn about incredible underwater worlds. Topics covered include marine life, habitats, ocean zones and coral reefs.
Natasha Durley
Non-fiction
This is not your average book about beasts! Rather than separating out animals into families, it hones-in on their unusual features, from shiny shells to fantastic fins. It's a super-eclectic introduction to marine biology that will make you smile.
Charlotte Guillain
 & Jo Empson
Non-fiction
From the Look Closer series, this richly illustrated concertina book takes you on a journey through the deep dark waters, all the way down to the seabed, before floating back up to the surface. A follow-up to The Street Beneath My Feet , The Skies Above My Eyes and The World Around Me, this visually stunning book ventures to the very bottom of the sea on a journey of discovery. Through the waves and into the deep, you'll spot all kinds of weird and wonderful marine creatures, explore the seabed and discover the impact humans have had on the underwater world. As you dive below the surface, past sea otters playing in fields of giant kelp, you will see sea lions and shoals of mackerel playing in the shallows, before passing orcas hunting in pods in the deeper water. As well as animals, discover the technology which is used under the sea , from scuba breathing apparatus to oil pipelines and deep sea submarines. As you reach the very bottom of the sea, the 'twilight zone' where very little light can filter through, you will meet the mysterious creatures of the deep such as Lanternfish and the luminous swell shark. This book is part of the Look Closer series , a set of concertina books which help teach us about the mysteries which can be found in the world around us.

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