Under the Sea Topic

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A heartwarming tale that casts a vast net, capturing themes of perseverance, friendship, and self-belief in a vibrantly illustrated, marine-filled adventure perfect for the primary classroom.

Rob Biddulph transports the reader into an ocean teeming with life, where we meet our unlikely hero, Gigantic, the smallest blue whale in the stormy Atlantic. Despite his size, Gigantic’s journey is one of might and mettle, where his diminutive stature in the ocean’s vastness doesn’t deter his big-hearted valiance.

The rhythmical prose lends itself beautifully to read-aloud sessions, with the alliterative play and evocative imagery poised to capture children’s imaginations. Biddulph’s illustrations are equally engaging, using a palette that mirrors the stormy yet spirited oceanic setting. Beyond the narrative, the book serves as a springboard for discussions on oceans, ecosystems, and the importance of determination. It illustrates that even the smallest creature has value and strength, a message that resonates with children navigating their place in the world.

A brightly-illustrated collection of uplifting rhymes about all the ocean and its creatures. These rhymes are ideal for reading aloud and learning by heart!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Following a tiny coral planula, this book gives an insight into the interesting life of coral as it becomes a part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The text is written in the first person narrative integrated with lots of factual information for the reader. The illustrations would attract younger children however, the non-fiction aspect would also interest older children (and adults) who want to discover more about this animal as it looks for the perfect place to settle, divide and grow. There is some challenging vocabulary in the text but this is supported by the simplicity of the story running through this book.

At the back, there is a wonderful fold-out map showing the coral reefs of the world that also includes a Coral I-Spy game for children which takes them back through the book locating different reef animals.

This book would be a fabulous addition to a home, primary school library or classroom.

Aqua Boy is about a young boy whose parents are ocean guardians, helping to look after the beach and sea near where they live.

Aaron and Angel, his sister, enjoy spending time by the ocean although Aaron isn’t as confident in the water as Angel. After a big storm, the family help to clear the rubbish that has been brought onto the shore until Aaron notices an octopus stranded on the sand. With help, he saves the octopus and, in the process, he discovers that swimming underwater enables you to see and learn about the different sea creatures that live there as well as show that you can achieve things eventually.

This is a lovely book to share with children who enjoy caring for the beach, ocean and the different creatures that call it home. There are many opportunities for discussion through the bright but simple illustrations and at the back of the book it provides information for protecting octopuses and the ocean, incorporating an enjoyable mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Highly recommended!

This large-sized informative compendium about ocean life 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.