I was especially happy about the timing of our dolphin theme when my 27-month-old granddaughter recently got to see an adorable baby dolphin swimming beside its mother at SeaWorld! But a dolphin theme is perfect for summer … or any time! Here are some of our favorite books from our dolphin unit!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Read sample” feature on Amazon and reading reviews there. Another place to learn about a book is on YouTube. You can typically see the entire book there.
Montessori-friendly books use photos or realistic illustrations. They don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. But many books that have fantasy and talking animals are wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Books for a Dolphin Theme
I’m featuring books here for a dolphin theme mainly for preschool through elementary-age kids.
Books for a Dolphin Theme
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- The Big Book of the Blue (I love this series and have many of the books!)
- My First Book of Ocean Animals: All About Marine Wildlife for Kids
- Ocean Anatomy
2nd Shelf:
- The Little Book of Ocean Animal Sounds is one of the very few items with a battery that I
like for young children. It’s an inviting way for children to learn to identify a variety of ocean animal sounds. Not only is there a clear image and description of each ocean animal but the book includes each animal’s scientific name, where found, what it feeds on, young, adult characteristics, and length. Of course, the best part is the set of buttons with a animal-head button that plays each ocean animal’s unique song. Recommended for ages 3 on up, although my grandkids have loved this series as babies. (Note: Over the years, I’ve purchased every book in the series because my grandkids love them so much, and they’ve learned so much from them!) - National Geographic Kids Ultimate Oceanpedia (gorgeous photos and a fabulous reference book!)
like for young children. It’s an inviting way for children to learn to identify a variety of ocean animal sounds. Not only is there a clear image and description of each ocean animal but the book includes each animal’s scientific name, where found, what it feeds on, young, adult characteristics, and length. Of course, the best part is the set of buttons with a animal-head button that plays each ocean animal’s unique song. Recommended for ages 3 on up, although my grandkids have loved this series as babies. (Note: Over the years, I’ve purchased every book in 3rd Shelf:
- Dive, Dolphin! (National Geographic Kids Readers, Pre-Reader)
- Dolphins (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)
- There’s so much fascinating information about dolphins along with gorgeous photos in the National Geographic Kids Everything Dolphins: Dolphin Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Make You Flip. It’s recommended for ages 8-12, but younger children are often attracted to the photos and can have the text adapted when read aloud.
4th Shelf:
- W Is for Waves: An Ocean Alphabet
- Goodnight Dolphins
- Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again (My 25-month-old granddaughter LOVES this book and asks me to read it to her every day! She’s especially concerned about Winter getting injured and then being helped.)
Bottom Shelf:
- Goodnight Little Orcas: A Counting Book (typically only available as used book, so you have to check on the book’s current price and availability)
- There’s a lot of fascinating information about the orca life cycle in the Baby Orca book.
- Magic Tree House: Dolphins at Daybreak
- National Geographic Kids Chapters: My Best Friend is a Dolphin!: And More True Dolphin Stories
Also used:
- Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth
- DK Smithsonian Picturepedia, which I love for most units, including our dolphin unit. It has gorgeous photos and illustrations with amazing two-page spreads on a wide variety of topics.
- The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth has lots and lots of stunning two-page spreads. I often use it!
- National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia (You’ll notice that I love National Geographic books with their gorgeous photos!)
- The National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is wonderful … like all their books!
- National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals: Whos Who in the Deep Blue Sea
- National Geographic Kids Ultimate Mammalpedia
- Marvelous Mammals: This series (I have and recommend the whole set) is great for young readers and preschoolers who are learning about animal classifications!)
- Granny’s Clan: A Tale of Wild Orcas
- Orcas: Guardians of the Deep
You can see lots of Dolphin Books for Kids here.
On our peace/mindfulness table, I have:
Maria Explores the Ocean Yoga Book with Dolphin Yoga Card
- Maria Explores the Ocean: A Kids Yoga Book
- Free Printable: Dolphin Themed Lesson Plan and PDF from George Watts (to just use the image of the dolphin pose, I printed the PDF at 175)
More Dolphin Resources
Free Dolphin Printables and Montessori-Inspired Dolphin Activities
Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
Free Montessori-Inspired Dolphin Packs
Montessori-Inspired Dolphin Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Orca Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Ocean Resources and Activities
- Free Ocean Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ocean Activities
- Free Ocean Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations {Mindfulness Resources for Teens and Adults}
- Free Ocean Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Ocean Books for Kids
- The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Shark Songs and Educational Videos
- Non-Scary and Montessori-Friendly Resources for a Shark Tooth Dig
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Shark Water-Bead Number or Letter Sensory Bin
- Free Shark Printables and Montessori-Inspired Shark Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Resources for World Oceans Day
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Math Activities - Shells and Starfish Activities + Free Printable from Montessori By Mom
- Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers
- Coral Reef Kit and Sensory Bin
- DIY Coral Reef Water Table with Practical Life Activities
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Ocean-themed, Editable Name and Word Tracing Pack in Print or Cursive
- Free Shark Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
- Favorite Books for an Orca Theme
- Montessori-Inspired Orca Tray with Sensory Bottle for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
- Favorite Books for a Beluga Whale Theme
- Ocean Unit Study Pinterest Board
More (Non-Human) Mammal Resources and Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Horse Unit
- Free Horse Printables and Montessori-Inspired Horse Activities
- Wonderful Whale and Water-Bead Sensory Bin
- Free Raccoon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Raccoon Activities {Kissing Hand Unit}
- Free Raccoon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Raccoon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Printables and Montessori-Inspired Lamb Activities
- Free Lamb Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities,
- Free Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download,
- Free Bear Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities
- Free Panda Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities
- Free Giant Panda and Red Panda Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Bat Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bat Activities
- Free Bat and Vampire Bat Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Bat Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Printables and Montessori-Inspired Rabbit Activities
- Free Rabbit and Kitten Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Cutting Strips
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources (including a Mammal Printable Pack) for Preschool Through Elementary
- Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Toddler Geography Activities with Baby Beluga
- Montessori-Inspired Horse Unit
- Wonderful Whale and Water-Bead Sensory Bin
- Free Raccoon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Raccoon Activities {Kissing Hand Unit}
- Free Raccoon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Raccoon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Printables and Montessori-Inspired Lamb Activities
- Free Lamb Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities,
- Free Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download,
- Free Bear Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities
- Free Panda Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities
- Free Giant Panda and Red Panda Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Bat Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bat Activities
- Free Bat and Vampire Bat Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Bat Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Printables and Montessori-Inspired Rabbit Activities
- Free Rabbit and Kitten Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Cutting Strips
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources (including a Mammal Printable Pack) for Preschool Through Elementary
- Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
- Free Reindeer Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Toddler Geography Activities with Baby Beluga
- Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Free Life Cycle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities
- Free Fish Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fish Activities
- Free Bird Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bird Activities post
- Free Mammal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mammal Activities post
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
I hope you have a great rest of the summer!
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