Oceans are great to study at any time, although I especially love studying them in the summer or in conjunction with a continents theme. Here are my favorite kids’ books for an oceans theme.
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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 an Oceans Theme
I’m featuring books here for an oceans theme mainly for preschool through elementary-age kids.
Books for an Oceans Theme
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- The Big Book of the Blue (I love this series and have many of the books!)
- Earth’s Incredible Oceans
- Ocean: A Peek-Through Picture Book is a gorgeous peek-through picture book
by Britta Teekentrup! Its rhyming text, beautiful illustrations, and cutouts make it a great book for children ages 3-7.
by Britta Teekentrup! Its rhyming text, beautiful illustrations, and cutouts make it a great book for children ages 3-7.2nd Shelf:
- Ocean Anatomy (I have this fabulous Julia Rothman collection and some other Julia Rothman books.)
- National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean (from the Little Kids First Big Book Series by National Geographic Kids. I use books from this series often.)
- National Geographic Kids Ultimate Oceanpedia (gorgeous photos and a fabulous reference book!).
I use books from this series often.)3rd Shelf:
- Ocean: Dive In and Discover the World Beneath the Waves (Earth’s Incredible Habitats)
- Steve Jenkins’ Down Down Down (an amazing book)
- Life in the Ocean Layers: Level 4 (Mathematics Readers)
4th Shelf:
- W Is for Waves: An Ocean Alphabet
- Usborne Lift-the-Flap Look Inside Seas and Oceans has lots of easy-to-understand information in a fun, lift-the-flap format.
- Endangered Animals of the Sea
Bottom Shelf
- Gail Gibbons’ Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea is a fun, fascinating book with lots of information. The link is to a new, updated version!
- The Magic School Bus Presents: Sea Creatures (A nonfiction companion to the original Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor). Magic School Bus books were favorites of my now-adult kids, and now they’re favorites of my grandkids! I like the original series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, although all the books have science facts presented in an entertaining way. I also like to use the Magic School Bus Presents books with non-fiction companions to the original Magic School Bus books. Of course, The Magic School Bus series is best for children who can tell fantasy from reality. It’s been popular in my family from age 4 on.
- I Am Not a Fish! (A fun book about a jellyfish who learns to value his uniqueness. It’s great for kids who know the difference between reality and fantasy and enjoy silly stories. There are actually quite a few facts in this book.)
More books we’re using:
- My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things
- DK Smithsonian Picturepedia, which I love for most units. It has gorgeous photos and illustrations with amazing two-page spreads on a wide variety of topics.
- Maps is a fabulous book for many ages with its huge maps and gorgeous illustrations.
- National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals: Who’s Who in the Deep Blue has gorgeous photos and lots of information about ocean animals (and oceans in general).
- Ocean: A Photicular Book was a New York Times bestseller. It’s a super-fun book for multiple ages to look at with images that use Photicular technology to make each image like a 3-D movie on the page. It also tells about each ocean animal, including vital statistics such as size, habitat, range, diet, life span in the wild, and threats.
- 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!)
- The Ocean Alphabet Book
- National Geographic Little Kids Ocean Counting with gorgeous photos, as usual!
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 You can see lots of Oceans Books for Kids here.
Free Geography Packs
Montessori-Inspired Oceans 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 newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Ocean 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 Continents 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 newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Me on the Map 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 newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Geography Resources
Free Oceans Printables and Montessori-Inspired Oceans Activities
Free Continents Printables and Montessori-Inspired Continents Activities
Free Continent and Ocean Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- “All About Me” Free Printables and Activities for Back to School
- DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Compass Rose Activities and Outdoor Compass Walks
- DIY Montessori Globes
- Land, Water, Air Activities from Montessori By Mom
- Montessori Land, Air, and Water Activities
- Continent Map Work
- Montessori Continent Boxes
- Creative Ideas for Montessori Continent Boxes from Around the World
- Montessori Continent Activities for North America (or Applied to Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – North America
- Montessori Activities for South America (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – South America
- Montessori Activities for Europe (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Europe)
- Montessori-Inspired Study of Africa
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities Using Replicas – Africa
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Asia
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Activities – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Global Adventure (This post contains Montessori-inspired activities for many individual countries using Little Passports packages and resources found online.)
- Earth Exploration Activities from Montessori By Mom (includes a variety of geography activities)
- Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps
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
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