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Summer is just around the corner, and these ocean books and resources are perfect for your summer unit studies. Fill your book basket and pique your child’s interest in all things ocean.
With summer just around the corner, many homeschool mommas are gearing up to study the ocean, beach, and/or sea life. To aid in your unit study planning, I’ve compiled a huge list of ocean-themed books and lapbooks/unit studies that may interest you.
My first go-to site for lapbooks and unit studies has always been Homeschool Share. If they have a lapbook or unit study for one of the books listed below, I’ve linked it for you. Happy reading, friends!
Ocean Books and Unit Study Resources
Oceans | Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon brings you an in-depth exploration of the oceans. I have loved every book we’ve ever read from Seymour Simon. The photographs in his books are great, too!
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean (First Big Books) | National Geographic Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is an adorable animal reference that includes the sea’s high-interest animals, such as dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and penguins, and introduces kids to some of its lesser-known creatures.
Jellyfish and Jellies Under the Sea | Packed full of interesting information about jellyfish for children interested in ocean life, the book uses 30 beautiful color pictures to show in amazing detail the intricate features of these stunning yet often dangerous creatures.
The Ocean Alphabet Book | Learn your ABCs in this aquatic exploration of everything under the sea.
Rainbow Fish | Eye-catching foil stamping, glittering on every page, offers instant child appeal, but it is the universal message at the heart of this simple story about a beautiful fish who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions that gives the book its lasting value. Check out this fun Rainbow Fish craft kids can make after you read the story.
Mr. Seahorse | A stunning picture book from Eric Carle about Mister Seahorse and other ‘male mothers’, with special acetate pages that hide fish behind rocks and reeds. Homeschool Share has a FREE unit study you can use with this book.
Dolphins | Easy-to-comprehend facts, drawings, and fun photography provide introductory information to the dolphin including its body parts, sounds, and life cycle.
Dolphins | Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to give you an expert view of these clever, curious, and mischievous mammals in a full-color photographic introduction.
Fish Eyes | Brightly colored fish introduce young children to counting and basic addition in this fun and simple concept book.
Secret Seahorse | A sea horse leads the reader past coral reefs and underwater creatures to a sea horse family hidden in a cave.
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea | In a singsong text, a little boy describes his adventure into the deep blue sea.
O is for Orca | Each letter of the alphabet is illustrated by an eye-stopping, full page color photograph by internationally acclaimed Northwest nature photographer Art Wolfe.
Fish Faces | Who would believe that underwater creatures come in so many different shapes and sizes? Some are beautiful, some are monstrous–all are fascinating.
Hello Ocean |Dive into this playful poem about the draw of the shore and the effect the ocean has on all five senses. Then, print out this FREE lapbook from Homeschool Share.
What Lives in a Shell? | Snails and turtles and crabs and clams all have shells that act as their homes and protect them from harm. In this book you’ll learn all about these and other crustaceous creatures, for whom a shell is just the right sort of home.
The Seashore Book | Simple, evocative prose brings a day at the beach vividly to life as a boy and his mother imagine what it would be like to spend a day at the seashore.
Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef | Kids will sing, clap, and count their way among puffer fish that puff, grunt fish that grunt and seahorses that flutter, and begin to appreciate life in the ocean. And the art will inspire many a project.
A House for a Hermit Crab | Join Hermit Crab as he learns an important lesson about growing up: For every friend and adventure left behind, there are new ones just ahead! Don’t miss the FREE lapbook over at Homeschool Share.
Ocean Life From A to Z Book and DVD | Kids will love this innovative book and DVD package that lets them discover the fascinating underwater world—without ever getting wet!
Who Lives in the Sea? Ocean Animals of Hawaii | A repetitive rhyming story about ocean animals that encourages early reading skills and answers the burning questions that the inquisitive minds of young children tend to ask about the world around us.
The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor | When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that’s anything but ordinary. With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a deep breath and learns about hot water vents, coral reefs, plant and animal life on the ocean floor, and more!
Curious George Goes to the Beach | One hot summer day, George and the man with the yellow hat go to the beach. What fun George has at the beach! What fun he has feeding the seagulls! It’s fun, that is, until they fly away with something valuable and George must find a clever way to save the day.
The Little Island | This beautifully moving story centers around a little island in the midst of the wide ocean, and the curious kitten who comes to visit. Homeschool Share has a FREE lapbook that you can use alongside this book.
My Very Own Octopus | Bursting with fun and imaginative details, this is a story of a little boy who fantasizes about the amusing and practical possibilities of owning a pet octopus.
Commotion in the Ocean | A great collection of poems describing the many creatures living beneath the sea, including the crab, dolphin, and angel fish.
How to Hide An Octopus | Go on a fascinating nature hunt to find the camouflaged octopus, crabs, brilliantly-painted tropical fish, and other wonderful sea creatures hidden in the pages of this book.
Swimmy | Deep in the sea lives a happy school of fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along.
Somewhere in the Ocean | A counting book in rhyme presents various marine animals and their children, from a mother manatee and her little calf one to a mother octopus and her little babies ten.
Sailing Home | Culminating in a dramatic Christmas Eve storm at sea, this is at once a rousing adventure and an intriguing look at a unique lifestyle that will fascinate young and old alike. Don’t miss this FREE unit study from Homeschool Share.
Under the Sea | Simple text describes the animals that are found under the surface of the ocean, from the shallow coral reefs to the depths of the sea floor.
Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures | The Cat in the Hat, Sally, and Dick take an undersea voyage aboard the S.S. Undersea Glubber!
An Octopus is Amazing | An introduction to one of the curiosities of the sea–the multi-tentacled, highly intelligent octopus.
30 Amazing Octopus Facts You Don’t Want to Miss | Learn everything you need to know about octopuses in just 20 pages with simple and easy to understand descriptions!
The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark | An under-the-sea retelling of The Three Little Pigs!
Come to the Ocean’s Edge | A poetic text and beautifully composed watercolor paintings describe coastal creatures and their habitat.
A Whale of a Tale | Onboard a vessel that would make Jacques Cousteau green with envy, the Cat and Co. take to the high seas in search of whales, dolphins, and porpoises—those aquatic mammals known as cetaceans.
The Sea Chest | Living sheltered on a lighthouse island with only her parents for company, Maita always longed for a sibling-longed not to be the only child the ragged island knew. And then one icy night, howling winds blew wave after wave against the shore, and from that fearsome storm came a sea chest-a gift that would change Maita’s life forever. Be sure to check out the FREE Unit Study from Homeschool Share.
The Snail and the Whale | When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale, the two travel together to far-off lands. It’s a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend?
Humphrey the Lost Whale | Describes how a migrating humpback whale mistakenly entered the San Francisco Bay in 1985 and swam sixty-four miles inland before being led back to the sea by people concerned for his welfare.
Whales Passing | A simple story of a boy and his dad who watch from the shore as Orca whales swim by and imagine the pod’s underwater life. Check out the accompanying FREE Unit Study from Homeschool Share.
Baby Beluga | Raffi’s signature song, Baby Beluga is now available in book form perfect for his youngest fans.
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