I love incorporating books into our learning, and there are some amazing toddler booksfocusing on 'Under the Water' and 'The Ocean' themes. Some of my favorites are below. I've focused mainly on fiction books, but I really encourage you to look through some nonfiction books with your toddlers. You'll be amazed how interested they are and if you look at the pictures and ask open-ended questions they will learn so much!

Wait, there's more... Do you like your story books to come with an extra challenge? We also make puzzle adventure books where you can look for clues and solve riddles while you read! Try out our Twinkl Puzzled Adventure Books, including Adventure at Dragon Castle and The Lost Astronaut. Ocean pollution resources available to support the story include:These books have been chosen as our favourite under the sea themed books to read with your toddlers and preschoolers. Look and Learn with this National Geographic favourite for toddlers – with simple words and bright colourful pictures National Geographic Kids Look and Learn will grow with you and your child. Ocean Story Cloth Book Books that are sensory are a hit with young toddlers and also older ones too, and Discovery Kids Splash in the Ocean!with 10 different sounds will sure to be a hit with them. Read along, press the buttons and learn about the Under Sea World. National Geographic Kids Look and Learn

Along with National Geographic, we also love the Eyewitness guides from DK and DK Eyewitness Books: Oceanis full of information with fantastic images and another that will last through the years so a good investment. Over in the Ocean: In a Coral ReefFrom non-fiction books full of information that your tot will understand to stories set above and below the waves. If you want to combine these books with some fun under the sea crafts & activities then you'll love THESE toddler activities. I'm sure you've heard of this one before and if you've already read the original there are also some spin-off books too. Let us know at the bottom which are your favourite sea creature books and we’ll update the list to include them.

A favourite theme for our toddlers and preschoolers is under the sea and oceans. Living near the coast it’s always been a favourite and as a marine biologist, it was something that I was passionate about introducing the kids to early. Make some clay animals to go with the book Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes Wish for a Fish: All about Sea Creatures Cat in the Hats Learning Library As a teacher, this hasalways been one of my favorite themes with young children. The underwater theme leaves so much to be explored that the biggest problem is always narrowing down our activities and deciding which ones are the best.With a finger puppet and in board book format In My Oceanis perfect to read with babies and toddlers. Read along and discover what makes the ocean such a great place for the little dolphin to live in. Favourite Under the Sea and Ocean Animal Fiction Books If you're looking for fantastic underwater books for toddlers then you can't go past these great ones! These are books that you will frequently find in early childhood classrooms and that are favorites with parents and teachers. With magnetic pieces, this book Under the Sea Magnetic Story & Play Scene not only tells a story but also lets your children create their own stories. I loved listening to mine act out their own story with the people in the submarine discovering the underwater world. Way down Deep in the Deep blue sea Without a doubt your book shelf should contain some encyclopedia’s although the internet is great children need to learn how to use these classic books for research and for your budding marine biologist Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia is a perfect starter to discover more about the oceans of the world and learn how to use encyclopedias as well. The Ocean Alphabet Book

Create a Storytelling Wheel to help your child retell the story of the snail and the whale Mister SeaHorse Another favourite children’s author of our’s Leo Lionni is the author and illustrator behind Swimmya story with a moral and a wonderful book to read aloud to your children. More Animal Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers I’ve said it before and I will say it again the National Geographic series of books are fantastic for kids. This one National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is aimed perfectly at preschoolers and an ideal additional to your book basket for any ocean or under the sea themed topics. Children’s Guide to Sea Creatures Do watch out for our Sea Turtle book list coming soon as they were my specialist as a marine biologist but in the mean time Sea Turtles: Amazing Pictures and Animal Facts Everyone Should Know by Ann Lawrence is a good non-fiction book for you and your child to read featuring all 7 species of turtles. Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia With beautiful illustrations and interesting facts Simon & Schuster Children’s Guide to Sea Creatureswill be able to answer most of those questions from your inquisitive preschooler that you have no clue of the answer to. I would recommend any of this series of illustrated encyclopedias for your family bookshelves. DK Eyewitness Books: Ocean

Tip: Plan ahead and reserve these at your local library if you don't want to buy them - although after re-reading my list, these would all look good on my bookshelf!) Mister Seahorse from Eric Carle is the perfect book for a child and their father to read together. It would make a great father’s day gift for a child to give to his or her dad with some read with me tokens and with classic Eric Carle illustrations it’s sure to be a great bedtime story. Commotion in the Ocean Soft, activity books like this Ocean Story Cloth Bookhave a fantastic dual purpose you can read together but at the same time play. They are perfect to slip into your baby bag to take on trips or place in the car for your young toddler to “read” whilst you drive. In My Ocean This year I've decided to have a focus on our toddler books and activities at home, and am aiming to spend a few weeks on each topic. My daughter is a huge Octonauts fan and has taken a big interest in the ocean and all of the animals that live there. For this reason, we are going to start with'Under the Water' and will be planning activities relating to this theme. We seem to have focused on the life in the oceans so far but this book Oceans Of The World In Color: Marine Life and Oceanography for Childrengoes into more details about the oceans themselves, where they can be found, what they are like, their names as well as a little on the creatures that live there. Oceans: Dolphins, Sharks, Penguins and more!