Best Books for Little Beach Babes

Did you know that it is World Ocean Day? It is a day set aside to celebrate the ocean and to encourage people to take care of the sea. This year’s theme is Healthy Ocean, Healthy Planet. Take a look at their website to find how you can become involved.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the ocean. Personally, I like to spend as much time as possible near or on the sea. Unfortunately, I’m not able to be at the beach today but I can read some of my favorite beach books. These titles are picture books to share with very young children.  I’ll share books for older children in another post.

Beach Baby by Laurie Elmquist (author) and Elly MacKay (illustrator) is a lyrical beach lullaby for very little children. The illustrations are a soft and gentle accompaniment to the lovely text. Each spread focuses on an individual animal found on the beach or in the sea.

I love the opening spread because it looks like my daughter and her baby. So sweet! (Orca Books)

Wave by Suzy Lee (author and illustrator) proves that a picture is worth a thousand words. There is no text but the story is richly told through the illustrations of a young girl experiencing the beach and playing with the waves. (Chronicle Books)

Seashore by Alain Gree (author and illustrator) follows a pair of children who are to visit the seashore. Each spread shows different things such as their preparation for their trip, transportation, beach activities, and sea life. This is a great book to share with little ones who like to point out items in the illustrations. (Button Books)

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry (author and illustrator) is one of our family favorites told from the viewpoint of a giant squid who boasts about how much bigger he is than other sea creatures until he finds himself in the stomach of a big, blue whale. The illustrations are bright and bold and the repetitive text will have everyone laughing. (Scholastic)

Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion (author) and Margaret Bloy Graham (illustrator) We love this classic story about Harry who goes to the beach with his family on a very hot day. Since there is no room for him under the umbrella, he heads into the ocean to cool off. Harry comes out covered with seaweed and he wanders the beach looking for his family but everyone thinks he is a sea monster. Read this book – you can’t help but fall in love with Harry.    (Harper Collins)

The California Coastal Commission put together this YouTube video called Art for a Sea Change  http://oceanday.net/ to celebrate and educate children about the need to care for our oceans.