Nonfiction Kids Books about Oceans and Marine Life

Kids will love these nonfiction books that teach them about the amazing way the oceans and marine life contribute to the health of our planet.

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On this list of children's ocean books I've included a variety of topics, like individual sea animals, general knowledge books, biographies, and saving the oceans. In addition to picture books, I included some fantastic graphic novels about sea creatures.

Picture Books

Ocean: Secrets of the Deep by Sabrina Weiss. I adore this comprehensive look at the oceans. Full of facts about everything: animals, ecosystems, maps and environmental concerns, this is a book to treasure and explore. I love the illustrations and easy to read layout. Definitely get this one! Ages 8 and up.

MORE: 50 Science Picture Books: 5 books on 10 topics

From Shore to Ocean Floor: The Human Journey to the Deep by Gill Arbuthnott, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen. This is the kind of picture book you will never want to return to the library, so you might as well get one for your bookshelves at home. Oversized illustrations tell the story of how humans have been interacting with oceans since the very beginning. It includes scientific phenomena, but also the folklore surrounding the sea and how the oceans have influenced culture, as well as exploring the impact humans have had on oceans and marine life. Ages 7 and up.

How the Sea Came to Be by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Amanda Hall. Berne takes readers on a 4.5 billion year evolutionary journey using poetry. Illustrations full of movement, and buoyant, onomatopoeic text make this an excellent read aloud. Backmatter allows curious kids to learn more detail. Ages 6 and up.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean by Catherine Hughes. All the books in the National Geographic Kids collection are fabulous, and my kids loved these "First Big Books" on various topics when they were preschoolers. The best part of this book is that is grows with your child. Preschoolers can learn from the simple facts and bold photographs, but older kids will enjoy delving deeper with the fact "blurbs." Ages 4 and up.

MORE: Earth Science Books for Kids

Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem by Patricia Newman. Growing up on coastal California, I have a huge soft spot for sea otters. I just love the little fellows! This informational book looks at events at Elkhorn Slough in Monterey and how the otters play a key part in the ecosystem. Great photographs, easy to read text and an engaging layout make this Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book a true gem. Ages 10 and up.

MORE: How to Make an Ocean in a Bottle

In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Jessica Lanan. A freediver witnesses a miracle in this recounting of a 2014 event–the only known time a human was present at the birth of a sperm whale in the wild. The awe-inspiring action takes readers below the surface, drawing parallels between the freediver's need for oxygen and the calf's, as the whales include the diver in their whale circle for a brief moment. Ages 4 and up.

MORE: Nonfiction Books about Animals

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs by Kate Messner, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. This award-winning book is gorgeously illustrated and tells the interesting history of conservation efforts to rebuild the coral reefs. The narrative focuses on the biography of Ken Nedimyer, starting when he was a boy and filled with wonder for the oceans. As an environmental scientist, he became concerned with the state of the coral reefs and began to experiment with creating new coral colonies. An endnote includes further resources and vocabulary. Ages 4 and up.

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A Nivola. Explorers are not just mountain climbers and sea farers!  This book starts out with the quiet "investigations" of a girl watching a pond. When her family moves to Florida, she starts her investigations of the Gulf of Mexico. Earle's love for the ocean and its life drift off the page, and this is a surprisingly moving book with detailed illustrations to explore. It's a wonderful book to start a conversation with your kids about how explorations of new territory can inspire us to take care of the environment. Ages 5 and up.

MORE: Biographies of Women Scientists

Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Molly Bang and Polly Chisholm. This is a lovely book for kids to learn how different environmental systems "feed" off each other. The narration is occasionally poetic and explains how solar energy supports ocean and marine life. The authors have several other books in their Sunlight series, which teach all the different ways that the sun impacts our planet besides keeping us warm on a summer day. Ages 5 and up.

How to Survive as a Shark by Kristen Foote. This is a fun, entertaining take on the nonfiction genre. A teacher shark, complete with pirate get-up, shows the young sharks the ropes, and thus teaches the reader all about sharks! Includes photos, a glossary as well as lots of facts! This type of nonfiction narrative is particularly fun as a read aloud, so dive in! Ages 4 and up.

Coral Reefs: A Journey Through an Aquatic World Full of Wonder by Jason Chin. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a girl in the New York Public Library starts reading about the ocean only to find herself swept away on an adventure of scientific discovery. I love the use of narrative fantasy elements in a nonfiction book, which captures the imagination of kids who might not always want to just read facts-facts-facts! Ages 5 and up.

Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth. When I was a kid I was a little obsessed with the tiny sea horse. They seemed so magical to me. John Lawrence's illustrations from wood cuts and engravings perfectly capture that magic. This is a lovely book and suitable for preschoolers, too. Ages 4 and up.

Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson. I like to include stories of activism when reading nonfiction. They can show kids how one person, or a small group of people can make a big difference. This list of ocean books includes several titles that teach kids about the interconnectedness of ecosystems which lays the foundation for understanding what a big deal it is that a group of kids were able to help "a bunch a turtles." Ages 5 and up.

MORE: Books to Inspire a Love of Nature

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns. I've mentioned before how much I love the Scientists in the Field series. Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer turns trash into scientific data to help him understand the currents and health of the oceans. Readers will see photographs of how once familiar objects like LEGO, toothbrushes and toys become trash that hurts the environment. Definitely look for other ocean-themed books in this stellar series. Ages 9 and up.

MORE: Books to Inspire Care for the Environment

Graphic Novels

Mad Scientist Academy: The Ocean Disaster by Matthew McElligott. More over Ms Frizzle, Dr. Cosmic is here to take his students on a crazy, science fiction, madcap adventure under the ocean. Engage reluctant readers with this comic book/graphic novel series that tackles a variety of scientific subjects. Ages 6 and up.

MORE: Nonfiction Graphic Novels

I'm a Dumbo Octopus! by Anne Lambelet. Grimpy the octopus takes readers on a tour of cephalopods and their unique characteristics. A fun and humorous introduction to some fascinating deep sea creatures. Ages 8 and up.

The Deep!: Wild Life at the Ocean's Darkest Depths by Lindsey Leigh. Have your kids ever wondered about what lurks in the deepest darkest parts of the sea? Consider this graphic novel a virtual dive to find out. Vibrant illustrations and informative but entertaining text take kids on a one of a kind journey. Ages 9 and up.