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Best children’s books about the sea

Whales, fish, crabs and deep-sea adventure: the best children’s books for an Under the Sea topic, from board books to Year 6 novels.

12 booksAges 1–11Last reviewed June 2026

Under the Sea is one of the great early-years topics, and it does not have to stop at Key Stage 1. These are our favourite stories set on, in and under the water: a snail who sees the world on a whale’s tail, a fish who will not smile, a boy who befriends a whale.

We have leaned young, because this topic lives in EYFS and KS1, with rhyming read-alouds and lift-the-page books for the littlest, then carried it up through funny early comics to a couple of beautiful Year 5 and 6 novels for the older end.

All chosen because children love them, and because the sea is a place stories are always better for visiting.

  1. Hooray for Fish!

    by Lucy Cousins · Picture Books · ages 1–4

    A bold, joyful fish parade for toddlers and preschoolers, full of rhyme, colour and pattern. It is a classic Lucy Cousins read-aloud for very young children who love naming, noticing and joining in.

  2. The Pout-Pout Fish

    by Deborah Diesen · Picture Books · ages 2–6

    A rhyming, highly repeatable picture book about a gloomy fish whose friends try to help him find his smile. It is not subtle, but it is very readable, memorable, and useful for toddlers and preschoolers learning about mood and friendship.

  3. Don't Worry, Little Crab

    by Chris Haughton · Picture Books · ages 2–6

    Little Crab is afraid of the big sea. Big Crab stays patient and right beside her, step by step. A beautiful, onomatopoeic book about the moment you decide to be brave, and what you discover on the other side of fear.

  4. Wave

    by Suzy Lee · Wordless Picture Books · ages 2–6

    A beautiful wordless beach book about a child meeting the sea, teasing it, fearing it and delighting in it. Excellent for visual literacy, toddlers, reluctant readers and families who love expressive art without text.

  5. The Snail and the Whale

    by Julia Donaldson · Picture Books · ages 3–7

    A lyrical, expansive Donaldson/Scheffler classic about a tiny snail seeing the world and saving a stranded whale. It is one of the most beautiful and emotionally satisfying choices in the core canon.

  6. The Storm Whale

    by Benji Davies · Picture Books · ages 3–6

    After a storm, a lonely boy named Noi finds a small whale stranded on the beach. He takes it home and calls it his friend. Benji Davies' debut is one of the most quietly beautiful picture books of the last decade, a story about loneliness, connection, and a father who is often away.

  7. Don't Trust Fish!

    by Neil Sharpson · Picture Books · ages 3–6

    A very funny mock-warning about why fish are definitely not to be trusted, illustrated with Dan Santat's big comic energy. It is a strong newer pick for children who like absurd animal facts, conspiracy-style silliness and read-aloud comedy.

  8. This Is Not My Hat

    by Jon Klassen · Picture Books · ages 3–7

    A small fish steals a hat from a large sleeping fish and narrates all the reasons it definitely won't get caught, while we watch the large fish slowly, silently follow. Jon Klassen's Caldecott Medal winner is a masterclass in dramatic irony and the art of not showing what happens next.

  9. Peek Through Nature: Sea

    by Patricia Hegarty · Picture Books · ages 3–6

    Beneath the waves, a whole world is alive. Teckentrup's underwater illustrations are among the most gorgeous in the series, Sea takes the Peek Through format into deep water, with die-cut pages that reveal what's hidden in coral reefs and kelp forests.

  10. Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt

    by Ben Clanton · Illustrated Chapter Books · ages 5–8

    Narwhal decides he's a superhero. Jelly is less sure. Super Narwhal is the highest-energy book in the series, the superhero theme brings out Clanton's most absurdist instincts, and finding your own superpower turns out to be the most Jelly thing possible.

  11. The Boy Who Met a Whale

    by Nizrana Farook · Chapter Books · ages 8–11

    A sea-borne adventure full of shipwrecks, treasure rumours and a huge blue whale. It is a strong choice for children who like mystery, danger and animal encounters wrapped in a fast, accessible chapter-book shape.

  12. The Lost Whale

    by Hannah Gold · Chapter Books · ages 8–11

    A tender, oceanic animal story about a boy, a whale and a family in distress. It is a strong choice for readers who want emotional realism alongside wildlife wonder and environmental care.

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