6 Books That Take You Under the Sea

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor (Magic School Bus Series), by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Ms. Fizzle does a deep-sea dive with the magic school bus for an aquatic edition of this popular series. (Luckily she brings a lifeguard along for the ride!) Equal parts fun and fact-filled just like the other Magic School Bus books, this educational story is perfect for your aspiring marine biologist.

The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna 
Pout-Pout fish, the star of this bestselling picture book series, is a “glum gloomy swimmer with an ever-present pout.” How do we turn this pout-pout face upside down? Well pucker up because a kiss from a mysterious fish may turn this pouter into a lover. If you want more underwater adventures, try The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School.

The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister and J Alison James
This book is a beautiful object as well as a lovely story, with shimmery illustrations that any kid will be awestruck by. This rainbow fish is the hottest fish under the sea, with “scales every shade of blue and green and purple, with sparkling silver scales among them.” But he has a hard time making friends with the other fish, as he doesn’t want to share his beautiful scales. Sharing is caring, and only when the rainbow fish learns this lesson will he find true happiness and friendship.

I Spy Under the Sea, by Edward Gibbs
This fun picture book uses a cut out spy hole to camouflage the sea creatures on the next page. From seven colorful clown fish to six sea horses to one scary shark (who spies you right back!), curious young readers will be able to have fun guessing what sea animal is next, while enforcing counting skills along the way.

Mister Seahorse, by Eric Carle
In a note to the reader, Eric Carle explains that in certain aquatic families (like that of the seahorse, tilapia, pipefish, and others), the baby eggs are taken care of not by mom, but by dad. What a cool way to start a story about Mr. Seahorse! This book is a great (and beautifully illustrated) way to introduce your kids to the wonders of marine life.

Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas, by Lynne Cox and Brian Floca 
As a former competitive swimmer, I was psyched to find that this book was written by Lynne Cox, an open water swimmer who is in the International Swimming Hall of Fame! Now there’s some one who has definitely spent a lot of time with her head underwater. Luckily for us, Lynne took a break from breaking records to write this wonderful story of Elizabeth, the very regal elephant seal from New Zealand who lived in the Avon River. (Based on a real life story!) Watery illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Brian Floca make for a perfect pairing.