The Great British Beach Clean 2019 takes place from 20-23 September. We've teamed up with Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to pick out our favourite children's books about the beach and sea.
Seashore, by Victoria Munson
“From tiny crabs to slippery seaweed, discover fun facts about amazing seashore wildlife. Find out what plants and animals live at the seashore, how they survive and how to identify them. Which fish have teeth strong enough to crack open shells? Which sea mammal can reach speeds of 30 kph?”
Seashore Watcher, by Maya Plass
“Head down to the seashore and learn how to identify corals and shells, create beach art and spot all kinds of wildlife.
“Packed with fascinating fact files, amazing photographs and hands-on creative activities, Seashore Watcher is the ultimate, practical guide for exploring and learning about the seashore and beyond.”
The Seashore, by Lisa Regan
“Discover the science of the natural world - on your doorstep! Seashores are all around us, whether they are in the form of relaxing sandy beaches or towering cliffs. But, did you know, the seashores near you are brimming with life? This book uncovers the science and wonders of life on the shore.”
Go Wild at the Seaside, by Goldie Hawk & Rachael Saunders
“This pocket-sized adventure guide teaches young adventurers about all the fun you can have at the seaside: what to pack, how to spot sea creatures and wildlife, how to catch a fish and much, much more! Children will also learn exactly what not to do, from getting stung by a jellyfish to getting caught in a rip current.
“With fun games to play, interesting information about protecting the coastline, and a useful chapter on what to do in a seaside emergency, this is the perfect book for young coastal adventurers!”
Seashore, by Emily Bone & Cinzia Battistel
“Filled with colourful and detailed illustrations, this is a great source for answering children’s endless questions about all the nature and wildlife they might find at the seashore.”
Seashore, by Davis Burnie
“Explore the beach and find out about shell shapes, what lives in rockpools, and find out the answer to questions such as ‘What causes tides?’ With exciting activities, like making a paper boat, and plenty of fun facts, ‘Seashore’ is a must for children curious about the seashore and keen to explore the world.”
Curious Questions and Answers about our Oceans, by Camilla de la Bédoyère
“This humorous twist on the perennially popular Q&A format takes a sideways look at all that is super and strange about life in the oceans. Quirky illustrated characters and playful text reveal the amazing answers.”
The Sea: exploring our blue planet, by Miranda Krestovnikoff & Jill Calder
“This book will have you diving into the deepest depths of the blue, exploring the astounding seas and oceans that cover our planet and discovering the amazing animals that populate our waters, including the largest living animal: the blue whale!”
Ocean, by Miranda MacQuitty & Frank Greenaway
“Ocean allows readers to see ocean vessels in operation and discover how common jellyfish catch tiny prey with their slime. It includes colour photographs of deep sea creatures, models of the sea floor and provides an insight into the animals and plants that make up the world’s marine life.”
A First Book of the Sea, by Nicola Davies & Emily Sutton
“A spellbinding collection of poems about the oceans of the world and their shores. With this book, children can swim alongside dolphins and flying fish, pore over rockpools and sail from pole to pole and back, learning about everything from phosphorescence and plankton to manta rays and puffins - all in the comfort of their bedroom.”
The Sea Book, by Charlotte Milner
“Featuring fascinating fishy facts accompanied by bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations, this book takes children on a journey through the sea and all its zones. Touching on mammals, fish, invertebrates, and reptiles, The Sea Book explores a wealth of incredible marine animals and their habitats, from up on the ice, down to colourful coral reefs, underwater forests, and right down to the deepest darkest depths where the weird and wonderful lurk.”
Ocean: secrets of the deep, by Sabrina M. Weiss & Giulia De Amicis
“Discover menacing sharks, playful dolphins, clownfish, penguins, turtles, whales, shimmering jellyfish, and gargantuan giant squid. This book is jam-packed with hundreds of stylish illustrations and many more surprising facts about the world’s marine life. Readers are taken on a journey from the water’s surface to the deepest, darkest depths of the oceans, stopping off at coral reefs and kelp forests.”
Atlas of Ocean Adventures: a collection of natural wonders, marine marvels and undersea antics from across the globe, by Goldie Hawk & Lucy Letherland
“Take a trip through the oceans of the world to discover creatures of the deep and see the unique environments in which they live.”
The Big Book of the Blue, by Yuval Zommer
“Why do octopuses have eight arms? Why do crabs run sideways? Are jellyfish made of jelly? Yuval Zommer’s beautiful book provides the answers to these and many more fishy questions. His wonderfully quirky illustrations show off all kinds of slippery, shimmery and surprising sea creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, rays and seahorses.”
My First Seas and Oceans Book, by Matthew Oldham & Jane Newland
“Full of amazing creatures, beautiful seascapes and hundreds of underwater things, this is a lovely book for grown-ups and children to share and talk about together. Peek below the surface and see whales, eels and starfish, a coral reef and creatures of the deep. Discover food from the sea, ships and shipwrecks, and explore a map of the oceans.”