Eight books for kids about exploring the ocean.
Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea
By Gail Gibbons
Dive deep with Gail Gibbons as she explains the mechanics and discoveries of deep-sea exploration. The surface of the moon is more familiar to us than the deep sea of our own planet. Many oceanographers are trying to change that. To explore the deep sea, they climb into submersibles and employ ROVs to find out more about the ocean and ocean floor. Gibbons invites readers along for a journey to the deep sea, explaining the technology for exploration and kinds of animals found at different sea levels. 4-8 years
Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin
By Michelle Cusolito, Illustrated by Nicole Wong
Climb aboard Alvin, the famous deep-sea submersible credited with helping to find the Titanic, and take a trip two miles down to the bottom of the ocean. Experience a day in the life of an Alvin pilot and join scientists at the seafloor to collect samples and conduct research. Along the way, discover what one wears, eats, and talks about during a typical eight-hour trip in a underwater craft and find out more about the animals that live deep in our oceans. Extensive back matter explains how Alvin works, describes the author’s research, and includes a glossary and further reading. 5-9 years
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
By Jess Keating, Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks from the first moment she saw them at the aquarium. She couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than studying these graceful creatures. But Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary — and they didn’t think women should be scientists.
Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks. Like Jack and the Beanstalk but under the sea, Eugenie dove down to discover a world of wonder beneath the water’s surface. She earned the name Shark Lady with her many discoveries about these beautiful creatures. Through her accomplishments, this star girl of the sea taught the world that sharks should be admired, not feared, and that women can do anything they set their minds to. 4-8 years
Otis and Will Discover the Deep
By Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Katherine Roy
On June 6, 1930, engineer Otis Barton and explorer Will Beebe dove into the ocean inside a hollow metal ball of their own invention called the Bathysphere. They knew dozens of things might go wrong. A tiny leak could shoot pressurized water straight through the men like bullets. A single spark could cause their oxygen tanks to explode. No one had ever dived lower than a few hundred feet…and come back. But Otis and Will were determined to become the first people to see what the deep ocean looks like. 6-9 years
Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact
By Jennifer Swanson
Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of astronauts and aquanauts really are. Space and the ocean — if you don’t think they go together, think again. Both deep-sea and space explorers have to worry about pressure, temperature, climate, and most importantly, how to survive in a remote and hostile environment. Join us on an amazing journey as we go up in space with astronauts and dive deep down in the ocean with aquanauts to explore the far-off places of our planet and the solar system. 8-12 years
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Reef Restoration Foundation
By Kate Messner, Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
All it takes is one: one coral gamete to start a colony, one person to make a difference, one idea to change the world. The ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the world’s coral reefs — with hammer and glue and grafts of newly grown coral — and the living legacy of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. This is the story of the coral restoration pioneer in this brilliant tribute to the wonders of nature and the power of human hope. 6-9 years
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
By Jennifer Berne, Illustrated by Eric Puybaret
Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-know oceanographers in the world. 6-9 years
Diving with Sharks
By Margaret Gurevich
Fans of Shark Week, Sharknado, and all things shark-related will want to sink their teeth into this exciting shark-infested chapter book. Join real-life cave divers, extreme photographers, and researchers as they brave thrilling undersea adventures. 7-10 years
Deep in the Ocean
By Lucie Brunelliere
A scientific team has boarded the submarine Oceanos to explore the ocean’s depths. Suddenly, it gets caught in a violent storm, causing it to drift thousands of miles off-course. From the glittering surface of the sea to the darkness of the abyss. Deep in the Ocean takes readers on a bewitching journey through fascinating waters — some warm, colorful, and crowded with sea creatures, others mysterious and turbulent. 3-5 years Board Book
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
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You may like: Jacques Cousteau https://barbaralowell.com/jacques-cousteau
Exploring the Ocean For Kids https://online.kidsdiscover.com/unit/oceans/topic/exploring-the-oceans