Sea Glass Summer is a delightful picture book with a heart felt story. One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to his grandfather. This picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibility that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.

Julia Rothman’s Ocean Anatomy is an excellent resource for studying the Ocean. Follow along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. 

The Seashore Book brings a day at the beach vividly to life as a boy and his mother imagine what it would be like to spend a day at the seashore. Hunting for seashells and building sandcastles, this tribute to the power of imagination and the tenderness of a mother-child connection is also a sweet ode to summer’s greatest pastimes.

We love The Lighthouse Family books by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant. She brings the peaceful sounds, sights, and characters of the coast vividly to life. These books are excellent first chapter books and perfect for a summer family read aloud.

Hello Lighthouse is a beloved picture book from two-time Caldecott Medal award-winner Sophie Blackall that transports readers to the seaside in timeless, nautical splendor! My family loves this read aloud! The shape of the book is tall and thin just like a lighthouse. This is a rich, living book!

 In Beacons of Light: Lighthouses, Gail Gibbons tells all about these beautiful and useful structures, using careful explanations, colorful facts, and helpful illustrations to show how lighthouse technology has developed and changed over the years. 

Not Quite Narwhal is a fun, whimsical picture book. Growing up in the ocean, Kelp has always assumed that he was a narwhal like the rest of his family. Sure, he’s always been a little bit different—his tusk isn’t as long, he’s not as good of a swimmer, and he really doesn’t enjoy the cuisine. Then one night, an extra strong current sweeps Kelp to the surface, where he spots a mysterious creature that looks just like him! 

Camp Tiger, where imagination meets reality in this poetic and tender ode to childhood.
Every year, a boy and his family go camping at Mountain Pond.
This year, the boy is going into first grade, and his mother is encouraging him to do things on his own, just like his older brother. And the most different thing of all . . . this year, a tiger comes to the woods.

My family recently read and loved Hot Dog. This glowing and playful picture book features an overheated—and overwhelmed—pup who finds his calm with some sea, sand, and fresh air. Destined to become a classic!

WINNER OF THE 2023 CALDECOTT MEDAL 

The Raft is a gorgeous picture book celebrates the wonders of summer adventures, imagination, and the natural world. Nicky is convinced that his summer with his grandmother in the Wisconsin woods is going to be the worst summer ever. She cooks food that he doesn’t like, there’s an art studio where her living room should be, and he’s expected to do chores—including fishing, the most boring chore ever.

Hattie & Hudson is a wonderful picture book about a girl who discovers a huge mysterious beast from the depths of the lake. Everyone in town is terrified—except Hattie, who looks into the creature’s friendly, curious eyes and knows that this is no monster. She befriends the giant and names him Hudson. But how can she make the frightened, hostile townspeople see that he isn’t scary or dangerous at all? 

The Little Island is the Winner of the 1947 Caldecott Medal, this beautifully moving story centers around a little island in the midst of the wide ocean, and the curious kitten who comes to visit. As the seasons pass, the island and the creatures who call it home witness an ever-changing array of sights, smells, and sounds—proving that, no matter how small, we are all an important part of the world.