Children’s Books About the Beach

These children’s books about the beach are perfect to get the kids excited about an upcoming visit, calm anxieties, and learn about our shores.

Children's Books About the BeachThese days, my kids never want to leave the beach. They’re too busy looking for sand crabs, building channels and castles, and chasing the water with a pail.

You’d never guess these were the same kids who’d cry if their feet so much as touched the sand. They wouldn’t walk anywhere outside the beach towels, much less consider going into the water.

But living in Los Angeles means easy access to the beach, giving us many opportunities for frequent visits. Now I’m happy to report that going to the beach has become the highlight of our summers.

To help make that transition easier, we read plenty of children’s books about the beach. We were able to talk about what they might expect before a trip, as well as what they had seen and experienced after one.

These books also gave me ideas of what we could do, from bringing sandwiches and peaches to building channels that fill up with each wave’s tide.

Reading about the beach can get your kids excited about an upcoming visit. If they’ve had anxieties in the past, you can introduce typical scenes and activities they might do. Or perhaps you’d simply like them to learn about life and all the creatures in our oceans.

Check out these children’s books about the beach, perfect for your next excursion:

Children’s books about the beach

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wave by Suzy Lee

Wave by Suzy Lee

Beach House by Deanna Caswell

Beach House by Deanna Caswell and Amy June Bates

The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor and Kate Berube

The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor and Kate Berube

Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney

Day at the Beach by Tom Booth

Day at the Beach by Tom Booth

Biscuit's First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Biscuit’s First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

The Big Beach Cleanup by Charlotte Offsay and Katie Rewse

The Big Beach Cleanup by Charlotte Offsay and Katie Rewse

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't! by Elise Parsley

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don’t! by Elise Parsley

Beach Day! by Candice Ransom and Erika Meza

Beach Day! by Candice Ransom and Erika Meza

Down at the Beach by Jamie Meckel

Down at the Beach by Jamie Meckel

Beach Baby by Laurie Elmquist and Elly MacKay

Beach Baby by Laurie Elmquist and Elly MacKay

Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Splash! by Candace Fleming

Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Splash! by Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas

Good Night Beach by Adam Gamble

Good Night Beach by Adam Gamble

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean

Pete at the Beach by James Dean

Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer

Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer

Beach Day by Karen Roosa

Beach Day by Karen Roosa

Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Beach by Elisha Cooper

Beach by Elisha Cooper

Duck and Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills

Duck and Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs by Kate Messner

The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner

Shark Lady by Jess Keating

Shark Lady by Jess Keating

The Sea Mammal Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

The Sea Mammal Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer

The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer

Curious George Goes to the Beach by Margaret and H.A. Rey

Curious George Goes to the Beach by Margaret and H.A. Rey

Flotsam by David Wiesner

Flotsam by David Wiesner

Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion

Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

Follow the Moon Home by Philippe Cousteau

Follow the Moon Home by Philippe Cousteau

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures by Bonnie Worth

Wish for a Fish by Bonnie Worth

One Is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab by April Sayre

One Is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab by April Pulley Sayre

Free resource: Want even more book ideas? Join my newsletter and grab your copy of the Read Aloud Book List! You’ll get hundreds of favorite selections to read aloud with your kids. Get it below—at no cost to you:

Read Aloud Book List

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 Comments

  1. Sofia Poullada says:

    My children loved, “Grandma and the Pirate” by David Lloyd and Gill Tomblin. It’s delightful and wonderful “painting style” illustrations. A young boy’s inventive and creative adventure going to the beach with his Grandma. Also, great as an early readier book.

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      That’s wonderful, Sofia! Thanks for the book suggestion.