Storytime Theme: Ocean

It’s summertime (almost)! And for many families that live around Philadelphia, that means plans to go “down the shore.” And yes, that is very much the colloquial way of talking about going to the beach! I’m hoping to at least take a day trip at some point this summer to head to the beach – it’s a pretty quick trip and plans to go midweek beat the weekend traffic.

Today’s storytime is inspired by the ocean – animals, the beach, sandcastles, you name it! Check out these fun books, songs, and crafts that work for the preschool classroom, library storytime, or even at home!

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Storytime: Ocean

• All You Need for a Beach by Alice Schertle
• Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies
• Beach Day by Karen Roosa, illustrated by Maggie Smith
• Hooray For Fish! by Lucy Cousins
• I’m a Shark by Bob Shea
• In the Sea by David Elliott, illustrated by Holly Meade
• I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs
• Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon
• To the Beach! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Songs

• The Fish in the Sea – Jbrary
• Five Little Ocean Friends – Literary Commentary
• Waves at the Beach (to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus) – Books & Bibliotheks

Activities

• Moon Sand Sensory Play – Happy Mothering
• Paper Plate and Bubble Wrap Jellyfish – Glued to My Crafts
• Puffer Fish Craft with Fork – Crafty Morning

Looking for more great ocean/beach themed books? Check out these eleven titles from Ocean Conservancy!