The temperature is rising, and some families may be packing up and heading to the beach to have some fun in the sun, perhaps bringing a book along with them! Even for kids who aren’t making their way to a coastline this summer, there isn’t a better time of year to get some outdoor reading done, especially when that reading is about the wonder of ocean life. This month’s S-Collection blog offers a variety of nautical-themed books to get you in a beachy, summertime mood. The picture books feature stories about ocean animals big and small, with special attention paid to the shells they leave behind. For kids interested in learning more about the ocean and all its wonder, check out the nonfiction selection for oceanic history and life books. Finally, if you’re looking for longer material, the juvenile fiction section highlights chapter books and graphic novels about summertime and life by the sea. Whether you want to learn more about oceans and beaches this summer or find some exciting summer-themed books to combat your reading slump, the S-Collection has what you need this July!
Fiction Picture Books
Salati, Doug
Hot Dog. 2022. Picture Book.
It’s a hot, sunny day in a big, crowded city, and this dachshund needs a break! It has been a long morning of running errands, and he’s had enough – which he shows to his owner by plopping down on his behind in the middle of a busy crosswalk. Luckily, his owner knows just what to do to cure the summer blues. Dog and human take a taxi, train, and boat to get to a secluded island, where the dog is free to roam, play in the sand, and even meet new aquatic friends. This hot dog is able to cool down when he gets a bit of respite from the city, and at the end of the evening, the pair returns to their apartment, renewed and ready for the next day. The fun and even healing power of the beach takes the spotlight in this delightful romp, winner of both the Caldecott Medal and the Ezra Jack Keats Award.
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Sicuro, Aimée
If You Spot a Shell. 2024. Picture Book.
A day at the beach is not complete without a hunt for shells! In this picture book, the young narrator lets their imagination run wild, seeing the shells as hats, umbrellas, wheels, and more. Use the book’s picture encyclopedia in the back if you want to learn about all of the different shells you find on your own beach day, and follow the instructions to make shell rubbings if you want to bring a little piece of nature home with you!
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Weisner, David
Flotsam. 2006. Picture Book.
This classic wordless picture book follows a young boy as he explores the beach. A perfectly-timed wave leads him to an old camera covered in barnacles, and, letting curiosity get the best of him, he takes the film in to be developed. The pictures he receives depict underwater scenes both bizarre and marvelous, and kids will want to pour over each photo endlessly, hoping to catch every little interesting detail. Winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal.
Q. SE. W637f
Nonfiction Picture Books
Bern, Jennifer
Illustrated by: Amanda Hall
How the Sea Came to Be. 2023. Nonfiction Picture Book.
This engrossing nonfiction picture book whisks readers through billions of years of oceanic history with rhyming, lyrical text and beautiful artwork. The journey begins before the ocean existed at all, eventually moving forward to a time when water covered much of the earth yet contained no life. The ocean was eventually, however, the source of all life, and this book traces that evolution, made engaging through the colorful, detailed pictures on each page. Perfect for young readers who want to learn more about the beaches and water they play in each summer.
S.551.46 B4574ho
Butterfield, Moira
Illustrated by Jesús Verona
Look What I Found at the Beach. 2022. Nonfiction Picture Book.
This search-and-find picture book follows a group of children having a fun day at the beach. On each page, they find something new, be it a shell, a fossil, or a bird. Readers can pull out a magnifying glass to see if they, too, can find the ocean wonders. At the end of the book, the children take home their pile of treasures as keepsakes to remember their exciting summer day. Readers will learn more about the ocean and the creatures who call it home throughout this engaging text.
Q. S.577.51 B982lo
Messner, Kate
Illustrated by: Christopher Silas Neal
Over and Under the Waves. 2022. Nonfiction Picture Book.
While the red paddleboards belonging to this book’s young narrator may catch the eye of those above water, it looks completely different to viewers below. Different perspectives and angles of life under the sea are illuminated in this book, which covers the smallest blades of kelp to the largest humpback whales. The narrator ends the day at the ocean’s edge, scouring the shoreline for shells and other ocean life. Simple, rhythmic language makes this book accessible to even the youngest of readers. If you can’t get enough of this deep dive into unique animal habitats, see other books in Kate Messner’s Over and Under series, also in the S-Collection.
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Juvenile Fiction
Clanton, Ben
Illustrated by: Tara Walker
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea. 2016. Juvenile Graphic Novel.
In this juvenile graphic novel, readers are introduced to the characters Jelly and Narwhal through simple yet endearing illustrations. They are initially hesitant to meet one another – sea creatures can be pretty strange-looking, after all – but they soon learn to appreciate how different and special they each are. Even though Narwhal is endlessly cheerful and upbeat while Jelly can be a bit gloomy at times, the two become the best of buddies. Soon, they’re meeting even more odd sea creatures and introducing readers to the diversity of life in the ocean. For those who can’t get enough of these characters’ goofy friendship, follow their adventures into the sequels, also in the S-Collection.
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Durfey-Lavoie, Lee.
Illustrated by: Veronica Agarwal
Sink or Swim. 2024. Juvenile Graphic Novel.
It’s summertime, but middle-schooler Ty isn’t excited for the months in the sun. He was unable to participate in last season’s swim team due to an injury, and in the time he spent away, he also distanced himself from his two best friends. The trio is reunited at camp, and throughout the summer, Ty must balance his complex feelings towards them as well as his depression. A thoughtful story about changing friendships and mental health set in the backdrop of the summer between school years.
S.741.5973 D9341jusi
Taylor, Will
The Language of Seabirds. 2022. Juvenile Fiction.
Instead of having fun with friends this summer, 12-year-old Jeremy is forced to travel to an Oregon beachside town with his father while his mother prepares to move out of their house. His parents are newly separated, and although Jeremy always saw his dad as the relaxed, happy-go-lucky parent, he watches him become increasingly ornery and dependent on alcohol as the days go by. Jeremy has recently realized he is gay, but his troubles with his parents put his plans to come out on hold. One day, Jeremy sees a boy running on the beach, and the two strike up a friendship that has the potential to grow into something more. A sweet summertime romance, perfect to read while relaxing on the beach this July.
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