The best picture books about the seaside

Illustration from Sally and the Limpet by Simon James (Walker Books) © Simon James Good to Read for:creating memoriesbuilding family traditionsadding to the excitement of a trip to the beach School’s out for summer, and many kids have the exciting anticipation of sandy toes, ice cream cones, and a trip to the seaside.

Whether you’re planning an epic beach adventure or dreaming of seaside escapes from your living room, there’s something magical about stories that capture the wonder of waves, rockpools, and salty air.

A day spent at the beach becomes more than just sand and sea when you head home to share your memories over tales of seaside adventures and curious crabs. With the right books, even a rainy afternoon indoors can be salted with seaside magic that conjures ocean breezes. To help you find the best, I’m sharing some of my favourites that celebrate everything I love about the seaside.

  Illustration from  Tip Tap went the Crab by Tim Hopgood (Macmillan) © Tim Hopgood  

From gentle stories perfect for little ones who might be nervous about their first beach trip (), to rambunctious tales about the journey there (), these books are treasures waiting to be discovered. There are stories to spark children’s imaginations about what lies beneath the waves (Flotsam, ) and daring adventures over them (The Elephant and the Sea).

My recommendations explore the seaside through different seasons and cultures, expanding our view beyond the typical summer beach day to include stormy winter shores (The Storm Whale), coastal communities (), and even far-flung tropical shores ()

  Illustration from Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia (Walker Books) © Lauren Tobia   Ready to explore?Click on the links below to discover more about my favourite picture books about the seaside! GOOD TO READBest picture books about the seaside(Click on titles to see full review)

Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia

Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies

The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies

There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb

Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton

The Little Boat by Kathy Henderson & Patrick Benson

Tip Tap went the Crab by Tim Hopgood

Sally and the Limpet by Simon James

Our Pebbles by Jarvis

Town is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz & Sydney Smith

The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull

The Elephant and the Sea by Ed Vere

Flotsam by David Weisner

Illustration from  There’s a Tiger on the Train! (Faber Children’s Books) © Rebecca Cobb BUY THE BOOKSPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF BUY U.S. BUY U.K. Don’t forget!

You can borrow (and order-in) books from your local public library.

You can buy second hand to save money. Try World of Books, who pay a share back to the creators!

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Find more in-depth reviews of the other recommended titles here.

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SOURCES

Illustration from Sally and the Limpet by Simon James (Walker Books) © Simon JamesIllustration from Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia (Walker Books) © Lauren TobiaIllustration from  Tip Tap went the Crab by Tim Hopgood (Macmillan) © Tim HopgoodIllustration from There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb (Faber Children’s Books) © Rebecca Cobb © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE