Best Picks for Storytime about the Ocean and Fishing

Toddler Read Alouds: 
At the Beach by Anne Rockwell
Baby Loves Summer!  by Karen Katz
Bear and Hare Go Fishing by Emily Gravett (2017) - love this book
Ben Goes Swimming by Jan Ormerod
Big Fish, Little Fish by Ed Heck
Brownie and Pearl Take A Dip by Cynthia Rylant  ~ simple narrative for Toddlers
Fish Wish by Bob Barner
Go Fish!  by Tammi Sauer (2018) - love this book
Hooray for Fish!  by Lucy Cousins
Jack It's A Sunny Day by Rebecca Elgar
Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn (2016)
Little White Fish by Guido Van Genechten (2015) - definitely use this for Toddlers
My New Sandbox by Donna Jakob
One Sun by Bruce McMillan
Peekaboo! in the Ocean by Cocorette (2016)
Pop-Up Peekaboo! Under the Sea by Clare Lloyd (2018)
Sea, Sand, Me! by Patricia Hubbell
To the Island by Charlotte Agell
Uh-oh! by Shutta Crum (2015)
Where Is Baby's Beach Ball? by Karen Katz
Who Sees You At the Ocean? by Carla Dijs

Preschool Read Alouds:
All You Need for A Beach by Alice Shertle
George's Store at the Shore by Francine Bassede
How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
I Saw the Sea and the Sea Saw Me by Megan Cash
I Spy Under the Sea by Edward Gibbs = fun guessing book
Louie's Goose by H. M. Ehrlich
Little Fish, Lost by Nancy Van Laan
Ocean Parade by Patricia McCarthy
Poor Little Guy by Elanna Allen
Rub-A-Dub Sub by Linda Ashman
Sand Castle by Brenda Yee
Six Sandy Sheep by Judith Enderle
Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
10 Little Hermit Crabs by Lee Fox
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Shell by Lucille Colandro
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck = MY PERSONAL FAVORITE

Kindergarten Read Alouds:Beach Day by Karen Roosa
Billy's Bucket by Kes Gray
Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak
Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan
Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
Plankton is Pushy by Jonathan Fenske (2017)
Seaweed Soup by Stuart J. Murphy
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout by Teri Sloat
Fins and Flippers, Scales and Nippers by Ann Garrett

Flannels, Songs and Story Extensions

Books That Translate Into Flannel Stories
10 Little Hermit Crabs by Lee Box
Moving Day by Robert Kalan

Fish Bowl
I had a bowl of water, and in it was one fish
Swimming around with a swish-swish-swish
One little fish is so much fun..
I wish I had another one!
(repeat up to five, and then say: But I don't have room for another one!)

If You're Going to the Poo1

(Tune of "Happy and You Know It")

If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit,
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit,
If you’re going to the pool, then a suit will keep you cool,
If you’re going to the pool, wear your suit.

…then a  hat will keep you cool
…then flip flops will keep you cool
…then some shades will keep you cool

Ocean version of "Hokey Pokey"
You put your shark's teeth in,
You take your shark's teeth out,
You put your shark's teeth in
And you snap them all about!

(Repeat with: crab's claws, octopus arms, whale spout, etc.)

Ocean version of "Five Little Monkeys"
Five little goldfish, swimming in the sea
Teasing Mr. Shark, "You can't catch me."
Along comes Mr. Shark as quiet as can be…. CHOMP!

(Countdown until there are no goldfish left)

Ocean version of "Doo Wah Diddy"
There I was just a swimming in the sea,
Singing doo wah diddy, diddy-dum, diddy-doo
All of a sudden there's a dolphin next to me
Singing doo wah diddy, diddy-dum diddy doo...

She swam fast She swam deep
She dove deep She dove deep
She swam fast, she dove deep
Hey, this dolphin's really sweet!

Repeat with:
All of a sudden, there's a crab next to me…
Singing ooo wah diddy, diddy dum, diddy doo
He pinched soft… He pinched hard…
Really caught me off my guard.

All of a sudden, there's a whale next to me
Singing ooo wah diddy, diddy dum, diddy doo
She splashed her tail… and then she rolled…
Whales are silly, I've been told!

All of a sudden, there's an octopus on me
Singing ooo wah diddy, diddy dum, diddy doo
She squeezed hard… She squeezed tight…
Til I was swimming out of sight!

All of a sudden, there's a shark next to me
Singing ooo wah diddy, diddy dum, diddy doo
Oh no…what can I do?….
I'll swim back on shore to you! (Whew!)

Red Fish, Red Fish, What Do You See?
Red Fish, Red Fish
What do you see?
I see an Orange Fish looking at me.
(repeat with fish of other colors)