We’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer here. My kids are counting down the days until the pool opens.
To keep them occupied, and to get me in the summer mood, we’ve been reading our favorite summer books and beach books for preschoolers.
Come take a look at what we love!
We usually travel to Daytona Beach every year with my grandmother. While we’re there, we visit the Marine Science Center and their Turtle Rehab Unit. There, they have sea turtles who are sick or have been injured in the wild. The staff care for the turtles until they are healthy enough to return to the sea.
To reinforce some turtle learning, we picked up Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! The kids can tell you all about turtle habitats, predators, and more. DLTK-Kids has a sweet turtle craft for preschoolers.
Learning about camouflage in nature is so much fun! This book takes a look at how an octopus can hide itself in its surroundings. My kids also try to find a pipefish, crabs, and sea dragons.
I love this octopus craft from Making Learning Fun. Print it out, then encourage your children to fill in the dots with tiny stickers or Do a Dot Markers. Yay for fine motor fun!
This is one of my very favorite books from Eric Carle. My children loved learning about the different ways that sea animal fathers care for their babies.
You can use this seahorse template along with watercolor paints to create your very own seahorse craft.
Don’t miss A House for Hermit Crab for more beach themed fun.
4. Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea
My husband is a scuba diver, so he loves to read this book to the kids. A little boy dives for treasure for his mother, meeting loads of sea animals along the way.
You can print out these sea animal characters, color them with markers and laminate them to act out the story.
Get your sand pails and shovels ready! This sweet tale from Patricia Hubbell chronicles a little girl’s day at the beach, complete with exploring, sand castles and seaweed.
I love Little Golden Books. They remind me of being a kid.
This story follows a family’s day at the beach – I could look at the timeless illustrations all day long! When you’re finished reading, set up the baby pool for more summer fun!
Need to work on counting skills with your little ones? Let’s do it up, ocean style!
If you can pull yourself away from the polymer clay creations that grace the pages, you can encourage your children to count the pufferfish, gruntfish and seahorses they find.
Are you musically talented? You can actually ‘sing’ the book to the tune of Over in the Meadow.
Need a book to anchor your ocean unit? Don’t miss this classic from Giles Andreae. Each page depicts a different ocean animal.
I even found this fun video on You Tube! (click over if you’re unable to view the video)
Discussing animal habitats? Check out this book that covers crustaceans, or animals that live in shells. Your kids will learn about how shells are homes, much like our houses.
Stop by Homeschool Creations for a Ocean Printables Preschool pack.
10. Beach Day
We read this book each summer before going on vacation. My kids get so excited, thinking about gathering their sand toys, packing snacks and frolicking in the water.
These beach dot to dot pages are great for counting and writing practice.
Looking for more ideas for summer books? I’ve got my favorite beach and ocean books for preschoolers, as well as preschool summertime crafts, over at The Homeschool Classroom.
Did I miss one of your favorite beach or summer books? Be sure to share your ideas in the comment box!
Have a Top Ten Post of your own? Link up with my good pal Angie over at Many Little Blessings for Top Ten Tuesdays. I’ll also be sharing this with my fellow mother of a big family, Amy of Raising Arrows.
For the next few weeks, I’m joining my friends at iHomeschool Network for our 10 in 10 Series – 10 amazing weeks of top ten posts on homeschooling topics. It’s going to be so much fun!
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I'm Dianna - a Catholic homeschooling mother of five, trying to live my faith, teach my children and stay fit - all while trying to manage a large family without losing my mind. 
