It’s the first day of summer!

In case you don’t already have plans to celebrate, or you plan to spend the day relaxing by the pool or on the beach, we have some great titles for you to enjoy. So put your feet up, open one of these 10 awesome books, and celebrate the summer solstice with us!

At the Beach

At the Beach
by Elizabeth Spurr
illustrated by Manelle Oliphant

In this gently rhyming board book about a visit to the beach, a young boy digs in the sand and makes a sand birthday cake, then loses it to the waves. However, his mother distracts him with a picnic, and he falls asleep at the end of a full and happy day.

Fabulous Fishes

Fabulous Fishes
by Susan Stockdale

From the spiky lionfish and the brightly colored clownfish to lanternfishes and hatchetfishes that flash lights so they can find each other in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, children will be fascinated by the breadth of sea life depicted by author-illustrator Susan Stockdale’s richly textured illustrations. Check out the afterword for fascinating facts and a closer look at each fish.

Little Whale

Little Whale
by Jo Weaver

Voyage through the warm, southern seas with a new whale calf and its mother. Together, Little Whale and Gray Whale swim under midnight skies and through coral reefs teeming with life as they migrate to the cool, rich waters of the north to feed. Gray Whale gently guides her baby along the way, keeping Little Whale safe from passing ships and dangerous predators. At long last, the echo of a whale song calls to them through icy water and they know . . . they are home.

About Habitats Seashores

About Habitats: Seashores
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

In this addition to the About Habitats series, award-winning author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children about seashores and what kinds of animals and plants live there. John Sill’s detailed, full-color illustrations reflect the wide variety of seashore topography. A glossary and afterword provide further fascinating details about seashores to inspire readers to learn more.

Go beyond the seashore with About Habitats: Oceans, and learn even more cool facts from Cathryn Sill and John Sill!

About Mollusks

About Mollusks
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

In this addition to the acclaimed About… series, Cathryn Sill teaches children what mollusks are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. With beautifully detailed, realistic paintings, noted wildlife illustrator John Sill introduces readers to a variety of mollusks―from the small Garden Snail to the Giant Pacific Octopus. An afterword provides details on the animals featured and inspires young readers to learn more.

Want to learn about even more creatures who call the ocean their home? Check out About Fish, About Marine Mammals, and About Crustaceans!

Place for Fish

A Place for Fish
by Melissa Stewart
illustrated by Higgins Bond

In this simple introduction to fish and ecology, Melissa Stewart shares with young readers the behavior and beauty of fish. Higgins Bond’s colorful, realistically detailed watercolor illustrations highlight the diversity of fishes and their habitats―from the Lahontan cutthroat trout in Nevada’s lakes to the spotted trunkfish native to Florida’s coral reefs. Pointers show youngsters how they can help in their own communities to protect fish and their natural habitats.

Claude at the Beach

Claude at the Beach
by Alex T. Smith

Claude is no ordinary dog―he leads an extraordinary life! Claude and his best friend, Sir Bobblysock (who is both a sock and very bobbly), pack their bags and go on vacation to the beach. They rescue a man from a shark, win a sandcastle-building competition, and hunt for pirate treasure. After such a long day of adventure, will they make it back home before Mr. and Mrs. Shinyshoes come home from work?

At the Sea Floor Cafe

At the Sea Floor Café
by Leslie Bulion
illustrated by Leslie Evans

Did you know the ocean covers two-thirds of our planet? It is Earth’s largest ecosystem, full of organisms living in wildly different and even extreme environments. This clever collection of poems for kids leads readers from the snailshell home of the jeweled anemone crab to a raft of violet snails hanging upside down in their bubble houses, describing the devious and surprising methods ocean denizens use to forage for food, capture prey, and trick predators.

Leo Dog of the Sea

Leo, Dog of the Sea
by Alison Hart
illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery

After three ocean voyages, Leo knows not to trust anyone but himself. But when he sets sail with Magellan on a journey to find a westward route to the Spice Islands, he develops new friendships with Magellan’s scribe, Pigafetta, and Marco, his page. Together, the three of them experience hunger and thirst, storms and doldrums, and mutinies and hostile, violent encounters. Will they ever find safe passage?

Uncharted Waters PB

Uncharted Waters
by Leslie Bulion

Jonah Lander has secrets―lots of them―and they weigh heavily on his mind. One deception leads to another, all to avoid explaining his fear of the dark salt water to his Uncle Nate. When Sumi, a budding marine biologist, asks him to be her research assistant, he jumps at the chance to make some money. But he gets into a lot more than he bargained for. Soon he will have to face his greatest fears and give up his secrets forever.