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8 Great Kids Books About Boats & The Ocean

Kids and the young-at-heart alike will enjoy sharing these stories of vessels and the sea

Cover of "The Little Blue Boat" children's book featuring a white sailboat

Little Blue Boat

By Ginger Swift

This tiny, chunky board book is the perfect indoctrination for the boater-to-be. Flip the pages and lift the flaps to meet the Little Blue Boat and explore the ocean. 0–2 years | $7.99

Cover of "How to Hide an Octopus" children's book featuring a large pink octopus

How To Hide An Octopus and Other Sea Creatures

By Ruth Heller

Hunt for camouflaged sea creatures hidden in the pages of the book. The rhyming prose in this 30-year-old classic is fun to read. 3–6 years | $4.99

Cover of "Old Wood Boat" children's book

Old Wood Boat

Written and illustrated by Nikki McClure

Follow the story of a nearly forgotten wooden sailboat brought back from the brink to take on new adventures. Each beautiful illustration is flawlessly cut from a single sheet of black paper. ­ 4–8 years | $18.99

Cover of 'A Little Ferry Tale" children's book

A Little Ferry Tale

Written and illustrated by Chad Otis

Little Ferry wants to be like the biggest and fastest boats in the harbor, but she discovers her true value is in her uniqueness. 4–8 years | $18.99

Cover of "The Science of Seafaring - The Float-tastic Facts About Ships" children's book

The Science of Seafaring

By Anne Rooney

How do boats float? What makes them move? How do waves form? This book answers all the questions about boats and the waters they traverse. Includes relatable examples and simple experiments for understanding more complex concepts. 8+ years | $29

Cover of "Working Boats - An Inside Look at Ten Amazing Watercraft" children's book

Working Boats

By Tom Crestodina

Detailed cross-section illustrations of 10 purpose-built vessels are a sight to behold. Get a glimpse of the inner workings of the boats and learn what it’s like to work on them. 7–10 years | $19.99

Cover of "The Knots" children's book

The Knots Handbook

By Barry Mault

Learn the history behind 45-plus practical knots, how to make them, and real-world uses. This easy-to-follow illustrated book will keep youngsters (and adults) busy for hours. 8+ years | $8.99

Cover of "Sailing Commitment Around the World" children's book

Sailing Commitment Around the World

By Capt. Bill Pinkney

Follow the true story of the author’s historic solo sail around the world with inspiring adventures and lessons learned at sea: dream big, persevere, and don’t be distracted by hurdles. 8–12 years | $25

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Author

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore

Managing Editor, BoatUS Magazine

Stacey is an award-winning marine journalist and photographer who, as BoatUS Magazine's managing editor, handles some of the national publication’s most complex features, as well as keeping it on time, accurate, clear, and timely. Stacey also manages the magazine’s active website and social-media engagement, and is part of the BoatUS video team, helping to produce more than 30 how-to videos a year. Stacey recalls that one of her earliest memories in life includes being hung by her ankles in the engine compartment of her family's 1963 Egg Harbor, helping with repair work and searching for lost items. Her love of boats may only be matched by her love of horses; she spent 20 years writing, editing, and photographing for equestrian magazines and books — including Practical Horseman