'Splish Splash' Beach Books for Kids

We are feeling "summer vibes" with these books about the beach and swimming for kids.

Updated April 24, 2026
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Bringing the beach home
Atkins, Laura
Paper Book
A heartwarming picture book about the healing power of creativity and nature as a young child learns to bring the beach home through a special craft, offering comfort during life's transitions. "Delicately warm and lovely. This is an understated yet graceful portrait of a...
Big family beach day
Crews, Nina
Paper Book
Kirkus Best Book "The love that binds this family together is as warm as the summer sun." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An extended family enjoys a day at the beach in this intergenerational tribute to family, friendship, new experiences, and...
The beach day : three-and-a-half stories
Dyckman, Ame
Paper Book
In the third book in the Bat, Cat & Rat series--a companion to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Vacation--from New York Times bestsellers Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague, hijinks ensue when the roommates take a trip to the beach in three-and-a-half sweet and silly...
Beach bummer
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
#1 New York Times best-selling author Ryan T. Higgins celebrates the delights of summer in this bite-sized Little Bruce Book perfect for fans of Mother Bruce. It's beach day in Soggy Hollow! Everyone is enjoying fun in the sun - everyone, that is, except for Bruce. It's...
The cool bean makes a splash
John, Jory
Paper Book
The Cool Bean faces the super slide in this Level Two I Can Read by the #1 New York Times bestselling duo Jory John and Pete Oswald! It's a perfect day at the community pool for a swim. The cool beans are the best swimmers in town. Check out how they dive! Look at how they cannonball!...
Our lake
Kang, Angie
Paper Book
CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK * A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang. Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used...
Beach pug
May, Kyla
Paper Book
The tenth Branches early chapter book featuring the hilarious pug, Bub, and his human, Bella!Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots,...
El Nin?o
Ryan, Pam Muñoz
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of Esperanza Rising comes a riveting story that blends myth, fantasy, and reality into an entrancing adventure, perfect for fans of Meg Medina, Kate DiCamillo, and Rick Riordan. "An inventive, absorbing novel." --...
A day at the beach
Schmidt, Gary D.
Paper Book
Look Both Ways meets Seedfolks in this masterful novel from two titans of kid lit that follows a diverse cast of young people whose lives intersect in surprising and hilarious ways over the course of a summer day. Here's what's so cool about the beach. Kids are...
The best worst summer of Esme Sun : a novel
Shang, Wendy Wan Long
Paper Book
Award-winning author Wendy Wan-Long Shang dives in to the deep end of sportsmanship, prejudice, and the power of friendship in this funny, heartfelt story about two very different girls and one shared passion: swimming. Esme Sun absolutely does not care about winning shiny...
Deep water
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
"Readers will feel every wave of Tully's emotions as she risks everything to try to get her mom's attention. A powerful novel in verse." --Lisa Fipps, author of Printz Honor book Starfish A middle grade novel in verse that "packs a powerful punch" (Kirkus Reviews...
Aqua boy
Wilson-Max, Ken.
Paper Book
A boy's love for the sea and marine animals spurs him to quiet bravery--and a transformative first experience--in a story that will resonate with young ocean lovers. Aaron lives by the ocean with his sister, Angel, and his mom and dad, who are Ocean Guardians. He loves the smell...
Beach hair
Woodfolk, Ashley
Paper Book
From two bestselling creators comes a lyrical and heartfelt picture book about a multiracial family's trip to the beach that's an ode to family, community, diversity, and--most importantly--fabulous beach hair! When I wake up with the wildest bed head and Mommy...

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