Unfortunately, hundreds of shipping containers spill into the sea every year. Perhaps the most famous mishap was in 1992, when a container from China destined for the United States tumbled into the Pacific Ocean, releasing 28,000 rubber duckies. The iconic bright-yellow bath toys caught the currents, which carried them all over the world. In Ducks Overboard!: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans, a picture book for readers in grades two to five, we meet one of them and hear all about its adventure. Told from the perspective of the duck, and accompanied by breakout facts about plastic and the ocean, this story takes us from the factory in China, to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to the beach, and then finally into the home—and the bath—of a loving family. Simple illustrations in bright primary colors depict the bounty of life and garbage beneath the waves. Ducks Overboard! is a compelling read that engages kids in the plastic problem and encourages them to find solutions.

Speaking of finding solutions, in An Earth-Bot’s Solution to Plastic Pollution, we meet Neo, a video game–obsessed kid who lives next to the ocean. Neo is so busy defending Earth against aliens by chucking cabbages at them in his favorite video game that he can’t see the real invasion just outside his door: plastic pollution! That all changes when ocean animals show up, pleading for him to help them clean up their home. With an offbeat storyline, quirky characters, and graphic illustrations reminiscent of early video games, this book offers a unique take on the plastic problem. An Earth-Bot’s Solution to Plastic Pollution is a refreshing read that inspires kids to focus outward rather than inward and work together to tackle real issues off the screens.

When the sun shines on the sea, phytoplankton soak up the rays and grow, only to be munched up by krill, which are then inhaled by a shoal of fish and so on up the marine food chain. The Sun Shines on the Sea introduces preschoolers to the concept of the food chain by taking them underwater to meet squid, tuna, a shark, and a whale—and find out who eats whom. But just when kids think the whale is going to eat the shark, it surprises them by scooping up a cloud of krill, showing them that sometimes those at the top of the food chain feed on those at the bottom. With vibrant illustrations of cute creatures that seem to be smiling whether they’re eating or being eaten, as well as fun flaps that reveal what lies in their bellies, this board book will keep little ones engaged in a subject that’s usually reserved for science class.

In Heads and Tails Underwater, author/illustrator John Canty gives preschoolers creative clues and glimpses of creatures’ back ends to inspire them to guess who’s who—“I am a fish with a horse-like face. My daddy carried me in his pouch when I was a baby. I am a …” From sea stars that can regrow their arms to jellyfish that don’t have brains, Canty pulls out the coolest facts about each species. Big letters in colored text encourage kids to follow along and work on their reading, while illustrations that marry watercolors and 19th-century scientific illustrations inspire an appreciation for the beauty beneath the waves. Heads and Tails Underwater is an engaging and interactive book sure to entertain and delight kids and adults alike.

“Dancing feathers. Goblin teeth. See-through heads.” Oh my! The Strangest Thing in the Sea, another guessing picture book, teaches readers ages seven to 10 about a dozen of the most curious creatures dwelling in the deep. Each character introduces itself to readers with an imaginative description of its appearance, alongside a fantastical artistic depiction (think a barreleye fish as an alien spaceship), and asks if they think it’s the strangest thing in the sea. Kids then open the gatefold to reveal the animal’s identity and learn all kinds of cool facts about it, including if it is, in fact, the strangest thing in the sea. The Strangest Thing in the Sea is an artistic and educational achievement that encourages kids to discover the wonders of the deep.

The lovable duo of Narwhal and Jelly is back for more adventures in the sixth installment in their eponymous bestselling graphic novel series for readers ages six to nine. In Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness, which features author/illustrator Ben Clanton’s trademark cute and quirky illustrations in blues and yellows, Narwhal and Jelly spy a school of fish on their way to school. But when the fish arrive, their teacher, Mr. Blowfish, is about to blow: he has a cold and class is cancelled. Narwhal and Jelly jump in to substitute and hilarity ensues as they put their own spin on classroom classics like math, science, and writing. The fish (appropriately named Fin, Finneas, Finbar, Finch, Finnegan, Finnard, Finnie, Finley, and Delfina) offer readers a lesson in language arts as they speak in synonyms, making this book a delight to read aloud. “Delectable! Delicious! Scrumptious! Toothsome! Flavorful! Yummy! Palatable! Divine! Tasty!” they respond in turn after a taste of Narwhal’s favorite snack of waffles. The science lessons are also packed with real facts, like how a group of sharks is called a shiver and how male seahorses can give birth to more than 1,000 babies at once. Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness is a fun, fast-paced read that will have kids and adults alike laughing out loud.

Now for another narwhal: Little Narwhal longs to roam, so he sets off on his own but soon finds himself far from home and all alone. In Little Narwhal, Not Alone, little readers join the curious whale on an exciting—and at times terrifying—adventure to uncharted waters. While searching for fellow narwhals, he spots a pod of belugas and tries to befriend them but quickly discovers that they don’t speak the same language or eat the same food as him. But when they discover a shared passion for play, they become fast friends. This picture book for kids ages four to eight features expressive, cartoon-like characters in aquamarine, action-packed scenes, and poetic prose printed on the pages in waves: “They look like him—or close enough—though no one sports a twisty tusk.” The book is based on a true story, which is summarized at the end in a note from a marine biologist. Little Narwhal, Not Alone is a touching tale of overcoming obstacles, accepting one another, and finding common ground—or common water—despite our differences.

Attention, grandparents! Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story is the sweetest story you could share with your grandchild this season. In this heartwarming picture book, Little Arvaaq (which means “nursing bowhead calf” in Inuktitut) asks his grandfather a series of questions about all the wonderful things he’s seen and done in his 200 years in the ocean. (Scientists think bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals on the planet.) Grandfather Bowhead responds with incredible tales of beauty and wonder but always reminds Little Arvaaq that nothing compares to the joy he gets from his grandson. “I’ve seen the northern lights running across the vast sky, but they do not compare to the wonder of your very first breath.” Painterly illustrations in a palette of blues adds to the calm, dreamy tone of the book. Grandfather Bowhead, Tell Me A Story is a powerful, emotive book that beautifully articulates a grandfather’s love for his grandson.

And now for dads of daughters: in Hope at Sea: An Adventure Story, young Hope decides she’s heard enough stories from her sailor father—she wants to be part of them. So she stows away in his 19th-century merchant vessel. Hope’s fears that her father will be mad at her melt away as he embraces her as a member of the crew and teaches her the tricks of the trade—tying knots, reading the stars, and even giving the ship a name (Hope Shines) and painting it on the hull. Hope is having the adventure of a lifetime until a storm descends on them, putting them to the ultimate test. Simple yet descriptive text from Hope’s perspective allows the detailed, lifelike drawings to tell much of this tale for kids ages four to eight: “I can hear the sails snap to attention and salute the wind as we pick up speed.” Hope at Sea is a sweet sea story of adventure, love, and resilience that shows that work should never capsize family.

In 2002, people spotted a young female killer whale swimming alone in Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington. Researchers soon discovered that the whale was a two-year-old orphan named Springer who had been separated from her family in Canada, more than 480 kilometers away, but that was only the beginning of the story. In Orca Rescue!: The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer, Donna Sandstrom, a killer whale advocate who was involved in the rescue effort, tells the captivating tale of how Springer made it home. In this illustrated book for children ages eight to 12, Sandstrom shares insider details about the rescue (like how a young boy was the first to speak up and say Springer should be reunited with her family) and fun facts about killer whales (like how they have white marks called saddle patches that are as unique as fingerprints). Soothing watercolor illustrations in muted tones beautifully capture the events, while maps help readers put their fingers on where everything went down. Orca Rescue! is an inspiring story with memorable lessons about overcoming adversity, the power of teamwork, and the enduring strength of family ties.

Meet Dio, an Australian cattle dog that sniffs out southern resident killer whale poop to help researchers better understand how the animals are doing and how they can help them. In Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment, author/photographer Isabelle Groc gives readers a chance to “shake a paw” with several four-legged heroes that are working in various jobs and environments around the world to help protect vulnerable species. This chapter book for readers ages nine to 12 explores the history of working dogs, what makes them so good at their jobs, and what we can do to help them. Adorable and action-packed photos of dogs on the job give readers a rare glimpse into their working lives. Conservation Canines is a fascinating exploration of how our best friends in the animal kingdom are helping us tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, one sniff and one bark at a time.

Looking for a role model for the little explorer in your life? In The Aquanaut, kids meet Jill Heinerth, a Canadian cave diver, underwater explorer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker who was once a little girl with a big imagination—and big ambitions. In this motivating picture book for readers ages three to seven, Heinerth shares how her childhood dreams came true-ish. As a kid, she wanted to be an astronaut, float through space, and see the moon up close. As an adult, she became an aquanaut and floats through the sea and sees moon jellies—and much, much more—up close. The story is creatively told by juxtaposing Heinerth’s relatable childhood hopes (like helping others) with her aspirational adult adventures (like freeing a sea turtle from a fishing net), complete with vibrant illustrations of her at different stages of her life. The Aquanaut is an inspiring read about an ocean hero that shows kids that anything is possible.

Shark Bait!
Text by Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge
Illustrations by Dave Whamond
96 pp. Orca Book Publishers

Sink or Swim
Text by Tash McAdam
112 pp. Orca Book Publishers