A dolphin looks as if it is smiling, although the expression is built into its jaw and tells you nothing about its mood. The real animal is more interesting anyway. Dolphins recognize one another by signature whistles, find prey with sound, teach hunting techniques, cooperate in groups, and occasionally invent games for no reason anyone can measure. A good dolphin book begins with the leap beside the boat; a better one follows the animal back underwater, where seeing is difficult and listening is everything.
Bookroo’s collection of 69 dolphin books ranges from finger-puppet board books to field science and middle grade novels, and our editors chose ten that offer more than a friendly gray face on the cover. There are factual read-alouds, a shark afraid of the dentist, two true rescue stories, an early chapter-book adventure, and serious fiction for older readers. Start with the shortlist, then browse by age — sturdy books for babies and toddlers, picture books and first nonfiction for ages three to eight, and longer dolphin stories for independent readers.
The grin is anatomy, every dolphin has its own whistle, and babies enter the world tail-first — with jokes in the margins.
A newborn calf must reach the surface for his first breath, stay beside his mother, and learn the whistle that is his alone.
A shark who fears the dentist meets a dolphin dentist whose office has one very specific rule: no sharks.
A stranded dolphin brings the people of a quiet Cornish fishing village back to the shore — and back to one another.
A plush dolphin swims through every page while a baby supplies the finger and most of the plot.
Jack and Annie take a mini-sub onto a coral reef, lose control of the mission, and discover what dolphins can do in a crisis.
Three wild dolphins approach a diver, and the hooked calf between them makes their request unmistakable.
Lily’s brother responds to a captive dolphin as he responds to no one else, but the dolphin is sick and Lily knows why.
At Shark Bay, named dolphins use sponges as tools, form alliances, and keep changing the questions scientists know how to ask.
A girl raised by dolphins learns human language, rules, and betrayal — then has to decide which world can still be home.
Short, sturdy introductions with finger puppets, flaps, simple rhymes, and real dolphin facts for the smallest ocean watchers — ages 0–4.
Dive into the world of dolphins and uncover their secrets.
Dive into a playful sea adventure with Little Dolphin's daily tales.
Dive deep with a dolphin to uncover ocean secrets.
Funny fiction, calf-and-mother stories, rescue read-alouds, and approachable animal science about whistles, pods, echolocation, and life at sea — ages 3–8.
Dive into the world of dolphins, the ocean's friendliest giants.
Dive into the ocean's secrets with rhymes and discover the wonders of whales and dolphins.
Ocean magic vanishes; can fairies and friends restore it?
Discover Barbie's latest adventure in this exciting story.
A stranded dolphin pod awaits rescue to return to the sea.
Flat Stanley discovers sunken treasure but must choose between gold and saving a dolphin. Will he find the treasure again?
Two dolphins, one with a prosthetic tail, form an unlikely bond. Can they inspire hope once more?
This book explores the lives of whales and dolphins through fascinating facts, interactive activities, and insights into their behaviors, biology, and habitats.
Dive into counting by tens with ocean creatures!
Discover the playful world of dolphins and their intriguing behaviors.
A dolphin calf discovers the power of following its heart.
Discover the surprising truth about killer whales and their dolphin family ties.
Longer fiction and narrative nonfiction about ocean adventures, dolphin rescue, field research, communication, and the difficult line between helping a wild animal and keeping it — ages 6–13.
Discover the secrets of dolphin communication and intelligence.
Can the sisters solve the mystery of escaping animals at Watery World?
Can Wonderland Motel out-fun the competition and win the beach race with secret weapons P.T. and Gloria?
Four princesses work together to solve a mystery and save a dolphin
A summer of loss and love tests Vicky's heart and courage.
Discover the wild world of dolphins and our role in their conservation.
Uncover dolphin mysteries and shark secrets with Jack and Annie's fact-finding adventure.
Stranded diver faces storm and sharks. Can a dolphin save him?
A boy discovers he can talk to dolphins. Can they uncover a sunken treasure together?
A swimmer's quest to reclaim his past collides with myth and mystery as he confronts grief and loss.
A young superhero must save her town from quirky foes when her dad bails.
A girl races against a hurricane to save a stranded dolphin.
