A fish is usually the first wild animal a child gets to stare at up close — through the glass of a pet-store tank, over the rail of a dock, or in a tide pool where something silver flickers off before anyone can name it. Fish do not bark, fetch, or make faces, which is exactly why picture books have spent seventy years handing them one: a pout, a stolen hat, a coat of scales worth arguing over. They are also the animal children ask the hardest questions about. Do they sleep. Do they feel it. How far down does it actually go.
Bookroo’s collection of 587 books about fish runs from bathtub board books to deep-sea nonfiction, and our editors chose ten that reward a second reading. You will find the read-aloud classics most parents half-remember, two nonfiction titles for the child who wants facts rather than morals, and a chapter book for the reader who has outgrown the picture-book shelf. Start with the shortlist, then browse by age — board books for toddlers, picture books for the three-to-eight crowd, and longer fish stories for eight and up.
One small black fish loses his entire school to a tuna, then teaches the next one how to look like something bigger.
A very small fish steals a very small hat from a very large fish, and narrates his getaway with total confidence.
The most beautiful fish in the ocean has silver scales, no friends, and a decision to make about both.
Seuss counts, rhymes, and invents his way through a parade of creatures that barely stay on the page.
Mr. Fish has decided he was born to spread the dreary-wearies, and nobody in the ocean can talk him out of it.
Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs, Mr. Seahorse carries them, and he meets an entire ocean of fathers doing the same.
A minnow’s best friend turns into a frog, leaves the pond, and comes back with descriptions the minnow can only picture as fish.
Eugenie Clark loved sharks when everyone else called them monsters, and spent a career proving everyone else wrong.
A single vertical journey from the sunlit surface to the floor of the Mariana Trench, one depth at a time.
One goldfish, one evil older brother, one jolt of electricity, and a pet that comes back with hypnotic green eyes.
Sturdy, bright, survivable ocean books for laps and bathtubs — counting fish, naming colors, and pointing at everything with fins — ages 0–4.
A big shark and a little shark try to catch fish for a snack.
Count along with colorful fish in this interactive board book.
Dare to touch the untouchable in this ocean adventure.
A young fish discovers the beauty in ocean diversity.
Explore ocean opposites with playful fish and interactive pages.
Dive into the sea with Little Fish and discover his favorite friend.
Discover ocean wonders with your toddler in this engaging board book.
Dive into ocean wonders with curious infants exploring marine life and ecosystems.
Ten fish swim, but one by one, they vanish. Who will stand up to the big fish?
Dive into a colorful underwater adventure and count the playful fish.
Join Mr. Fish as he discovers the true meaning of love.
Join Pout-Pout Fish as he turns frowns into sleepy smiles before bedtime.
Read-alouds where the fish carries the story: friendship at the bottom of a pond, a first swim away from the school, and the strange real animals living under the boat — ages 3–8.
A clueless fish bites bait, leading to unexpected adventures.
Uncover the mysteries of sharks, the sea's most misunderstood predators.
Three friends embark on whimsical adventures, discovering joy in the everyday through waiting, fishing, and gardening.
Uncover the ocean's secrets and its mysterious creatures in a lyrical journey beneath the waves.
Explore emotions through vibrant fish illustrations, each expressing a unique feeling on every page.
Can a shark and minnow defy nature and become friends?
A girl fears a pool shark until a new friend changes everything.
A group of fish work together to clean up a big mess in the ocean and learn to adopt new habits to prevent it from happening again.
A shark-loving boy must learn to swim to prove himself in a sibling showdown.
A boy tries to convince his parents to get him a shark for his birthday.
Dive into ocean wonders with rhymes and facts, guided by a curious cat.
A young girl discovers her destiny in the ocean's depths.
Longer stories and nonfiction for readers who want a whole book about the water — pet goldfish gone wrong, shark science, and expeditions into the deep — ages 8–12.
A boy befriends a shark and learns about its habits and characteristics, but their friendship is put to the test when a deep-sea fisherman comes to town.
Sixteen fierce sharks clash in a battle for supremacy. Who will reign supreme?
Discover which fierce animal reigns supreme in epic battles across land and sea.
A forbidden cheat code unleashes chaos in Elmore. Can the Watterson boys save the day?
Ocean ruler Gray faces a deadly threat and must outsmart a cunning foe.
Ancient sea monsters awaken, threatening a war beneath the waves.
A young shark must lead a rebellion against a tyrant threatening their ocean world.
A megalodon uncovers ancient secrets as a new threat rises from the deep.
Discover which fierce animals triumph in epic battles.
Hammerhead vs. Bull Shark: Who wins the ultimate ocean showdown?
Uncover shark secrets and predator mysteries with Jack and Annie's fact-finding adventure.
Can Daniel catch the legendary fish his grandpa pursued, or will it slip away?
