Sea Turtle Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

As a marine biologist my speciality was sea turtles and I’ve passed the fascination of these beautiful creatures onto my children. From an early age we’ve read about sea turtles extending on our selection of ocean books for toddlers and preschoolers further. So if you have toddlers or preschoolers interested in Sea Turtles then why not check out our latest book recommendations for tots with our favourite Sea Turtle Books to read aloud with toddlers and preschoolers.

Sea Turtle Books to Read Aloud

Below you’ll find the best sea turtle books we have found to read together with our little ones.

From non-fiction books to beautifully illustrated tales of sea turtles and fun stories.

If you are specifically looking for books to help you teach or your child explore the sea turtle life cycle further then check out our sea turtle life cycle books for kids.

We have included affiliate links to some of the products and resources as an associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow the Moon Home

Although aimed at older preschoolers and those starting school Follow the Moon Home by Phillippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkins is one of my favourites.

Showing how even the very young can make a difference it follows the tale of Viv a young girl who moves to the shore and brings the community together to help save the sea turtles.

One Tiny Turtle

Follow a loggerhead turtle on it’s amazing journey in One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies.

For 30 years the loggerhead has swam the oceans until she’s ready to return to the beach where she was born to nest and lay her eggs.

The book is books is beautifully illustrated as well as with rhythmic text and well worth adding to your book collection to read throughout the year.

Poky, The Turtle Patrol

Although seeing a turtle nest is magical by far my favourite experience from years of sea turtle patrols is watching the hatchlings emerge from the nests.

In Poky, The Turtle Patrol by Diana Kanan, Poky the hatchling sea turtle emerges from the nest convinced that he is the late to the great sea turtle race to the sea.

But as the story flows he discovers he’s not late at all and other hatchings emerge as well to join him.

Read Next: Sea Turtle Creature Study for Kids

I’ll Follow the Moon

Written as a poem, I’ll Follow the Moon by Stephanie Lisa Tara tells the tale of a baby green sea turtle that hatches on a moon lit beach and makes it way to the ocean to reconnect with it’s mother sea turtle.

Although the tale produced some interesting discussions with my kids that know a little sea turtle biology i.e. the mother sea turtle never connects with her hatchlings we did enjoy the illustrations and the poetry.

Baby Honu’s Incredible Journey

Another tale about green sea turtles in Baby Honu’s Incredible Journey by Tammy Yee we learn about the Pacific Green’s and also ocean life around the islands of Hawaii.

From the land creatures and birds that Honu meets as he emerges from the sand to the wonderful ocean animals that he encounters once he leaves the beach.

Into the Sea

For older preschoolers and one that will last a while as your child grows Into the Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson follows a female turtle from hatching to returning to the natal beach to lay her own eggs.

With details text that also tells the life story of the turtle this is a beautiful book about the sea turtles journey.

Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers About Threats to Sea Turtles and Sea Turtle Conservation

The books above all feature tales about the sea turtle life and in passing may mention some of the threats to them as well as conservation efforts.

The following books deal more with those topics and ideal to read to your toddlers and preschoolers to start to educate them about conservation work and the threats to wildlife in the world.

How about reading what sea turtle scientists do! In Sea Turtle Scientist by Stephen R. Swinburne you can follow a female scientist on the island of St Kitts working with leatherback sea turtles and discover what they do.

This is exactly what I did although my experience was in Costa Rica and is such a wonderful book for any child that would like to be a Sea Turtle biologist.

Saving Tally: An Adventure into the Great Pacific Plastic Patch

In Saving Tally: An Adventure into the Great Pacific Plastic Patch by Serena Lane Ferrari, Tally a curious turtle and Ara her lobster friend discover that it’s not the ocean creatures like sharks and crabs that should be feared.

But instead their biggest threat is man made!

This is a wonderful book for younger preschoolers and toddlers to introduce the problem of plastic pollution and how it is harming ocean wildlife.

Little Turtle Changing the Seas

Follow little turtle as she emerges from the sand on a stormy night into the sea in Little Turtle Changing the Seas by Becky Davies.

As she heads out on her journey through colourful coral reefs and beautiful oceans over the years she sees how the plastics have changed her homes.

Luckily there are conservationists to help her out.

This is truly a wonderfully illustrated book and shows how plastic pollution in the ocean happens as well as what children and you can do to help.

Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle

Although Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle by Laura Joy Pewitt has deep meaning helping children to find their way back on track it also raises the point of light pollution as a problem for sea turtles.

Wally is a little hatching that should emerge from the nest and make his way to the ocean following the glint of the moon on the waves.

However, the light pollution stops him and he heads the wrong way!

Books about Specific Sea Turtle Species for Toddlers and Preschoolers

• Gracie Green Turtle Finds Her Beach by Paul J. Mila
• Hawksbill Promise by Mary Beth Owens
• Landon and the Leatherback Sea Turtle by Adele Edwards

Sea Turtle Non-Fiction Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

We love adding non-fiction books to our book basket to share with our toddlers and preschoolers.

It’s important that children are exposed to a variety of different types of books.

Gail Gibbons illustrates the most beautiful non-fiction books for children. In Sea Turtles, she describes the characterises of these marine reptiles as well as the different species of sea turtles in detail.

• The Life Cycle of the Sea Turtle by Anna Kingston
• Sea Turtles: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature by Kay de Silva
• National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles by Laura Marsh

Further Sea Turtle Activities for Kids

Want to know more about sea turtles then check out our ideas for learning about sea turtles with toddlers and preschoolers.

How about getting creative and trying some of our Sea Turtle Crafts for Kids.