TD Summer Reading Recommends
Deep, deep down : the secret underwater poetry of the Mariana Trench
Lukidis, Lydia, author
2023
"Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been-the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet"-- Provided by publisher.
Gracie under the waves
Park, Linda Sue, author.
2024
Gracie loves snorkeling! She loves it so much, she convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatan, Honduras, where they can all snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect. Then Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef ... but she's just a kid. What can she do to make a difference? Fortunately, her new friend has a few ideas!
The house that floated
Guojing, 1983- author, illustrator.
2025
"In this wordless story, a family makes their home on a cliff overlooking the sea. They live peacefully, spending their days exploring the ocean and filling their home with warmth and laughter. But as seasons pass, the waters rise, bringing the tides closer to the clifftop and the house. When a powerful storm rages and giant waves engulf the cliff, the family must leave -- but not without their beloved home" -- Provided by publisher.
I hear you, ocean
George, K. (Kallie), 1983- author
2022
"This joyful and soothing book about ocean sounds for kids 3-7 will transport readers to the seaside. When a child visits the ocean with his little brother, he whispers to him, "The ocean has lots to say, if you listen." Together, they hear wondrous things, like the rumble of pebbles tumbling and filling the beach with shiny gems, the bark of a seal playing peekaboo, and the whooshing of a shell murmuring messages. The second book in the Sounds of Nature Series for young children, I Hear You, Ocean is an excellent resource for outdoor education and social-emotional learning"-- Provided by publisher.
Kwesi and Nana Ruby learn to swim
Commeh, Kobina, author.
2025
Kwesi doesn't know how to swim and discovers his grandmother, Nana Ruby, doesn't either, so they turn to the West African legend of Mami Wata to face their fears, in an intergenerational story about the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears.
Murray out of water
Tracy, Taylor, author.
2024
Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Natalie Lloyd, and Jasmine Warga, this beautiful novel in verse explores one girl's struggle to regain her magic after a hurricane forces her to move away from her beloved ocean that, she believes, has given her special powers.
My book of frogs and toads
Valério, Geraldo, 1970- author, illustrator.
2025
"Leap into this stunning exploration of frogs and toads from around the world! A companion to My Book of Butterflies and My Book of Birds. When Geraldo Valério was growing up in Brazil, he learned that the tiny creatures he saw swimming in a puddle by the river weren't fish, but tadpoles that would grow and change into entirely different creatures ... and his fascination with frogs and toads began! In this gorgeous album, Geraldo presents his favorite frog and toad species from around the world. Dazzling paint and paper collage illustrations introduce us to a wide range of creatures: meet the frog who can grow to the size of a small housecat, and the toad who spends most of its life in an underground burrow. Learn fascinating frog and toad facts about what they like to eat, how they grow and reproduce and why one particular toad smells like garlic! Colorful endpapers, showing the frogs and toads as eggs and tadpoles, complete this beautiful book for budding young naturalists. Includes an introduction, world map, a diagram of a frog and toad's life cycle, a chart explaining the differences between frogs and toads, as well as a glossary, index and suggestions for further reading."-- Provided by publisher
No huddles for Heloise
Kerbel, Deborah, author
2025
"In this humorous picture book, Heloise the penguin doesn't like huddling with her friends (it gives her the collywobbles), so she sets off to find others like her but discovers there's no place like home-especially when your friends support you"-- Provided by publisher.
The song that called them home
Robertson, David, 1977- author.
2023
"One summer day, Lauren and her little brother, James, go on a trip to the land with their Moshom (grandfather). After they've arrived, the children decide to fish for dinner while Moshom naps. Ttheir canoe is in the middle of the lake when the water suddenly becomes rough. Then something tips them over. When Lauren surfaces she sees her brother being pulled away by the Memekwesewak--human-like creatures who live around water and like to play tricks on people"-- Provided by publisher.
Spotting Dottie
Anderson-Dargatz, Gail, 1963- author
2024
"In this high-interest accessible novel for middle-grade readers, fourteen-year-old Charlotte wants to use her new drone to prove that Dottie, the elusive lake monster of Lake Dorothy, really exists."-- Provided by publisher.
Together, a forest : drawing connections between nature's diversity and our own
MacLean, Roz, author, illustrator.
2025
Joy and her peers are eager to visit a nearby forest for a class trip. But Joy's excitement quickly turns into anxiety when she is asked to choose one thing in the area for a school assignment. Seeing her classmates connecting with the natural environment, Joy discovers how each of their choices reflect the ways they relate to and interact with the world. Together, a Forest begins as an exciting journey into nature and blossoms into a meditation on how our unique personalities and ways of being help create more vibrant and beautiful communities.
What fish are saying : strange sounds in the ocean
Pendreigh, Kirsten, author
2025
"Did you know that fish grunt, shellfish crackle, and some sea creatures even burp and boop to communicate? Dive into a fascinating underwater adventure as one little shellfish guides readers through the surprisingly loud world beneath the waves"-- Provided by publisher.
When you can swim
Wong, Jack, 1985-, author, illustrator
2023
A reverent celebration of learning to swim among a diverse cast of children and families who each experience the mysterious joys of water in nature.