Life on the Water

By Kat La Mantia | May 2 2023 | AdultsBlogChildren'sGeneralAllGift

Summer means time being spent by the water. Whether you’re called to bustling family beaches, wild, salty coastlines with swells perfect for surfing, a lakeside party with friends, or a classic New England clam bake, there’s a book on our list for every summer adventure. Explore the beach with kids. Wonder at the beauty in the depths of the ocean. Enjoy fresh coastal eats and tropical drinks at a breezy, sun-drenched dinner party.

See some of our favorite coastal picks below, and then click into our title lists to discover even more!

 

Ocean Gifts

Coastal Living

Ocean, Beach, and More for Kids

Clark Little: The Art of Waves Puzzle
Clark Little: The Art of Waves Puzzle
A Jigsaw Puzzle Featuring Awe-Inspiring Wave Photography from Clark Little: Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults
Clark Little
9780593578759
This stunning 1000-piece puzzle features an awe-inspiring breaking wave from Instagram sensation Clark Little.
$19.99 US
May 02, 2023
10 x 8
Game
1000 Pages
Clarkson Potter
Oceanarium
Oceanarium
Welcome to the Museum
Loveday Trinick, Teagan White
9781536223811
This stunning new offering from the Welcome to the Museum series guides readers around the world's oceans, from sandy shorelines to the darkest depths.This stunning new offering from the Welcome to the Museum series guides readers around the world's oceans, from sandy shorelines to the darkest depths. Learn about the ocean’s most fascinating animals, including giant whale sharks, tiny tropical fish, and majestic manatees, among many others. With expert text by marine biologist Loveday Trinick and stunning illustrations by Teagan White, travel the world from frozen Arctic seas to shimmering coral reefs, and learn why it is so important that we protect our oceans.
$37.99 US
Apr 05, 2022
10-11/16 x 14-9/16
Hardcover
112 Pages
Big Picture Press
Age 8-12 years
Shellfish
Shellfish
50 Seafood Recipes for Shrimp, Crab, Mussels, Clams, Oysters, Scallops, and Lobster
Cynthia Nims
9781632174000
These fifty delicious and approachable shellfish recipes--which includes shrimp, crab, scallops, oysters, clams, mussels, and lobster--are perfect for busy home cooks who want to create satisfying dishes and who also may be new to cooking with shellfish.
$22.95 US
Mar 15, 2022
6-3/4 x 8
Paperback
208 Pages
Sasquatch Books
The Seashore Sticker Anthology
The Seashore Sticker Anthology
With More Than 1,000 Vintage Stickers
DK
9780744051346
Capture the splendor of sea life with this alluring collection of stickers.
$24.99 US
May 03, 2022
6-11/16 x 8-9/16
Hardcover
232 Pages
DK
Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach
Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach
Alli Brydon
9781426373688
Companion to the bestselling National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this delightful take-along nature guide helps young children find, identify, and learn about the fascinating animals, plants, and other wonders to be found at the seashore.
$9.99 US
May 02, 2023
8 x 8
Paperback
48 Pages
National Geographic Kids
Age 4-8 years
Surf Shack
Surf Shack
Laid-Back Living by the Water
Heather Summerville, Nina Freudenberger
9780451496058
Surfer magazine meets The New Bohemians in a design book of the coolest spaces that surfers call home. Domino magazine contributor Nina Freudenberger and former domino photographer Brittany Ambridge cover 20 aspirational bungalows, coastal cabins, boat houses, and hideaways in California, Montauk, Baja, Australia, and more.
$35.00 US
Apr 11, 2017
8 x 11
Hardcover
272 Pages
Clarkson Potter
Coastlines
Coastlines
At the Water's Edge
Emily Nathan
9781984858344
A stunning, wanderlust-inspiring collection of travel photography focused on water and coastlines from the premier online curator of travel photography, Tiny Atlas Quarterly.
$35.00 US
May 24, 2022
9 x 11
Hardcover
288 Pages
Ten Speed Press
Look What I Found at the Beach
Look What I Found at the Beach
Moira Butterfield, Jesus Verona
9781536223972
Open your senses to a world of wonder by taking a walk along the beach!Set off on an adventure and find natural treasures, from spiraled seashells to discarded mermaid's purses. Then learn more about the marine plants and creatures in this fact-filled guide to the outdoors.
$15.99 US
Jun 14, 2022
10-5/8 x 9-13/16
Hardcover
32 Pages
Candlewick Press
Age 2-5 years
Tiki
Tiki
Modern Tropical Cocktails
Shannon Mustipher
9780789335548
The IACP 2020 winner in the Beer, Wine, & Spirits category, Shannon Mustipher's book on exotic cocktails offers a refreshingly modern take on tiki. With original recipes, techniques, tasting notes and recommendations, and tips on style and music, Tiki is an inspirational resource for cocktail lovers ready to explore fine Caribbean rums.
$29.95 US
Mar 19, 2019
6-1/4 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
192 Pages
Rizzoli
100 Dives of a Lifetime
100 Dives of a Lifetime
The World's Ultimate Underwater Destinations
Carrie Miller
9781426220074
Explore 100 breathtaking scuba diving sites around the world--from the cenotes of Mexico to the best wreck in Micronesia--through stunning National Geographic photography, expert tips, and cutting-edge travel advice.
$40.00 US
Feb 26, 2019
8-1/2 x 8-1/2
Hardcover
400 Pages
National Geographic
Mother of Sharks
Mother of Sharks
Devin Elle Kurtz, Melissa Cristina Márquez
9780593523582
Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree and globally renowned shark scientist Melissa Cristina Márquez teams up with award-winning illustrator Devin Elle Kurtz to create an informative, powerful picture book. With lyrical writing and gorgeous art, this moving story explores Melissa’s personal journey from inquisitive ocean-loving child in Puerto Rico to becoming the Mother of Sharks.
$19.99 US
May 30, 2023
10 x 10
Hardcover
48 Pages
Penguin Workshop
Age 5-8 years
Paint Pad Artist, The: Coastal Landscapes
Paint Pad Artist, The: Coastal Landscapes
6 beautiful pictures to pull out and paint
Charles Evans
9781782217466
'This new series from Search Press is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple. Take one look and you'll get it immediately. I just love them.' Henry Malt, Paint MagazineUse the pre-printed outlines on the watercolour paper provided to create six beautiful coastal landscapes from within the UK and Europe - and learn all the skills you need to become an accomplished artist.
$24.95 US
Nov 12, 2019
8-1/2 x 11
Spiral Bound
108 Pages
Search Press
Surfer Magazine
Surfer Magazine
1960-2020
Grant Ellis
9780847871490
Over its six decades in print (1960-2020) the legendary Surfer magazine was considered to be the bible of surfing and surf culture. This carefully curated anthology, showcasing the best covers and interior pages serves as a quintessential reference guide to the history of surfing, surf style and design.
$55.00 US
Jul 05, 2022
9 x 12
Hardcover
304 Pages
Rizzoli
The Science of Surfing: A Surfside Girls Guide to the Ocean
The Science of Surfing: A Surfside Girls Guide to the Ocean
Kim Dwinell
9781603094948
Watch Surfside Girls from Apple TV+!From biology to physics to ecology and beyond, the ocean is packed with science! Ride the waves of knowledge with Sam and Jade as they discover the amazing wonders of the sea, and have a blast doing it.
$9.99 US
Dec 14, 2021
6 x 9
Paperback
112 Pages
Top Shelf Productions
Age 9-12 years
Eventide
Eventide
Recipes for Clambakes, Oysters, Lobster Rolls, and More from a Modern Maine Seafood Shack
Arlin Smith, Mike Wiley, Sam Hiersteiner, Andrew Taylor
9781984856326
Turn your kitchen into your own personal seafood shack and oyster bar with 120 recipes from the James Beard Award-winning restaurant that personifies the allure of Maine.
$30.00 US
Jun 02, 2020
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
272 Pages
Ten Speed Press
Millie Marotta's Secrets of the Sea
Millie Marotta's Secrets of the Sea
Pocket Colouring
Millie Marotta
9781849947909
A wonderful portable edition of Millie Marotta’s Secrets of the Sea, from the Sunday Times and international bestseller artist.
$9.95 US
Jul 04, 2023
5-9/10 x 5-9/10
Paperback
96 Pages
Batsford
Ocean: A Peek-Through Picture Book
Ocean: A Peek-Through Picture Book
Britta Teckentrup
9780525647201
The bestselling series that began with Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book now adds an elaborate and beautiful children's book with peek-through holes that show the amazing life in the world's oceans.
$17.99 US
May 28, 2019
9 x 11
Hardcover
32 Pages
Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Age 3-7 years
AFROSURF
AFROSURF
Mami Wata
9781984860408
Discover the untold story of African surf culture in this glorious and colorful collection of profiles, essays, photographs, and illustrations.
$40.00 US
Jun 15, 2021
8-15/32 x 11-1/32
Hardcover
320 Pages
Ten Speed Press
Mermaid Dreams
Mermaid Dreams
Kate Pugsley
9780735264915
Mermaids come in all shapes and sizes! In this sweet picture book, a shy little girl goes on a magical underwater adventure filled with adorable mermaids, silly sea creatures, games with new friends and wonderful surprises!
$17.99 US
Apr 30, 2019
8-1/2 x 9-1/2
Hardcover
32 Pages
Tundra Books
Age 3-7 years
Adriatico
Adriatico
Recipes and stories from Italy's Adriatic Coast
Paola Bacchia
9781925418729
A beautifully crafted cookbook that charts the food traditions in the towns that skirt the coastline of Italy's striking Adriatic Sea
$35.00 US
Sep 25, 2018
8-1/4 x 10-1/2
Hardcover
304 Pages
Smith Street Books
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