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Book on the beach

11 ocean-themed books to celebrate World Book Day

6 Mar 2024

2 minute read

To celebrate World Book Day we're sharing some of our favourite ocean-themed reads. Discover some new books to add to your to be read list below.

The ocean is a truly magical place that has been capturing the imagination of authors for centuries. It has come to symbolise so much, encompassing themes of mystery, journey, freedom, emotion, isolation, and power. No matter your literary taste or genre of preference, there are plenty of ocean-themed reads for you to dive into - here are some of our recommendations:

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

A true story of coping with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Set on the 630 miles of the South West Coast Path, couple Raynor and Moth brave the sea-swept walk from Somerset to Dorset in this moving story.

The Salt Path

Credit: Raynor Winn

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The story follows the life of the mysterious 'Marsh Girl'. Set in the North Carolina marshes, expect to be transported to the marsh's hidden forests, snaking rivers and empty coves, breathe in the salty sea air and enjoy some true armchair escapism.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Credit: Delia Owens

Moby-Dick or, the Whale by Herman Melville

One of the most famous books of all time, we couldn’t compile this list without including Moby-Dick. An adventure set in the wilderness of the high seas, this timeless book follows the obsessive pursuit of a white whale.

Moby DIck

Credit: Herman Melville

Blowfish’s Oceanopedia by Tom ‘The Blowfish’ Hird

The world’s only heavy metal marine biologist (and Marine Conservation Society Ocean Ambassador!) Tom Hird, takes us on an epic tour of our ocean and the weird and wonderful creatures that live below the waves.

Blowfish's Oceanopedia

Credit: Tom Hird

The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbina

An investigative reporter takes a deep dive into the criminal activities taking place in the world's lawless and unmonitored ocean regions, uncovering a vast global network of corruption.

The Outlaw ocean

Credit: Ian Urbina

The Deep by Alex Rogers

A fascinating account of the treasures that lie beneath the ocean's surface from a leading marine biologist. Discover the hidden mysteries of the deep ocean in breathtaking detail, with stunning photography providing a window to this magical world.

The Deep

Credit: Alex Rogers

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This worldwide bestseller shares the story of a young man who survives a shipwreck and months in a lifeboat with a large Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Life of Pi

Credit: Yann Martel

Ocean Country: One Woman's Voyage from Peril to Hope in her Quest to Save the Seas by Liz Cunningham

Liz Cunningham crosses the globe in an effort to understand the threats to our dazzling but endangered ocean. Follow her journey as she encounters conservationists, fishermen, sea nomads, and scientists in the Mediterranean, Sulawesi, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

Ocean Country

Credit: Liz Cunningham

Setsuko and the Song of the Sea by Fiona Barker

A story of an unlikely friendship, Setsuko and her friend the whale have one thing in common - their love of the sea. A visually stunning and poetically written portrayal of the fragile relationship between humanity and the ocean.

Setsuko and the Song of the Sea Book Cover

The Seabird's Cry: The Lives and Loves of the Planet's Great Ocean Voyagers by Adam Nicolson

Over the last 60 years, the world population of seabirds has declined by around 70%. Adam Nicolson’s book explores their mastery of wind and ocean, and the beauty of the coasts and islands they flock to, creating a rallying cry to save them from extinction.

The Seabirds Cry

Credit: Adam Nicolson

Rowing After the White Whale: A Crossing of the Indian Ocean by Hand by James Adair

This inspiring tale is the true story of two friends who, over a boozy Sunday lunch, decided to cross the Indian Ocean from Australia to Mauritius in a small rowing boat.

Rowing after the white whale

Credit: James Adair

Let us know you favourite ocean-themed book

Have you read any of the books on our list? What did you think? Are there any other books about the sea that you think we should add? Join us on social media and let us know: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn.

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