Under the Sea: Parent Reading Guide

Author: Amanda Abbott | Publisher: Make Life Shine Publishing
Perfect for ages 3–7 | A cosy read for any time of day

About This Book

Under the Sea takes your little one on a beautiful dive into the ocean, where a curious diver discovers the most wonderful creatures along the way. With bold, vibrant illustrations and simple, memorable sentences, children naturally absorb language, facts and new vocabulary just by enjoying the story together. They will not even realise they are learning. That is the magic of it.

Before You Read

Snuggle up together and let the excitement build before you even open the first page. You might wonder aloud what lives under the sea, or ask your child what they think the little diver might find down there. Let them look at the cover and spot all the creatures hiding in the illustration. There is no rush. The adventure starts the moment you sit down together.

While You Read

Take your time on each page and let your child lead the way. Point to the animals together, say their names, notice the colours and the sizes. You might find yourselves swimming like a fish or walking sideways like a crab without even thinking about it. Count the octopus legs together, jump like the dolphin, curl up like the seahorse. The more you play with the story, the more it stays with them.

After You Read

The back of the book is full of lovely things to do together. There is a drawing page where your child can create their very own sea creature, a rhyme to read aloud and try to remember, a match game, a quiz and of course the Ocean Explorer Medal waiting to be awarded. Let them wear it with pride. They have earned it.

We have also made these free printable activity sheets for you to download and enjoy at home with your little one.

Things to Talk About

Some of the loveliest learning happens in conversation, long after the book is closed. You might find yourself chatting about why the whale is so much bigger than the seahorse, or wondering together why the diver needs special equipment to breathe underwater. Did you know a group of fish is called a school? Children absolutely love discovering things like that. Let the curiosity lead wherever it wants to go.

A Little Note From Us

Every book in the Make Life Shine Learning Series is designed with a quiet learning method woven gently into the story. Repeated sentence structures, familiar characters and built-in activities mean children absorb vocabulary and facts simply by enjoying the book with someone they love. No pressure. No worksheets. Just a beautiful story, shared together.

We hope you and your little one loved every page. Happy reading! 🌊