This was an enjoyable yet educational read. I read this via audiobook with my kids and they were fully invested in the story. The narration was done in such a way that it kept the kids attention. I enjoyed how extra inflection was added to keep the kids invested. The individual stories were also short enough to keep them from wandering. I love that they listened to a story that taught them about ocean creatures and their lives. The science behind the story was my favorite element. I really appreciated how each individual story was followed by the science element to tie it together rather than providing that information in an appendices at the end.

Perfect for readalouds with youngsters, or as fun nonfiction for the older set, especially with the "science behind the story" format. I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the background sounds of animals and waves. The information included is top-notch, and I learned a few things about ocean life myself. The narrator's delivery and style was not for me, however.

With quality audio production this book might go over well with children who like science-themed podcasts and stories. It struggled to get or keep the attention of my children on a car ride we took, even though they usually like non-fiction audio, but maybe I would have had more success at bedtime.

I think the real value of this audiobook is pairing it with a physical copy so that children learning to read or too young to read to themselves can navigate the book with the audio for exploring.

This collection of stories is very nicely done! The narrator does a solid job; her delivery is crisp and clear and will be great for young listeners, but it just didn't really appeal to me. I will say, this is more like listening to a nature documentary than a bedtime story. Sometimes the energy just feels a little too high for falling asleep to, but this can vary from story to story. The addition of ocean sounds and music in the background does make for a soothing atmosphere at times. Kiddos who love learning about animals or are into facts and information will get a lot out of this collection, particularly as each story ends with more details on the animals mentioned throughout. I could see this being a great option for an audio-enabled book.

What a great book!! I put this on while we did our homeschooling and it was such a hit. I loved that it had ocean facts along with the stories. The story and music background was really calming and would be great for calm down time or bedtime. The readers voice was smooth and calm which made the stories so peaceful to listen too. My kids loved the Iguana story the most.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook with my family. Each story really brought the ocean animals to life. It was a lot like listening to a nature documentary. And I loved that each story also included scientific facts at the end. I thought each story was the perfect length for young kids to focus.

4.5 Stars

If you’re familiar with Octonauts, this felt similar! This is a collection of short stories with each focused on a specific marine creature. The story was followed by more specific information about that creature – ie a creature report.

My kids and I enjoyed these stories. My 6 year old specifically is very interested in sea creatures and is knowledgeable about sea life; he loved these stories. The narrator did a great job proving interest in their storytelling voice. I also appreciated the music segways. Depending on your bedtime routines, I don’t think this would be an ideal bedtime audiobook – it has too much energy for right before bed (at least for my house). It was great for car rides though!

Thank you NetGalley, Alicia Klepeis, and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC.

I was intrigued by title of this book and the cover. I listened to the audiobook with my nieces (age 3 and 8) and they enjoyed the stories. Images would be helpful for some of the lesser known animals like the marine iguana and albatross, so younger children may prefer the physical book to the audiobook. However, I really enjoyed the background sounds of waves, seagulls, etc that you wouldn't have in the book. The narration was well done.

I've seen photos of the book and the artwork is wonderful. I was able to pull up images on my phone to show my niece and then she said "oh, that's cool!" Maybe a combination of the audiobook with the book would be best. The children can listen to the stories and see the pictures at the same time.

I'm always looking for new books that teach children about conservation and loved the "science behind the story" segments at the end of each story. Children who love the ocean and animals in general will love these stories!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

I thought this was such a cute and informational filled collection of short stories all about the ocean and its inhabitants.

I truly enjoyed it, but honestly wish there was a different narrator :/ it just didn’t do it for me.

This book is enchanting! I wish it had been available when my children were young! The stories cover marine mammals, fish and many other wonderful creatures from all over the world. The stories are wonderful and the science behind the stories is factually accurate and easy to understand. I would highly recommend this to any adults who want to introduce children to the magic of the oceans!

Secrets of the Ocean is a delightful audiobook filled with information on many lesser-known sea creatures and animals that can be found around the ocean. I listened to this with my 3 year old and was surprised at how well it kept his attention. There were stories of albatross love, as the birds famously mate for life, sea otter cubs sleeping in bed of kelp, deep-sea anglerfish catching their prey with bioluminescence, and iguanas able to swim while camouflaged from predators on the air above and the sea below. The descriptions in this book really brought everything to life. That being said, I think illustrations are necessary to fully appreciate the book. This would be a great book to own a physical copy of and read in tandem with the audiobook. Overall, it was a fun and educational book and I would recommend it for children.

My daughter absolutely loved these stories. A beautifully themed melodic track plays behind the narration. Each story has an accompanying themed track. The narrator does an amazing job portraying the stories and adding emphasis to keep the listener engaged. The stories are more of a narrative outline of what the animals are doing (think documentary) rather than a fun fictional tale. At the end of each story there are also extra facts about each animal, which my daughter absolutely loved.