My kids and I were in love with this audiobook of stories about the ocean! We learned so much and it made bedtime so much fun! I cannot recommend this enough and can't wait to explore the print edition!

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved these nature stories based on facts and science. I enjoyed the "science behind the story" that went with each one. I liked the music that transitioned each story and got you ready for a beautiful tale. A great nighttime storybook.

This was such a fun bedtime story book! Secrets of the Ocean was a great listen. The narrator was perfect for kids, the background music was appropriately calming and not too loud, and the stories were informative and a perfect length. I really enjoyed the Science Behind the Story sections at the end of each story. I do think having a hard copy would be nice for illustration purposes, but then you'd lose the music and ability to listen as you lie in a dark room, so I think the audio book is definitely a win!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alicia Klepeis, and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my review.

Title Secrets of the Ocean15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature
Author Alicia Klepeis; Neon Squid
Narration Dalia Ramahi

Stars 5
Age young kids and preschoolers
Type audiobook

Topics
- Nature
- Ocean
- Ocean Animals

Tone
- Educational

Positives
- Fascinating for Parents and Kids
- two sections to each story the story of the animal and the science behind it
- Perfect length for young readers
- Very Soothing Voice

Negatives
- Some Scary Parts for young listeners
- Chasing Scenes
- The science section might be too advanced for young listeners

Learning Objectives

- lots to talk about (why did you like that, what did they do type questions)
- a great book to listen to prior to an aquarium visit

Overall Thoughts

- Great for multi-ages
- Awesome family listening storytime

Thank you to NetGalley and NeonSquid for the audio ARC of this book.

4.5 stars rounded up
I loved the stories in this book! I was expecting it to be more fictional but it makes nonfiction fun for kids to listen to! The music is just a little extra magic. I loved the narrator as well. She has the perfect bubbly voice for children's books.

Enjoyed this audiobook as some good stories before bed. I think the physical book might be better though because the illustrations would add to the stories! Still nice to listen to the stories as an alternative to reading.

We listened to the audio version of Secrets of the Ocean, by Alicia Klepeis. It was extremely interesting with a good mix of common ocean habitats/animals and some very unique ones. The audiobook would be a great support for the printed version. It would be helpful to have the pictures of the different habitats talked about. The audio version allowed for imagining the story. It could also lead to some research to further understand the items mentioned. The Science Behind each story was extremely interesting! Both kids and adults will enjoy this book!

Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced reader copy for my honest review.

A beautifully illustrated collection of 5-minute bedtime stories about the wildlife found in seas and oceans around the world.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for sending me an audio ARC of this book! I really enjoyed this book. I feel like I was listening to a nature documentary instead of watching one.

So many wonderful short stories. I appreciate the stories aren’t too long. Fun ocean themes. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a wonderful audiobook for kids. I thought the narrator did a great job. Will definitely be listening to this with my kiddo and I'm sure she will enjoy it!

The book was beautifully written. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

This was such a cute book. I enjoyed the audio version a lot, but would love to read the printed version too. The narrator did a great job and it made it very enjoyable to listen to.

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.