TL;DR: I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry is a neon-bright, hilarious preschool staple about a giant squid with a massive ego. It’s the perfect conversation starter for kids who are currently obsessed with being "the best" or "the biggest" (which, let’s be honest, is every four-year-old).
Quick Recommendations for Perspective-Building:
- For more ocean vibes: Octonauts
- For more hilarious hubris: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
- For teaching humility: The Gruffalo
If you haven’t encountered this giant blue squid yet, imagine a preschooler who just learned how to do a somersault and now thinks they are an Olympic athlete. That is the vibe of I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean.
The plot is dead simple: A giant squid swims around the ocean, comparing himself to everything he sees. "I’m bigger than these shrimp!" "I’m bigger than this clam!" He’s feeling himself. He’s the main character. He’s "Sigma," as the older kids might say (though please don't teach your three-year-old that word yet).
Then, the inevitable happens. A giant whale shows up and gulps him down. But here’s the kicker—instead of a dark, scary ending, our squid friend looks around the dark belly of the whale, sees all the other creatures who got eaten, and concludes: "I’m the biggest thing in the whale!"
It’s a masterclass in delusional optimism and the preschooler's innate need to be the center of the universe.
Preschoolers are obsessed with power dynamics because, in their actual lives, they have zero power. They get told when to eat, when to sleep, and that they can't wear their Batman costume to a wedding.
When they read about this squid, they see themselves. They love the repetitive "I'm bigger than..." phrasing because it allows them to participate in the reading. But more importantly, they love the "oops" moment. Kids at this age are starting to understand irony—they know the whale is bigger before the squid does, and that "I'm smarter than the character" feeling is pure gold for their developing brains.
We see this same behavior in the digital world, just with higher stakes. Whether it's a toddler watching Blippi dominate every scene or an elementary schooler trying to get the most "likes" on a Toca Boca creation, the drive to be the "biggest" is hardwired.
In the world of Roblox, kids often judge their "bigness" by their skins or their inventory. If you’ve heard your kid talk about someone being a "noob" or brag about a "legendary" pet in Adopt Me!, they are essentially doing the squid's "I'm bigger than this shrimp" routine.
This book is firmly in the Ages 2-5 camp.
- For Toddlers (2-3): Focus on the colors and the names of the sea creatures. It’s a great vocabulary builder for "shrimp," "clam," "crab," and "octopus."
- For Preschoolers (4-5): This is where you start talking about the attitude. Is the squid being nice? Is he right? What happens when we only care about being the biggest?
If you have older siblings in the house, they might find the ending hilarious, but they’ll likely move on quickly to something with more "lore," like Wings of Fire.
If your kid is obsessed with the squid's ego, you can use that interest to pivot to other media that handles "bigness" and perspective in different ways.
While the squid is all about ego, the Pout-Pout fish is all about identity. It’s another great "underwater" book that uses repetition to help kids process their emotions. It’s a bit more "wholesome" than the squid, but just as catchy.
If the squid sparked an interest in marine biology, Octonauts is the gold standard. It’s the rare show that is actually educational without being "brain rot." Your kid will learn that a Colossal Squid is a real thing, and they’ll start correcting your ocean facts.
This has a similar "quirky narrator" feel. It’s about knowing the rules (no spicy salsa!) and the chaos that ensues when those rules are ignored. It’s great for kids who like the humor of I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean.
Specifically, look for the episode "Pass the Parcel." It deals with the reality that you aren't always the winner (the "biggest") and how to handle that with grace. It’s basically the antidote to the squid’s ego.
Check out our guide on why Bluey is the best show for parents too
It’s easy to worry that your kid is becoming a tiny narcissist when they spend all day shouting "I'm the fastest!" or "My tower is the best!"
Here’s the no-BS take: This is developmentally normal. Preschoolers are discovering their "self," and the easiest way to define that self is in comparison to others. I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean doesn't punish the squid for his ego—he doesn't get hurt, and he doesn't even really learn a "lesson" in the traditional sense. He just keeps being himself.
As parents, we can use this to talk about Perspective.
How to Talk About It:
- The "Always a Bigger Fish" Rule: When the whale shows up, ask: "Wait, I thought the squid was the biggest? What happened?"
- Defining Success: Inside the whale, the squid is still happy. Ask: "Is he still the biggest thing in the ocean? No. But is he happy being the biggest thing in the whale?" It’s a weirdly deep conversation about finding your niche.
- Digital Comparison: If your kid starts getting competitive about Minecraft builds or Mario Kart wins, remind them of the squid. "You're the biggest thing in this race, but there's always another race!"
Ask our chatbot for tips on handling competitive behavior in young gamers
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean is a 5-star preschool book. It’s short enough to read when you’re exhausted, funny enough to keep you from losing your mind on the tenth consecutive read, and visually stimulating enough to compete with a tablet for 10 minutes.
It doesn’t pander. It doesn't give a boring lecture about being humble. It just shows a squid being a bit of a jerk, getting eaten, and staying a bit of a jerk. And honestly? In a world of overly-sanitized children’s media, that’s refreshing.
- Grab the book: It’s a great physical book to have, but if you’re traveling, there are decent "read-aloud" versions on YouTube.
- Compare sizes: After reading, go around the house and do the "Squid Test." Is the milk carton bigger than the juice box? Are you bigger than the chair?
- Watch the whale: If they loved the "eaten by a whale" twist, move on to The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson for a more poetic take on ocean size.