Welcome!
I have been fortunate to explore the oceans of our planet for many years as a scuba diver and have dived in numerous locations around the world. I’ve captured the beauty of coral reefs, canyons, and unique underwater curiosities with my video camera and been able to film incredible life forms that inhabit ocean waters.
I now share the knowledge I have gained from my explorations to help everyone understand the importance of conserving our oceans.
In my role as a science presenter, I conduct talks and school visits. I also write exciting ocean-themed fiction for children, as well as informative non-fiction books and teacher resources.
If you are interested in wildlife or if you’re a teacher, parent, or grandparent looking to educate young people, I encourage you to explore this website. Here, you will discover incredible information about the most fascinating place on Earth—the amazing underwater world!
National Year of Reading ! Swap ‘scrolling on phones’ to ‘reading a book’.
As we head into the National Year of Reading—at a time when the UK is facing a children’s reading crisis—getting young readers truly hooked on books has never mattered more.
As schools focus on curriculum intent, implementation, and impact, high‑quality texts that support meaningful cross‑curricular learning are more important than ever.
The Lucy Morgan Adventure series and Fishy Tales storybooks are designed to support a broad, balanced primary curriculum. These books offer a rich narrative to support reading for pleasure and comprehension (English).
Yet, there are more resources available than just the books. All my books link directly to the ‘Ocean Adventure’ series of resources, which promote learning in Science (oceans, habitats, conservation), Geography (place, environment, human impact), and PSHE/SMSC (empathy, responsibility, caring for the natural world).
My new ‘Ocean Adventure’ resources help teachers demonstrate clear curriculum links for each year group, giving purposeful learning beyond the text, and strong reading culture—all key priorities within the Ofsted framework. Ideal for whole‑class reading, guided groups, or enrichment, these books and resources support knowledge‑building while keeping children motivated and engaged.
January 2026 NEWS
The new ‘Ocean Adventures’ Teacher Resources are now available – go to Resources for more information
WINNER - Independent Press Award 2025
Lucy Morgan Adventure Series (Book 1)
In the first of a series of adventure stories, eleven-year-old Lucy is moving away from everything she has ever known. The Caribbean is a long way from London, but she soon finds friends, Jack and Solomon, who introduce her to the beach and the ocean’s wondrous creatures. The story unfolds on the idyllic Pontus Island, a place that becomes a sanctuary for Lucy. Finding a turtle who needs help begins both Lucy’s affinity with ocean creatures, and her quest to protect underwater creatures. Lucy needs to find the courage to learn new skills and brave the ocean deep, which, of …
Eye of the Turtle
It is an original concept with subject matter children can relate to. Children will be fascinated by the underwater world of beautiful creatures and the dangers of diving. They’ll relate to the friendships and compassion, using the characters as role models. An exceptional story.
(Barbara Sorby, former Manager of Sheffield School Library Service)
Barbara Sorby
Winner of the International Impact Award 2025
Lucy Morgan Adventure Series (Book 2)
The Secrets of the Shallows plunges readers into a mesmerising underwater world brimming with life, adventure and purpose. Set on idyllic Caribbean Island the story revolves around Lucy, a resourceful and spirited young diver who shares her love of the sea with friends, Jack and Solomon. When the ocean ecosystem faces destruction, they embark on a mission to protect the marine environment. ‘The Secret of the Shallows’ was the WINNER in the 2025 International Impact Book Awards – ‘The Secret of the Shallows’ has also been awarded the Literary Titan GOLD 5-star Award.
Not just brave adventurers, but learning how to tackle real-world challenges.
Lucy and her friends are not just brave adventurers - they embody teamwork, critical thinking, and proactive problem-solving. Their efforts to propose peaceful solutions set an example to young people and help them understand how to collaborate and tackle real-world challenges.
‘Literary Titan Review’
WINNER of a 5 Star Gold Award from Literary Titan
Lucy Morgan Adventure Series (Book 3)
The Hidden Cave, captivates young readers with the wonders of the sea in an enchanting blend of adventure and education. Lucy is a daring young adventurer with a passion for diving. When a friend spots something mysterious hidden in the inky depths of the ocean their curiosity is aroused. Is it an underwater cave? Their discovery is thrilling, but Lucy, Jack and Solomon need to trust one another if they are to overcome the dangers ahead.
Teacher Review
The author manages to combine an exciting adventure with the environmental concerns a young girl has about ocean creatures. A very current theme and beautiful written.
Chloe, Year 4 Teacher
A Fishy Tale Storybook combining scientific facts with fun underwater storylines
Fishy Tales Storybook (Book 1)
The FishyTales Storybooks are a series of books for 3-6-year-olds. The stories are entertaining, informative and a good introduction to myriad and diverse life in the oceans. These are tales which deal with a wide variety of moral values, feelings and other aspects of personal and social well-being. Great for parents to share with youngsters and has lots of starting points for discussion. Logan the Lobster Logan was different from all the other little lobsters. Would they be his friends? Would they play with him?
Grandma's Review
'As a Grannie, my Grand daughters like me to read to them and they thoroughly enjoyed Logan's tale of woe and then happiness. A good tale of being different and being left out of any fun until his value was recognised and be became a very useful team player. Through it all, Gloria cleverly spins a story of the ways of spiny lobsters with some science stuff at the end. A good book for children and as an educational tool in primary schools.'
Judy M.
A Fishy Tales Storybook combining scientific facts with fun underwater storylines.
Fishy Tales Storybook (Book 2)
The FishyTales Storybooks are a series of books for 3-6-year-olds. The stories are entertaining, informative and a good introduction to myriad and diverse life in the oceans. These are tales which deal with a wide variety of moral values, feelings and other aspects of personal and social well-being. Great for parents to share with youngsters and has lots of starting points for discussion. Prickle the Puffer fish A coral reef can be a very dangerous place to live. How can Prickle keep herself safe? How can she stop feeling so scared? Can she be brave? Prickle the tiny puffer fish, …
Teacher's Review
These stories are loved by the small people in my classroom, and I’ve learned so much about the ocean environment too.’
Charlotte - Primary School Teacher.
A Fishy Tale Storybook combining scientific facts with fun underwater storylines
Fishy Tales Storybook (Book 3)
The FishyTales Storybooks are a series of books for 3-6-year-olds. The stories are entertaining, informative and a good introduction to myriad and diverse life in the oceans. These are tales which deal with a wide variety of moral values, feelings and other aspects of personal and social well-being. Great for parents to share with youngsters and has lots of starting points for discussion. Ravi the Ray Ravi the Ray is always on the move to keep out of danger. He settles down to sleep in a different place every day. Can he find a settled home and friends to share …
Reader Review:
‘I thought Ravi the Ray was cute. I liked finding out stuff about rays. Sometimes it’s difficult to make friends. It was good that Ravi had friends in the end.’
Girl, aged 6 – with a little help from her teacher
A SCIENCE book where facts are explained in everyday English.
The Amazing World Beneath the Waves
An Introduction to Understanding the Oceans
This guide is for anyone who has ever been intrigued, fascinated or entranced by the world’s oceans. From the tiniest microscopic, one-celled plankton to the vast blue whale, incredible photographs and illustrations reveal the amazing diversity of life beneath the waves and the extraordinary adaptations of creatures for survival in the extreme marine environment. Concepts such as tides, undersea mountains and the relationship between atmosphere and ocean are all carefully described to enable non-scientists to understand how important the world’s oceans are to Planet Earth and to the existence of life on Earth. From tsunamis and earthquakes, to pollution and …
Falcon Review
Gloria Barnett's "The Amazing World Beneath the Waves" is a captivating and accessible journey into the mysteries and marvels of our planet's oceans. Far from being a dry scientific textbook, this non-fiction work serves as an engaging guide for anyone curious about the vast, watery world that covers over 70% of Earth's surface.
Barnett, a seasoned science educator, master scuba diver, and filmmaker, brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to her writing. This isn't just theory; it's knowledge infused with genuine firsthand experience and a deep love for marine life. The book covers an impressive breadth of topics, from the tiniest plankton to the majestic blue whale, detailing the incredible adaptations creatures have developed to thrive in diverse marine environments.
What truly sets this book apart is its remarkable accessibility. Barnett skillfully translates complex scientific information into "everyday English," making it understandable and enjoyable for a wide audience, from curious pre-teens to adults. The narrative flows effortlessly, guiding the reader through fascinating facts and crucial insights without ever feeling overwhelming. The inclusion of vibrant photographs and illustrations further enhances the learning experience, bringing the underwater world to life on the page.
In conclusion, "The Amazing World Beneath the Waves" is more than just an informative book; it's an invitation to explore, appreciate, and ultimately protect our invaluable marine ecosystems. Gloria Barnett's enthusiasm is infectious, making this a highly recommended read for a general audience, from ages 10 to 110—regardless of their scientific background—who wish to deepen their connection to and understanding of the incredible world beneath the waves.
Falcon Review
June 2025
The facts are amazing and the images are stunning.
50 Fabulous Facts about Ocean Animals
50 Facts Book Series (Book 1)
A book which includes information and great images about some of the fabulous creatures that live in the oceans. One fact per page – for children and adults – this non-fiction book will enable you to discover information about some of the weird and wonderful species of life in the oceans. This book explains scientific facts in everyday language from the classification of species to how humans are treating the oceans. This fully illustrated non-fiction book will enable you to discover some of the weird and wonderful species of life in the oceans. A book you can dip in and …
Grandparent's Review
The facts are amazing, and the images are stunning. The children in my class love using this book to help them understand creatures that live in the ocean.’ Priash - Year 5 teacher.
‘Super book for my grandchildren to dip into when they visit’.
Helen - Grandparent
50 Incredible Facts - 50 Incredible Images
50 Incredible Facts about Oceans
50 Facts Books Series (Book 2)
A book for those children who like to ask ‘WHY”. A perfect guide for young people to learn about the importance of oceans on our planet presented in a way that is easy for children and adults to understand. One fact per page – for children and adults – this non-fiction book will enable you to discover incredible information about the oceans. A book you can dip in and out of to learn incredible facts about the ocean. Five Incredible areas of knowledge about Oceans 1. Earth and Oceans, 2. Exploring the Oceans, 3. Physical conditions, 4. Scuba Diving, …
Year 6 Teacher - Review
The images help my pupils to understand some incredible facts. A great book for starting discussions.’
Annabel- Teacher
A book to help all generations understand Climate Change
50 Essential Facts about Climate Change
50 Facts Book Series (Book 3)
A book which helps young people challenge their understanding and gives information on how they can work together to take safe actions and improve the planet’s future. One fact per page – for children and young adults – this non-fiction book explains scientific facts in everyday language to enable all ages to understand the importance of oceans and the role oceans have in climate change. A book which will stimulate interest in the world young people live in. A book you can dip in and out of to learn essential facts about climate change. The carefully chosen images help to …
Teacher Review
‘Just the book I needed for my pupils. It has also helped me to understand the causes of climate change and how we can help to save the life on our planet ‘
David - Year 7 teacher.
A must-read book for the little people we love, in the lead up to Christmas
T'was the Week Before Christmas
At the North Pole, Santa and his elves are incredibly busy! T’was the week before Christmas’ contains three special stories telling little people how Santa and his elves prepare for Christmas Eve. Chaos in the Workshop A Very Special Elf Reindeer Training Day Read these stories to the little people you love … from December 1st until December 24th, to help them understand how busy Santa and his elves are as Christmas approaches. This trilogy has delightfully funny and engrossing stories that help build the magic of Christmas Rotary Club of Canterbury Sunrise, UK have created this book to …
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