Brought to you by Highlights Press
Humans flew around the Moon for the first time in 50 years — and Why, How, and Wow! Space from Highlights Press is exactly the book young readers need right now. Featuring 150+ real questions from curious kids, exclusive NASA astronaut interviews, and expert-reviewed facts, this nonfiction title feeds the excitement sparked by Artemis II and the new age of space exploration. Engaging, accessible, fact-packed, and endlessly fascinating, it's the perfect book for young readers ready to explore the universe.
Space has captured our imaginations for centuries, and with recent forays like the Artemis mission, our fascination with space travel and the universe around us shows no sign of slowing down. Many children dream of growing up to be astronauts or of working for NASA. They want to discover new stars and planets, as well as unravel the mysteries of our galaxy and beyond. Stargazing, the ways of the moon, and our place in the universe have always inspired great stories.
Against this backdrop of wonder and fascination, it’s no surprise that there are so many good space books for kids out there. This list of great children’s space books includes reads for all ages and interests. For very young readers, there are picture books that inspire kids to look up at the night sky, think about space, and perhaps even follow existing spacecrafts out there. Independent readers can dip into fiction about fun and freakish aliens or explore tales of friendship and family bonds against the backdrop of space exploration. For readers who want to follow their dreams to the stars one day, there are nonfiction books by astronauts and NASA scientists that will teach them everything they need to know about pursuing a career in space.
Picture books
We Are All Astronauts! by Kate Pankhurst
In this fun-filled picture book, Luna Scope is determined to become an astronaut. She just doesn’t know how yet. With the help of her Granny, she learns all about space, meets many of the women who played pivotal roles in getting us to the stars, and works out how to make her dream future come true.
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola
Rocket is a young girl who loves everything about space. Her enthusiasm is infectious to everyone around her – except her brother, who’s more interested in his phone than in the stars. Luckily, Rocket is full of fascinating space facts that will grab her brother’s interest and convince him that instead of looking down at his screen, he needs to start looking up at the cosmos.
Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers
This cute, imaginative story follows three unlikely friends: a boy, a penguin, and a star. When the star goes missing, the boy and his penguin friend find help in an unusual place, from a passing Martian. Their journey to find their friend the star takes them to all kinds of strange places, including the North Pole.
In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limón and Peter Sís
Many kids’ books explore space, but this one actually goes there. In Praise of Mystery is the picture book version of Ada Limón’s poem, which was engraved on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, currently on its way to Jupiter and due to arrive in 2030. Telling the tale of space exploration and the human need to reach out to the stars, In Praise of Mystery is an inspiring read for young kids and their adults.
Fiction
Astrid and the Space Cadets: Attack of the Snailiens! by Alex T. Smith
Fans of fast-paced action-adventure books will love the Astrid and the Space Cadets books. Every night, Astrid joins the other Space Cadets and travels around the galaxy trying to keep everyone safe. But when the snaliens threaten an alien planet, Astrid and her friends have to use all their talents to stop them.
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Space! by Katie Tsang, Kevin Tsang, and Nathan Reed
The final book in the much-loved Sam Wu series, Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Space! sees Sam off to space camp, the one place where he’s sure he won’t find anything that frightens him. At first, Sam is brimming with excitement about camp and is determined to win the annual challenge trophy. But some of the other kids at camp aren’t willing to work together, and Sam has to use all his courage to get them to put their differences aside and focus on the fun of learning about space.
The Kid Who Came from Space by Ross Welford
The Kid Who Came from Space follows Ethan, a young boy whose twin sister, Tammy, vanishes. While the rest of their family and community are worried for Tammy’s safety, Ethan knows that she’s alive and well. She’s just stuck in space. With a group of old and new friends, including a sentient spaceship and an unusually smart chicken, Ethan heads out to the stars to get Tammy back.
Nonfiction
How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs by Dr. Sheila Kanani and Sol Linero
Kids who are fascinated by space will love this book on all the kinds of jobs that could be part of their futures. In addition to astronauts, young readers will learn about other essential roles in space exploration and travel, including being an engineer for rocket ships, designing equipment for missions, and searching the stars for new planets.
How to Survive on the Moon: Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist by Joalda Morancy, illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Leaving Earth and living in space isn’t just the basis for sci-fi stories; it’s something that scientists are actually researching. How to Survive on the Moon is a look at possible ways we could live on other planets or moons, including building underground cities, growing food in space, and other major developments that may enable humans to live amongst the stars.
Chasing Space (Young Readers’ Edition) by Leland Melvin
A young readers’ version of astronaut Leland Melvin’s autobiography, Chasing Space, looks at his amazing life, including his mission to the International Space Station and everything he’s done since. Full of fascinating stories and science experiments that readers can do at home, Chasing Space is an inspirational read for kids who want to follow a career path like Melvin’s.
If you know a kid who loves astronauts, you can find more inspirational stories for them in our list of Children’s Books About Astronauts for Future Space Explorers. For more science fun for very young readers, check out Blast Off and Dream Big with These Science Fiction Picture Books.
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