Out-of-This World Books
The magic of the night sky lasts a lifetime. Many of us witnessed that “First giant step for mankind,” but a recent survey by Lego discovered more of today’s kids would rather be Youtubers or Vloggers than an astronaut! Here are a few favorite books for sharing that magic of space with the newest generation. These are Amazon Affiliate links that may benefit Grandycamp with your purchase.
Our reader’s dozen of STELLAR space BOOKS
The Ultimate Book of Space by Anne-Sophie Baumann, illus. by Olivier Latyck. Yes, pop-up books can get destroyed, but consider it a lesson in teaching the "treasure" in books, and, when there are missing parts after a while, know that it was well-loved. Bursting with 40 flaps, pop-ups, pull tabs, and movable parts, The Ultimate Book of Space provides a richly illustrated, hands-on exploration of space travel, the Earth's place in our galaxy, the solar system, and so much more! Sure to encourage curious young readers to venture deeper into space, this is a must-have book for any budding scientist's library. Some “Ultimate” books have been spotted at Costco! Ages 5-8, though Jack got these at 3.
Find the Constellations by H. A. Rey. Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this magical classic makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page. New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet. There's also a brand-new online resource that allows readers to track the positions of the planets in the night sky till the year 2100! Ages 10-12.
The Stars: a New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey. This classic (1954) is still the best beginner (i.e. non-astronomer) star chart book out there - a great beginner guide to astronomy. Ages 12-18.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space by Catherine Hughes. These colorful pages introduce young children to the wonders of space, with colorful illustrations by David Aguilar and simple text perfect for beginning readers or for reading aloud. The book explains basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to kids and expanding out into the universe. Ages 4-9.
Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly, illus. by C. F. Payne. Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with “mice-tronauts” on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight! While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when disaster strikes—and only the smallest member of the crew can save the day. With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C. F. Payne, Mousetronaut is a charming tale of perseverance, courage, and the importance of the small! Ages 5-8. There is also a Mousetronaut Goes to Mars.
Go For The Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing by Chris Gall. Does this seven-year-old boy, who excitedly witnessed the Apollo 11 flight to the moon, grow up to become an astronaut, an astrophysicist, or and author? Young readers will engage in all the same details of the historic event that inspired this young man. He is not just obsessed with observation and facts, he also launches a water rocket with his younger brother, drinks Tang in his cardboard Columbia, lands a model moon lander by sliding it down a string, and jumps around his yard while practicing his "giant leaps." Ages 5-8.
If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas, illus.by Jaime Kim. Aren’t all astronomer poets?! Combining spare, imaginative text with denser scientific explanations, this book can be a lovely bedtime book and a great introduction to the solar system. The moon uses playful analogies to invite children to imagine its activities. If you were the moon, "Catch and throw. Catch and throw," a reference to the moon's glow being caused by light "caught" from the sun and "thrown" back to Earth. The right side of each spread offers a scientific explanation of lunar phenomenon, such as cycles and gravity, or a glimpse of how humans and animals experience the moon. Ages 5-8.
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman, illus. by Isabel Greenberg. This fun, amazing tally of humongous figures—beginning with the estimated population of stars in the universe and going on to an "entire world" that is "filled with crazy numbers" strays from astronomy to other mind-blowing numbers like sharks having 300 teeth, but who is complaining?! Math, science, and interesting stuff for ages 4-9.
Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv, illus. Susanna Chapman. Of course we were going to include a book where the girl gets hooked on the night skies while visiting her Grandparents summers in Maine. Chapman layers photographs taken from the Hubble telescope into charming and expressive art. The book will inspire a family trip to Maine for both day and night adventures.
Galaxy Girls 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson. Filled with beautiful full-color illustrations, this groundbreaking compendium honors the amazing true stories of fifty inspirational women who helped fuel some of the greatest achievements in space exploration. From Ada Lovelace in the nineteenth century to the “colored computers” behind the Apollo missions, from the astronauts breaking records on the International Space Station to the scientific pioneers blazing the way to Mars, Galaxy Girls goes boldly where few books have gone before.
You are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien. A starred review by Booklist describes it as “answering the questions on many kids’ minds when imagining life in space, this book will tell you what would happen, and what you would do, if you were the first kid on Mars. O’Brien takes readers through every step of the four-month trip from Earth to Mars: aboard space elevators, orbital stations, transport rockets, landing modules, and more. These descriptions help give a speculatively scientific feel to the proceedings, full of technology that isn’t that far off. By involving the reader directly in the story, O’Brien helps ensure that they won’t even realize they’re learning all sorts of wonderful things about gravity, distance, geology, and life along the way.” Engaging, photorealistic illustrations of space travel and planetary exploration. Ages 5-8.
Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh. A rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. Apollo 11 and the first moon landing is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, Catherine Thimmesh captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team ever by direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, revealing their very human worries and concerns. 10 and up.
OK, this is eleven, and more philosophical than astronomical, but I wanted you to know about The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Ekua Holmes. It is a Coretta Scott King Award winner and a poetic, seamless blend of science and art revealing the composition of our world and beyond — and how we are all created and made of “the stuff of stars.” Beautiful. It more than goes with the new Webb Telescope discoveries.
Wait! A new one - How to Astronaut; An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth by Terry Virts. Ages young adult and up. Ride shotgun on a trip to space with astronaut Terry Virts. A born storyteller with a gift for the surprising turn of phrase and eye for the perfect you-are-there details, he captures all the highs, lows, humor, and wonder of an experience few will ever know firsthand. Featuring stories covering survival training, space shuttle emergencies, bad bosses, the art of putting on a spacesuit, time travel, and much more!
Storytime From Space features astronauts reading some of their favorite books - not necessarily space books, but fun and inspiring!