22 Out of this World Children’s Books About Space

Children’s books are a great way to encourage learning about specific topics. Books open doors to new knowledge, as well as entertainment and imagination. Having been an elementary teacher for over 15 years, I spent quite a bit of time reading children’s books, as well as trying to match books to each of my students based on their interests to encourage independent reading.

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Below you will find a list of my favorite nonfiction and fiction books about space. My hope is that you will find books to share with your children and develop connections through literature.

Included is a description from Amazon, as well as information about recommended reading interest levels and various reading level information that could be found for each text.

Nonfiction Books

1. Super Cool Space Facts: A Fun, Fact-filled Space Book for Kids by Bruce Betts, PhD (2019)

From Amazon: “Take an exciting, fact-filled journey that goes where all great space books for kids should—to our solar system and beyond! Super Cool Space Facts is bursting with info about stormy planets, exploding stars, weird black holes, amazing landers, and more. Blast past other space books for kids with: *Galaxies of wonder—Launch into learning with awesome and easy-to-digest facts about everything from asteroids hurtling through space to astronauts on the International Space Station. *Entertaining information—Fill your outer space adventure with the jokes, big word alerts, and fascinating mysteries of the universe all space books for kids should have. *Full-color photos—See how cool space is with incredible pictures of stars, galaxies, planets, constellations, and more. Super Cool Space Facts brings you out-of-this-world fun—and a must have title for anyone interested in space books for kids.”

• Pages: 124
• Reading Interest Age: 6-9 years
• Grade Level: 1-4
• Lexile Level: 740L

2. The Mysteries of the Universe by Will Gater (2020)

From Amazon: “Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe. From planets and asteroids to black holes and galaxies, every page of this enthralling space book reveals the secrets behind more than 100 celestial objects, and will inspire youngsters as they journey through the vastness of the Universe. Each celestial body is shown both photographically and illustrated, and children will love poring over the detailed close-up images. Get ready to explore fun facts and exciting new scientific discoveries as this best-selling picture book will illuminate imaginations and spark curious minds to explore the vastness of space. The engaging storybook-style descriptions and simple text shed a light on facts, myths, and key discoveries about the universe, perfect for children aged 6-8 to explore the wonders of our solar system and beyond.”

• Pages: 224
• Reading Interest Age: 6-8 years
• Grade Level: 2-4
• Lexile Level: 1120L

3. If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin illustrated by Simona Ceccarelli (2019)

From Amazon: “If you had your birthday party on the moon, what would it be like? Blast off to an extraterrestrial celebration and find out! This cool picture book combines fun and facts to help kids learn all about outer space. Have your birthday party on the moon and everyone will come!
After all, who wouldn’t want to ride in a rocket and celebrate for a day that lasts as long as a month on Earth? Then, young partygoers could romp in a low-gravity playground; watch candles and balloons behave weirdly in the Moon’s atmosphere; and see why the “moon angels” they make in the thick carpet of lunar dust will last for thousands of years. With each discovery, kids learn the science behind the surprise, explained in terms they’ll understand. Complete with sidebars and a glossary, this entertaining adventure is perfect for sharing at home and at school.”

• Pages: 40
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: 2-3
• Lexile Level: 920L

4. The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle (2019)

From Amazon: “An empowering, inspiring–and accessible!–nonfiction picture book about the eleven-year-old girl who actually named the newly discovered Pluto in 1930. When Venetia Burney’s grandfather reads aloud from the newspaper about a new discovery–a ‘ninth major planet’ that has yet to be named–her eleven-year-old mind starts whirring. She is studying the planets in school and loves Roman mythology. ‘It might be called Pluto,’ she says, thinking of the dark underworld. Grandfather loves the idea and contacts his friend at London’s Royal Astronomical Society, who writes to scientists at the Lowell Observatory in Massachusetts, where Pluto was discovered. After a vote, the scientists agree unanimously: Pluto is the perfect name for the dark, cold planet. Here is a picture book perfect for STEM units and for all children–particularly girls–who have ever dreamed of becoming a scientist.”

• Pages: 40
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 830L

5. Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Louise Pigott and Alex Oxton (2019)

From Amazon: “A Mighty Girl’s 2019 Books of the Year, An inspiring look at the scientist who became ‘The Mother of Hubble.’ This empowering picture book biography tells the story of Nancy Grace Roman, the astronomer who overcame obstacles like weak eyesight and teachers who discouraged women from pursuing astronomy to lead the NASA team that built the Hubble Space Telescope. A testament to women in scientific careers and a record of an important NASA milestone.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 5-7 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 920L

6. Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson (2018)

From Amazon: “Filled with beautiful full-color illustrations, a groundbreaking compendium honoring the amazing true stories of fifty inspirational women who helped fuel some of the greatest achievements in space exploration from the nineteenth century to today—including Hidden Figure’s Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson as well as former NASA Chief Astronaut Peggy Whitson, the record-holding American biochemistry researcher who has spent the most cumulative time in space. When Neil Armstrong stepped off the ladder of the lunar module, Eagle, he famously spoke of “one small step for man.” But Armstrong would not have reached the moon without the help of women. Today, females across the earth and above it—astronauts and mathematicians, engineers and physicists, test pilots and aerospace psychophysiologists—are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, helping us to understand the universe and our place in it. Galaxy Girls celebrates more than four dozen extraordinary women from around the globe whose contributions have been fundamental to the story of humankind’s quest to reach the stars. 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, celebrating this band of heroic sisters and their remarkable and often little known scientific achievements. Written by Libby Jackson, a leading British expert in human space flight, and illustrated with striking artwork from the students of London College of Communication, Galaxy Girls will fire the imaginations of trailblazers of all ages.”

• Pages: 144

7. A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, illustrated Michael Carroll (2021)

From Amazon: “What are black holes, what causes them, and how the heck did scientists discover them? Acclaimed STEM writer Carolyn DeCristofano’s playful text shares how astronomers find black holes, introduces our nearest black-hole neighbors, and provides an excellent introduction to an extremely complex scientific topic. Gorgeous space paintings supplement real telescopic images, and funny doodles and speech bubbles keep the content light and fun.”

• Pages: 80
• Reading Interest Age: 9-12 years
• Grade Level: 4-7
• Lexile Level: 900L

8. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington (2018)

From Amazon: “A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts. When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, ‘If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.’ Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.”

• Pages: 40
• Reading Interest Age: 2-6 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 580L

9. Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts by Mike Lowery (2021)

From Amazon: “Did you know that the surface of the sun is hot enough to make diamonds boil? Or that one year on Neptune is 165 Earth years? Or that space is thought to smell like… burnt steak?? Find out all this and more, in this comprehensive, hilarious outer space adventure from Mike Lowery! Perfect for fans of Dog Man who love nonfiction, this is the definitive, go-to book about everything AWESOME you EVER wanted to know about all things outer space Uncover a wealth of weird, wacky, and wild facts about our universe, from planets to supernovas to space travel and everything in-between, told in Mike Lowery’s signature, acclaimed comic style with bright and energetic artwork, fresh framing devices, and hilarious jokes. This is the go-to book for space enthusiasts that kids will put in their backpacks and obsess over, bridging the gap between encyclopedic nonfiction content and lighter picture book fare, filling the need with a one-stop shop for the legions of 7-10 year olds who want to know absolutely everything there is to know about space.”

• Pages: 128
• Reading Interest Age: 7-10 years
• Grade Level: 2-5

10. A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Jess Bradley (2023)

From Amazon: “Blast off for a day in the life of space and the people (and animals!) who have explored it. From hilarious comics to secret diaries and detailed diagrams, there are tons of things to discover and fantastic facts to learn.”

• Pages: 128
• Reading Interest Age: 7-10 years
• Grade Level: 2-5
• Lexile Level: 840L

11. The Moon Book (New & Updated Edition) by Gail Gibbons (2019)

From Amazon: “An up-to-date, clear and interesting introduction to our magnificent moon from the the award-winning author of science books for children. Shining light on all kinds of fascinating facts about our moon, this simple, introductory book includes information on how the moon affects the oceans’ tides, why the same side of the moon always faces earth, why we have eclipses, and more. This newly revised edition, available in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, incorporates new, up-to-date information based on recent discoveries, and includes an updated map of the moon’s surface. Thoroughly vetted by an astrophysics expert, The Moon Book is a perfect introduction lunar phases, orbit, the history of space exploration, and more. Using her signature combination of colorful, clear illustrations and accessible text, Gail Gibbons reinforces important vocabulary with simple explanations, perfect for budding astronomers. Legends about the moon, trivia, and facts about the moon landing are also included.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 740L

Fiction Books

12. Meteor! by Patricia Polacco (1996)

From Amazon: “The meteor that crash lands in the middle of Grandma and Grandpa Gaw’s yard sets off a chain of events that brings magic to the residents of Mudsock Meadow. A remarkable true-life event comes alive in this reissue of Patricia Polacco’s very first picture book.’Based on a true event, this enchanting book overwhelmingly expresses the magic that suddenly pervades a small town, from the funny, folksy way the story is told to the imaginative, full-color illustrations.’“

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 1060L
• ATOS Reading Level: 5.3

13. Bok’s Giant Leap: One Moon Rock’s Journey Through Time and Space by Neil Armstrong, illustrated by Grahame Baker Smith (2022)

From Amazon: “First man on the moon Neil Armstrong’s only children’s book is a unique exploration of how the Earth and the Moon came to be. The entire epic history of the Earth and the Moon is recounted through the observations of one special moon rock named Bok. Geologists say that rocks remember, and Bok certainly does. It recounts how its life began on Earth, until a collision with an asteroid catapults it into orbit during the creation of the Moon. From the Moon’s surface, Bok watches the developing planet change from afar–until a strange creature scoops him up and brings him back to Earth. When NASA honored Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong and gave him a piece of moon rock from that mission, Armstrong playfully named the rock Bok in his acceptance speech. Award-winning illustrator Grahame Baker-Smith has created a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind picture book based on that speech, combining fascinating science and history with the grandest human adventure of all.”

Pages: 48
Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
Grade Level: Preschool-3
Lexile Level: 940L

14. Luna Muna by Kellie Gerardi, illustrated by Allyson Wilson (2022)

From Amazon: “Meet Luna Muna. Luna Muna is a curious young girl who loves outer space. In fact, she’s going to be an astronaut one day! One night, after wishing on a shooting star, Luna Muna discovers a secret power: when she wears her special sparkly space helmet, she can float just like the astronauts in space! After bedtime, Luna Muna blasts off on a wild adventure and discovers that while space is very exciting, her home on Earth is pretty special too.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-2

15. A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade, illustrated by Melanie Demmer (2019)

From Amazon: “Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn’t fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-good board book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and friendship.”

• Pages: 30
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Kindergarten-3

16. Moonwalkers by Mark Greenwood and Terry Denton (2020)

From Amazon: “When Apollo 11 blasts off for the moon, the whole world is watching. On the other side of the planet, Billy, Mickey and Buzz decide to be astronauts too. This picture book brings the excitement of space exploration to a young audience whose parents may not even have been born when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the cratered surface of the moon. It focuses on focuses on how important imaginative play is in a child’s experience of the world, and features three pages of nonfiction information. “

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 5-7 years
• Grade Level: Kindergarten-2

17. Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max (2021)

From Amazon: “Astrid has loved the stars and space for as long as she can remember. “I want to be an astronaut!” she says to everyone who will listen. While her mama is away, Astrid and her papa have fun acting out the challenges an astronaut faces on a space mission — like being in zero gravity (“I can do that all day long!” she says), eating food from a kind of tube, and doing science experiments with the help of cookie sheets. When at last it’s time to meet Mama at the air base, Astrid wears her favorite space T-shirt to greet her. But where exactly has Mama been? Channeling a sense of childlike delight, Ken Wilson-Max brings space travel up close for young readers and offers an inspiring ending.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3

18. The Space Walk by Brian Biggs (2019)

From Amazon: “Astronaut Randolph Witherspoon wants to take a walk–a space walk, that is! But Ground Control has other ideas. Randolph must eat some lunch, get some exercise, and then he can go outside, provided he dresses warmly and doesn’t talk to strangers. But Randolph’s mission doesn’t exactly go to plan, leading to an unexpected new friend. “

• Pages: 40
• Reading Interest Age: 3-7 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-2
• Lexile Level: 570L

19. Papa Put a Man on the Moon by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Sarah Green (2019)

From Amazon: “Marthanne and her father sit side by side, looking out over their mill village as the moon glows in the sky. Marthanne hopes that one day, man will walk on the moon, and she knows her father is helping America accomplish this mission: The fabric he weaves forms one layer in the astronauts’ spacesuits. Papa insists he’s only making a living, but Marthanne knows his work is part of history, and she’s proud. She tries to be patient, but she can’t stop imagining the moon mission: the astronauts tumbling through space, the fabric her papa made traveling all the way up into the sky. When the astronauts blast off and Neil Armstrong finally takes his first steps on the moon, Marthanne watches in wonder. She knows her papa put a man on the moon.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool-3
• Lexile Level: 820L

20. Heart on Pluto by Karl Jones, Illustrated by Andrew J. Ross (2020)

From Amazon: “New Horizons was the first NASA satellite to visit and take close-up images of Pluto. And though the journey was long and challenging, New Horizons discovered a message of love in the heart-shaped nitrogren ice lake on Pluto’s surface.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 5-8 years
• Grade Level: Kindergarten-e
• Lexile Level: 580L

21. You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien (2009)

From Amazon: “In the spirit of books that once imagined colonies on the moon, Patrick O’Brien has created a unique look at your first trip to Mars. Using the most upto- date designs and theories of what it will take to establish a base on Mars, you are off on an incredible journey, over 35 million miles to the red planet. Filled with details, and vividly brought to life, this is an adventure that you are never going to forget.”

• Pages: 32
• Reading Interest Age: 3-9 years
• Grade Level: Kindergarten- 3
• Lexile Level: 830L

22. If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (2005)

From Amazon: “‘If you decide to go to the moon,’ writes Faith McNulty, ‘read this book first. It will tell you how to get there and what to do after you land. The most important part tells you how to get home.’ Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing (‘don’t forget your diary and plenty of food’) to liftoff (‘at first you’ll feel heavy; don’t worry’) to traveling thorugh space (where ‘the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky’). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing.”

Pages: 48
Reading Interest Age: 4-8 years
Grade Level: Preschool-2
Lexile Level: 630L

Head over to my post An Unbelievable Day at The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for more information about the unbelievable rockets and artifacts that are housed at the complex.

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