Nonfiction Outer Space Books for Kids
With the aurora borealis in full display earlier this year and the solar eclipse, plus your more typical events like full moons and meteor showers, it’s no wonder kids (and adults) are fascinated by outer space! Today, I’m sharing 15 nonfiction books about outer space for the littlest of readers all the way through elementary school and even middle school.
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Nonfiction Outer Space Books for Kids
A is for Astronaut by Dr. Jennifer Levasseur, illustrated by Vanessa Port
Inside this board book, little space explorers will learn out-of-this-world words for each letter of the alphabet paired with colorful illustrations on each page. From astronaut to zero gravity, this simple introduction to outer space and the ABCs is sure to delight babies and their parents! Author Jennifer Levasseur serves as the responsible curator for the National Air and Space Museum’s astronaut cameras and chronographs, as well as the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs.
Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv, illustrated by Susanna Chapman
New York Times best-selling author Alan Lightman, in collaboration with Olga Pastuchiv, brings galaxies close in a stunning picture-book tribute to the interconnectedness of the natural world. Layering photographs taken from the Hubble telescope into charming and expressive art, illustrator Susanna Chapman zooms in on one child’s experiences: Ada knows that the best place for star-gazing is on the island in Maine where she vacations with her grandparents. By day, she tracks osprey in the trees, paddles a kayak, and hunts for shells. But she’s most in her element when the sun goes down and the stars blink to life. Will the fog this year foil her plans, or will her grandfather find a way to shine a spotlight on the vast puzzle of the universe . . . until the weather turns?
The Book of Blast Off! by Timothy Knapman, illustrated by Nik Henderson
3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Blast off! Embark on a journey into space aboard rockets, space capsules, satellites, rovers, and more. Simple rhyming text and engaging illustrations introduce children to the space crafts and missions that changed the way we understand the universe. Kids will also meet some of the inspiring astronauts who carried out the missions, from John Glenn and Neil Armstrong to Charles Bolden, Jessica Meir, and Christina Koch.
A delightful read at bedtime or any time a child wants to reach for the stars, missions included are: Sputnik 1; Friendship 7; Mariner 4; Apollo 11; Apollo 13; Voyager 1; Hubble Telescope; Galileo; Cassini-Huygens; International Space Station (inaugural mission); Kepler Telescope; Rosetta Probe; International Space Station (all-female space walk); Perseverance Rover; and Artemis.
Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
You’ve likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home?
As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.
From Katherine’s early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum
Maybe you remember when a little robotic spacecraft landed on a far-off planet. On August 6, 2012, the rover Curiosity touched down on the rocky surface of Mars — and now she’s ready to guide you through her journey firsthand. From idea to creation and beyond, this fact-filled, stylish book introduces readers to Curiosity and her mission: to discover more about the red planet and search for evidence of life. How did Curiosity get her name? What tools does she use to carry out her tasks?
In her own voice, the popular NASA rover tells how and why she traveled more than 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet no human has ever visited . . . and what she’s been doing there. In his debut picture book, Markus Motum brings Curiosity’s story to life in vivid color: the deep blues of space set off the warm, rusted hues of Mars’s dusty red surface, marking this lovable rover and her mission as something special — truly a world apart.
Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts! by Mike Lowery
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.
First Big Book of Space by Catherine D. Hughes
This beautiful book is the latest addition to the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series. These colorful pages will introduce young children to the wonders of space, with out-of-this-world illustrations by David Aguilar and simple text that is perfect for beginning readers or for reading aloud. The book will explain basic concepts of space, beginning with what is most familiar to kids and expanding out into the universe.
Gravity by Jason Chin
What keeps objects from floating out of your hand?
And what if your feet drifted away from the ground?
What stops everything from floating into space?
Gravity.
As in his previous books, Redwoods, Coral Reefs, and Island, Jason Chin has taken a complex subject and made it brilliantly accessible to young readers in this unusual, innovative, and very beautiful book.
Chin’s approach makes this book a must-have common core tool for teachers and librarians introducing scientific principals to young students.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
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.
Our Solar System by Seymour Simon
With beautiful full-color photographs and spacecraft images, including many taken by the Mars rovers and Hubble Space Telescope, this nonfiction picture book teaches young readers all about the solar system, including the sun, the eight planets, and their moons. Covering all the latest discoveries in space, young astronomers will be over the moon about the fun facts, fascinating science, and incredible photographs. A must-have for every child interested in outer space!
Planets by Elizabeth Carney
This brilliantly illustrated book taps into children’s natural curiosity about the vast world of space. This level 2 reader, written in simple language that is easy for young readers to understand, introduces children to our solar system, including all of the planets and dwarf planets, and lots of fascinating fun facts. This reader helps cultivate the explorers of tomorrow!
Space Encyclopedia by David Aguilar
Presenting the latest exciting findings on space exploration and research and cutting-edge, spectacular views of the universe that technology is bringing back to Earth, all in one ultimate reference book. Authored by David A. Aguilar of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the National Geographic Space Encyclopedia is ideal for the family bookshelf, providing both accessible information for school reports and compelling reading on the mysteries beyond our world.
Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time by Elaine Scott
Have you ever wished you could travel back in time? Visit a galaxy light-years away? See a star being born? The Hubble telescope has allowed scientists to do just that. Its dazzling images have transformed astronomy, shedding light on the deepest mysteries of the cosmos and helping scientists find new galaxies and look back in time nearly to the big bang. Through the eye of the Hubble, Elaine Scott skillfully guides readers along the evolution of our universe, investigating a question that was once unanswerable: “Where did we come from?”
Sun! One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Meet Sun: He’s a star! And not just any star―he’s one in a billion. He lights up our solar system and makes life possible. With characteristic humor and charm, Stacy McAnulty channels the voice of Sun in this next celestial “autobiography.”
There’s No Place Like Space! by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library series combines beloved characters, engaging rhymes, and Seussian illustrations to introduce children to non-fiction topics from the real world! On this adventure into outer space, readers will discover:
- what makes each planet in our solar system unique
- how a million Earths could fit inside the sun
- how astronauts have driven a special car all over the moon
- and much more!
