To Infinity and Beyond! Far Out Space Books for Future Astronauts
by Jennifer Ridgway
The magic and mystery of space is intriguing to people of all ages, but especially so for kids. It seems like most children go through a stage of loving space and wanting to be an astronaut. I was nine years old when Space Camp hit theaters, and watching it gave me a strong desire to go to, well, Space Camp. Similarly, my children became fascinated with outer space after seeing the space shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Museum.
These awesome kids’ books can help your budding space explorer learn about outer space and life as an astronaut … from the safety of home.
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Nonfiction
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Hello, World! Moon Landing
Available from:The youngest of readers can join in on all the space-themed fun with Hello, World! Moon Landing, a board book celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. With bright, collage-like illustrations and accessible text, they’ll be reaching for the stars in no time. Pair it with Hello, World! Solar System to reach even farther into the galaxy!
(Ages 0 – 3)Also available from: -
Astronaut Handbook
McCarthy presents the idea of space travel to little kids in an age-appropriate way. With colorful illustrations, Astronaut Handbook covers the various roles in the space program, from engineer to pilot, and is a great way to really introduce kids to the different roles one can take as an astronaut.
(Ages 3 – 5) -
The Space Walk
Astronaut Randolph is all set for a walk in space, but Ground Control insists that he eat lunch, clean up, and dress warmly before heading out. Outside the ship, there’s so much to see and explore! He might even take a few selfies with his new extra-terrestrial friend – just so long as he’s back by dinner.
(Ages 3 – 7) -
Birthday on Mars!
In 2013, Curiosity the space rover got to do something pretty cool: celebrate its birthday on Mars! The infamous robot has been hard at work for NASA, getting to know our closest neighboring planet. Young readers will love exploring Mars alongside Curiosity. After reading, they can even check out the rover’s latest findings on Twitter.
(Ages 5 – 8) -
I am Neil Armstrong
Available from:All space-heads know Neil Armstrong’s name, but they might not know the beloved astronaut’s childhood influences. Now they can, with this space-themed addition to the bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series. Complete with a timeline and photos, this is a must-have biography of the first man on the moon.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
My Journey to the Stars
Available from:Among other remarkable accomplishments, Scott Kelly broke the record for the longest spaceflight by an American astronaut. In My Journey to the Stars, Kelly writes about his childhood, his family (including his identical twin brother, astronaut and author Mark Kelly), and his year-long mission in space. This picture book includes great illustrations, NASA images, and personal photos.
(Ages 6 – 8)Also available from: -
The Girl Who Named Pluto
Available from:Did you know that back in 1930, it was an 11-year-old girl who named the newly discovered Pluto? This enchanting picture book tells the story of Venetia Burney, whose grandfather told her about the unnamed planet. Venetia thought Pluto — the dark underworld of Roman mythology — was a perfect fit. The Girl Who Named Pluto is an inspiring story about a young girl and the grandfather who believed in her.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon
Available from:This Level 5 reader brings kids along for the first walk on the moon in July 1969. It outlines Jules Verne’s initial thoughts on travel to the moon, the danger of the mission, and the iconic words of Neil Armstrong. Space-obsessed kids will love learning about this great accomplishment in American history.
(Ages 6 – 8)Also available from: -
What Is NASA?
Available from:“We choose to go to the moon,” then-President John F. Kennedy said in a 1962 speech. Kennedy’s words got the American public excited about NASA, only four years old at the time, and the excitement — and NASA’s contributions to our understanding of the universe — has only grown since. Learn all about the birthplace of astronauts in this fact-packed guide.
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from: -
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
Available from:In 1961, just three years after NASA was formed, a group of 13 women passed (and over-performed on) all of the same tests as their male astronaut counterparts. However, they were not allowed to actually go into space. Their example, though, helped encourage the generation of women who followed to try to break through the barriers. An inspiring read filled with great pictures, this is a little-known story that all space nuts should know about.
(Ages 9 – 12)Also available from: -
To the Moon! The True Story of the American Heroes on the Apollo 8 Spaceship
In 1968, NASA sent three men to space, making them the first crew to leave Earth’s gravitational field and reach the moon. Written by Jeffrey Kluger, bestselling author of Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, and Ruby Shamir, this one’s a knockout!
(Ages 10+)
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Fiction
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Garcia & Colette Go Exploring
What makes this book so special is that it helps foster collaboration and celebrates the joy of friendship. When two friends’ interests diverge, they decide to build their own machines — one bound for space and one bound for the sea. They discover that space and the sea aren’t really so different after all (and can be a little lonely without a friend by your side!), and that sometimes it’s more fun to be with each other.
(Ages 3 – 5)Available from: -
Magic Tree House: Midnight on the Moon
Available from:Parents, educators, and kids love the Magic Tree House series! In this installment, Jack and Annie are on the hunt for their last “M” clue, this time on the moon. Also be sure to check out the book’s Fact Tracker companion, Space!
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole
Available from:When a black hole follows Stella home from NASA, she befriends the unpredictable and dangerous “pet.” As the black hole begins to swallow up everything around her, Stella learns to find her way out of her own grief. With sly humor, Cuevas’s allegorical tale weaves in information about space and physics.
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from: -
See You in the Cosmos
Available from:Eleven-year-old Alex loves Carl Sagan and space. He decides he wants to emulate Sagan’s Golden Record experiment, so he begins making his own recordings on an old iPod to send up in a rocket that he built. The book is a transcript of these recordings and thus told in Alex’s own voice. It's a sweet and moving story about a tween boy determined to see his dream actualized.
(Ages 9 – 12)Also available from: -
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich
Available from:Award-winning YA author Ibi Zoboi enters the world of middle grade fiction with a novel about 12-year-old Ebony-Grace, a space-obsessed Trekkie who makes a big move from Alabama to Harlem. Ebony-Grace has grown up with her grandfather Jeremiah, a retired NASA engineer, but when she spends a summer with her father in Harlem, she learns that her sci-fi dreams might be possible in the city, too.
(Ages 10+)Also available from:
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2019.