The best Space picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Planets, stars, the moon, and astronauts.
20 books
A class of young astronaut trainees learns what it really takes to go to space, from training and food to sleeping in zero gravity. Funny, fact packed, and perfect for future space explorers.
Young Mae dreams of floating among the stars, and her parents tell her she can be anything. Inspired by Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space.
Bright photos and simple text introduce little ones to the sun, planets, stars, and astronauts. A great first reference book for the preschooler who asks big questions about the night sky.
Kids tap, wave, and wish their way through a quiet night sky full of fireflies, stars, and the moon. A calm, interactive pick that works beautifully at bedtime.
Aliens zoom down to Earth for one reason only: to swipe the underpants off our clotheslines. Pure silliness in rhyme, and a guaranteed hit with giggly preschoolers.
Bok is a moon rock who watches billions of years of Earth's history unfold, then gets carried home by the Apollo 11 astronauts. A sweeping, gorgeous story written by Neil Armstrong himself.
Katherine Johnson loved to count as a child and grew up to become the NASA mathematician who helped bring Apollo 13 home. An inspiring true story about math and determination.
Young Chris dreams of being an astronaut but is terrified of the dark, until watching the moon landing shows him how wonderful the dark can be. Real astronaut Chris Hadfield's story is perfect for bedtime fears.
Curious Margaret Hamilton grows up asking questions and becomes the computer programmer whose code helped land Apollo 11 on the moon. An inspiring true story for kids who love math and space.
Mars itself narrates this funny introduction to the Red Planet, bragging about its volcanoes, dust storms, and rovers. Silly personality and real facts make it a great space read aloud.
Gail Gibbons explains why the moon has phases, how it affects the tides, and how astronauts first walked on it. Clear, simple science that little stargazers can follow.
A small but plucky mouse sneaks aboard a space shuttle mission and ends up saving the day. Written by astronaut Mark Kelly, it proves even the littlest crew member matters.
Cranky asteroid Astro just wants to be left alone, but when he gets knocked out of orbit he takes a wild ride through the solar system. Funny, full of space facts, and great for grumpy little ones.
Short poems about planets, stars, and space travel pair with fact notes on every page. A lovely way to mix poetry and science for curious kids.
Pluto tells its own story, from its discovery in 1930 to the day scientists reclassified it as a dwarf planet. A playful way to explain why Pluto's status changed.
Bored astronaut Randolph Witherspoon gets permission to take a space walk and makes an unexpected friend out among the stars. Sweet, funny, and great for young space fans.
Readers imagine themselves blasting off and living as the first kid on Mars, exploring the planet's landscape and daily life there. Realistic science that makes space travel feel personal and exciting.
Cecilia Payne discovers what stars are made of despite barriers for women in science. An inspiring biography with gorgeous art.
Peter Sis tells the story of Galileo, who looked through his telescope and dared to prove Earth moves around the sun. A rich, detailed Caldecott Honor book.
