24 Outer Space Books for Kids

Mousetronaut was written by astronaut Mark Kelly and is an adorable picture book that tells the story of how the space shuttle Endeavor really took mice into space in a fictionalized story from one mouse's perspective.

There Was a Black Hole that Swallowed the Universe is a funny rhyming book by Chris Ferrie. It follows the familiar song "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."

If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin is a beautifully illustrated story that includes kid-friendly facts about life in space.

My Little Golden Book About the Solar System by Dennis R. Shealy is a wonderful read-aloud story for preschoolers. It introduces them to space with classic Little Golden Book illustrations.

If You Decide To Go To The Moon by Faith McNulty is a fictional story that takes readers along for a ride to the moon. Lovely illustrations show every step from packing to getting back home.

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman is a picture book that exposes young readers to incredibly large numbers.

My First Book of Planets: All About the Solar System for Kids is a book by Bruce Betts, Ph.D. for kids ages 3 to 5. It introduces the 8 planets, as well as dwarf planets and other space objects.

Women in Science and Technology: Mae C. Jemison is written by Meeg Pincus. It is an educational and interactive story about The first African American female astronaut.

I Am Neil Armstrong is part of the popular Ordinary People Change the World picture book series by Brad Meltzer. This fun picture book for kids ages 5 to 8 is a biography.

National Geographic Readers: Planets is by Elizabeth Carney. This title is in the National Geographic Kids series and includes facts and photos for level 2 readers.

The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the Best-Kept Secrets of Space is by Will Gater. Kids will discover approximately 100 celestial objects through a story format that includes photos and illustrations.

Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity is written by Bruce Betts, Ph.D. This book for young readers introduces kids to the history of space flight and what life is like as an astronaut.

50 Things To See With A Telescope by John A. Read is a book for kids and adults to see just what celestial objects look like through a telescope.

The Story of Neil Armstrong by Sarah L. Thomson is part of the Biography Book for New Readers series. It tells the story of Neil Armstrong's life for kids ages 6 to 9.

Astronaut Handbook by Megan McCarthy is a nonfiction book that shows kids exactly what it takes to become an astronaut.

Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist is an autobiography by Sylvia Acevedo. She went from a childhood in an underprivileged neighborhood and a girl scout to becoming one of the first Latinx people to graduate with a master's in engineering from Stanford and become a rocket scientist at NASA.

NASA Mars Mission for Kids is in the Woo! Jr. Kids Activities series. It covers the history and goals of the Mars exploration projects at NASA.

The Apollo Missions for Kids: The People and Engineering Behind the Race to the Moon is by Jerome Pohlen. It covers the history of NASA's Apollo program along with hands-on activities that help kids understand the science behind the missions.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone is about the Mercury 13 women, who challenged NASA's gender rules in the 1950s.

The Complete Guide to Space Exploration is written by Ben Hubbard in the Lonely Planet Kids series. It has a little bit of everything, aimed at kids ages 9 to 12.

The Young Readers' Edition of Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the true story of the four African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA and changed the world.

Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry is by Neil deGrasse Tyson for kids ages 9 to 12. This book uses photos, infographics, and simple language to explain the complex nature of the universe.

Space Dictionary for Kids: The Everything Guide for Kids Who Love Space is by Amy Anderson and Brian Anderson. Older readers in grades 3 through 6 will find an alphabetical dictionary along with tons of history, experiments, and more.

Space!: The Universe as You've Never Seen It Before is part of the Knowledge Encyclopedias series by DK. Created in partnership with the Smithsonian, this illustrated book for older kids is packed with information on our solar system.