Space Books for Kids

Check out all these great space books for kids! They’re packed with kid-friendly explanations to help you answer questions like, “Does the Sun move?” and “What makes day and night?”

For children who are learning about the Sun, I recommend Stacy McAnulty’s picture book SUN! ONE IN A BILLION (pictured above👆). It’s narrated by the Sun and uses humor throughout the book to share important facts. If your students like that book, she has two other related titles:

EARTH! MY FIRST 4.54 BILLION YEARS
MOON! EARTH’S BEST FRIEND

My collection of picture books about space has become so large, I think it might be overwhelming for me to list them all here. I’ll just stick with my favorites, but don’t stop there. If you’re at the library, comb through the whole stack.

Whenever I start a unit of any kind, I totally immerse the kids in the topic. Part of that includes having plenty of books for everyone to explore. I might be a book hog.

Ok, fine. I AM a book hog.

NONFICTION SPACE BOOKS FOR KIDS

The LET’S READ AND FIND OUT science series has several great titles about space:

THE SUN AND THE MOON by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM by Franklyn M. Branley
THE MOON SEEMS TO CHANGE by Franklyn M. Branley
THE BIG DIPPER by Franklyn M. Branley

We also like OUR STARS by Anne Rockwell and FLY GUY PRESENTS SPACE by Tedd Arnold. And THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series has been updated since I began teaching. Check out their new version about the solar system. Again, there are SO many space books for kids! Go ahead and clean out the library.

PRINTABLE BOOKS ABOUT SPACE

As much as I love picture books, they tend to be read-alouds in first grade. They’re loaded with great information, but the level of text difficulty is usually too challenging for the kids to read independently. This is why I also use printable texts. I can tailor the content specifically to the NGSS and my students’ interests. It’s the best way to be intentional about key words, age-appropriate sight words, and language structures.

For example, kids want to know: WHY DOES EARTH HAVE SEASONS? If you’re like me, you might want to start out with a video or two. I think the animation and music in most educational videos spark curiosity and help kids stay engaged with the content. Try SEASONS VIDEO by SciShow Kids or SEASONS by Crash Course Kids. Both are good choices for young kids.

Once the videos have helped you establish a beginning framework, you can give each child their own book, THE REASON FOR THE SEASONS. Having their own copy gives each child a chance to interact with the text and illustrations in more depth… highlighting key vocabulary, studying graphics, making notes, rereading for meaning, etc.

Observing the Moon is one way to show young kids how patterns exist in nature. The lunar cycle is predictable and observable and this little text👆, THE PHASES OF THE MOON, introduces children to the Moon’s many different looks. To support new ideas and increase engagement, the pages invite interaction with a color key for each phase of the moon.

Need a kid-friendly video about the Moon’s phases? Preview this one by SciShow Kids: THE PHASES OF THE MOON VIDEO.

A GROWING BOOK COLLECTION

Does the Sun move? Well, children sometimes think it does. I mean, it does sort of look that way, right? It can be mind-blowing for kids to find out the Sun is not moving and, in fact, Earth is the one hurtling through space.

This is a key component in understanding why day and night occur. You’ve probably demonstrated this concept using a sphere and a flashlight. Once the kids see it in action, it makes more sense. When you’re done using models, continue adding to their personal science library with this text👆, DAY AND NIGHT.

All of these printable space books for kids are available separately and as a SPACE BOOK BUNDLE for first grade. They’re interactive, aligned with the NGSS, and super easy to assemble…. just print, fold, staple. Done.

WRAPPING IT UP

This book list wouldn’t be complete without a few options that aren’t nonfiction. These are some of my favorite titles that are related to space, but are either fiction, narrative nonfiction, or just silly space fun:

RYLEE THE YOUNG ROCKETEER by JoAnn M. Dickinson
EIGHT DAYS GONE by Linda McReynolds (A True Poem)
THERE WAS A BLACK HOLE THAT SWALLOWED THE UNIVERSE by Chris Ferrie
IF YOU HAD YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY ON THE MOON by Joyce Lapin
MOUSETRONAUT by Astronaut Mark Kelly
IF YOU DECIDE TO GO TO THE MOON by Faith McNulty
MOONBALL by Jane Yolen
PAPA, PLEASE GET THE MOON FOR ME by Eric Carle
THE TURTLE AND THE MOON by Charles Turner

Happy teaching!

RELATED FREEBIE

These FREE PLANET CARDS can be used in a variety of ways. You can print two sets of them and use them in matching game, post them on science charts and record facts about each planet, or use them in a student-pairing activity (to name a few). Download them and see what ideas come to your mind!