12+ Of the Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books About Space and The Solar System

I have a child who is awed and inspired by the night sky. He has so many questions about it and loves learning everything he can. I am thrilled that astronomy is one of his favorite topics and consider it a pleasure to find him fantastic books that quench his thirst for knowledge about Space. I also love reading him the occasional fictional book centered around space because they are so much fun for him to read and spark his imagination about a topic that is already so full of wonder and mystery. Below are some of our favorite nonfiction and fictional books about space and the solar system in case you have a “star-struck” kid of your own. We even included a couple of activity books for good measure!

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Nonfiction

“Destination: Space” by Christoph Englert and Tom Clohosy Cole- This book is wonderful! The illustrations are bold and beautiful with a lot of facts and information packed onto each page.    

“Discover Our Solar System” by Colin Stuart and Charlie Brandon-King- This book is an excellent introduction to our solar system and is organized in a way that is easy for children to understand and refer to. My son LOVES this one!

“Seeing Stars: A Complete Guide to the Constellations” by Sara Gillingham- I find the myths and legends behind the constellations fascinating and this guide to all 88 of them is amazing. Definitely one for your “star struck” kids.

“Our Solar System” by Arthur John L’Hommedieu – The format of this book is genius! It is made out of a sturdy, cardboard-like material and pulls out to create the 3D effect of a tunnel. Then you can look through it to see all the planets and even some asteroids.

“Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years” by Stacy McAnulty and David Litchfield- This book is such a fun way to introduce a basic understanding of Earth’s first 4.54 billion years. The Earth itself is personified in this story and is the one narrating all the information. While not packed with tons of information, it is still informative as well as super clever and fun!

“The Race to Space: From Sputnik to the moon landing and beyond…” by Clive Gifford and Paul Daviz- This large, format gem focuses on the space race between the USA and the Soviet Union. It highlights efforts to reach the moon from both and it is so interesting. Plus, the design of this book is stunning.

“Night Sky Watcher: Your Guide to the Stars and Planets” by Raman Prinja- This is the perfect companion for camping or a night of stargazing. It tells you what to look for, how to find it and gives a lot of information to learn about the night sky. So well done.

“The Darkest Dark” by Chris Hadfield , The Fan Brothers, et al.- This book is written by astronaut Chris Hadfield and is his way of sharing his story of how he overcame his fear of the dark and became an astronaut. It is so interesting and inspiring.

“The Moon” by Hannah Pang and Thomas Hedgebrook- This hefty book has over 150 pages and is perfect for older children who are interested in the moon. It is divided into ten topics centered around the moon and includes everything from mythology concerning the moon to the first lunar landing. It is also beautifully designed.

“Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship” by Susanna Leonard Hill and Elisa Paganelli- This book is so cute! The moon is personified and has likable personality. The story tells about the first lunar landing (with tons of facts and nonfiction information along the way) form the perspective of a lonely moon who would love a visitor. So entertaining and so informative.

“Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy and The First Moon Landing” by Chris Gall- This book is excellent! It relates the events of Apollo 11 and the lunar landing in such detail. Plus, it has a fantastic side/parallel story of a young boy doing his his own rocket launch with a bottle rocket. Love!

Fiction

“Life on Mars” by Jon Agee-  I get the biggest kick out of this witty and clever little book. There aren’t many words, but they aren’t needed because the fantastic illustrations say it all. Just check it out, you’ll thank me.

“The Moon Inside” by Sandra V. Feder and Aimée Sicuro- I have a weakness for books about the moon and this one is one of my favorites. It is about how the moon comforts a little girl and helps with her fear of the dark.

“Skippy Jon Jones, Lost in Spice” by Judy Schachner- Skippyjon Jones is definitely a beloved literary character over here. This book is no exception. It is full of imagination, chaos and a little bit of craziness. So much fun.

“How to Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers – This is a sweet story about a little boy who wants to catch a star. It is one that easily finds it’s way to your heart and leaves a lasting impression.

“I Took the Moon For a Walk” by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay- This book is for all the kids who have ever noticed that the moon is “following them”. It’s lyrical text and stunning illustrations also make it the perfect bedtime read.

“When the Moon Came Down” by Feridun Oral- This story features a bunny who is afraid of the dark at first, however a magical friendship that it creates with the moon helps to comfort the little bunny and bring peace to nighttime. The illustrations in this book are positively dreamy and the text is so soothing and beautiful. Another one that’s perfect for bedtime!

“Franklin and Luna Go To the Moon” by Jen Campbell and Katie Harnett- I am a HUGE fan of Franklin and in this story he heads to the moon to find his dragon family. It’s magical and unique and I love it.

Activity Books

“Professor Astro Cat’s Intergalactic Activity Book” by Zelda Turner and Ben Newman-  This book is split into four sections: Cadet Training, Watching the Skies, Rocket Science and Space Missions.  It is packed with scientific facts and there is a lot of room for creativity. Also, of course, there are a lot of activities to complete along the way.

“Space Adventure Activity Book” by Jen Allison- This activity book is packed with activities ranging from traditional “activity book” activities like mazes to more creative activities such as instructions for space related crafts. It is sure to keep children entertained for hours.

“Drawing in Space” by Harriet Russel- This book is a fun introduction to different features of space (with nonfiction facts and information tidbits) and has invitations to draw and interact as you move along. There are over 30 puzzles, games and activities and each one is sure to please.

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