When you ask a kid what they want to be when they grow up, there are a few regular responses: firefighter, zookeeper, or whatever their parents’ jobs are. They’re usually driven by the interest that has captured their imagination. Kids who look up at constellations and become obsessed with space exploration have plenty of stories to help guide them. Whether they want to approach it from a purely scientific perspective or dream even bigger, there are so many fun stories for them to dive into.
From memoirs to mysteries, here are four great books for little space explorers to indulge in their interests and see a future in the stars.
Books About Real-Life Astronauts
Chasing Space: Young Readers’ Edition by Leland Melvin
Astronaut Leland Melvin has lived a lot of different lives. Before working with NASA, he played for the Detroit Lions. He was also a crucial member of the crew of the Atlantis, the craft that aided in building the International Space Station. He and the whole crew made major contributions to our understanding of space today. Since it’s targeted to young readers, this includes experiments for budding space explorers.
All Access members, read on for more astronaut fiction and nonfiction for kids.
Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
If your budding astronaut is interested in the history of space travel, this is a great book to give them to learn about the history of NASA. The space race began in earnest in 1958 with the establishment of NASA, and reached new heights with the moon landing in 1969. As technology has improved, discoveries from NASA have led to other exciting environmental strides. The importance of science will be even more obvious to any space enthusiast.
Stories About Astronauts
Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
For kids who love space and mysteries, this is the perfect bridge. In this universe, a group of humans has started living on the moon. However, kids are stuck inside instead of exploring the surface. Dashiell Gibson is not content to stay inside, especially when the lead scientist of Moon Base Alpha dies under mysterious circumstances.
Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace by Evonne Blanchard
The first in a series of space adventures, this children’s book follows Amelia in her quest to save her alien friend, Uglesnoo. The two are able to find what they have in common and work together to save Uglesnoo’s sister. At the same time, Amelia gets to discover the joy of the universe outside of her own planet.
For more kids’ books about space, check out 25 of the Best Children’s Books About Space and Children’s Books about the Moon.
For kids who have different dreams, you can also help them explore their interests with books about rocks for budding geologists, books about mythology for classicists, and historical fiction for future professors.
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