Space Books for Little Kids
Inside: Here are some of our favorite space books for kids ages 2-6. Find some out-of-this-world stories and simple nonfiction choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.
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Today we’re going to blast off into the exciting world of space exploration! These space books are the perfect way to ignite your little kids’ curiosity and take their interest to new heights!
You’ll find selections covering rockets and space travel, astronauts, the solar system, and more. (If you’re looking to take a deeper dive, check out our list of Moon books, Mars books, and Solar Eclipse books.)
You may also like to try our solar system craft, S is for Space worksheet, or rocket craft to go along with some of these stories.
Want to jump ahead to just the type of book you’re looking for? Click one of these:
Space Books for Toddlers and Young Preschoolers (these are all fiction)
Space Books for Preschool and Kindergarten (also all fiction)
Nonfiction Space Books for Children Ages 2-6
Space Picture Books & Board Books
Fiction is an easy way to introduce young children to space for the first time. Each of these storybooks gives your little learners a fun story from which to springboard their learning!
Space Books for Toddlers and Young Preschoolers
We’ll start out with the simplest space books, just right for toddlers and young preschoolers’ short attention spans. You’ll find bold, captivating illustrations and simple language to engage them.
Also, FYI, these choices are almost nonfiction – except since you can’t actually touch the sun, and the planets don’t really have cute faces, I’m listing them here in the fiction section.
Our Solar System by Little Hippo Books
This sweet touch & feel board book is a choice even very young toddlers will enjoy. Introduce the planet names and expose them to some rhyming with this little gem.
8 Little Planets by Chris Ferrie and illustrated by Lizzy Doyle
In 8 Little Planets, Chris Ferrie takes little ones on a rhyming trip through space, visiting the planets one by one. The cutout design and bright illustrations will engage even the youngest readers.
On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book About Rockets by Michael Dahl and illustrated by Derrick Alderman and Denise Shea
With bright collage illustrations and hidden numbers, this simple rocket launch book is a fun, space-themed way to practice counting to 10. You can also use it to add words like “engineers” and “astronauts” to your little ones’ vocabulary.
Busy Day Astronaut by Dan Green
I’m not always a fan of lift-the-flap books (because they rip, and they’re hard to share with a group), but this one is a winner anyway! Little hands can start by getting the astronaut “dressed” in a space suit, then proceed to “launch” a rocket and “fly” to the space station. These are meaningful actions that propel the story forward in a super engaging way!
Space Books for Preschool and Kindergarten
Get your 4 and 5-year-olds excited about the final frontier with these fun space books for preschool and kindergarten! These choices are a bit longer or more conceptual than the group above, but interesting enough to hold their attention and spark their imaginations.
Whether you’re exploring the planets, learning about constellations, or imagining life on other worlds, these books will transport your little ones on an intergalactic adventure.
Luna Muna by Kellie Gerardi and illustrated by Allyson Wilson
I love this imaginative story by commercial astronaut Kellie Gerardi! On a perfect starry night, a girl wishes on a shooting star that she can “fly to space.” After bedtime, she discovers that her sparkly helmet can take her on a cosmic adventure.
Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Ant Parker
Roaring Rockets is an excellent book to show children how to travel to space! This book tells about the items that are likely to be in a rocket (with kid-friendly definitions at the back!) and how rockets blast off to space with a cute animal crew!
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
A little boy tries and tries to catch a star from Earth. This isn’t quite a book about space, but it’s an engaging story for opening a discussion about what and where stars actually are. I would want to include it in a space theme unit, so I’ve listed it for you here.
(FYI, this book also happens to be a nice choice for talking about growth mindset.)
Give Me Some Space by Philip Bunting
Join Una on her quest to visit space in this fun and educational adventure. We love how this fictional space book includes nonfiction elements alongside the narrative.
Space Mice by Lori Haskins Houran and illustrated by Priscilla Alpaugh
This adorable story could just as easily fall into my Moon Books for Kids list, but I just now found it, so I’m including it here for you. You won’t want to miss this perfectly rhymed read-aloud! Follow two adorable mice as they build their own little rocket to reach the big cheese in the sky.
It might be interesting to pair this with Kitten’s First Full Moon, another story about an animal who mistakes the moon for a dairy product (milk, in the kitten’s case).
Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly and illustrated by C. F. Payne
Need a longer picture book encouraging children to follow their dreams to space? Mousetronaut, written by real-life astronaut Mark Kelly, is a perfect choice! This book follows a small mouse on his mission to space, where he ends up being the only one who can solve a huge problem. The detailed illustrations will help children visualize the story. Bonus: There is a sequel where Mousetronaut travels to Mars!
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington
Mae Among the Stars tells the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space! This book is perfect to encourage children to follow their dreams, while
Star of the Party: The Solar System Celebrates! by Jan Carr and illustrated by Juana Medina
Finally, here’s a choice for kids who already know the basics about the solar system. Your little ‘experts’ will enjoy this silly story about the planets throwing a birthday party for the sun.
Nonfiction Books About Outer Space
These books are informational, giving young children facts about outer space on their level. Use these books to dig deeper into your child’s interests in space! These are roughly sorted from easiest to most complex.
Hello, World! Solar System by Jill McDonald
This relatable, super simple board book is perfect for sharing with older toddlers and young preschoolers.
Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney and illustrated by Christine Gore
This book is perfect to introduce children to where everything is in space! Children get to learn where they are in comparison to other parts of the Milky Way! This book is a fun way to begin sharing facts about space with the youngest kids in your life.
If I Were an Astronaut by Eric Mark Braun and illustrated by Sharon Harmer
This nonfiction space book for preschoolers puts children in an astronaut’s boots. Bright, friendly illustrations make it easy to imagine rocketing to the International Space Station to live and work.
Plus — and this is so cool — you can even watch astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor read this book aloud while floating in the ISS!!
The Pop-Up Guide: Space by Sophie Dussaussois and illustrated by Charline Picard
If you’re looking for an informational book that is super engaging, this is a perfect choice. The writing is informative but written in a way even youngsters can understand. I know, pop-up books aren’t as durable as regular books, but this one is awesome enough to !
There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
Introduce young children to facts about space with the help of the infamous Cat in the Hat! This book is ideal for young children ready to learn more details about space, such as the solar system, constellations, astronauts, and more. The detailed images and easy-to-understand wording are sure to engage most youngsters.
Galaxies, Galaxies! by Gail Gibbons
Gibbons is known for her informational books. This one takes readers on a journey through our universe. The level of detail here is best for kids who have lots of ‘why’ questions and long attention spans – but it’s perfect for them!
Also, you might like to know (if you don’t already) that Galaxies, Galaxies! is not Gail Gibbons’ only book on space! Her other titles include The Moon Book; Stargazers; and The Planets. All of these books contain gorgeous images and easy-to-understand information for young children.
We hope some of these space books help you and your child dig deeper into learning about space.
