To Infinity and Beyond: Astonishing Children’s Books About Space!

Whether you’re simply interested in our universe or want to go there yourself, explore outer space with these amazing picture books!

Recommendations Science Fiction Young Readers
Three featured books on the right side — You are the First Kid on Mars, My First Book of Planets, and and an astronaut walking on Mars as the background. A decal of Saturn is placed in the corner top left.

What’s really out there beyond our planet? Since humankind has existed, and for all ages, space has fascinated us with its neverending existence and unanswered questions. Whether your child dreams of one day becoming an astronaut or simply adores gazing at the starry night and wonders what is truly up there, the right book can ignite their curiosity and create wondrous dreams. We’ve gathered a list of phenomenal children’s books about space exploration, including some insightful information regarding our planet system for the curious minds!

My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts

For the little astronomers in our world, introduce them to this incredible book about planets and the cosmos! Recommended for children between the ages of three and five, this colorful solar system book will mention our bright sun, our home on Earth, stormy Neptune, and every planet in between. Featuring colorful illustrations and fascinating facts about what makes each planet so special, curious learners will adore this book and discover the ultimate guide to understanding space.

My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts, book cover. Black starry night background with different planets on the cover, with Earth in the center.
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The Fly Who Flew by Lauren Sánchez, Illustrated by Raleigh Stewart

Despite being small, Flynn has big dreams of becoming an astronaut and flying up high to the top of the universe. When they explore and find a nearby rocket company, Flynn stumbles onto a rocket ship and is about to witness the biggest adventure of his life! Young readers will be captivated by the early space concepts Flynn’s adventure mentions, such as atmosphere and G-force, while also being introduced to Earth’s amazing capabilities. This lovely book is perfect to remind aspiring readers that big dreams and curious minds can lead to astonishing discoveries.

The Fly Who Flew by Lauren Sánchez, Illustrated by Raleigh Stewart, book cover. Starry night in the background, a fly wearing jeans and a white shirt has their arms up in midst flight. A rocket ship lifting off in the background, and cactus and sand are on the ground.
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The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen

Back for another adventure, the class takes a field trip to the planetarium. However, their plan is ruined when they find out the museum is closed. Luckily, Ms. Frizzle saves the day with a brilliant plan to turn their Magic School Bus into a spaceship! Zooming the class through the atmosphere and beyond the solar system, the story provides wonderful facts about space you won’t want to miss.

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen, book cover. A yellow school bus depicted as a rocket ship flies over Saturn, and the background is a black night sky in space.
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Check out other Magic School Bus books here!

Luna Muna by Kellie Gerardi, Illustrated by Allyson Wilson

A curious young girl who adores outer space, Luna Muna plans on being an astronaut one day! After wishing on a shooting star one night, she discovers a secret power…she can float just like astronauts in space when she wears her sparkly helmet! Once bedtime hits, Luna Muna is off on wild adventures and finds out that while space can be pretty cool, her home on Earth is incredibly special too. This stunning children’s book is perfect for young readers to excitedly join Luna Muna on her adventures while also learning insightful facts about space.

Luna Muna by Kellie Gerardi, Illustrated by Allyson Wilson, book cover. A small blonde girl wearing a sparkly space helmet stands to the left of the cover, and a moon on her right.
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You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien

Told in the second person point of view, this brilliant story takes the reader up to a spaceship to witness the habitat on Mars. There, you will see how scientists and engineers build robots to maintain their community, explore the planet, and search for more life. By addressing the reader directly, O’Brien wonderfully pulls and engages you in as you witness this imagined future of advanced technology and life on a different planet.

You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O'Brien, book cover. The title is big and bold, taking up most of the cover. A spaceship sits on the surface of Mars, and two astronauts climb out of the ship and onto the planet.
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Are you ready to dive into the unknown? These remarkable children’s stories about space will fascinate young readers and may help answer their curious questions about the vast universe around us.


Take a look at our article on middle grade sci-fi books here!

Check out our Mini Bookworms Delightful Recommendations list on bookshop.org

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