30 Preschool Books About Space And Astronomy
Updated Feb. 9, 2023
Toddlers and preschoolers who are crazy about all things space will love these fun and educational books about stars, planets, our solar system, and beyond! Here are our favorites, 30 of the best preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten space books under the sun in a comprehensive list for you!
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Does your preschooler seem to have an interest in the solar system? Maybe like our son, your child is just naturally drawn to all things outer space and the planets. Perhaps they can already name all the planets too!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this parenting adventure (so far) is to follow your child’s lead when it comes to their interests. So, combining your toddler’s love for anything and everything solar system-related with books is an easy win.
Space Books Are Terrific For Toddlers and Preschoolers!
Space is pretty fascinating and as your toddlers start to learn about the gigantic world around them, they might just take a shine to all things space. I know ours certainly did!
I’ve included suggestions for babies and younger toddlers (0-3) as well as some that are geared toward older toddlers. I’ve even included space books for kindergarten and school-aged kids I realize that’s a wide range but honestly, you can read whichever ones you choose to your child as long as he or she enjoys it. That’s the main thing right?
The age recommendations are just suggestions and there is always overlap depending on your child’s development.
If something seems too babyish to your preschooler, I bet they’ll let you know.
On the contrary, if the book seems a little advanced for them, that can be a good thing. A challenging book is something they will grow into and continue to enjoy for years to come.
Outer space books of all kinds usually come with cool and interesting illustrations too. I’m even learning more about space every time we read these!
Space Books For Kids Are Fun and Educational
Teaching your preschoolers about outer space with books like these is really a fun thing to do! Some of these outer space and astronaut books for toddlers focus a little more on the facts (but still in a fun “sciency” way), while others tell sweet stories with valuable lessons for little ones.
Books that are a bit more advanced can be enjoyed by all ages, even if your child is just learning to read a little bit. Looking at and talking about the pictures is a great start.
As you go through them, you will be drawn to some and less to others. You know your child best!
Anyway, I’ve tried to showcase a good variety but all with some type of outer space theme. I hope you find something that you LOVE for your kid’s reading level.
Not sure what your child’s reading level is? You can get a reading assessment and a ton of other awesome literacy resources for kids with Reading IQ: Age of Learning. They offer the first month totally free so there’s nothing to lose!
Goodnight, Astronaut by Scott Kelly
The second picture book from astronaut Scott Kelly follows his adventure-seeking travels through some of the outlandish places he’s slept! Young readers will love the playful text and encouraging message to dream of the stars. Recommended for ages 3-7, this kids’ space book makes a great bedtime read-aloud for little astronauts.
Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me by Eric Carle
If you are a fan of Eric Carle’s work including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you will likely enjoy this sweet little tale.
Monica really wants to play with the moon but she can’t reach it. So her father sets out to make her wish come true with a really tall ladder and a whole lot of perseverance.
The element of fantasy is great for younger toddlers, while your older child might call you on the fact that you can’t actually bring the moon down to play with. (Because you can’t get anything past them!)
I like the fact that as it tells the story it touches on the waning and waxing of the moon in a really simplistic way, intermingled with a cute story of a father’s love for his daughter.
Mommy, Mommy, Where Is The Moon:
Kaitlyn loves spending her nights lying beside her mother as they search the sky for the Moon. Sometimes they find it. Sometimes they don’t! That doesn’t stop them from laughing and talking about cool moon facts like why it changes shape and hides sometimes. Like Neil Armstrong, Kaitlyn believes she can also fly to the Moon!
I love this book by Serene Chia so much! The storyline with the mom and daughter is really sweet and it also mixes in a little science learning with the facts about the moon phases and space travel. The illustrations are very well done, cute, and colourful. It comes with a sticker sheet and includes some fun activities in the back of the book.
The author has a terrific website where you can get free lesson plans and downloadable activity sheets! You can find these resources at serenechia.com/moon.
On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book about Rockets (Know Your Numbers) by Michael Dahl
A very basic counting-down book for little ones who are into rockets. Beginning with 12, we count down to blast off as a rocket is readied for launch. Turning the book 90 degrees on the final page for a vertically aligned BLAST OFF! That adds a bit of extra pizzazz as do the hidden numbers for your toddler to seek out.
A great starter book to teach early number skills and sometimes it really is nice to read a fast, simple story. It also has each number at the side of the page written in a different format like a numeral, a word, or dots (called subitizing).
Solar System by Jill McDonald (from her Hello World! collection)
Cute, colorful, and cheerful, one of the best books to introduce babies and toddlers to space and the solar system.
It is very basic though, and most of the rave reviews I read on it were from parents of younger toddlers (18 months-2-1/2 yrs) so keep that in mind.
Also, it does include Pluto as a planet even though it has been demoted to a dwarf planet (poor Pluto… lol). That might bug some people but I see it as an opportunity to start teaching your child about dwarf planets! Definitely not a deal-breaker for us.
There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System by Tish Rabe
From the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library, Dr. Suess fans will love this book about space for toddlers.
With his familiar rhyming lilt that The Cat is known for, he whisks your little reader off for a quick, fun ride through the solar system and back home again in his spaceship. For a relatively short story, there are a lot of fun facts in this one!
A little bit about each planet, the sun, constellations, and even a bit of info on the moon landing.
Plus an easy way to remember the order of the planets (M,V,E,M,J,S,U,N), it’s different than the one I learned growing up but will work the same! Ours was My Very Excellent Mother Just Sat Under Nancy’s Porch….yes, Pluto was still in the big show back then. Poor Pluto…
There Was A Black Hole That Swallowed The Universe by Chris Ferrie
We first saw this on the YouTube channel Kid Time Storytime and we thought it was hilarious. It really is a fun read-aloud and one of our favorite preschool space books!
Using the familiar rhythm of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” follow along as the black hole swallows up the universe and everything that exists in it, from the biggest to the smallest pieces of matter. It has crazy, silly, vibrant artwork that kids and grown-ups will enjoy.
If I Were An Astronaut (Dream Big!) by Eric Mark Braun
A great read-along non-fiction story about what it’s like to be a real-life astronaut, and what daily life is like doing science experiments. Also, how astronauts eat, sleep, and put on their spacesuits to repair things outside the space station. All while floating high above the Earth.
It also talks about how the astronauts from different countries work together as a team and live on the space station for months at a time, sort of like a little family!
This book was featured on the YouTube channel Story Time in Space. I’ve included the video at the bottom of this post if you want to check it out. I thought it was very cool to watch, even for myself!
If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin
If you had your birthday party on the moon, what would it be like? Sure, balloons won’t float and the near lack of atmosphere also means that everyone has to wear special suits—but the low gravity makes gymnastics a snap! This cool picture book about space for ages 3-8 combines fun and facts to help kids learn all about our universe and comes with a glossary and sidebars.
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Good Night Galaxy (from the Good Night Our World Series) by Adam Gamble
The Goodnight Series books Gamble writes are formatted as board books so they are durable and can handle the wear and tear of babies and toddlers who love to read the same stories over and over.
A short, simple kids’ astronomy book about the galaxy and all its wonders. Your toddler will learn about the Milky Way, comets, stars, constellations, planets, and even a black hole!
Moon’s First Friends: An Educational and Heartwarming Story About the First Moon Landing by Susanna Leonard Hill
Written from the Moon’s perspective, she shines bright in the night sky as she looks down at the Earth, but she is so lonely! She watches the dinosaurs roam Earth, the Egyptians build pyramids, and the first airplane flight.
She wishes and hopes that the humans will come to visit her but is worried… maybe they can’t see her?
Finally, a rocket brings people to her, they take moon rocks and dust back to Earth so a part of her will stay with them, and is overjoyed that they leave her an impressive plaque and a red, white, and blue flag!
It’s a sweet story that will captivate younger toddlers, but also has facts about the moon mission at the end which they can grow into.
Arial The Astronaut (UnicornPreneur)
Arial is a young unicorn who has a serious passion for space and some might Girl Power!
She becomes quite the heroine as she gets swept up in yet another adventure, this time in space! It is a fun little story with colorful and sweet illustrations with a lovely story teaching kids how to stay calm, and find solutions when problems arise.
Toddlers who are unicorn lovers or space lovers will enjoy the Arial books.
Mousetronaut Based on a (Partially) True Story by Mark Kelly
Mark Edward Kelly is a retired American astronaut, engineer, and U.S. Navy Captain.
A darling little picture book, about Meteor the Mouse, one of a rodent team “mission specialists” on board a space shuttle mission who ends up being a hero and saving the day!. At the end of this “out of this world” book, Kelly includes a brief history of NASA and lots of fun facts about space travel that toddlers and young children will love.
During my first flight in 2001, there were eighteen mice on board. All of them, with one exception, clung to the inside of the mesh during the entire mission. One mouse, smaller than the rest, seemed to enjoy the experience and effortlessly floated around the cage. The story of Mousetronaut is inspired by that mission. We all watched him as he enjoyed the feeling of being weightless. I started to think about that mouse and what it would be like to have him as part of our crew.
Mark Kelly
Super Cool Space Facts A Fun Fact-Filled Space Book For Kids by Ph.D. Bruce Betts
This book might be on the little older side but I included it anyway because it is filled with tons of super cool facts about all things space and jokes, lots of jokes.
So even if it is a bit above your toddler’s head, it won’t always be and he or she will grow into it. Especially if they already are showing a love for space!
Because it is so educational and entertaining, it is the perfect book for parents to sit down and read together with their kids. Grab some quality time and make some memories while learning about the galaxy, a win-win situation!
My Best Pop-Up Space Book
Outer space books for toddlers and preschoolers are always a blast but this one actually has a BLAST-OFF button on the front cover!
And what kid doesn’t love a pop-up book? This one is cute with a ton of large popping surprises!
Word to the wise, if you have a little one that loves to rip paper and/or books, keep a close eye on this one or you won’t have any pop-ups left!…or am I alone in this problem?
National Geographic’s Little Kids First Big Book About Space
If you haven’t yet heard of the Big Books Series by National Geographic, you definitely need to check them out! I continue to be blown away by these books and they have separate books on every topic you can think of, from The Big Book of How and Why to Rainforest, Ocean, Bugs, Dinosaurs, and of course, Space.
The photography is unsurprisingly breathtaking and the facts are endless. These will be collector’s editions and yep, even Moms and Dads will learn something new from the amazing content. I’d give this one 100 stars if I could.
I Am The Solar System by Rebecca McDonald
In this simple Solar System book for kindergarten and grade one, kids are introduced to basic space concepts that are made easy to follow and recall. Starting at the Sun and working outward through the planets and belts, children will learn about space objects and follow the flow of the solar wind, taking a fun tour of the Solar System.
Peppa In Space (Peppa Pig)
Fans of Peppa, George, Mummy, and Daddy Pig will love this one! The family visits a museum to learn about outer space and take a pretend trip through the planets, all the way to the moon! The front cover has a touch of bling with silver glitter and there is a sticker sheet inside the book as an added bonus. And you can never have too many stickers right? 😉
8 Little Planets by Chris Ferrie
Travel around the solar system and celebrate what makes each planet unique! From Neptune to Mercury and all the planets in between, each one is different and each one is happy to be what they are.
5 Little Dwarf Planets: A Rhyming Solar System Book for Toddlers and Kids by K.J. Field
I’ve had a bit of a soft spot for the dwarf planets ever since Pluto got demoted. poor Pluto! This is a cute space book for kids with a rhyming storyline and playful watercolor illustrations. Pluto and his pals Haumea, Ceres, Makemake, and Eris are the stars of this book. Bonus science facts on each page! Ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary-school-age children up to age 8 who love outer space!
Rylee The Young Rocketeer: A Kids Book About Imagination and Following Your Dreams by JoAnn M. Dickinson
A bright, colorful, and delightful, picture book teaching children to dream big, reach for the stars, to become anything they are hoping to become. A great rhyming book about space that models female empowerment, STEM, and space exploration,
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole
We are huge fans of The Magic School Bus! In this story, the field trip to the planetarium is almost ruined when the museum turns out to be closed, but Ms. Frizzle saves the day (of course). The Magic School Bus turns into a spaceship and takes the kids on a trip soaring through the atmosphere, to the Moon, and beyond!
Luna Muna: (Outer Space Adventures of a Kid Astronaut) by Kellie Gerardie
Luna Muna is a girl with big dreams who loves outer space. She wants to be an astronaut one day! This book has an engaging story and age-appropriate text for pre-k – 1st grade. Luna uses her imagination to explore her dream of going to space and experiencing what it would be like if it were to come true one day. The pictures are awesome and it has a cool fold-out page!
Bella the Scientist Goes to Outer Space by Silvana Spence
Bella and Vicky are two sisters with a love for science. Wanting to learn more about the various kinds of scientists, they start their journey learning about astronomers. Their friend Cody the iPad takes them on an adventure through the galaxy to explore new facts about their solar system. It has fun facts about the planets, and asteroid belts, and even has hands-on activities and experiments in the back of the book!
The Moon’s Time to Shine (Storybots, Step 1 Reader)
A Step into Reading Book featuring The Storybots. We love the Storybots! My son as a toddler/preschooler learned so much from the TV show not only about space but so many other topics! This book has all the fun facts about the moon and its time to shine, just like the song in the video. It’s adorable! Step 1 readers feature big, bold type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyming text is paired with picture clues to help children decode the story.
The Amazing Planet Earth (StoryBots, Step1 Reader)
Fans of the StoryBots will recognize the colorful art from their popular outer-space video, “A Beautiful, Beautiful World” (The Earth Song), on YouTube. There are eight planets in our solar system, but the most beautiful is the one we call home. This rhyming Step 1 Science Reader will entertain kids while they learn simple facts about everyone’s favorite planet.
The Mysteries of the Universe by Will Gater
This book is one you may keep around for a long time. It’s beautifully designed with gold foil and gold-edged pages and is full of informative facts. This space book for kids is more geared toward ages 5 and up but as I said before it could be one to keep as a collectible. It’s super informative and the illustrations and photography are fantastic!
Knowledge Encyclopedia Space! by DK Books
Recommended for ages 4-8, a spacetastic new edition loaded with awesome pictures and the latest facts about the universe. From the origin of the universe to the future of space rockets, this book about space for kids covers every far-out topic you could dream of.
Eclipse: How the 1919 Solar Eclipse Proved Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity by Darcy Pattison
In 1915, British astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington was fascinated with Einstein’s new theory of general relativity. The theory talks about how forces push and pull objects in space. Einstein said that the sun’s gravity could pull and bend light.
To test this, astronomers decided to photograph a solar eclipse. The eclipse would allow them to photograph the stars before and during the solar eclipse. In simple language, this nonfiction illustrated picture book explains how the push (acceleration) and pull (gravity) of space affect light.
My First Book of Earth: All About Our Planet for Kids by Stephanie Manka Schuttler
From the clouds way up above us to the liquid core miles below, there are so many extraordinary things about Earth. See what makes our planet so special with this preschool book about space, land, sea, and sky for kids ages 4-7.
ABC Dinosaurs in Space Science Book for Kids
Recommended for ages 3-5, this adorable book combines two of our favorite things, dinosaurs and space! You can’t go wrong with that combo!
This educational and funny book introduces young children, to a new astronomical concept with each letter of the alphabet. ABC Dinosaurs in Space is packed with bright, bold letters and playful space-themed scenes. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!
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Space Coloring Books For Toddlers
Space coloring books such as the I Spy Space Book and others are an excellent way to combine your little astronaut’s love of outer space with practicing fine motor skills like pencil grip, drawing, and coloring! I am hoping this will help pique our 4-year-old’s interest n coloring as he is still working on his grip and making slow, steady progress.
Bonus Tip For Parents
The best way to find out if a book you are interested in is a good choice is to go to any of the kid’s read-along channels on YouTube. As I mentioned earlier, Kid Time Storytime is a fantastic read-along channel to watch!
You get to “read’ the entire book along with the reader, see all the illustrations and be able to decide if you would like to add it to your collection.
It’s way better than just going by a blurb or a book cover and best of all, it’s right there at your fingertips. It completely takes the guesswork out of it for you!
Well, there you have it. 30 of our favorite space books for toddlers, preschoolers, and even kindergarten!
I hope you find a few outer space books here that you and your kids love! Perhaps a couple will find their way into your little astronaut’s book nook and your hearts. Enjoy your reading time together and discover where your next adventure will take you. Maybe it will be to infinity and beyond!!
Until next time, K.
Kelly Blakely is the founder and creative force behind Just Our View From Here. As a first-time mom over 40, she brings a fresh perspective to parenting and family life on her blog. Kelly also explores a wide range of lifestyle topics in her writing, including fashion, beauty, self-care, and well-being.
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