March 16 is the one hundredth anniversary of Goddard’s legendary first liquid-fueled rocket launch. To celebrate, let’s read some books about space!

Picture Books

Usha and the Big Digger by Jagannath Knight

When Usha’s big sister, Aarti, tells her about the Big Dipper, Usha sees a big digger instead. This book helps teach kids the math concepts of rotation and perspective through a fun and relatable story about the sky.

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

This book tells the inspiring tale of a girl who wants to be an astronaut and achieves her dream. It is based on the life of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space, and it encourages young readers to dream big.

Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare

This picture book follows a child with a love of coloring on a field trip to the moon. What happens when they get left behind? This wordless picture book is full of expression, allowing readers to sympathize with the child and create their own prose for the tale.

How to Be on the Moon by Viviane Schwarz

When Anna decides to go to the moon, Crocodile is there for guidance. This fun picture book follows Anna and Crocodile on their adventure to the moon and back.

Astronaut Training by Aneta Cruz

Astrid spends all day training to be an astronaut. After a mission goes wrong, she turns to her father to help her with her training. This fun and vibrant read reminds readers that we always can turn to family for help.

Non-Fiction Books

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

This powerful true story recounts the lives of four Black women who worked at NASA to help get people to space. It describes the adversity that these women faced, including racism and segregation laws. The book includes biographies on Dorothy Jackson Vaughan, Mary Winston Jackson, Katherine Colman Goble Johnson, and Dr. Christine Mann Darden.

How to Eat in Space by Helen Taylor

This fun and factual book allows readers to step into the shoes of an astronaut and experience how they eat in space! 

Cosmic Wonder: Halley’s Comet and Humankind by Ashley Benham-Yazdani

This bright and beautiful world discusses history through the lens of Halley’s Comet. Readers can see earth develop from its earliest days while also learning about the comet that visits every 76 years. 

The Spectacular Science of Space by Rob Colson

This vibrant book is full of any facts you might want to know about space from how gravity works to what stars are and more!

Middle Grade Books

Space Boy by Stephen McCranie

Cassie has grown up in space, but when her father loses his job, she has to move back to Earth and adjust to a lot of change. This graphic novel is full of beautiful art and joyful, authentic characters.

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Set in the future when Halley’s Comet is barreling to Earth, few people get the chance to flee. On the way to the planet Sagan, Petra’s ship is overtaken, and everyone’s memories of Earth are lost – everyone’s except Petra. This beautiful novel blends Mexican folktales with mystical science fiction. 

Space Chasers by Leland Melvin

Tia never expected to be accepted into NASA’s initiative to send kids to space, but Leland Melvin, the astronaut running the program, sees a lot of potential in her. This fast-paced graphic novel is full of team-building, friendship, and adventure.