Space Books for Preschoolers that are a Blast!

Many children dream of becoming an astronaut one day, and with these space books for preschoolers, it’s easy to encourage learning as they explore! Whether they dream of floating in zero gravity or blasting off into space, these books will encourage young children to reach for the stars.

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

With parents like Mae’s, it is no wonder this little girl grew up to be an astronaut. Their mantra is, “If you can dream it, if you can believe it, and if you can work hard for it, then anything is possible!” With encouragement like that, anyone can accomplish their challenging goals! Mae ignored the naysayers and wasn’t afraid to dream big, work hard, and reach her goals.

Extending the Learning: Gather these supplies to make a space station:

• large cardboard boxes
• plastic bottle lids or other items to use as console buttons
• holiday string lights
• other items that would lend themselves to be worthy of a space station

Cut windows in the boxes and glue or tape them together. Glue the bottle tops on as buttons in the “cockpit.” String lights up to mimic stars (make sure the children can’t get tangled up in them.) Watch their imagination run wild!

The Spacesuit: How a Seamstress Helped Put Man on the Moon by Alison Donald

This book is inspired by the events of Eleanor Foraker and her sewing team. After competing in a competition to design and sew a spacesuit, they found out they won! Ellie and her coworkers sewed the “A7L” model spacesuit, which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore to walk on the moon! Follow their story as they try many variations of the suit until the perfect 21-layer suit is ready!

Extending the Learning: Little learners can be like Ms. Foraker and her sewing team with a simple activity of sewing buttons. Place a bowl of buttons, plastic canvas, and lacing cords out for the fine-motor fun to begin.

Pete the Cat Out of This World by James Dean

Pete and his bunkmate, Glenn, enjoy space camp and all that it offers. They are having so much fun with uniforms, a zero-gravity chamber, rovers, rockets, and mission control. But alas! They get to go on an actual mission and see so much more! After a close call, they safely make it back to earth, where Pete is “psyched to have his feet back on solid ground.” Rocket on, Pete!

Extending the Learning: Create an astronaut school in the dramatic play center with these groovy ideas!

Mousetronaut by Astronaut Mark Kelly

Meteor the Mouse uses his small size to his advantage to help the astronauts retrieve a lost key in this adorable children’s book. This book, written by astronaut Mike Kelly, was inspired by the mice on Mike’s real mission to space. Once in space, most of the mice hunkered down in their cage for safety, but one mouse floated freely around the enclosure, inspiring astronaut Kelly to write this fun children’s book.

Extending the Learning: Create a classroom station of keys and locks and let the students do their best to save the day like Meteor the Mouse!

8 Little Planets by Chris Ferrie

Journey around the sun with these eight adorable planets. The reader will enjoy reading a fact about each planet while watching the rainbow-colored circles disappear with each turn of the page.

Extending the Learning: This balloon printing activity allows students to create and explore their own planets!

The Sun Shines Everywhere by Mary Ann Hoberman

It’s hard to imagine that the sun we see is the same sun that shone on dinosaurs so long ago! But this book, with its engaging pictures, brings us all together when we realize the sun shines everywhere regardless of who and where you are.

Extending the Learning: Little artists will love the process of creating these beautiful Sunshine Art Projects.

My Best Pop-up Space Book by Clare Lloyd and Caryn Jenner

With its exciting facts and countdown button, this informative book is sure to be a child’s favorite of all the space books for preschoolers! Colorful pop-up pictures and a little robot giving tidbits of information keep the reader engaged.

Extending the Learning: Students can create their own galaxies with this Glowing Neon Art activity.

Our Stars by Anne Rockwell

With its informative pictures and easy-to-read text, this book introduces constellations, planets, comets, and meteors—a cute book for describing stars and their position in the sky.

Extending the Learning: Students can make their own constellation art in this sensory-rich activity!

On the Launch Pad by Michael Dahl

Count down from 12 to 1 in this interactive book about a rocket launch. Find opportunities for counting on each page and find the hidden number in the pictures!

Extending the Learning: Fill a sensory bin with black beans, rockets, stars, and other outer space objects. Watch as the little future astronauts pretend their way to an out-of-this-world mission.

Astronaut Training by Aneta Cruz

Astrid is a precocious young girl with plenty of imagination and creativity! She keeps her dad on his toes, from building her own shuttle to practicing zero gravity in the bathtub. The real adventure begins, though, after Astrid goes to sleep! Follow her journey through the colorful pages as she finds that she might not be ready to blast off just yet.

Extending the Learning: Set up an Astronaut School Dramatic Play area in the classroom to develop fun with opportunities for literacy, gross motor, and visual discrimination skills.

What Are Stars? Flip Book by Katie Daynes

This colorful lift-the-flap book will answer questions about stars while keeping the reader engaged with over 30 flaps to lift!

Extending the Learning: Create a celestial sensory experience by making galaxy play dough.

With so many engaging and entertaining space books for preschoolers, it won’t be long before the students are ready for their own out-of-this-world experience. Combining these books with the fun circle time activities and dramatic play props will create memories the children will remember for years to come!