Please welcome my guest authors, Sabrina and Eunice, sisters, and co-founders of Hello!Lucky, a design studio, and creators of Get Outer My Space: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella. They created a list of their favorite Space-Themed Children’s Books! I’ve added a few picks of my own for a total of 16 wonderful space-themed children’s books.
Get Outer My Space: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella by Sabrina and Eunice Moyle
Blast off with Astrid & Stella in the third book in the graphic novel series from the bestselling creators, sisters, and Hello!Lucky author-illustrator team, Sabrina and Eunice Moyle. Friendship, consent, teamwork, and communication are evergreen themes in these pages. These books are perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Hello!Lucky books has sold nearly 1.5 million copies. [early chapter book graphic novel, for ages 6 and up]
We are doing a giveaway for Get Outer My Space: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
p.s. And here are a few more children’s books with a space exploration theme!
Oliver’s Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham
Blending science and humor, Oliver explains the universe to readers while navigating the highs and lows of middle school. It received a STARRED review from Kirkus calling it: “an irresistibly entertaining introduction to astrophysics!” Jorge Cham is the creator of the PBS show, Elinor Wonders Why, co-host of the iHeart Radio podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, and creator of PHD Comics. This has both science and humor! [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Adventuregame Comics: The Beyond by Jason Shiga
Make decisions and pick your path to the perfect afterlife in the second book in the interactive middle-grade graphic novel series. Readers follow the story from panel to panel and sometimes the path will split, giving readers the chance to choose how the story unfolds. Jason Shiga is the award-winning creator of Meanwhile and the recipient of two Eisner Awards and two Ignatz Awards. Readers get to choose their own adventure! [middle grade graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Mae Jemison: Awesome Astronaut by Jill C Wheeler
Mae Jemison is the first African-American woman to travel in space. In addition to being an astronaut, Mae was a doctor, and business owner, and a volunteer in the Peace Corps. She faced racism and sexism but never let it deter her from her dreams. As an astronaut, she conducted experiments in space. The Earth We Share is a science camp for kids ages 12 to 16 that Mae launched. Mae returned to NASA for a special project to develop the first starship in 2011. [early chapter book biography, ages 8 and up]
Mae Among the Stars by 
Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stacia Burlington
Dr. Mae Jemison was the first female African American female astronaut in space. Since she was very little, she dreamed about becoming an astronaut but it seemed like an impossible dream in Decatur, Alabama where she grew up. Her mother encouraged her to believe in her dream and work hard to make it come true. When her elementary school teacher tried to convince her to become a nurse instead, Mae was crushed. Her mother reminded her that no one could stop her from following her dream. After she became a doctor, she applied to NASA’s astronaut program and made her dream a reality. [picture book biography, ages 3 and up]
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Heleine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
This was the first picture book biography about Katherine Johnson and it hits all the right notes, including wonderful illustrations. Read them both to compare and contrast. [picture book biography, ages 5 and up]
A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison
It was clear since Katherine Johnson was a little girl that she had a special gift with numbers. She started college at age 15 and breezed through all the math classes. A job as a human calculator seemed like the perfect fit! Her intelligent questions were noticed and she was invited to join the space team charged with sending America’s first astronaut into space. She kept asking questions that led to answers, making the rocket’s flight path a U-shaped curve that launched and landed as planned. When computers caught up to Katherine’s abilities, astronaut John Glenn trusted Katherine more than the machine. She oversaw the calculations for longer and longer space flights and proved that girls are capable of doing everything that men can do. [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Four black women — Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden — were hidden figures in NASA’s first journeys into space. They were human calculators, providing complicated mathematical solutions to calculate flight plans. A single error would cause the mission to fail! Their accomplishments were all the more remarkable given the racial and gender barriers that they faced. These four women are not just geniuses, but heroines who paved the way for women and BIOPOCs in STEM careers. [picture book biography, ages 6 and up]
We love books about outer space and the universe – there is so much that is unknown, the mysteries are enthralling, and it makes for a fantastic backdrop for telling silly and fantastical stories. In this list, we’re sharing some of our favorite space-themed books.
16 Wonderful Space-Themed Children’s Books
Pop-Up Earth by Anne Jankeliowitch, Olivier Charbonnel, and Annabelle Buxton
Before we explore the universe, it helps to understand our home planet. This nonfiction book is a gorgeous, interactive introduction to Earth, with pop-ups showing its history and place in the universe, the importance of water in sustaining life, the Earth’s crust and tectonic plates, and the delicate balance of biodiversity. [pop-up picture book, for ages 7 and up]
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Similar to Pop-Up Earth, this book helps young readers understand our planet – its place in the universe, the wonderful things that live on the land and sea (including us!), the importance of kindness, and the fact that we will never be alone. Uplifting and encouraging, this book helps young readers put life on Earth into a deeper perspective. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts! by Mike Lowery
Mike Lowery is irresistible. We adore his quirky doodles, weird-fact-packed infographics, and hilarious jokes! Did you know that the universe is mostly made up of dark energy and dark matter that we can’t see at all? Did you know that in 2006, an astronaut accidentally dropped a spatula on a spacewalk? Any kid who wants to learn about space – and have a blast doing it – will love this book! [nonfiction graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
The Mysteries of the Universe by Will Gater, illustrated by Angela Rizza and Daniel Long
This beautiful non-fiction book is full of magical photographs and fascinating, story-like descriptions of interstellar phenomena, from the planets of the solar system to stars such as Vega and Betelgeuse, to black holes, neutron stars, and the Oort Cloud. Readers can get delightfully lost in this book, which functions as an illustrated encyclopedia of the universe. [nonfiction picture book, for ages 7 and up]
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris
Space is the perfect place to tell silly stories, and Mac Barnett (author of the Terrible Two series) and illustrator Shawn Harris (his real-life high school best friend) take full advantage of the possibilities. In this riotous space-themed graphic novel, the first cat in space and his toenail-clipping robot sidekick must save the moon from being eaten by the Rat King and his goons. With hilarious quips like “oh my donut holes,” this book gives readers plenty to savor well after the story ends. [middle grade graphic novel, ages 7 and up]
The First Hippo on the Moon by David Walliams, illustrated by Tony Ross
Best-selling British author and comedian David Walliams is the modern-day Roald Dahl (and Tony Ross the contemporary Quentin Blake). In this fantastically wacky picture book, two hippos compete to realize one ENORMOUS dream: to be the first hippo on the moon. The first, Hercules Waldorf-Franklin III, has unlimited riches to fund his mission. The other, Shiela, does not. Hilarity ensues as they race to become the first hippo-postraunts. [board book, ages 2 and up]
The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle
This quiet biography tells the story of the ordinary young girl whose big imagination coincides with a series of small events, resulting in her earning a place in history as the person named Pluto. An inspiring story for budding astronomers – we love how big things often come from humble beginnings. [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]
Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson
As sisters, we loved learning about the women in space in this beautifully illustrated collection of biographies. From Rita Rapp, a nutritionist who made space food, to Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, these stories are sure to inspire any girl who dreams of contributing to space exploration. [young adult, ages 13 and up]
Get Outer My Space: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella! GIVEAWAY
We are doing a giveaway for Get Outer My Space: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Hello!Lucky is all about using creativity to spread joy, fun, and kindness. Founded by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle in 2003, Hello!Lucky is an award-winning letterpress greeting card and design studio working with dozens of partners to create products, including Abrams’ pun-derful children’s books: My Mom Is Magical!, My Dad Is Amazing!, Super Pooper and Whizz Kid: Potty Power!, Kindness Rules!, Christmas Is Awesome!, Sloth and Smell the Roses, Go Get ‘Em, Tiger!, and Thanks a Ton! They also offer bedding, ceramics, socks, stationery, custom photo albums, and more. Hello!Lucky is based in San Francisco.
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My books:
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Counting on Katherine is one of my favorites.
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System is a favorite.