Luke's not overly interested in space but he has enjoyed hearing these and there are a few we've read so many times until I was flat out sick of them and had to sneak them back to the library. (And another couple we are looking to buy.) We've both learned so much and they've given us a tiny hint of what living through the Space Race was like.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a product link, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support this blog!
Moonshot by Brian Floca
One of the very best picture books about the Space Race. If you only read one from this list, make it this one. It is all about Apollo 11 and goes into the perfect amount of detail for kids (and also non-science-y adults *raises hand*) to learn about how they made this happen and somewhat understand it. It is fantastic.
Papa Put a Man on the Moon by Kristy Dempsey
This girl is watching man land on the moon knowing her father played a part in it. Her father just insists he was doing his job, working at a mill that helped create one of the layers of the space suits. Further reiterating how many people it took to make Man on the Moon a reality.
A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison
This is about Katherine Johnson, of Hidden Figures and just being an impressive human fame, helped with the space race. Back before computers there were people who were called computers who did all the computing. And Katherine was one of them. I love how picture books can teach my boys (and me) about so many wonderful figures.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
The story of the first African-American Woman astronaut and how she got to the moon. Encourages all children to dream and, even if when you have those dreams they seems impossible.
Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
So far, this is part of a three book series (the other two being Sun! and Earth!). Moon talks about how "she" was formed and how she sticks with the Earth through thick and thin. I'd recommend the whole series; we read them all multiple times!
The Moon's First Friends: How the Moon Met the Astronauts from Apollo 11 by Susanna Leonard Hill
This is told from the perspective of the Moon, wondering why the humans won't come visit her and seem to not be very curious. Until they start to get closer and then they do! It's cartoony (the moon has a face) but still fun.
If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin, illustrated by Simona Ceccarelli
This was, hands down, Luke's favorite of the bunch and the one I had to sneak back to the library. It's telling you how your birthday party would go if, for some reason, you were having it on the moon. Including the three day trip both ways and how you couldn't really eat cake because it's too messy. I guess birthday parties just have a universal appeal, even if they are super unlikely to happen (and guaranteed not to happen for my kid).
A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Matt Phelan
This is about a little boy who thinks the Moon looks lonely so he sends up notes to the Moon using his kite. He dreams of visiting her one day and then he does!
I Am Neil Armstrong by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Chris Eliopoulos
I really love this Ordinary People Change the World Series and even have requested my library to buy a few of them, including this one. We all know Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon but this goes a little more into his past and how he learned to stay calm in the face of very tense circumstances. Plus, he's from near here (I drove through his hometown every time I drove to/from college) and that makes him a little extra fascinating to us.
The First Men Who Went to the Moon by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Scott Brundage
I read this one multiple times too, our son was fascinated with the story. It's about Apollo 11 and told through actual pictures (and words). Really, if you read all these books you'll feel pretty informed on Apollo 11!
The Big Beyond by James Carter, illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Space has long intrigued human, with naming constellations and discovering planets and moons and stars. Eventually we were so intrigued we went to space (a general we, obviously I haven't been to space).
Field Trip to the Moon by John L. Hare
This is a wordless picture book so beware if you like to stay away from those (I generally do but I did like this one). This kid's class is extra special because they get to take a field trip to the moon on a spaceship bus. They all explore until this kid falls asleep and makes some surprising discoveries when he is left behind on the moon.
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
This one is pushing it in the picture book category and honestly, it's one I read to myself instead of reading it to Luke because there are just SO MANY WORDS and I only have so much patience. BUT, I found it fascinating to read about the hundreds of thousands of people who worked to land a man on the moon. So many people working on so many little parts that all added up to make it happen. I think older kids (maybe 9-10?) could handle this better, it's just a lot to get my active 6 year old to sit for (and I even I read it over multiple sittings).
When We Walked on the Moon: Discover the Dangers, Disasters, and Triumphs of Every Moon Mission by David Long, illustrated by Sam Kalda
This one, like Team Moon is one that we slowly worked through. It's long, with details from every Moon mission so reading one mission at a time was enough. It's more for older kids (I wouldn't read this to a 3-4 year old; it needs an attention span) but helpful to remember that moon landings didn't start and end with Apollo 11!
Do you have any space picture books we've missed! I will pretty much read any on the topic!
No comments:
Post a Comment