Books About Space & the Solar System for Preschool Children
Reading and listening to stories will take children to places they have never been and increase their knowledge. Below are some book suggestions on space and the solar system that preschool children love.
Books About the Moon
The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown [Thomas Nelson, 2008] is a story about how the moon shines all over the world. Brown wrote this book and the manuscript was forgotten; found and published over 50 years after the author died. A sweet story based on a prayer, “I see the Moon and the Moon sees me, God bless the Moon and God bless me.” A little Koala bears takes the children on an adventure to cities and continents all over the world and no matter where you are the moon shines down upon us at night.
If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith Mcnulty [Scholastic, 2005] takes the readers along with a young boy on a trip to the moon. The story is explicit on what to take, blastoff, the loneliness in space, loss of gravity, moon jumps and more. After visiting the site where astronauts previously placed the American flag, it is time to return home.
Books About the Solar System
There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System by Tish Rabe [Random House, 1999] will entertain young children with the Cat in the Hat character and his friends Thing One and Thing Two (from Dr. Seuss) and rhyming text. The Cat takes the children on an adventure around nine planets and gives facts along the way. The book also touches on the moon and star constellations.
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole [Scholastic, 1992] is part of the Magic School Bus series. A teacher takes her class to a planetarium for a field trip only to find that it’s closed when they arrive. So not to disappoint her class, she magically gets the school bus to blast off into space and visits the planets in the solar system. Miss Frizzle ventures out of the bus to check on her taillight and gets lost in space. The children continue the journey without her but they reconnect at the end of the story where they are back in the classroom drawing pictures and making mobiles of their discoveries.
Books About Astronauts
A is for Astronaut: Exploring Space from A to Z by Traci N. Todd [Chronicle, 2006] is an exciting book with space words on each page. It teaches the alphabet with interesting facts about space travel. There are beautiful photos and illustrations that feed the children information about the space program and the astronauts who explore it.
Astronaut Piggy Wiggy by Diane Fox [Chronicle, 2002] is a story for the younger set. Piggy Wiggy was gazing through a telescope and began dreaming of an exciting trip through outer space. With the colorful pictures, young children can explore space with this little pig through his journey and sees that he is home just in time for breakfast. The text is brief, but teachers can easily add to the story.
Children love to talk and dream about outer space. Using books about space for preschool children takes them on imaginary explorations and teaches them concepts along the way. The books in this article can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, local libraries and your favorite bookstore.
Book Photos: Amazon.com
