National Astronaut Day happens on May 5th every year, but you can celebrate all month long! We have plenty of fiction and nonfiction books for future astronauts, or those who are simply interested in life beyond our planet. Check out the highlighted books listed below, or pop into the children’s department and ask one of the librarians for some suggestions of out of this world books- we’re happy to help!
Life On Mars by Jon Agee
PICTURE AGEE
In a whimsical picture book, an intrepid but less-than-clever space explorer becomes certain he has found the only living thing on Mars, a flower—but he has failed to notice the mischievous, cupcake-thieving little Martian who has been wandering around in the illustrations the whole time.
Astronaut (Busy People series) by Lucy M. George
PICTURE GEORGE
What's it really like to be an astronaut? Find out in this delightful picture book and discover the everyday and extraordinary events of life on a space station. A fun and fascinating first guide to a most exciting and unusual profession.
Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare
PICTURE HARE
An illustrated, wordless debut picture book depicts a class of students on a field trip to the moon who debark from their yellow spaceship bus and explore the moon's trenches, craters and mountains while observing the faraway Earth and befriending visitors from space.
The Only Astronaut by Mahak Jain
PICTURE JAIN
Avni loves being the only astronaut in her space station, but space exploration can be a lot of work. Time for a new mission: find an assistant! Avni crisscrosses the distant galaxies (her neighborhood) in search of the perfect partner ... to disastrous results. Will Avni make space for a copilot or will it be mission impossible?
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
PICTURE RAY
An evocative exploration of the stars celebrates a child's wonder at the nighttime sky and invites youngsters to consider what they might do if they could have a star of their very own.
Stink & Webster Go to Mars (Judy Moody & Friends series) by Megan McDonald
EARLY CHAPTER MCDONALD
When his best friend, Webster, arrives for their first-ever sleepover, Stink finds their imaginations blasting off as they become astronauts on a mission to experiment with space-worthy snacks.
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza (First Cat in Space series) by Mac Barnett
GRAPHIC NOVEL BARNETT
Something terrible is happening in the skies! Rats are eating the MOON! There's only ONE hero for the job, a bold and fearsome beast bioengineered in a secret lab to be the moon's savior and Earth's last hope! And that hero is... a cat, who will be blasted into space!
Pluto!: Not a Planet? Not a Problem! (Our Universe series) by Stacy McAnulty
J523.4922 MCA
In this playful nonfiction picture book, dwarf planet Pluto takes the stage to properly reintroduce itself and tell its out-of-this world, one-of-a-kind story.
Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy
J629.45 MCC
Journey aboard the "Vomit Comet" where the students of an astronaut school learn what it is like to do this exciting job by experiencing weightlessness, getting their measurements taken for a space suit, and performing a space walk!
An Astronaut Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Kids by Sarah L. Schuette
J641.5 SCH
You don’t have to blast off into space to find quick and easy astronaut snacks. In just a few simple steps, you can make Flying Saucers, Moon Rock Salad, and much more. So grab your astronaut apron and get into the kitchen! Snack time will never be the same.