9 Books for Kids Excited About the Total Solar Eclipse

Me and My Place in Space, by Joan Sweeney and Annette Cable
A lovely introduction to space for younger readers, this book features a curious young girl who takes a tour of the solar system, learning about the planets in a way that’s relatable for even the littlest space enthusiasts. Colorful illustrations and a helpful glossary at the end make this a great primer for kids who are just beginning their journey into full-blown space obsession—and the female main character is a nice reminder that women travel into space too! Perfect for kids ages 3-7.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space, by Catherine D. Hughes and David A. Aguilar
This beautiful book is the introduces children to basic space facts and concepts, and its encyclopedia format will encourage kids and their parents (whose knowledge of space may be a little rusty or perhaps nonexistent) to look up the answers to questions together. Great for 4-8 year olds, and there is also an expanded version, Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and Beyond, for kids 10 and up.

Looking Up! The Science of Stargazing, by Joe Rao and Mark Borgions 
Once a young kid’s attention has been drawn to the sky, don’t expect them to look down any time soon. This book, written by a meteorologist, guides kids on how to cast their eyes to space and explains what they’re seeing when they do. The short chapters are broken up with fun, comic-style illustrations. There’s also a special section devoted to the coming eclipse and how to safely look at it, so make sure to grab this one before August 21st! This fun and informative book is best for kids age 6-8.

The Moon Book, by Gail Gibbons
This picture book does far more than just talk about eclipses (though it does do that too)—it takes all of the magic and wonder of the moon, and explains it in a way that’s accessible. With colorful illustrations, it examines the moon’s origins and phases in easy to understand explanations. It even includes directions for making a simple solar eclipse viewer. A section on legends and lore inspired by the moon will especially appeal to younger children. This book is ideal for kids ages 6-8.

The Space Book: From the Beginning to the End of Time, 250 Milestones in the History of Space & Astronomy, by Jim Bell
Written by an astronomer and planetary scientist, this book is filled with jaw-dropping photographs and accounts of some of the most astonishing astronomical events since the beginning of time. Although it is not a children’s book, its accessible style makes it an ideal choice for parents of precocious space-curious kids. If nothing else, having this one handy might save you from running back and forth to the computer to Google yet another moon name (Pluto has five moons, by the way).

CatStronauts!: Mission Moon, by Drew Brockington
This graphic novel is perfect for beginning or reluctant readers whose interest in space has been piqued by the solar eclipse but who aren’t quite ready for a non-fiction book. Mission Moon is the first book in a series about the best space cats on the planet, who brave the depths of space in order to save Earth. And if animals traveling to space seems like something your kids would like, but you aren’t sure they’re ready for a whole graphic novel, check out Mousetronaut, a picture book by astronaut Mark Kelly. It’s a similar idea to CatStronauts—only it’s tiny mice who travel to space with real-life astronauts. For kids on a graphic novel kick, check out our post on great graphic novels about kids in space.

Project Blastoff (Astrotwins Series #1), by Mark Kelly
For those young readers who’d prefer to start with fiction, the Astrotwins series is a great place to start. The series is based on the childhood adventures of real-life astronauts Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott, making it perfect for any middle grade reader who’s taken an interest in space thanks to the solar eclipse. The story follows a group of friends as they attempt to build a real rocket capable of orbiting the Earth. Filled with aeronautical history and interesting science, this story will teach readers about rocket propulsion and space travel in a fun and compelling way. And if your child loves fiction, you might also want to check out Space Case, by Stuart Gibbs. It’s a fun and suspenseful adventure set on a moon base, perfect for reluctant readers. Young readers who can’t get enough of space fiction should check out our two posts filled with great middle grade picks about kids in space.

Chasing Space: Young Readers Edition, by Leland Melvin
Adapted for young readers, this inspiring memoir follows astronaut Leland Melvin’s journey, from his home-town to the NFL and all the way to space. After suffering a career ending injury while playing with the Detroit Lions, Leland set his eyes on space, traveling on the shuttle Atlantis to help build the International Space Station. Despite setbacks, Leland pushed through to realize his dreams, and his story will inspire any reader who’s taken a sudden interest in space and space travel. Included in the book are do-it-yourself experiments and scientific challenges, to get young kids thinking.

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet, by Buzz Aldrin
Another book from a former astronaut, Welcome to Mars invites readers to imagine what it would be like if they were part of the first crew to populate Mars, addressing them as if they’re about to go on a journey to the red planet. Aldrin covers everything from what the reader’s new home will be like, to some of the challenges the astronauts will face on their journey. Also included in the book are images, maps, and activities to help better understand Mars and what it means to travel there. This book will serve as an inspiration and resource for a new generation of astronauts as they start to ponder what’s beyond Earth.