Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Author of The Darkest Dark, Shares 5 Favorite Picture Books

Astronaut and author Chris Hadfield’s new picture book, The Darkest Dark, tells the story of young Chris, a space enthusiast whose excitement for exploring vanishes when he’s alone in his dark room at night. It’s 1969, and when Chris witnesses Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing, his wonder at the beauty of space sparks his desire to explore the furthest corners of universe, and changes the way he feels about the darkness—which he realizes is filled with possibility. A beautifully illustrated and inspiring story, The Darkest Dark perfectly captures the mix of curiosity, apprehension, and anxiety that even the most intrepid young adventurers often feel when confronted with the unknown, and shows them that with a little imagination, the deepest fears can be overcome. Col. Hadfield—who was the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space!—was kind enough to share a list of his five favorite picture books to read with his family.

Mr. Pine’s Mixed-Up Signs, by Leonard Kessler
Reading this book with our kids, we all loved the silliness, and the mayhem that descends on normality when one simple thing goes wrong. I think it helped our kids see adults as just people, and rules as just something that helps everything work more smoothly.

Good Dog, Carl, by Alexandra Day
The deep elegance of the artwork and the complete lack of a written story made these books a fascinating exercise in creativity, with a joined reinvention every time we read them together.

 Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
One of the most loving and family-oriented stories I have ever read. The bittersweetness of seeing the stages of life helped each of us, kids and parents, accept the joy and sadness of aging. Every time I think of this book it causes an emotional reaction with me, even now that my kids are in their 30s.

 ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore
Having a traditional book that we read together every year helped mark the significance and family traditions of the holiday. Even when our kids were adults, we still read this book together at Christmas.

 Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
A deceptively simple book, my kids loved the rhythm of the words, and the impish monkey that threw everything into disarray. I’m pretty sure they saw me as the hat vendor, loudly and seriously hawking his wares, and themselves as the monkey.
The Darkest Dark is on shelves September 13.