This Summer, Let Your Kid Explore Space

Summer is a time for simple pleasures, sleeping in late, singing in the shower, swinging in the park, sipping cool lemonade, sitting at the beach and watching the sunset as the sky goes from blushing red to bold blue and black. But above all summer is a time for opening our hearts and minds and going on adventures from the comfort of our living room. Summer is for reading and falling in love with the characters. This summer how about taking our kids on a space adventure? Here’s a list of books you and your little ones will love:

1. Earth: My First 4.54 Billion Years
By Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by David Litchfield

Source: amazon

“Hi, I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome.”
So begins the book about the earth and our galaxy. But what makes it special is the fact that it is narrated from the point of view of the earth. She introduces us to her BIG family and confides to us that she is closest to Venus and Mars. We also meet earth’s best friend – the moon. They hang out together all the time even when we can’t see the moon. Filled with kid-friendly facts and fun language, this is a must read for any kid fascinated by the moon, the stars and the planets. Award-winning illustrator David Litchfield makes the Milky Way a loveable fantasy. Recommended for ages 4-8 as well as their parents and grandparents! Happy Reading!

2. A Place for Pluto
By Stef Wade
Illustrated by Melanie Demmer

Source: amazon

All of us learned the names of nine planets by-heart in school – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. And all of us were taken aback when told that Pluto was no longer a planet. If we were so shocked, imagine what it must be like for Pluto to be ousted from the famous nine! A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade and illustrator Mélanie Demmer is Pluto’s quest to find out who he really is and where does he belong in the solar system. Great for kids aged 5 – 8. I highly recommend this one for the summer.

3. To Burp Or Not to Burp
By Dave Williams and Loredana Cunti
Illustrated by Theo Krynauw

Source: amazon

Thanks to gravity we can stand, walk, run and jump, trees stay rooted in one place, buildings don’t float and cars and trucks don’t fly. But on an international space station, with zero gravity, things change. From food to drinks to toothbrushes to people nothing stays in one place – everything can float. Then how do astronauts manage to brush their teeth, or use the toilet or eat and drink? To Burp or Not to Burp answers all these questions and more in a fun, interesting way that engages the children and proves to be an eye-opener for oblivious adults like me. A great read for ages 7 – 10 by a real-life astronaut Dr. Dave Williams, who also became an aquanaut in the only underwater research laboratory. Go ahead, this summer knows more, dream more!

4. Mousetronaut
by Mark Kelly
Illustrated by C. F. Payne

Source: amazon

An astronaut needs above average intelligence, adaptability, hard work and problem solving skills to successfully achieve a space mission. Meteor has all these traits. The only drawback is he is a very small mouse compared to the other 16 mouse on the mission. But he has an unrelenting desire to prove himself. And when an important key gets stuck between two computers, the tiniest member of the team saves the day and how! Mousetronaut is a story of working hard for what one wants, of perseverance and never letting the odds go against you. A must read I say.

5. Out Of This World: Poems and Facts about Space
by Amy E. Sklansky
Illustrated by Stacy Schuett

Source: amazon

T-minus 10…9…8…Seat Belt Tightening…7…6…Knuckles Whitening…5…4…Rockets Roaring…3…2…1…Spaceship Soaring…Blast Off…SPACE…so begins the delightful children’s book Out of this World by Amy E. Sklansky. Filled with poems and amazing facts about space, children will learn about astronauts, planets, the moon, stars, and zero gravity. What’s more, the format of each poem is unique. Zero Gravity has upside down words, Black Hole has words swirling into the black hole. The language, the words, the picture the book creates is truly out of this world!

And that brings us to the end of this post. Let me know what do you think of this collection and if I have missed some really wonderful books about space out there. Happy Exploring!

Also read: Strong Is The New Beautiful: 5 Books To Inspire Young Minds!