Picture Book List: 15 Books About Astronomy

Calling all stargazers and curious minds!

With Spring Astronomy Day approaching on May 3, 2025—a day dedicated to bringing astronomy to the people—​it’s the perfect time to explore the wonders of the cosmos with your little ones. We’ve curated a stellar collection of 15 picture books that illuminate the mysteries of space, stars, and planets, igniting curiosity and wonder in young readers.

So grab a blanket, step outside under the night sky, or cozy up indoors, and let these stories launch your imaginations into the universe!

If I missed your favorite picture book that’s out of this world, drop it in the comments!


A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman, illustrated by Isabel Greenberg (May 2020)

From Goodreads: “Did you know that the earth is covered in three trillion trees? And that seven billion people weigh about the same as ten quadrillion ants? Our world is full of constantly changing numbers, from a hundred billion trillion stars in space to thirty-​seven billion rabbits on Earth. Can you imagine that many of anything?

The playful illustrations from New York Times–bestselling artist Isabel Greenberg and the friendly, straightforward voice of author Seth Fishman illuminate some of the biggest numbers in the universe—a hundred billion trillion stars—and the smallest—one unique and special YOU. Here is a book for story time, for science time, for math time, for bedtime, and all the times in between.

Perfect for curious children, classrooms eager for STEM content, and readers who have devoured Ada Twist, Scientist and How Much Is a Million?

  • 40 pages
  • Reading Age: 3–7 years

A Moon of My Own by Jennifer Rustgi, illustrated by Ashley White (September 2016)

From Goodreads: “An imaginative young girl travels the world with her faithful companion, the moon. In her enchanted adventure she visits all seven continents while the moon goes through its cycle of phases as portrayed in silhouetted art. “Explore More” sections for kids and adults offer information and activities on phases of the moon and other aspects of astronomy and geography.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 3–10 years

Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-​Max (November 2021)

From Goodreads: “The stars are the limit for a little girl who acts out her wish to be an astronaut — inspired by a very special person.

Astrid has loved the stars and space for as long as she can remember. “I want to be an astronaut!” she says to everyone who will listen. While her mama is away, Astrid and her papa have fun acting out the challenges an astronaut faces on a space mission — like being in zero gravity (“I can do that all day long!” she says), eating food from a kind of tube, and doing science experiments with the help of cookie sheets. When at last it’s time to meet Mama at the air base, Astrid wears her favorite space T‑shirt to greet her. But where exactly has Mama been? Channeling a sense of childlike delight, Ken Wilson-​Max brings space travel up close for young readers and offers an inspiring ending.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–8 years

Bright Sky, Starry City by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro (May 2015)

From Goodreads: “A little girl and her father have an opportunity to appreciate the wonders of the night sky. Phoebe helps her dad set up telescopes on the sidewalk outside his store. It’s a special night ― Saturn and Mars are going to appear together in the sky. But will Phoebe be able to see them with all the city lights? Raindrops begin to fall, followed by lightning and thunder. Phoebe is filled with disappointment as she and her father hurry inside to wait out the storm. But suddenly the power fails and then, amazingly, the rain and clouds disappear. Phoebe and her dad and all kinds of people spill into the street. And there, in the bright night sky, the splendor of the planets and a multitude of stars are revealed for all to see. An illustrated afterword includes information about the solar system, planetary conjunctions and rings, moons, telescopes and light pollution. A glossary and recommended further reading are also included.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 6–9 years

Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum (March 2018)

From Goodreads: “Discover the incredible story of the search for life on Mars, told from the unique perspective of Curiosity, the Mars Rover sent to explore the red planet.

Markus Motum’s stylish illustrations and diagrams reveal how a robot travelled 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet where no human has ever been.”

  • 56 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–9 years

The Fly Who Flew to Space by Lauren Sánchez (September 2024)

From Goodreads: “Lauren Sánchez, Emmy Award-​winning journalist, pilot, and philanthropist, takes readers on a high-​flying space adventure with Flynn the Fly in her picture book debut.Bold and inquisitive, Flynn is a little fly with big aspirations. School is tough, and it’s all too easy to be distracted by the rocket company down the road–especially while daydreaming about becoming an astronaut! One day while exploring, Flynn flies aboard a rocket that suddenly takes off! Follow Flynn on an exciting journey to space to learn more about our precious planet—from amazing natural wonders like the Amazon rainforest, to the atmosphere that protects it all. After all, big dreams and a curious mind can lead to the most amazing discoveries! With a book jacket that doubles as a glow-​in-​the dark poster, this engaging picture book from debut author and Emmy-​award winner, Lauren Sánchez, features exquisitely detailed illustrations by Clio-​award winner, Raleigh Stewart, and introduces important STEAM concepts. Encouraging exploration and conservation, Sánchez—and Flynn—will have little readers reaching for the stars.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–7 years

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing by Chris Gall (June 2019)

From Goodreads: “Written and illustrated by Chris Gall, Go for the Moon! captures the fascinating detail and inspiring adventure of the moon landing. It is a captivating celebration of one of humankind’s greatest technical achievements and most extraordinary feats of exploration.

The Apollo 11 astronauts have prepared carefully for their attempt to be the first men to land on the moon. The young narrator of this book has prepared carefully, he explains the design of the spacecraft, the flight from the earth to the moon, and the drama of touching down–while shadowing the astronaut’s voyage with one of his own.”

  • 48 pages
  • Reading Age: 5–8 years

How to Be on the Moon by Viviane Schwarz (June 2019)

From Goodreads: “In the follow-​up to How to Find Gold, best friends Anna and Crocodile are going on another intrepid adventure — this time, to the moon.

It’s almost impossible to get to the moon. It’s out in space, which is dark and empty, and it’s very far away. If Anna and Crocodile are going to make it to the moon, they’ll need some special skills, like being able to do math and having a lot of patience. They’ll also need to build a rocket. Not to mention the sandwiches for the journey. Luckily, when Anna and Crocodile put their minds together, nothing can stand in their way. Full of the same cheerful charm that made How to Find Gold so endearing, Viviane Schwarz’s pitch-​perfect text and wonderfully colorful illustrations launch this story off the page in a true celebration of curiosity and the magic of imaginative play.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 2–5 years

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jessica Lanan (January 2019)

From Goodreads: “Do you wonder
if humans
are the only beings
who wonder
if they are alone
in the universe?

Our sun is a star.
In the night sky are all kinds of stars,
and orbiting those stars
are planets like the ones in our own solar system.

Could those planets have life
like we do on Earth?

Planet Earth is not too big,
not too small, not too hot,
and not too cold. It’s just right.
Our very own Goldilocks planet .…

Follow a young girl
as she explores these questions
in this gorgeous book about the wondrous search
for another Goldilocks planet.”

  • 48 pages
  • Reading Age: 5–9 years

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington (January 2018)

From Goodreads: “Inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison.

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

  • 40 pages
  • Reading Age: 3–6 years

Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex, illustrated by Laurie Keller (November 2019)

From Goodreads: “Pluto gets a call from Earth telling him he isn’t a planet anymore, so he sets out on a journey through the solar system to find out why in this funny and fact-​filled romp that’s perfect for fans of The Scrambled States of America .

Pluto loves being a planet. That is, until the day he gets a call from some Earth scientists telling him he isn’t a planet anymore! You probably wanted to meet a real planet, huh? So, Pluto takes the reader on a hilarious and informative journey through the solar system to introduce the other planets and commiserate about his situation along the way. Younger readers will be so busy laughing over Pluto’s interactions with the other planets, asteroids, moons, and even the sun, they won’t even realize just how much they’re learning about our solar system!”

  • 48 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–7 years

Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola (June 2019)

From Goodreads: “Meet Rocket–a plucky aspiring astronaut intent on getting her community to LOOK UP! from what they’re doing and reach for the stars in this auspicious debut picture book. Honored as a Chicago Public Library 2019 Best of the Best Book!A comet will be visible tonight, and Rocket wants everyone to see it with her–even her big brother, Jamal, whose attention is usually trained on his phone or video games. Rocket’s enthusiasm brings neighbors and family together to witness a once-​in-​a-​lifetime sighting. Perfect for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist and Cece Loves Science–Rocket Says Look Up! will inspire readers of all ages to dream big as it models Rocket’s passion for science and infectious curiosity.Author Nathan Bryon, an actor and screenwriter, and Dapo Adeola, a community-​minded freelance illustrator, bring their fresh talents, passion, and enthusiasm to the picture book medium.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 2–4 years

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera (September 2023)

From Goodreads: “A favorite lullaby becomes a celebration of love in this lushly illustrated version featuring animals from all over the world.”

  • 32 pages
  • Reading Age: 1–3 years

Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers (October 2024)

From Goodreads: “World-​renowned artist and picture book creator Oliver Jeffers brings to life an endearing story about the magic of friendship—and sharing what brings us joy.Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture book creator of Lost and Found Oliver Jeffers! Once there was a boy who would often play hide-​and-​seek with his friends the star and the penguin. The star was always easy to find, but one day it went missing. So, the boy radioed the Martian for help, and soon found himself on an exciting spaceship rescue mission to the North Pole! But there, he discovered that he wasn’t the only one who had always dreamed of having a star as a friend …The out-​of-​this-​world, long-​awaited sequel to the much-​loved Boy stories, loved all around the world—now introducing a brand-​new character!”

  • 48 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–8 years

You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien (May 2009)

From Goodreads: “As we look back to the beginnings of the space race, 2009 is also the year for looking forward to humankind’s next step toward the stars.In the spirit of books that once imagined colonies on the moon, Patrick O’Brien has created a unique look at your first trip to Mars. Using the most up-​to-​date designs and theories of what it will take to establish a base on Mars, you are off on an incredible journey, over 35 million miles to the red planet. Filled with details, and vividly brought to life, this is an adventure that you are never going to forget.”

  • 48 pages
  • Reading Age: 4–8 years

Only Picture Books’ 19 Favorites of 2019

It’s the end of 2019, and here at OPB, we always close out each December with a list of our favorite pictures books of the past 12 months.

Some of these picture books appeared in OPB in one capacity or another. Because of space considerations and other factors, some didn’t. Regardless, all of the following books are worthy of attention and space on your shelves. I’ll even share a few words as to why they’re on this Best Of list. Enjoy!

(Don’t read anything into the order, though–it’s simply alphabetical by book title because, well, that’s easy to do.)


Another by Christopher Robinson (5 March 2019)

I confess that I resist wordless picture books on principle…except when they’re done this well. The fun shapes here remind me of Paul Klee, and the dreamy story is quite compelling.

 

Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-​Max (3 Sept 2019)

There’s so much here to like. A determined girl wanting to be an astronaut. An effective single parent (Papa). Dramatic acrylic artwork. Solid backmatter. Well done, Ken Wilson-Max!

 

Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (1 Oct 2019)

This book about young Ava becoming a “citizen scientist” is SO cool. Learn all about the New England Christmas Bird Count, too, as well as facts about winter birds uncovered via birding ID techniques. Find out more about this book via our OPB review here.

 

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi (5 Feb 2019)

Got a budding environmentalist in your life? This funny story about a crab’s actions in the aftermath of a disaster (trash being dumped into the ocean) will surely be a hit. There’s a fine message here about getting past mishaps and challenges. I’m a fan of the rich artistic textures in these pages, as well.

 

Dr. Seuss’ Horse Museum by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Andrew Joyner (3 Sept 2019)

An unrhymed Dr. Seuss manuscript? Sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what we have in this look at how different artists have depicted horses. The full-​color reproductions here (Picasso, Seurat, Manet, and more) help make this a solid introduction to art. It’s not like most other Dr. Seuss books, but if you can get past that, it’s a good one regardless.

 

The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald (12 Feb 2019)

This one just tickles my fancy, as much because I had a neighbor who used to call me “A darn good egg!” as the fun art here by Oswald. Add in Jory John’s quirky take on perfectionism, and that’s the good read you’ll find here.

 

The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby (21 May 2019)

This is a standout biography of a a first-​rate picture book writer, done in the style and tone of Margaret Wise Brown herself. The book is quirky, so don’t expect it to fully adhere to the standard chronological form most biographies take. The story’s also about taking risks and experimenting–great lessons for young readers to encounter.

 

Just Because by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (10 Sept 2019)

The child in this bedtime book fires off questions instead of sleeping, and the dad sends back amazing, imaginative answers versus the easy-​but-​unhelpful “just because” answer a tired adult might be inclined to give. The unexpected retro illustrations give this a nice feel.

 

Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz (5 March 2019)

Here’s the true story of how Momofuku Ando dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was easy to make and tasty. Why? Because he saw lines of people waiting for food in Japan right after World War II, and he believed that “the world is peaceful only when everyone has enough to eat.” A useful Afterword gives fine bonus information for teachers, parents, and librarians.

 

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Paola Escobar (15 Jan 2019)

This book won a ton of awards largely because it’s the well-​told biography of puppeteer, storytelling, and NYC librarian Pura Belpré, who was a champion of multicultural literature. A librarian who supports multicultural lit might not sound that odd today, but consider that she arrived in American in 1921! The author’s ability to move from English to Spanish within the story without translations or italics? Very impressive.

A sizable amount of backmatter offers plenty of depth on the life and doings of this important figure.

 

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-​to Poems by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Richard Jones (25 Feb 2019)

This poetry anthology by Janeczko showcases poems by Kwame Alexander, Pat Mora, Nikki Grimes, Marilyn Singer (see her OPB Author Interview here!), and more. All of the poems are a how-​to of one type or another, ranging from how to be a snowflake to how to bird watch. It’s a fine collection with just enough range and style.

 

Small in the City by Sydney Smith (3 Sept 2019)

Some readers might not be happy with the situation–a child in the city looking for a lost pet. But it’s poignant, realistic, and filled with anything but false promise, all done in poignant, sensitive language. This story could’ve gone wrong in a host of ways in the hands of a less attentive author/​illustrator.

 

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry) by Gary Golio, illustrated by Ed Young (26 March 2019)

Charlie Chaplin’s life held a lot of sorrow early on, yet Charlie knew sadness and humor went hand in hand. This book does a fine job of telling his story–and his own special sense of fun–through lyrical text accentuated by interesting collage-​style illustrations.

I’m quite taken, too, by the silhouette of the Little Tramp–Chaplin’s most famous on-​screen character–that becomes animated when the pages are flipped.

 

Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jamey Christoph (23 April 2019)

While Stonewall is obviously picture book worthy, this book lets the Stonewall Inn ITSELF tell this vital tale. It’s not only an essential addition to LGBTQ literature, but an essential addition to literature in general.

Bonus note: Rob was kind enough to be the very first Author Interview @ OPB. It’s interesting to see how his philosophy of picture books from a few years back still plays out so powerfully in his current work.

 

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (15 Oct 2019)

Sulwe’s skin is dark as midnight, but all she wants is to be bright and beautiful. This debut picture book by actress Lupita Nyong’o offers readers a magical journey that ultimately help them realize that true beauty always comes from within. That art here is beyond striking. Lovely.

 

A Tiger Like Me by Michael Engler, illustrated by Joëlle Tourlonias, translated by Laura Watkinson (1 Aug 2019)

Sometimes a kid might want to imaginatively become something else–like a tiger. In this story, that’s what happens, and he goes on wild-​tiger-​kid adventures. But at the end of the day, he’s happy to snuggle in bed with tiger-​mom and tiger-​dad. A sweet story.

 

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha (5 March 2019)

What kind of kid would EVER want a lemon tree for a birthday gift, right? Well, it turns out that in some situations, it’s the best gift of all. You even get a great recipe for lemonade here with this moving story.

Check out OPB’s interview with the author here, where we talk about–among other things–this very book!

 

When Sadness Is at Your Door by Eva Eland (29 Jan 2019)

There aren’t enough quality books about emotional literacy, but this is one of them. The simple illustration style adds a fine dimension to this important story.

 

Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea, illustrated by Zachariah OHora (17 Sept 2019)

It’s hard to imagine anyone tackling the tough topic of wetting one’s pants, but leave it to the ever-​amusing Bob Shea to do exactly that. The clever, silly pictures really help make this a memorable read.  There’s still plenty here for younger readers to appreciate even if they miss the more sophisticated aspects of the humor in play.