Mars is close enough to see without a telescope and strange enough to keep every question open. Its day lasts only thirty-seven minutes longer than ours, but its sunsets are blue, its tallest volcano would swallow whole mountain ranges, and no child reading this has to take anyone’s word for what the ground looks like — our rovers have sent the pictures home. The planet is real, reachable, and still mostly unexplored, which is an unusually powerful combination.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of Mars books, our editors chose thirteen that begin with preschool laughs and first planet facts, follow Curiosity and Opportunity across the actual surface, and then imagine what children might find if people ever settle there. Start with the shortlist, then browse picture books for young explorers or nonfiction, graphic novels, and full-length adventures for independent readers.
Curiosity tells how she was designed, tested, launched, lowered onto Mars by a sky crane, and set loose to read the rocks.
A small astronaut crosses Mars with a box of cupcakes, certain the planet is lifeless while a very large local follows just behind him.
A rover named Resilience learns from the engineers who built it, survives a perilous landing, and begins a long, lonely drive across Mars.
Mars introduces itself — rusty surface, enormous volcano, two lumpy moons and all — and makes a cheerful case for a visit.
Opportunity is built for a ninety-day assignment and keeps exploring Mars for nearly fifteen years.
A lone rover rolls over ridges and into craters, testing the ground and looking for the water that once changed Mars.
Five astronauts sing their way through a six-month flight, learning how to wash, eat, exercise, and grow food before landing on Mars.
Eleven-year-old Bell has spent his whole life inside one isolated Mars settlement — until every adult falls ill and the children have to cross old boundaries for help.
The CatStronauts are months behind in an international race to Mars, and every shortcut creates a fresh engineering problem.
Sadie designs and builds her own rocket, chooses a stuffed-animal crew, and points the whole operation toward Mars.
A boy expected to become a dragon rider discovers that the last dragon on Mars may be the only thing that can save the dying colony.
Two children steal a rover for a forbidden trip across Mars, then a solar flare disables their navigation and life support.
Rovers, rockets, Martians, first planet facts, and read-aloud missions to the red planet for ages 3–8.
A boy and his robot must stop an evil monkey from taking over the Earth
Mars longs for a playmate in a busy solar system. Will Earth send help?
A restless boy's nightly adventures defy sleep.
Celebrate a Mars rover's birthday and explore the Red Planet's mysteries.
A boy's space adventure swaps him with a mischievous martian.
A daring kitty ventures to Mars, uncovering spicy secrets and cosmic chaos.
Mars craves solitude but discovers loneliness. Can space friends fill the void?
A dog embarks on a Mars mission, uncovering mysteries and offering comfort.
A rover named Opportunity explores Mars, uncovering secrets and surprises on a groundbreaking mission.
Dinosaurs and trucks unite on Mars for an epic space adventure.
Explore Mars: Was it once alive? Could humans live there?
A daring journey to Mars leads to unexpected alien friendships.
Rover science, graphic-novel races, colony survival, and middle-grade adventures for readers ages 7–12.
A secret agent races to rescue his kidnapped father before a Mars mission fails.
Aliens send a dire warning. Can George and Annie uncover the truth across the galaxy?
Mars is doomed. Can two young heroes uncover secrets to save humanity?
A young dreamer's Mars-bound future is threatened by a life-altering diagnosis. Can she find a way to survive and thrive?
Uncover Mars' secrets and mysteries.
Explore Mars from ancient myths to modern missions.
Discover how robots revolutionize space exploration.
Guide Mars exploration and uncover its secrets.
Earth's adults vanish. Can Mars uncover the truth before it's too late?
On Mars, colonists and rebels clash. Can secrets be uncovered before it's too late?
