Books About Space Travel · 180 titles considered

The Best Space Travel Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Space, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about space travel? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Space Travel

Sale price

$1995

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1943

The Little Prince

By Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Richard Howard (Translator) · Book #1 in the The Little Prince series

A pilot crashes in the desert and meets a mysterious boy from another world.

96 pages· 14,516 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 2,609,183 ratings

$21.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In the Sahara Desert, a stranded pilot encounters the enigmatic Little Prince, a boy from a distant asteroid. As they converse, the Little Prince shares tales of his travels and the rose he left behind. Each story reveals deeper truths about love, loss, and the essence of life. What secrets will the Little Prince uncover, and how will they change the pilot's perspective forever? Embark on a journey across planets in this timeless fable that challenges the way we see the world and ourselves.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

The Boy Who Crashed to Earth

By Judd Winick · Book #1 in the Hilo series

A boy falls from the sky and lands on Earth, where he befriends a human boy and together they try to stop an evil robot from destroying the world.

193 pages· 5,575 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 8,163 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: When Hilo crashes to Earth, he befriends ordinary kids D.J. and Gina. Together, they must uncover Hilo's mysterious origins while navigating school and battling unexpected threats. Can they unlock the secrets of his past before it's too late? Join this laugh-out-loud adventure filled with friendship, surprises, and the occasional mutant space robot.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2011

Zita the Spacegirl

By Ben Hatke · Book #1 in the Zita the Spacegirl series

A young girl's friend is kidnapped by an alien species and she must navigate a strange world to rescue him.

Cybils Award (2011)

186 pages· 4,260 words· Est. 48 min read

4.1 Goodreads · 19,167 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Zita's world flips upside down when her best friend is snatched by an alien cult. Thrust into a bizarre universe, she encounters humanoid chickens, neurotic robots, and a mysterious con man. As Zita embraces her unexpected role as an intergalactic hero, she faces ancient prophecies and doomed planets. Can she navigate this strange world and rescue her friend before it's too late? Adventure, friendship, and redemption await in this whimsical cosmic journey.

Sale price

$759

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2013

Hello, Nebulon!

By Ray O’Ryan, Colin Jack (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Galaxy Zack series

A young boy moves to a new planet with his family and navigates a new school and friendships.

128 pages· 4,694 words· Est. 37 min read-aloud

5.0/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,115 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Zack's world turns upside down when he moves from Earth to Nebulon. Nervous about alien classmates and bizarre food, he fears losing touch with his old life. At Sprockets Academy, he meets Drake, a Nebulite who shares his curiosity. As Zack navigates the peculiarities of his new home, he receives a mysterious surprise that could change everything. What awaits him on this alien planet?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 1962

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle · Book #1 in the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet series

A stormy night, a mysterious stranger, and a quest through time to find a missing father.

Newbery Medal (1963)

247 pages· 49,244 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.6/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,313,070 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Meg Murry's world shifts when a mysterious stranger arrives on a stormy night, speaking of tesseracts and time wrinkles. With her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin, Meg embarks on a cosmic journey to rescue her father, a scientist lost in a government experiment. As they traverse strange worlds, they confront dark forces and discover the power of love and courage. Will they find him before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2015

Interstellar Cinderella

By Deborah Underwood, Meg Hunt (Illustrator) · Future Fairy Tales series

A girl dreams of fixing rockets and must save a prince's ship in distress.

40 pages· 538 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

6.0/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 3,773 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: On a distant planetoid, Cinderella dreams of fixing rockets. With her fairy godrobot's help, she attends the ball. But when the prince's ship malfunctions, will she be the one to save the day? This twist on a classic tale features an independent heroine and a cosmic adventure.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2020

Space Mice

By Lori Haskins Houran, Priscilla Alpaugh (Illustrator)

Two mice build a rocket to reach the cheese moon.

32 pages· 116 words· Est. 1 min read-aloud

5.8/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 102 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Two adventurous mice, driven by hunger, spot a giant cheese-like moon in the sky. Determined to feast, they construct a rocketship and embark on a celestial journey. Will their dream of a cheesy banquet come true, or will they face unexpected challenges among the stars? This whimsical tale invites young readers to imagine the possibilities of space travel and the lengths one might go for a taste of the moon.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2019

Lights on Wonder Rock

By David Litchfield

A girl meets an alien, but must choose between space dreams and earthly ties.

40 pages· 518 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 972 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Heather dreams of exploring the stars, but when a UFO lands near her home, she befriends an alien who must soon leave. As she faces the choice of joining her friend in space or staying on Earth, Heather must decide what truly matters. Will she chase the stars or cherish the world she knows? This enchanting tale of friendship and discovery explores the magic of dreams and the warmth of home, inviting readers to ponder what they value most. Experience a journey through space and heart in this beautifully illustrated story.

Sale price

$1994

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2008

The Way Back Home

By Oliver Jeffers · The Boy series

A boy and a Martian stranded on the moon must find friendship in the dark.

32 pages· 416 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 4,175 ratings

$20.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: A boy's adventure to outer space takes a turn when his plane runs out of fuel, leaving him stranded on the moon. Meanwhile, a young Martian faces the same plight on the other side. In the vast, lonely darkness, they must overcome fear and differences to find friendship. Can they work together to return home, or will the moon's mysteries keep them apart? Discover how two unlikely allies learn that what unites them is far more powerful than what sets them apart.

Sale price

$1248

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2016

On the Space Station

By Carron Brown, Bee Johnson (Illustrator) · Shine-a-Light series

Explore life on a space station through interactive pages revealing astronauts' daily routines.

36 pages· 913 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

4.3 Goodreads · 136 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: Embark on a cosmic journey as you uncover the hidden world of astronauts aboard a space station. Discover their daily routines, from meals to exercise, through interactive pages that reveal secrets with a simple light. Follow the crew from lift-off to touch-down, experiencing the thrill of space exploration. What mysteries will you unveil as you shine a light on their extraordinary lives?

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Browse by age

Ages 4–7 · 1957

A curious monkey gets into various misadventures before becoming the first space monkey

Sale price

$1699

There's a Skeleton Inside You!

Ages 4–8 · 2019

Two aliens need hands to fix their ship. Discover the layers of the human body.

#5 in Series

Sale price

$699

Three's a Crowd!

Ages 5–9 · 2013

A boy is excited to show his friend from Earth around his new home on the planet Nebulon

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Space Travel Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about space travel for developing and independent readers.

The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom

#2 in Series

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1699

The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom

Ages 8–12 · 2023

The Moon Queen is poisoned. Can First Cat find the antidote in time?

#3 in Series

Sale price

$2499

Cress

Ages 12–17 · 2014

A hacker's freedom could save Earth from invasion, but at what cost?

#3 in Series

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1499

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl

Ages 8–12 · 2014

A young girl is put on trial for her crimes and sentenced to the dungeons, where she meets a cast of characters who aid her in her escape and subsequent adventures.