Joan Holub

Daniel Roode

Learn all about the most influential explorers who searched the world far and wide in this engaging and colorful board book perfect for pioneers-in-training! Little explorers discover a great big world. The follow up to This Little President, now even the youngest adventurers can learn about the greatest explorers in history with this bright and playful board book. Highlighting ten memorable pioneers, parents and young discoverers alike will love sharing this fun historical primer full of age-appropriate facts and bold illustrations.

This Little Explorer

David  Litchfield

E.T._ meets _The Giving Tree in this stunningly illustrated picture book about friendship, family, wonder, and magic that shows how, sometimes, the things we’re searching for have been right in front of us all along. From the award-winning creator of _The Bear and the Piano._   

Heather wants more than anything to go to outer space, where the stars sparkle with magic and wonder. When a UFO lands behind her house and she meets a friendly alien, it seems that all of her dreams have come true. But soon her new friend has to return home. Will the spaceship ever come back for her? And if it does, is Heather ready to leave everything on Earth behind?

In this tale about dreaming big while appreciating what you have, best-selling picture book creator David Litchfield’s innovative visual storytelling uses wordless, light-filled spreads and graphic novel style layouts to transport readers through space and time and celebrate the power of family and human connection.

Lights on Wonder Rock

Chris Gall

For the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, a step-by-step explanation of how the Apollo 11 spacecraft worked as told by a young enthusiast.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, too: 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. 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.

Go for the Moon

Greg Pizzoli

From an award-winning author comes a picture book biography that feels like Indiana Jones for kids!

British explorer Percy Fawcett believed that hidden deep within the Amazon rainforest was an ancient city, lost for the ages. Most people didn’t even believe this city existed. But if Fawcett could find it, he would be rich and famous forever. This is the true story of one man’s thrilling, dangerous journey into the jungle, and what he found on his quest for the lost city of Z.

The Quest for Z

Kim T Griswell

Valeri Gorbachev

Rufus the Pig has already sailed the seven seas on a pirate ship. Now he dreams of the Moon, the stars, and Mars! So he bids his mateys goodbye and reports for duty at the space center. But Commander Luna tells him: “No pigs in space!” Then Luna needs someone to read a book live from the Red Planet–or the mission’s scrubbed. Will Rufus finally blast off?

Rufus Blasts Off

Roda Ahmed

Stasia Burrington

An Amazon Best Book of the Month A beautiful picture book for sharing, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts! When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.” Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.

Mae Among the Stars

Viviane Schwarz

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.

How to Be on the Moon

Margaret McNamara

Mark Fearing

Ejected from their new homes by a Big Bad Robot who pursues them into space, three little aliens engage in a noisy interplanetary chase that introduces youngsters to the solar system. By the award-winning author of The Pumpkin Patch.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot

Józef Wilkon

Svenja Herrmann

wolves

exploration and discovery

A journey of discovery through the nocturnal forest!

While mother wolf is on the hunt, her four little wolves venture out of their burrows for the first time to find a night filled with new scents and promises. 

After befriending a hedgehog, discovering their own reflections, and escaping from a hunter they are happy to return home when their mother calls. 

The newly written text by Svenja Herrmann complements the magical illustrations by Józef Wilkon.

The Little Wolves

Dimity Powell

Andrew Plant

pigeons

adventure and adventurers

Pippa is a little pigeon with big blue-sky ambitions: to fly solo and explore the world beyond her nest. Her parents are less than thrilled with their risk-taking feathered fledgling and smother her with well-meant yet suffocating warnings until one day she ignores them all and takes the leap into the unknown…alone.

But how will she survive in this new uncharted territory with all its treacherous dangers and make it back home in time for tea? Join Pippa on her incredible adventure as she discovers home is where the heart is.

Pippa is a light-hearted adventure tale about striking out alone, following your dreams and desires and experiencing what it’s like when you get there. It is a tale that acknowledges the sometimes-suffocating affection parents have for their offspring, which can temper and frustrate a child’s sense of freedom and adventure, and suggests that it’s okay to take risks from time to time. Although the adventure may be perilous, it is still worth experiencing for you never know what glorious discoveries lie in ahead.

Pippa

Patricia Lakin

Blast off into a galaxy full of fun with this fact-tastic nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series about the history of fun stuff! Did you know that ancient people all over the world looked at the stars and saw constellations? Or that a science fiction author named Jules Verne predicted the first moon landing? Or that astronauts from different countries take turns living on board the International Space Station? Houston, you’re cleared for takeoff and ready to become a History of Fun Stuff Expert on space travel! Amaze your friends with all you’ve learned in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 Ready-to-Read! A special section at the back of the book includes Common Core-vetted extras on subjects like science, social studies, and math, and there’s even a fun quiz so readers can test themselves to see what they’ve learned! Learning history has never been so much fun!

Stellar Story of Space Travel

S.J. King

Travel back in time and discover facts you never knew about dinosaurs and prehistoric life in this fourth installment of The Secret Explorers. This group of brilliant kids comes together from all four corners of the globe to fix problems, solve mysteries, and gather knowledge all over the planet - and beyond. Whenever their help is needed, a special sign will appear on a door. They step through to the Exploration Station and receive their mission… In The Secret Explorers and the Jurassic Rescue, dinosaur expert Tamiko and geology expert Cheng travels back to the age of the dinosaurs in an effort to rescue a dinosaur egg from destruction. However, to save the egg, the Secret Explorers first have to use all their courage and skills to outsmart a fierce Allosaurus, rescue a baby Stegosaurus, and find a way to attract an Archaeopteryx. Tamiko and Cheng soon find that to succeed, they need to come up with some unusual solutions…Packed with fun illustrations and facts about dinosaurs, fossils, and why modern birds are dinosaurs, this thrilling adventure is perfect for young readers. Also available as an audiobook, narrated by actor Alfred Enoch.

The Secret Explorers and the Jurassic Rescue

Join The Secret Explorers as they go up against pyramid thieves in the third instalment of this action-packed, fact-filled book series. The Secret Explorers come together from all four corners of the globe to fix problems, solve mysteries and gather knowledge all over the planet - and beyond. Whenever their help is needed, a special sign will appear on a door. They step through to the Exploration Station, and receive their mission… In The Secret Explorers and the Tomb Robbers, Gustavo (history expert) and Kiki (engineering expert) are set the mission of stopping the Cairo Museum from closing down. They travel back in time to Ancient Egypt and are soon drawn into a tense, thrilling adventure that involves breaking into pyramids, learning ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, and stopping thieves hoping to rob all the treasure from the Pharaoh’s tomb. Packed with fun illustrations and facts about the real-life Pharaoh Khufu and his treasures, ancient Egyptian religion, and how mummies were made, this thrilling adventure is perfect for young readers. Informative diagrams tell kids all they need to know about important elements of the story, such as what pyramids look like on the inside. The action-packed narrative keeps kids engaged and makes learning about history fun!

Secret Explorers and the Tomb Robbers

The award-winning author of A Yellow Raft in Blue Water presents a tale based on an entry in the diary of Christopher Columbus that tells of a native family living in a vibrant community striving to coexist with the natural world.

Morning Girl

A celebration of our nation’s melting pot, this beautifully illustrated origin story of the Statue of Liberty honors a poet who has advocated for the voiceless.  “Give me your tired, your poor  Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free . . . “ In 1883, Emma Lazarus, deeply moved by an influx of immigrants from eastern Europe, wrote a sonnet that gave a voice to the Statue of Liberty. Originally a gift from France to celebrate our shared national struggles for liberty, the statue, thanks to Emma’s poem, came to define us as a nation that welcomes immigrants. The text of that now famous poem, “The New Colossus,” appears in this free-verse biography, illustrated in an exquisite folk art style. The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 4-5, Poetry)

Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty

Ian Schoenherr

It’s 1954, and Janie Scott is in boarding school in New Hampshire, trying to make a new life. Two years have passed since she last saw the mysterious apothecary–or his defiant son, Benjamin. All she knows is that her friends are out there somewhere, trying to keep the world safe in an age of mounting atomic power. On the other side of the world, Benjamin is treating the wounded in a jungle war, and experimenting with a magical new formula that will let him communicate with Janie across the globe. But Janie has her own experiment underway, and it’s attracting interest from sinister forces. Benjamin calls on their friend Pip for help, and they have to race to find one another, and to unravel the mystery of their powerful new enemies. A magical new adventure, following Maile Meloy’s critically acclaimed novel The Apothecary, with captivating illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.

Apprentices

The triumphant finale in the bestselling trilogy is now in paperback! It’s 1955, and Benjamin Burrows and Janie Scott are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. It’s not easy, when they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster, and sinister forces are circling. Soon the advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels Janie and Benjamin into danger, and toward the land of the dead. Meanwhile, their friend Jin Lo washes up on a remote island where an American spy is stationed, and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China. But she’s on the other side of the world–how can Janie and Benjamin reach her? The triumphant finale in the trilogy that began with Maile Meloy’s bestselling, critically acclaimed The Apothecary, and continued in its captivating sequel, The Apprentices, The After-Room is full of enchantment and heart, with Ian Schoenherr’s stunning illustrations throughout.

After-Room

Charles M Schulz

Vicki Scott

All systems are go as Snoopy prepares for an out-of-this-world adventure in this special storybook based on the Peanuts partnership with NASA! Snoopy, the world-famous astronaut, is preparing to go to the moon. He quickly realizes, though, that training for space is hard work…especially when Peppermint Patty and Marcie decide to become his personal coaches! Good grief! This special storybook comes with a double-sided poster filled with cool nonfiction facts about space! (c) 2019 Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Shoot for the Moon, Snoopy!

Kate Messner

the Mayflower

Thanksgiving

history

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Smash the stories behind famous moments in history and expose the hidden truth. Perfect for fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and made friends with Wampanoag people who gave them corn. RIGHT? WRONG! It was months before the Pilgrims met any Wampanoag people, and nobody gave anybody corn that day. Did you know that the pilgrims didn’t go straight from England to Plymouth? No, they made a stop along the way–and almost stayed forever! Did you know there was a second ship, called the Speedwell, that was too leaky to make the trip? No joke. And just wait until you learn the truth about Plymouth Rock. Through illustrations, graphic panels, photographs, sidebars, and more, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known details behind the legends of the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving. “Kate Messner serves up fun, fast history for kids who want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Absolutely smashing!” –Candace Fleming, award-winning author Don’t miss History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote!

History Smashers: The Mayflower

Duncan Beedie

A little moth with big dreams plans to show everyone just how far she can go in this sweet celebration of space and the spirit of adventure. Molly the moth loves her home and her family, but she yearns for adventure. So by day Molly helps her mother, and by night she prepares for her space mission – to the moon! But nobody Molly meets believes that a little moth can make it all the way to the moon. It’s no easy feat for a moth to fly so far, but luckily Molly has no intention of giving up on her dream!

Molly's Moon Mission

Richard Platt

James Brown

science and technology

An essential compendium of some of the most world-changing discoveries and inventions of all time, from the first use of money to antibiotics and artificial intelligence. In a stylish miscellany, celebrated author Richard Platt and printmaker James Brown travel through time to showcase the amazing breakthroughs in science and technology that have changed our lives forever. From the wheel to the telephone to the Internet, human history is studded with innovations that have changed our world. Each bold, bright, and beautiful infographic is complete with engaging and easy-to-understand explanations. A follow-up to international bestseller A World of Information and its companion, A World of Cities, this book covers thirty groundbreaking discoveries and is perfect for inquiring minds of all ages.

World of Discovery

Jon Scieszka

Steven Weinberg

This laugh-out-loud, visually groundbreaking read launches a major new series by children’s literature legend Jon Scieszka. Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, a spectacular gatefold, plus how-to-draw pages in the back, it’s an outer space adventure that demonstrates a giant leap for bookmaking and a giant leap for any kid looking for their next go-to series. AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug are animals that have been hybridized to find other planets for humans to live on once we’ve ruined Earth. So off they rocket to the Plant Planet! Will that planet support human life? Or do Plant Planet’s inhabitants have a more sinister plan? AstroNuts Mission One is a can’t-put-it-down page-turner for reluctant readers and fans ready to blast past Wimpy Kid.

AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet

Carmella Van Vleet

Kathy Sullivan

Nicole Wong

Kathy Sullivan wanted to go everywhere. She loved blueprints and maps. She loved languages and the ocean. She didn’t like the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She wanted to explore and do exciting things that girls weren’t supposed to be able to do. Only men had the exciting jobs. 

Kathy liked fishing and swimming; flying planes and studying science. That’s what she liked and that’s what she decided to do with her life. She followed her heart and eventually became a NASA astronaut and the first woman to walk in space. Kathy wanted to see the whole world and so she did: from space!

To the Stars!

Amanda Wood

Mike Jolley

Frances Castle

 Spot the Mistake: Journeys of Discovery

Al Berenger

A colorfully illustrated, pocket-size picture book biography of the first man to walk on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong is an American astronaut most famous for being the first person to walk on the moon: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Before enrolling in the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1962, Armstrong was an officer in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War. Follow this extraordinary man’s life and accomplishments, from childhood to space and back again. Pocket Bios are full of personality, introducing readers to fascinating figures from history with simple storytelling and cheerful illustrations. Titles include men and women from history, exploration, the sciences, the arts, the ancient world, and more.

Pocket Bios: Neil Armstrong

Brad Meltzer

Christopher Eliopoulos

“A biography of Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who served as a translator for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.”

I Am Sacagawea

Raman Prinja

Chris Wormell

The newest title in the Welcome to the Museum series turns its focus to the heavens and explores the wonders of space. Welcome to the museum that is always open to explore. Step inside the pages of this beautiful book to discover galleries of galactic matter, expertly curated to bring you the experience of a fascinating exhibition in the comfort of your own home. Planetarium features all aspects of space, from the sun and our solar system to the lives of stars, the Milky Way, and the universe beyond. With stunning artwork from Dinosaurium illustrator Chris Wormell and informative text by Raman Prinja, a professor of astrophysics at University College, London, Planetarium is the perfect gift for budding astronomers and armchair stargazers alike.

Planetarium

Joshua George

Ed Myer

Who was Leif Erikson? What did Christopher Columbus do? When was the Moon landing? Find the answers to all these questions and more. Each humorous scene is packed with facts and interactive flaps that let you bring history to life. Don’t just read about the explorers–meet them!

Famous Explorers

Leon Leyson

Traces the story of Holocaust survivor Leon Leyson, who was the youngest child in his family and possibly the youngest of the hundreds of Jews rescued by Oskar Schindler.

The Boy on the Wooden Box

Jake Williams

Sail with Charles Darwin on The Beagle—and watch as he makes discoveries that change the world.

Step on board The Beagle and follow the remarkable five-year long journey—from England to Cape Verde, Brazil to the Galapagos, Tahiti to Australia—that inspired our modern knowledge of the natural world. Discover the wildlife Charles Darwin encounters as he does scientific research: giant sloths, platypus, tarantulas, fireflies and more. Along with gorgeous artwork and information on the groundbreaking voyage itself, this book includes cross-sections of the ship.

Darwin's Voyage of Discovery

Nathan Hale

The ninth book in the bestselling series tells the story of John Wesley Powell, the one-armed geologist who explored the Grand Canyon John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) always had the spirit of adventure in him. As a young man, he traveled all over the United States exploring. When the Civil War began, Powell went to fight for the Union, and even after he lost most of his right arm, he continued to fight until the war was over. In 1869 he embarked with the Colorado River Exploring Expedition, ten men in four boats, to float through Grand Canyon. Over the course of three months, the explorers lost their boats and supplies, nearly drowned, and were in peril on multiple occasions. Ten explorers went in, only six came out. Powell would come to be known as one of the most epic explorers in history! Equal parts gruesome and hilarious, this latest installment in the bestselling series takes readers on an action-packed adventure through American history.

Major Impossible: A Grand Canyon Tale

Douglas Brinkley

In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, New York Times bestselling author and historian Douglas Brinkley delivers a young readers’ edition of a story rooted in heroism, bravery, and patriotism: America’s race to the moon.

July 20, 1969. It’s a day that has earned a spot in history. It’s the day that America was the first nation to succeed in sending two astronauts—Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong—to the moon.

But what led to this unforgettable event? What were the stakes riding on the Apollo 11’s safe landing? In acclaimed author Douglas Brinkley’s first young readers’ edition, space fans will get the riveting and factual backstory of arguably the most significant achievement of the 20th century.

American Moonshot Young Readers' Edition

Isabel Thomas

Dalia Adillon

Explorer, sailor, and navigator, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail all the way around the world. He encountered lands and creatures that he could never have imagined, and the journey was fraught with danger and difficulty…

Join Magellan’s amazing adventure in this colorful guide, encountering mutineers and monsters along the way!

From artists to aviators and scientists to revolutionaries, Little Guides to Great Lives is a brand new series of small-format guides introducing children to the most inspirational figures from history in a fun, accessible way.

Ferdinand Magellan (Little Guides to Great Lives)

Gene Barretta

What would you do if you lived in a community without a library, hospital, post office, or fire department? If you were Benjamin Franklin, you’d set up these organizations yourself. Franklin also designed the lightning rod, suggested the idea of daylight savings time, and invented bifocals-all inspired by his common sense and intelligence. In this informative book, Gene Barretta brings Benjamin Franklin’s genius to life, deepening our appreciation for one of the most influential figures in American history.

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

William Grill

Young, up-and-coming illustrator William Grill weaves a detailed visual narrative of Shackleton’s journey to Antarctica.

Grill’s beautiful use of colored pencils and vibrant hues effortlessly evokes the adventure and excitement that surrounded the expedition. His impeccably researched drawings, rich with detail, fastidiously reproduce the minutiae of the expedition.

Children will love examining the diagrams of the peculiar provisions and the individual drawings of each sled dog and packhorse. This book takes the academic and historical information behind the expedition and reinterprets it for a young audience.

Shackleton's Journey

Peter Sís

Illus. in full color. The 15th century comes alive in this splendidly original picture book about Christopher Columbus. “The illustrations, executed in a variety of media, show scenes from the explorer’s life as well as some imaginary creatures that populated the Europeans’ picture of the outside world at that time. The details on each page invite individual readers to pay close attention, but the brief, clear text and framed illustrations lend themselves equally well to group sharing. Make room on your crowded Columbus shelf for this one.”–(starred) School Library Journal.

Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus

The littlest readers can learn about Albert Einstein in this board book version of the New York Times bestselling Ordinary People Change the World biography.

This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great–the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. In this new board book format, the very youngest readers can learn about an icon in the series’s signature lively, conversational way. The short text focuses on drawing inspiration from these iconic heroes, and includes an interactive element and factual tidbits that young kids will be able to connect with. This volume tells the story of Albert Einstein, one of the world’s greatest scientists.

I am Curious: A Little Book About Albert Einstein

Ben Thompson

Erik Slader

Tim Foley

In the fourth installment of the Epic Fails series from authors Erik Slader and Ben Thompson and illustrator Tim Foley, The Age of Exploration: Totally Getting Lost introduces readers to an international cast of trailblazers and details every mutiny, wrong turn, and undiscovered city of gold.

Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous explorers of all time, but he was neither the first nor last adventurer to ever stumble upon a great discovery. From the Silk Road of Asia to the icy shores of Antarctica, our knowledge of the world today is in large part due to several intrepid pioneers, risking life and limb for the sake of exploration. After all, setting off into the dark unknown requires an enormous amount of bravery. But every explorer quickly learns that courage and curiosity aren’t enough to save you if you can’t read a map or trespass on somebody else’s land!

The Age of Exploration: Totally Getting Lost

Rebecca Siegel

Michael Lauritano

Join the Pilgrims on their perilous journey across the ocean, as they start a new life in North America. This stunning book marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage, with edge-to-edge illustrated scenes, interspersed with detailed maps, inventories and cutaways, along with engaging, narrative text to make this a history book to treasure and pour over time and again.  

Learn about the perilous journey, the crew and passengers, the cargo on board, and what happened when they finally dropped anchor in Cape Cod. Meet the Wampanoag people and learn about how the Pilgrims’ arrival changed their way of life. Atmospheric artwork and detailed scenes will spark your imagination as you discover the amazing true story behind the birth of a nation. Find out as if you were there:

  Who were the Pilgrims?  

  Why did they want to leave England?  

  Why was the journey so perilous?  

  What was the Mayflower Compact?  

  Who are the Wampanoag?  

  How did the Pilgrims interact with the Wampanoag?  

  What happened at the first Thanksgiving?  

  What became of the Mayflower?  

This fact-packed children’s book includes a comprehensive timeline of events, an author’s note, plus a glossary and ideas for further learning.

Mayflower: The Ship that Started a Nation

Suzanne Slade

Alan Marks

the moon

Project Apollo (U.S.)

Fifty years ago, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon. That was the Apollo 11 mission. Since that moment, six more Apollo missions were launched, five successfully reached the moon, and eleven more men walked on its surface. In simple, poetic verse, Suzanne Slade takes readers on a trip to the Moon aboard all the Apollo missions from 1969 through 1972. Suzanne was able to work closely with astronaut Alan Bean, the lunar module pilot of the Apollo 12 landing. Backmatter includes a note from Alan Bean, information about the rockets and vehicles used, highlights from the missions, and more.

Daring Dozen

Jeffrey Kluger

Twelve thrilling and terrifying space-mission failures, told by the bestselling author of Apollo 13!

There are so many amazing, daring, and exciting missions to outer space that have succeeded. But for every success, there are mistakes, surprises, and flat-out failures that happen along the way. In this collection, bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jeffrey Kluger recounts twelve such disasters, telling the stories of the astronauts and the cosmonauts, the trials and the errors, the missions and the misses.

With stories of missions run by both Americans and Russians during the height of the space race, complete with photos of the people and machines behind them, this book delves into the mishaps and the tragedies, small and large, that led humankind to the moon and beyond.

Disaster Strikes!

Stanley Strickland

Paco Sordo

Grab hold of this book that lets you steer a rocket ship on an adventure! We have liftoff! Grab the steering wheel to hold the rocket steady as we leave Earth! Strap into your seat and put on your helmet-it’s time to blast off into space! Kids will love using the die-cut handles in this novelty board book to control the rocket ship and steer around things like asteroids and black holes while exploring space!

Rocket Ship Adventure!

Markus Motum

Maybe you remember when a little robotic spacecraft landed on a far-off planet. On August 6, 2012, the rover Curiosity touched down on the rocky surface of Mars—and now she’s ready to guide you through her journey firsthand. From idea to creation and beyond, this fact-filled, stylish book introduces readers to Curiosity and her mission: to discover more about the red planet and search for evidence of life. How did Curiosity get her name? What tools does she use to carry out her tasks? In her own voice, the popular NASA rover tells how and why she traveled more than 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet no human has ever visited . . . and what she’s been doing there. In his debut picture book, Markus Motum brings Curiosity’s story to life in vivid color: the deep blues of space set off the warm, rusted hues of Mars’s dusty red surface, marking this lovable rover and her mission as something special—truly a world apart.

Curiosity

Charlotte Guillain

Yuval Zommer

Have you ever looked up and wondered what’s going on high up in the skies above your eyes? Take a journey up into the air, through the atmosphere, way out into space, and back down to Earth in this richly illustrated concertina book. Readers will zoom past the technology that fills our skies, from helicopters, fighter jets, weather balloons, and satellites, hang-gliders and hot-air balloons. They’ll also discover the insects and animals that whizz through the skies, explore the layers of the atmosphere, and travel through the solar system and out to the galaxies far beyond. Following on from The Street Beneath My Feet, which dug down to the centre of the Earth, this expansive concertina book opens out to an impressive 2.5 metres, perfect for inquisitive young minds.

The Skies Above My Eyes

Susan Lendroth

Bob Kolar

This musical mission to Mars will have young astronauts talking—and singing—about the science of space travel.
Singing astronauts on a mission explore the science behind a trip to Mars, from launch to landing on the Red Planet. Set to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell,” this jaunty journey follows five adorable, bobble-headed astronauts as they learn how to bathe in zero gravity, grow veggies in space, and entertain themselves on the six-month trip.

This book defies gravity—text and art float free on the page, encouraging readers to turn the book sideways and upside-down.

An interactive, innovative approach to interstellar fun.

Hey Ho, to Mars We'll Go!

In this second installment of the Epic Fails series, explore the many failures that made up the Space Race, paving the way for humanity’s eventual success at reaching the stars. Today, everyone is familiar with Neil Armstrong’s famous words as he first set foot on the moon: “one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” He made it look easy, but America’s journey to the moon was anything but simple. In 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first satellite, into orbit, America had barely crossed the starting line of the great Space Race. Later that year, our first attempt was such a failure that the media nicknamed it “Kaputnik.” Still, we didn’t give up. With each failure, we gleaned valuable information about what went wrong, and how to avoid it in the future. So we tried again. And again. And each time we failed, we failed a little bit better. The Epic Fails series by Erik Slader and Ben Thompson explores the humorous backstories behind a variety of historical discoveries, voyages, experiments, and innovations that didn’t go as expected but succeeded nonetheless, showing that many of mankind’s biggest success stories are the result of some pretty epic failures indeed.

The Race to Space: Countdown to Liftoff

Simon Tyler

From the brilliant illustrator, Simon Tyler, comes a wonderful compendium of space, space travel and much more. One day our sun will grow…and grow…and grow…until it ends its life as a red giant 400x its current size. Wonder at facts like these, and much more, in the new illustrated guide to Space. Space is fascinating, and in this book Simon Tyler gorgeously illustrates the planets, meteors, rockets and galaxies - even strange phenomena like the speed of light and solar flares!

Adventures in Space

Dive right back into the action on Perses in this thrilling sequel to the gritty, space adventure, MiNRS, which School Library Journal called “a solid survival story.” They are coming to get you. Hide. Hide. Hide. The children of Perses have been receiving this message on repeat from Earth for weeks. Christopher, Elena, and the other survivors of the attack on their space colony know two things: Their victory over the Landers will be short-lived and a new wave of attacks is imminent. New Landers arrive sooner than expected. Led by the ruthless Kirk Thatcher, and armed with a new lethal kind of digger, they vow to hunt down and destroy everyone. The kids have nowhere to go but underground. Again. But resources and patience are running low, and the struggle to keep everyone safe is complicated by all the infighting. As Christopher bears the burden of leadership, he also has to decide whom he can trust. There are no easy answers. And with deadly consequences on the line, there is no room for mistakes.

Minrs 2

Lauren Baratz-Logsted

A funny and heartwarming middle-grade historical fiction novel about a girl who writes letters to her favorite astronaut as America prepares for the moon landing. It’s 1969 and the country is gearing up for what looks to be the most exciting moment in U.S. history: men landing on the moon. Ten-year-old Mamie’s class is given an assignment to write letters to the astronauts. All the girls write to Neil Armstrong (“So cute!”) and all the boys write to Buzz Aldrin (“So cool!”). Only Mamie writes to Michael Collins, the astronaut who will come so close but never achieve everyone else’s dream of walking on the moon, because he is the one who must stay out in space with the ship. After school ends, Mamie keeps writing to Michael Collins, taking comfort in telling someone about what’s going on with her family as, one by one, they leave the house thinking that someone else is taking care of her—until she is all alone except for her cat and her best friend, Buster. And as the date of the launch nears, Mamie can’t help but wonder: Does no one stay with the ship anymore? With I Love You, Michael Collins, Lauren Baratz-Logsted has created a heartwarming story about family and being true to yourself. A Margaret Ferguson Book “Baratz-Logsted weaves in just enough history to root Mamie’s story in her time, a moment when a nation came together and felt proud of human possibilities. . . . Readers will be charmed by Mamie’s story of hope in a difficult moment in American history.” —Kirkus Reviews

I Love You, Michael Collins

Brenda Z Guiberson

Jimmy Hoffa, Barbara Follett, Amelia Earhart, D. B. Cooper-they all disappeared. Throughout history, individuals have gone missing without a trace; their disappearances haunt us. In this companion to Disasters: Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes through the Centuries, Brenda Guiberson explores the stories of seven individuals who have disappeared mysteriously. Thoroughly researched and illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this is exciting middle grade nonfiction. Godwin Books

Top 10 Exploration And Discovery Books

Exploration And Discovery