Library

A collection of fiction and non-fiction children's books along with resources for teachers!

Children's books:
  • Fiction:
    • -I’ll Catch the Moon by Nina Crews, picture book, pictures from NASA
    • -Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
      • This adorable fiction book is about a cat who thinks the full moon is a yummy bowl of milk! He tries and tries to get the milk, but can never seem to reach it. The kids loved that it had a happy ending! (ages 3-5)
    • -The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
      • We are huge fans of Oliver Jeffers, and this fiction book is one of our favorites! In this story a boy flies to the moon and gets stuck there. He meets a friend who also gets stranded on the moon. They quickly become friends and work on a way to help each other get back home. (ages 3 and up)
    • -Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant
      • In this book the main character, a mother holding her baby, describes how long ago Native Americans gave names to all the full moons. Each month’s full moon is described beautifully and contains gorgeous illustrations. (ages 3 and up)
  • Non-fiction:
    • -One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
      • This is a great book for introducing the first moon landing. It’s full of facts and information and almost reads like a book of poems. It uses a nice amount of descriptive words and contains beautiful illustrations! (ages 6 and up)
    • -The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
      • Gail Gibbons is one of our favorite nonfiction authors. Readers will learn all kinds of facts about the moon including why the moon appears to be shining and the different phases of the moon. (ages 5 and up)
    • -If you Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty
      • This story is a fun way for kids to learn all kinds of facts about traveling to the moon and back while imagining they are going to go there themselves. Children learn what’s necessary for travel and what it’s like once they are in space. (ages 5 and up)
    • -Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
      • This is a nonfiction picture book about the mission of Apollo 11 to and from the moon. I love how it describes not just the flight, but what goes on in Mission Control and how the launch looks from the perspective of the bystanders. The book describes what it was like to be in space in language perfect for younger children. (Even I enjoyed it!) Readers will not only get to imagine what it was like for the astronauts, but also get a glimpse into what it was like for those on Earth anxiously watching on television. (ages 5 and up)
  • Resources for Teachers:
    • -Toys in Space: Exploring Science with the Astronauts by Carolyn Summers
      • This book is meant to guide teachers through teaching space in early and elementary grades. The book includes topics, lessons, and other resources to further explore.
    • -Exploring the Moon Educator Guide by NASA
      • https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Exploring.the.Moon.html#.Vhftl-n4vlI
      • This extended article on NASA’s website was published in 1997 and was created in order to help educators teach about space and the universe. The guide was intended for educators of 4-12 grades, however, the information can be adjusted for earlier grades. The guided article includes all the subjects that is provided in the links: math, earth science, general science, technology, space science, and life science. The article provides links, such as: National Education Standards Charts, Moon ABC’s fact sheets, Distance to the Moon (lesson plan), The Lunar Disk (lesson plan), etc.
    • -Everything Moon: A Teacher Guide and Activities for Teaching and Learning about the Moon by Rosemary A. Millham
      • Published in 2012, this book includes diagrams, charts, quotes from moon explorers, essays, and figures in its extensive explanation of the moon.