Stellar Books for the Look UP! Explore our Universe reading challenge
We’re journeying through space in our latest reading challenge: Look UP! Explore our Universe. Celebrating International Space Week 2022 with NASA @ My Library, we’re encouraging tamariki children to explore and read about the universe at their own pace or with a friend or family member. Here’s some great book choices, curated by librarian Kay.
Non-Fiction
Behind the scenes at the Space Station: experience life in space by Giles Sparrow
Defy gravity with an access-all-areas pass to the spectacular International Space Station with this behind-the-scenes guide to life in space.
Encyclopedia of starfighters and other vehicles by Landry Walker
Learn about more than 200 of your favourite Star Wars vehicles, from the A-wing to the Y-wing. From the swamps of Kashyyyk to the deserts of Jakku, from inner-city Coruscant to the vastness of hyperspace, Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles will show you the right craft for the job.
How to survive on Mars by Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway
Get ready for lift-off on a Martian adventure! Have you ever imagined living on another planet? What about Mars? With not enough air to breathe, sunlight to keep us warm, or any available food and water, life on Mars would be a challenge… but it just might be possible!
My book of stars and planets by Parshati Patel
Discover mysterious planets and distant galaxies on an amazing journey across the Universe. Find out about the history and future of space exploration.
Planetarium, illustrated by Christopher Wormell
Inside the pages of this beautiful book you’ll discover galleries of galactic matter, expertly curated to bring you the experience of a fascinating museum exhibition from 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.
Space, by Richard Spilsbury
Find out all about the wonders of space, from Earth and the Moon, to the solar system, Milky Way and beyond! Discover how rockets overcome gravity to blast into space, how space suits protect astronauts on space walks and how rovers and probes explore planets that are many light years from Earth.
Space: a book of extraordinary facts by Carole Stott
Explore the stars, meteorites, and planets, take a tour on a space station, and examine a space rocket in detail. Learn surprising facts in this lively and fascinating picture book all about space.
Space number crunch : figures, facts, and out of this world stats you need to know by Kevin Pettman
This book about space gives kids all the facts, figures, and amazing information they want to know. It’s bursting with colorful infographics and high-impact artwork. Includes Space Record Breakers, Astronauts, Galaxies, Telescopes, Space Technology, the Sun, and a Number Crunch quiz.
Space : the facts about our Solar system edited by Lauren Smith
Zoom into space with this guide to the universe. You’ll learn everything there is to know about our Solar System, discover what it takes to become an astronaut and imagine what the future of space exploration might look like. Get your spacesuit on and prepare for lift off!
Star Wars: complete vehicles by Kerrie Dougherty
Explore the epic Star Wars saga through incredible cross-sections. More than 100 magnificent artworks bring the vehicles of Star Wars to life. New cross-sections, amazing detail, and comprehensive text make this the ultimate reference to the craft of a galaxy far, far away.
Super space by Clive Gifford
Bursting with fascinating facts and the latest breathtaking images, this space book brings the wonders of the Solar System to life.
Graphic Novels & Fiction
Sardine in outer space. Vol. 5 by Emmanuel Guibert
More adventures of the mischievous girl pirate named Sardine, as she and the crew of the spaceship “Huckleberry” foil the plans of evildoers Supermuscleman and Doc Krok.
A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L’Engle
Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers during a search for Meg’s father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Min, a thirteen-year-old girl with fox-magic, stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her older brother in the Thousand World Space Forces.
Sam Wu is NOT afraid of space by Katie Tsang
I’m Sam Wu and I am not afraid of anything! And definely not space, with all its black holes, meteors and imploding stars . . So when I went to Space Camp with my friends this summer, I knew we had to: 1) be seen as the bravest space explorers and 2) win the Space Camp Challenge trophy! Easy as landing on the moon, right?
Star Wars : 5-minute stories strike back
Collects twelve short stories from the cinematic world of Star Wars, including two tales from “Star Wars: the Last Jedi”.
Stories include: Short negotiations by Calliope Class Adventure in the arena, by S.T. Bende. The duel for peace, by Rebecca Schmidt. A journey begins, by Rebecca Schmidt. Trapped in the Death Star by Meredith Rusu and more.
Picture books
A trip to the Moon
Blast off to the moon with Peppa and her friends! Prepare for take-off! George and his friend Edmond love pretending to be astronauts. But what will happen when they go on a trip to the moon?
I am the universe by Vasanti Unka
It’s a starlit journey through space, from glittering galaxies to busy city streets, taking you on a tour around the universe.
When Dad showed me the universe by Ulf Stark
A father takes his son on an evening walk to show him the entire universe. Translated from the Swedish.
We hope this selection has you excited and ready to ocket into space! If you haven’t joind yet, it’s not too late! You can find out more and sign up here.