Summer Reading

Babies/Bebés

Kids/Niños

Teens/Jóvenes

Adults/Adultos

The Night Sky and Beyond

Learn about what's above when the sun goes down. Stars, planets, the moon - it's all here!

I like Stars  by Margaret Wise Brown

A simple poem describing all kinds of stars that appear in the night sky.

Reading Level: Toddler

Five Shiny Stars  by none

A cat observes five twinkling stars as they disappear one by one, in a book that plays the tune to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” when the reader reaches the last page.

Reading Level: Toddler

Goodnight Moon  by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for- or attempting to postpone his own slumber.

Reading Level: Preschool/ Toddler

Star Baby  by Margaret O’Hair

Easy-to-read, rhyming text explores the world of babies, as they do such things as point, scoot, rock, and hug.

Reading Level: Preschool/ Toddler

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star  by Jane Taylor

From dinnertime to bath time to bedtime, familiar nighttime rituals will take on a new sparkle with the author’s delightful rendition of a timeless nursery rhyme.

Reading Level: Preschool/ Toddler

Kitten’s First Full Moon  by Kevin Henkes

When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it.

Reading Level: Preschool

Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System by Kudlinski, Kathleen V.

An informative look at how scientific theories have changed over time concerning the solar system.

Reading Level: Preschool - Grade 2

The Love of Two Stars: A Korean Legend by Park, Janie Jaehyun

A retelling of a Korean legend about two stars in the Milky Way, who are only allowed to be together one day out of the year.

Reading Level: Grades K-4

The Star People: A Lakota Story by Nelson, S.D.

When Young Wolf and his older sister wander from their village and face the danger of a prairie fire, their deceased grandmother, now one of the Star People, appears to guide them.

Reading Level: Grades K-4

The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale by Bruchac, Joseph

When cornmeal is stolen from an elderly couple, the others in a Cherokee village find a way to drive off the thief, creating the Milky Way in the process.

Reading Level: Grades K-4

The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote  by Johnston, Tony

Rabbit outwits Coyote in this Zapotec tale which explains why coyotes howl at the moon.

Reading Level: Grades K-4

Sky Magic by Hopkins, Lee Bennett

A collection of classic and new poems that celebrates the sky from day to night.

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Stars and Planets by Stott, Carole

Explores the planets and stars of our galaxy and beyond, from our solar system's neighbors to the mysteries of deep space.

Reading Level: Grades 2 and up

How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Mills, Claudia

Afraid he will always be an outsider like ex-planet Pluto, nine-year-old Oliver finally shows his extremely overprotective parents that he is capable of doing great things without their help while his class is studying the solar system.

Reading Level: Grades 2-4

Trapped In Space by Johnson, David

Stranded when their shuttlecraft crash lands while they are helping to explore a new planet, teen siblings Sammi and Jak are saved from deadly plants by intelligent beings who communicate primarily through shared feelings.

Reading Level: Grades 2-4

The Magic School Bus: Lost In the Solar System by Cole, Joanna

On a special field trip in the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class goes into outer space and visits each planet in the solar system.

Reading Level: Grades 2-5

Space and Beyond by Montgomery, R. A.

This is a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ book that takes place in space. There are many different endings that you can choose.

Reading Level: Grades 2-7

Astronomy by Lippincott, Kristen

This is an Eyewitness book about astronomy. It looks at the history of astronomy, identifies important astronomers, and summarizes what is known about the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars.

Reading Level: Grades 3 and up

George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Hawking, Stephen and Lucy

Follows the adventures of a young boy and his neighbor friend who travel through a computer portal into outer space, where they explore such mysteries as black holes and the origins of the universe, while trying to evade an evil scientist.

Reading Level: Grades 3 and up

Space Exploration by Stott, Carole

This book is an ‘eyewitness’ book about space exploration. It describes rockets, exploratory vehicles, and other technological aspects of space exploration, satellites, space stations, and the life and work of astronauts.

Reading Level: Grades 3 and up

The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by Bruchac, Joseph

Twenty-four Native American legends and tales from across the United States capture a wide range of belief systems and wisdom from the Cherokee, Cheyenne, Hopi, Lenape, Maidu, Seminole, Seneca, and other tribes.

Reading Level: Grades 3-7

The Jumbo Book of Space  by Nicolson, Cynthia Pratt

Get down-to-earth explanations of the science behind today's space facts. Find out how to " make your own telescope " make a two-stage balloon rocket " make moon craters " look at the sun safely " cook with the sun's rays.

Reading Level: Grades 3-7

First Space Encyclopedia by Bingham, Caroline

This latest title in DKs First Reference series takes young readers on a journey to all of the planets of our solar system and their moons, as well as the Sun, other stars, and other galaxies. Spectacular full-color photos and illustrations show planets, moons, and exploration technology in all its glory.

Reading Level: Grades 3-7

Amazing Solar System Projects You Can Build Yourself by Lopez, Delano

Introduces readers to the basic elements of the solar system with over 25 hands-on building projects and activities. Learn about the sun, the planets and their moons, meteors and comets, and the amazing tools that astronomers and astronauts have used to study the solar system over the years.

Reading Level: Grades 4 and up

13 Planets: The latest View of the Solar System  by Aguilar, David A

Using simple text and spectacular photorealistic computer art by the author, this book profiles all 13 planets in their newly created categories--plus the sun, the Oort Cloud, comets, and other worlds being discovered. Back-of-the-book activities offer hands-on fun for budding astronomers.

Reading Level: Grades 4-6

Atlas of the Universe by Garlick, Mark A.

Filled with one-of-a-kind images of planets, constellations, and galaxies, this complete reference includes more than 75 maps detailing topographic features of the planets and their moons, constellation charts for each season, timelines and diagrams.

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt by Hawking, Stephen and Lucy

George is heartbroken when his neighbor Annie and her space-scientist father move to Florida, but when Annie sends him a secret message telling him she has been contacted by aliens with a terrible warning, he joins her in a galaxy-wide search for answers. Includes scientific essays on space travel.

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Cosmic by Boyce, Frank Cottrell

Super-sized, eleven-year-old Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space.

Reading Level: Grades 5-8

Larklight by Reeve, Philip

In an alternate Victorian England, young Arthur and his sister Myrtle, residents of Larklight, a floating house in one of Her Majesty's outer space territories, uncover a spidery plot to destroy the solar system.

Reading Level: Grades 5-8

The Greatest Intergalactic Guide to Space Ever  by Stott, Carole

The Brainwaves guide readers through the universe in a humorous introduction to galaxies, black holes, asteroids, the solar system, space exploration, and related topics.

Reading Level: Grades 5-8