If you have a little astronaut in the making, these 10 children’s books about the solar system are for YOU! They cover every planet in our solar system, from Mercury to Neptune, plus the Sun and dwarf planets that also call our solar system home.
In fact, these 10 Children’s Books about the Solar System are the suggested books for each topic in my Solar System Family Unit Study!
If you are new here, let me explain. Each month, I release a brand new Family Unit Study, which is perfect for the whole family to enjoy together, as the activities work for all children aged 6-12 years old. In fact, most of the activities work perfectly for younger children, too!
Each Unit Study covers 10 topics, and each of those 10 topics includes:
- An interesting fact and discussion question
- Informative readings at your fingertips
- A hands-on activity with materials you already have at home
- ‘What’s Happening’ information to accompany your hands-on activity
- A curated YouTube video
- A math word problem or literacy prompt
- AND a suggested book that fits that topic!
Grab a sample and take a peek inside my Stars and Constellations Unit Study! You can also see the entire collection of Unit Studies available in my shop right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/collections/family-unit-studies-1
Today, I thought I would share with you the 10 topics we cover in my Solar System Unit Study and 10 Children’s Books About the Solar System that beautifully fit each topic.
I strongly suggest you get these books from the library if you are able to. I have also included my Amazon affiliate links below, in case you would like to add them to your personal library.
Are you ready to see the 10 children’s books about the solar system and its planets?! Here we go!
10 Children’s Books About the Solar System
Topic One: The Sun
The Sun is a star and the center of our Solar System. It is orbited by eight planets, along with dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets. The Sun is made of gas, primarily helium and hydrogen, and gives off the heat and light that allows life to survive on Earth.
Book Suggestion: The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk
This funny and factual picture book from Awkward Yeti creator Nick Seluk explains every part of the Sun’s big job: keeping our Solar System together, giving Earth day and night, keeping us warm, and more.
Topic Two: Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and is named after the Roman god of commerce. It is the smallest planet in our Solar System, only slightly larger than Earth’s moon. It is a rocky planet, with a surface covered in craters.
Book Suggestion: National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space by Catherine Hughes
These colorful pages will introduce young children to the wonders of space, with colorful illustrations by David Aguilar and simple text that is perfect for beginning readers or for reading aloud.
Topic Three: Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Even though it isn’t the closest planet to the Sun, it is the hottest. On Venus, metal would melt into puddles of liquid! Venus is a rocky planet with a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and clouds made of sulfuric acid.
Book Suggestion: Venus by Jody S Rake
The second brightest object in the sky, after the moon, is Venus. Learn all about the second planet from the Sun with this book.
Topic Four: Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is the only planet not named after a Greek or Roman god or goddess (‘Earth’ comes from an old English word that simply means ‘ground’). Earth is also the only planet known to harbour and support life.
Book Suggestion: 100 Things to Know About Planet Earth by Frederico Mariani
What are phantom islands? How did the Black Death cause an ice age? How could graffiti save endangered tortoises? Find the answers to these questions and 97 more in this bold, graphic, and exciting book, full of amazing things to know about Planet Earth.
Topic Five: Mars
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun, named after the Roman god of war. It is also known as the “Red Planet” and is a cold, desert-like world. It’s about half the size of Earth, and, like Earth, Mars has seasons, polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons, and weather!
Book Suggestion: Mars: The Red Planet: Rocks, Rovers, Pioneers, and More! by Elizabeth Carney
Budding scientists and kids curious about Earth’s next-door neighbor can blast off to the red planet!
Topic Six: Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and is named after the Roman king of gods. It is the largest planet in our Solar System, 318 times more massive than Earth! Jupiter is a gas planet, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Book Suggestion: Jupiter by J P Bloom
Learn about the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our Solar System with simple, easy-to-read text alongside striking images and diagrams that will assist young readers in learning.
Topic Seven: Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is named after the Roman god of wealth and agriculture. It is the second largest planet in our Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is a gas planet like Jupiter, composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.
Book Suggestion: Saturn: The Ringed Planet by Daisy Allyn
Because of its ring system, Saturn is often considered one of the most interesting planets in our Solar System. But there’s much more that is worth knowing about the ringed planet.
Topic Eight: Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and is named after the Greek god of the sky. Uranus is an ice giant, mostly made of flowing icy materials above a solid core. Uranus looks blue from the methane in its atmosphere. While not as spectacular as Saturn, Uranus also has rings.
Book Suggestion: Uranus by Steve Foxe
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and has a special feature, it tilts! Discover the mysteries of this ice giant that sits half in darkness for more than 40 years at a time!
Topic Nine: Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun, and is named after the Roman god of the sea. Like Uranus, it is an ice giant and also has a blue appearance from the methane in its atmosphere. However, scientists are baffled by how blue Neptune is, as it actually has less methane than Uranus.
Book Suggestion: The Planets: The Definitive Visual Guide to Our Solar System DK
Featuring all-new 3D models built using data gathered by NASA and the European Space Agency, The Planets is an awe-inspiring journey through the Solar System, from Earth to Mars and beyond.
Topic Ten: Dwarf Planets
There a currently five official dwarf planets in our Solar System: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. Another six objects are almost certainly dwarf planets but are waiting for official classification, and there may be hundreds more dwarf planets in the Solar System.
Book Suggestion: A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade
Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the Solar System.
There you have it, my friend, 10 Children’s Books About the Solar System!
If your little astronaut likes these books, they will love my Solar System Family Unit Study! Grab your copy right here.
xo
Sarah
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