Looking for fun children's books about the moon? These 34 fiction and nonfiction books about the moon will fascinate kids as part of a preschool or kindergarten moon unit or space theme. Whether you want to know more about Apollo 11 or books that showcase the night sky, these are all winners!
We are beginning a moon unit, and I have collected together what I think are the best moon books for kids. Most of these children's books are fiction, and they would all be great for any toddler, preschool, or elementary unit or lesson dealing with the moon.
As I was writing this, it seemed like almost all of them were award winners. There are truly some gems among children's literature here!
Did I forget anything? Please tell me in the comments if you know of a book that's not on my list!
On the Moon by Anna Milbourne – This is a cute story about what it would be like to visit the moon. Isn't that every kid's dream?
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons – This one is non-fiction, and it talks about how the moon influences the tides, how NASA sent astronauts to the moon, lunar craters, the phases of the moon, and more.
Clementine by Gail Gibbons – A little snail loves everything round, especially the moon. She is determined to get to it and glide over its round surface.
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – I think everyone knows this one, right? I had it memorized for years because we had to read the board book every single night before bed. A little bunny says good night to all the things in her room. I think it's a delaying tactic myself.
Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Helen Berger – This is a beautifully poetic story of the man who brings night to the forest. It paints nighttime as peaceful and magical, making it a perfect bedtime story for little ones.
The Great Moon Hoax by Stephen Krensky – This is historical nonfiction based on a real event. In 1835, a newspaper created fanciful headlines about what a new telescope could see on the moon, and the two young boys in this story are excited to be selling so many papers.
How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers: A Simple But Brilliant Plan in 24 Steps by Mordicai Gerstein – This silly story shows you step by step how to ride your bicycle to the moon, just like the name says. No rocket required!
I Love the Night by Dar Hosta – This beautifully illustrated story is a little like Good Night Moon. It celebrates the night and all things bedtime. I really like this one.
I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay – This is a story about a young boy who takes his friend the moon for a walk and learns to overcome his fear of the dark. The text has a rhythm and rhyme and is wonderful to read. Even though it's a very simple picture book for the youngest kids, it also includes some notes on plants and animals that live in the dark.
Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-This-World Moon-Pie Adventure by Tony DiTerlizzi – Jimmy loves moon pies, but his mother holds a tight rein on the delicious desserts. He decides to fly to the moon and get his own moon pies!
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes – A kitten thinks the moon is a bowl of milk in the sky, and she has to have it. An adorable board book written by the uber talented Kevin Henkes.
Lullaby Moon by Rosie Reeve – This rhyming story is perfect for bedtime. It talks about the moon that will watch over your little ones while they sleep (in a totally non-creepy way).
Mavis & Her Fabulous Mooncakes by Dar Hosta – This gorgeously illustrated story explains why the moon changes over the course of the month using a sweet cat and her tasty cakes.
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper – Max is a little boy who misses his grandfather, but takes comfort in knowing that the same moon he sees also tags along behind his grandpa. And then the moon hides on a cloudy night, and Max doesn't know what to do.
The Moon book – This is a Robert Louis Stevenson poem made into a book with lovely watercolor illustrations.
The Moon Jumpers by Janice May Udry – Have you ever said, "Kids nowadays don't know how to go outside and play!" These kids do exactly that! Illustrated by Maurice Sendak a few years before he did Where the Wild Things Are (which has only a little to do with the moon).
Moon Mouse by Adelaide Holl – Search for Moon Mouse on Amazon, and you'll find about a dozen books on mice and the moon. Who knew it was such a popular topic? This particular one is out of print but available used on Amazon. It is a sweet story about reaching for big dreams.
Moongame by Frank Asch – Moonbear likes to play hide and seek with the moon, but once, he can't find the moon at all. Also in this series are Mooncake, Moondance, and Happy Birthday Moon. These are classic stories updated very little since their original publication.
Mouse and the Moon Made of Cheese by Dean Russell – Another cute story about a mouse with big dreams. Kids learn about adventures and perseverance as they try to reach the moon.
The Mouse Who Ate the Moon by Petr Horacek – This story is really cute. When a piece of the moon falls off, the little mouse eats it. And she keeps eating until it's not round anymore. It's a great story that explains how we see different phases of the moon.
Owl at Home by Alfred Lobel – From Alfred Lobel, the author who wrote Frog and Toad, comes a collection of five stories about Owl. He takes in visitors and learns silly lessons. The last story, Owl and the Moon, is about Owl befriending the moon.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen – This is a story about a little girl and her father who go out late at night together looking for owls.
Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me by Eric Carle – What do I have to say but Eric Carle? This gorgeously illustrated story is about the moon, and a man's quest to bring it home for his daughter.
Red Knit Cap Girl by Naoko Stoop – This is the first in a series of stories about a little girl who wants to meet the moon. It's out of print, but easy to find used on Amazon.
Round is a Mooncake by Roaseanne Thong – This is a shapes book with poetic text. One part talks about all the things in the neighborhood that are round, and of course, the moon is one of those things.
The Tear Thief by Carol Anne Duffy – A little pixie travels from house to house collecting tears cried by children. She turns them into jewels, and when her bag is full, she pours them into the moon to keep it shining brightly. This is a beautiful story that would be nice for a bedtime story.
Wait Till the Moon is Full by Margaret Wise Brown – This is a sweet story about a little raccoon who wanted to go out exploring, but his mother told him that he had to wait until the moon was full. Written by the author of Good Night Moon and The Big Red Barn (which is my all-time favorite children's story but only mentions the moon in passing on one page).
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers – Another silly story! This time, a little boy finds an airplane and uses it to fly to the moon. Reading silly stories can be tricky when you're learning real stuff about the moon, but it is fun to talk about what is real and what isn't.
When the Moon Forgot by Jimmy Liao – This is out of print, but it is such a precious story and can often be found used on Amazon. It's about a little boy who finds the fallen moon and takes it home to nurse it and put it back in the sky.
Willoughby and the Moon by Greg Foley – The moon gets smaller and smaller and smaller outside Willoughby's window, and then it disappears! He sets off on a quest to find out where it went, and he meets an interesting character along the way. In the end, this is a book about fears, so it would be great for a child with anxieties.
Moon's First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship by Susanna Leonard Hill – This cute story is about how the moon watched all of the earth's history and was delighted at Neil Armstrong's first moon landing because people came to visit her.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin – The little girl in this story is on a quest to find the Old Man in the Moon because he has answers to all of life's questions. It's based on a traditional Chinese folktale.
Moon: A Peek-Through Picture book by Britta Teckentrup – This sweet little nonfiction book leads young children through the phases of the moon and all the animals in the world that look up to the moon at night.
Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy Mcanulty – This is a one of a series of non-fiction books about the solar system. This particular one tells about the history and formation of the moon in a really kid-friendly way.
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca – This nonfiction book tells the story of Neil Armstrong's famous mission to the moon with gorgeous illustrations and rich details.
For more book recommendations, check out the 101 Best Picture Books that Every Child Should Read.
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