Kacy Helwick

It’s an exciting time in space exploration! A lot has happened recently and many of this season’s astronomy books make sure to mention the most up-to-date information.

A commonality among the astronomy titles this season is that they all include high-quality, beautiful photographs and many try to communicate the unfathomable scale of size and distances in space along with the vast amounts of information we don’t yet know.

This season’s astronomy series feature new planet sets with individual titles for each of the eight planets in our solar system, fun-fact themed sets filled with high interest space trivia, introductory sets for independent readers or with adult-directed text, and a set full of the latest cutting-edge space technology projects. 

New titles examine weather phenomena, food, seasons, and the natural processes that change the earth. Humanity’s impact on the environment is also a recurring topic, as the main theme of multiple series and as a side note or caveat in others.

Twenty sterling books made SLJ's list of the best nonfiction for children and teens published in 2020. 

Eighteen exceptional informational works made SLJ's list of the best nonfiction for children and teens published in 2019. 

Many titles have been published this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This curated list provides digital resources and books recommended for elementary and middle grade readers.