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Are you looking for a way to get ready for the upcoming solar eclipse or to get a better understanding of the moon and sun? Picture books are an amazing way to learn about the world and can be an invaluable tool for introducing children to scientific skills and concepts. This list of books about the moon, sun, and eclipses includes 12 titles that can help with your light units, your sun studies, and your night sky pattern lessons.
By reading some of these books to your students you are supplementing your science instruction with children’s literature. This technique can help generate interest and motivation, provide context, encourage communication, and connect science information in real-world context (Mahzoon-Hagheghi, 2018, 41). Read this list of books about the moon, sun, and eclipses to get some amazing titles to develop scientific skills in your students!
Books About the Moon
Moon! Earth’s Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty
Reading age: Preschool – 3rd Grade (2-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3, 1-ESS1-1, 4-PS4-2, 5-PS2-1
McAnulty anthropomorphizes the moon in this book celebrating fun moon facts. She shares a theory on how the moon may have been created and how the moon appears to change shape. McAnulty also relays the importance of the moon’s gravity in creating Earth’s tides and helping to maintain its smooth spin. Solar and lunar eclipses are also briefly mentioned.
*Bonus- Like this title on the books about the moon, sun, and eclipses list? This book belongs to a series that also features the Earth, the sun, Mars, Pluto, and the ocean!
The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley
Reading age: Preschool – 3rd Grade (4-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 4-PS4-2
Branley takes a very instructional approach to this non-fiction picture book about the moon phases. He uses diagrams and explanations to share the role the sun has in lighting up the moon and how that light and the angle from which the moon is being viewed affects the phase that’s observed. Although advertised as appropriate for younger children, the content and delivery suggest to me that it should be reserved for grades 3-5+. *Note: this book does not touch on solar or lunar eclipses.
Reading age: 1st – 5th Grade (7-10 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 4-PS4-2, 5-PS2-1, 5-ESS1-1
Gibbons shares a variety of information about the moon in this non-fiction picture book. She begins by addressing how the moon reflects the sun’s light and how it is the closest object to Earth in space. Then Gibbons shares a theory scientists have of the origin of the moon as well as information about ancient people and their beliefs about the moon. She shares an explanation of the phases of the moon, solar eclipses, and lunar eclipses. Then she touches on the moon’s role in the creation of the tides on Earth. This picture book is most appropriate for children in upper elementary grade levels due to its length, abstract concepts, and complex vocabulary.
I Am the Moon by Rebecca and James McDonald
Reading age: Preschool – 1st Grade (2-6 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1
The McDonald pair anthropomorphize the moon which gives it the opportunity to talk to the reader. The moon introduces how Earth’s gravity keeps it close and how its own gravity creates the tides on the Earth. The moon goes on to share about the sun’s role in making the phases of the moon. The McDonalds also introduce facts about people who have visited the moon. A great book to introduce the moon to early childhood readers. *Note: this book does not touch on solar or lunar eclipses.
*Bonus- Like this title on the books about the moon, sun, and eclipses list? This book belongs to a series that also features the Earth, the sun, Mars, and the solar system!
Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin
Reading age: Kindergarten – 4th Grade (6-9 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1, 4-PS4-2
Crelin breaks down the difficult topic of how the moon phases are made in an approachable and enjoyable way. This book is written in rhyme and rhythm and in vocabulary accessible to elementary aged students. The peek-and-find style illustrations by Leslie Evans are tabbed, making each moon phase easily referenced. The book finishes off with a scientific explanation for how the moon’s phases come to be as well as Moon Rhymes to help children remember moon facts. *Note: this book does not touch on solar or lunar eclipses.
Books on Sun
Sun! One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty
Reading age: Preschool – 3rd Grade (2-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3, 1-ESS1-1, 1-ESS1-2, 5-PS2-1, 5-ESS1-1
McAnulty anthropomorphizes the sun in this book celebrating fun sun facts. She shares how the sun is the closest star to Earth and how its heat and light allow for life on our planet. McAnulty also relays the importance of the sun’s gravity in holding our solar system together and how the distance of the sun relative to each planet affects its apparent brightness. Solar eclipses are also briefly mentioned.
Sun Up, Sun Down by Gail Gibbons
Reading age: Preschool – 3rd Grade (4-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1, 1-ESS1-2
Gibbons shares the effects of the sun on the Earth in this book about the sun. She mentions the sun’s role in weather and the water cycle as well as its support of life on Earth. Gibbons also briefly hits on the relative size of the sun based on the distance from which it’s viewed. This is a great book for a basic introduction to the sun, shadows, and day and night. *Note: this book does not touch on solar eclipses.
I Am the Sun by Rebecca and James McDonald
Reading age: Preschool – 1st Grade (2-6 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1, 1-ESS1-2
The McDonald pair anthropomorphize the sun which gives it the opportunity to talk to the reader. The sun introduces how its light and heat provide the necessary things for life to grow on Earth. The sun goes on to share about its role in the production of air and how its energy is part of the food web. The McDonalds also introduce the concept that the sun is responsible for the seasons. A great book to introduce the sun to early childhood readers. *Note: this book does not touch on solar or lunar eclipses.
*Bonus- Like this title on the books about the moon, sun, and eclipses list? This book belongs to a series that also features the Earth, the moon, Mars, and the solar system!
The Sun and the Moon by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
Reading age: Preschool – 3rd Grade (4-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1, 1-ESS1-2, 5-PS2-1, 5-ESS1-1
DeCristofano compares characteristics of the sun and the moon with side by side spreads at the beginning of the book. The reader is then sent into space to more closely observe the moon including its craters, ice, and observation equipment from Earth. The reader then jumps back into the rocket and is transported to the sun to observe its gaseous make-up, its solar storms, its relative brightness to the observer, and more. This book has great information written in an approachable way for early childhood readers. *Note: this book does not touch on solar or lunar eclipses.
Books on Solar Eclipse
Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story by Jayme Sandberg
Reading age: Kindergarten – 3rd grade (5-8 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3
Sandberg explains total solar eclipses in terms that early childhood learners can grasp as she anthropomorphizes the sun, moon, and Earth. In the story, the sun is worried that the moon will outshine it when it comes to the day of the solar eclipse. So sun writes a letter to Earth and then to Moon trying to gain answers to its questions. Through letters and the storyline, students will gain a basic understanding of what an eclipse is and how it comes to be. There’s also a letter at the back of the book written specifically for the reader reminding them how to observe solar eclipses in a safe way.
When the Sun Goes Dark by Andrew Fraknoi
Reading age: 3rd Grade – 7th Grade (9-12 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 4-PS4-2
Fraknoi explains in much detail how solar and lunar eclipses are made using the tennis ball, head, and lamp activity often used by teachers. However, Fraknoi’s explanation is very in depth and told in a story line format that could be followed by students during a class period. There’s great information about the three different types of solar eclipses, the rarity of a total solar eclipse, how to safely view solar eclipses and more. This is a great book for 4th graders and up; a long, in-depth, and vocab heavy book.
Experiments with the Sun and the Moon by Slavatore Tocci
Reading age: 1st Grade – 5th Grade (7-10 years)
Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3, 4-PS4-2, 5-ESS1-2
Tocci provides directions for 8 activities about the sun and the moon in this book for kids. Activities included with diagrams:
- Making solar eclipses
- Making lunar eclipses
- Making moon phases
- Tracking the sun’s movement across the sky
- Recreating the Earth’s orbit around the sun
- Using shadows to tell time
- Showing how light travels long distances
- Sending messages using light from the sun and the moon in Morse code
This book has material lists, background information, and directions to help implement the activities. *Note: this book has a diagram of the planets’ orbits around the sun and includes Pluto. This book was published in 2003, three years before the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
In a nutshell
Hopefully after reading this list of books about the moon, sun, and eclipses you’ve found a wonderful book (or two or three…) to read with your class during your stellar unit. If you’re looking for engaging activities to accompany a moon and light unit, check out my “Moon Phases and Light Mini Unit for 1st Grade”. It’s got 4 ELA activities including writing an informational text and sorting moon words, as well as 5 science activities including a light investigation and a foldable moon journal. Enjoy your celestial studies, it’s sure to be a highlight for your students!
Bibliography
Mahzoon-Hagheghi, M.; Yebra, R.; Johnson, R. (2018). Fostering a Greater Understanding of Science in the Classroom Through Children’s Literature. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 6(1), 41-50. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1183979.pdf
Have amazing books about the moon, sun, and eclipses that weren’t listed? Include your favorites in the comments!
Looking for more lists of books? Check out these other articles:
“18 Kids Earth Day Books to Inspire Elementary Students this Year”
“11 Fantastic Animal Life Cycles Books By John Himmelman”
“A Free Fall Picture Books List For Teachers With 16 Recommendations”
“16 Wonderful Children’s Books About Winter For Elementary Teachers”
“A Fantastic Spring Picture Book List For Elementary Teachers With 20 Titles”
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