I think you can guess what spurred me to search out astronomy books appropriate for ages 0-2. That’s right, my daughter. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments, but remember we’re talking about 0-2-year-olds here, so board books or simple text. Rhyming or rhythmic text is also good.

I was very unhappy when I found that the selection for 0-2-year-olds was quite limited. I liked several books out of what was available though. I’ve finished my first draft of a board book of my own, but until I find a publisher I’ll stick with recommending other people’s books.

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Classic Board Book)

By Eric Carle — ISBN-13: 978-0689829598, Seattle Public Library, Amazon.

So far this is my daughter’s favorite of the books I got. I’m not surprised, because it’s by Eric Carle! I hesitate very slightly about recommending this one, because at the end it implies that the Moon actually changes size when it changes phase. But imagination is also important.

The board book has large flaps that are prone to being crunched by small hands. It’s a good book, anyway.

The Sun Is My Favorite Star

By Frank Asch — ISBN-13: 978-0152021276, Seattle Public Library, Amazon.

I love this one. The story is good, the pictures are clean and bright. It’s accurate and pretty.

Happy Birthday, Moon

By Frank Asch — ISBN-13: 978-0812448320, Seattle Public Library, Amazon.

Again, it’s an imaginative story, but stays correct in its scientific concepts. Moonbear can’t reach the Moon, but none-the-less is able to get the Moon a birthday present and give it. I think Frank Asch is one of my new favorite author-illustrators.

Curious George and the Rocket (Board Book)

By H.A. Rey — ISBN-13: 978-0618120697, Seattle Public Library, Amazon.

This is edited down from the non-board-book version (Curious George Gets a Medal), but somehow I don’t mind for this story. Monkeys always make a great story. And this one also has a countdown–lots of fun with the little ones.

Countdown! With Milo (The Adventures of Milo and Mouse)

By Mike Austin — ISBN-13: 978-1609052089, Amazon.

I love it! It’s a countdown… I already said those are great, and the pictures have so many things to point at and find, and “buttons” to “push.” (It’s a plain flat board book, no real buttons).

Space Station (Mini House Book)

By Peter Lippman — ISBN-13: 978-0761115755, Amazon, but it’s out of print

I know, it’s out of print, so it isn’t fair for me to suggest it. This is a book and a toy. You open the pages to look through the space station. So far, in our house, it’s been less of a book and more of a toy–which is fine by me. Literacy at this age involves just being comfortable with books as well as spending time reading them. So, even if you can’t find this one, you can look up other Mini House books.

Astronaut (Mini People Shape Book)

By Giovanni Caviezel and C. Mesturini — ISBN-13: 978-0764162169, Amazon.

Another toy-book. I definitely got this one for the shape. The text is a bit advanced for right now, it’s pretty much a collection of factoids. Fun anyway.

There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System Revised Edition (The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)

By Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz — ISBN-13: 978-0679891154, Seattle Public Library, Amazon.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about this book. Much to my surprise I liked it. If you don’t have a 0-2-year-old in your life right now you might think Cat in the Hat is great for young kids. A lot of the Seussian books are actually a bit advanced, and long for the 0-2 crowd. Toddlers are not quite ready for the puns; the rhyming and rhythm are great for them though. This book is good and accurate enough, the rhymes are fun. It is a “tour of the solar system” book, but it doesn’t harp on about getting through basic facts on each planet. It just goes through one or two cute topics for each. You might not read the whole book with your toddler in one sitting, but that’s okay.

~ A l i c e !

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