The moon has been a very popular topic at my house. My 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, has been totally in love with the moon since she was a young toddler. So we’ve done a lot of moon observations, read a lot of moon books, and done a lot of moon activities. Today, I want to share some of my favorite moon books for kids. Most of these are for preschoolers through early elementary (except, of course, Goodnight Moon).
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Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I like Amazon’s “Look Inside the Book” feature as a way of getting a good idea of the book’s writing and photographs or illustrations before buying.
The nonfiction books are Montessori-friendly books with photos or realistic illustrations. Montessori-style books don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. Often the fiction books about the moon do have unrealistic situations. But they’re often wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality. Of course, I wouldn’t miss reading Goodnight Moon to a baby or toddler even though it has unrealistic ideas such as the cow jumping over the moon.
Moon Landing is a Montessori-friendly board book that’s a great introduction to the moon landing for toddlers and young preschoolers!
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons has lots of information, although in an easily understood form. I often have a book by Gail Gibbons as part of our current theme for that reason. This Montessori-friendly book is recommended for ages 5-8.
The Moon by Elaine Landau is another Montessori-friendly book with lots of information. It’s recommended for ages 7 and up, but younger children will enjoy the moon photos and discussing the information in the photos.
Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing is a Montessori-friendly book that’s an inspiration for girls or boys. (Recommended for ages 4-8.)
Moon: Earth’s Best Friend isn’t a Montessori-style book, but it’s a fun, memorable way to learn lots of facts about the moon.
(Recommended for ages 2-6, although 7 and 8 year olds could enjoy it, too.)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown isn’t a Montessori-style book, but it’s a classic fiction book that I can’t imagine not having it for my children or grandchildren as babies and toddlers.
Many Moons: Learn about the different phases of the moon by Remi Courgeon has a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. It’s mainly Montessori friendly, although “the moon goes to bed, and everyone sleeps” during the new moon. It shows the phases of the moon as a variety of shapes, such as a cat’s tail for the waning crescent. I love the cutout moon in the cover. The moon phases are described at the end of the book.
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle isn’t a Montessori-style book but is a creative story with beautiful Eric Carle ilustrations. It’s a fun way to extend learning about the waxing and waning of the moon. (Recommended for ages 5-8.)
Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna by Lois Ehlert is a Peruvian folktale in both English and Spanish. It isn’t a Montessori-style book for preschoolers because of its unrealistic images and ideas, but it’s a fabulous book for culture studies and bilingual education with beautiful, bold illustrations. (Recommended for preschoolers on up.)
Many Moons by James Thurber, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin, is a classic children’s book that won the Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children in 1943. This is a new full-color illustrated version that retains the essence of the original book and its intriguing story. (Recommended for ages 4-7.)
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, is a Montessori-friendly book (it could have happened) that won the Caldecott Medal in 1988. While it’s about a girl going owling with her father, the moon is prominent in the book. I think it’s wonderful for an owl theme and a moon theme. The book is rich in imagery along with a lovely story that’s recommended for ages 3-7.
Astronomy Printables and Activities for Preschoolers-Early Elementary
- Astronaut Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Solar System Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Montessori-Inspired Phases-of-the-Moon Playdough Tray
- Free Moon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
- Free Moon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Moon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Moon Books for Kids
- Free Star and Constellation Printables and Montessori-Inspired Constellation Activities
- Fun Montessori Hundred Board Extension – Count 100 Glow-in-the-Dark Stars
- The Ultimate Star and Constellation Unit
- The Best Star and Constellation Books for Kids
- Free Constellations Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Create a Glow-in-the-Dark Constellation with Dictation or Writing Tray
- Free Constellation Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Astronomy Cards from KHT Montessori
- Free Solar System Printables and Montessori-Inspired Solar System Activities
- Free Solar System Songs and Educational Printables
- Free Y for Year Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Space Books for Kids {Featuring Solar System Books}
- Free Solar System Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori Work with Scale Distances of Planets from the Sun
- Montessori Astronomy Printables for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Sun Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Building a LEGO Mars Rover Plus Montessori Space Exploration Resources
- Astronomy Unit Study Pinterest Board
Free Moon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
FREE Moon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Free Moon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities
Does your child (or students) have a favorite moon book?
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