There is nothing quite like the vast world of space. It’s fascinated people for centuries, and it’s evident that readers can’t get enough of books about exploring the universe. The books we’re featuring in Butler Bookshelf for this week comes from our nonfiction section. Our featured pick is History Smashers: The Space Race (History Smashers 12) by Kate Messner. Messner explores humanity’s fascination with outer space in this latest addition to the series, and it isn’t limited to the infamous ‘space race’ between Russia and the United States (though it is covered in great detail). The book also features black-and-white graphic novel inserts, a Q&A with Laurie Leshin, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director for NASA from 2022-2025, a timeline of the ‘space race,’ and photographs of people, animals, and rockets that made the journey from Earth to the stars.

Here are some more books on the wonders of outer space:

History Smashers: The Space Race (History Smashers 12)
Kate Messner
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Chasing the Moon: A Captivating Journey Through Its Magical Phases
Susan Hayes
Illustrated by Anna Stead
The Quarto Group/Wide Eyed Productions
Available now!

Star, Moon, Zoom!: A Book Full of Space Facts
Moira Butterfield
Illustrated by Ro Ledesma
The Quarto Group/Happy Yak
Available now!

Sound Explorers: Space Adventure
Anna Claybourne
Illustrated by Teo Georgiev
The Quarto Group/Design Eye
Available now!

National Geographic Kids: Little Kids First: Big Book of Space 2nd Edition
Catherine D. Hughes
Random House Children’s Books/National Geographic Kids
Available now!