Did you know that we experience eclipses of the sun and moon every year? This year the Solar eclipse was on August 12th and blocked out the sun for a full 2 minutes. Did you see it? It's okay if you missed it, because we're going to have a lunar eclipse on August 28th. Earth is one of the few planets that experience solar eclipses. Here are some books to learn more about eclipses, what they've meant to the people that view them, and other fun space facts.
By Emily Arnold McCully
New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, 2025. Informational.
Albert Einstein has always had a curious mind, fascinated with the laws of the universe and finding ways to explain how it all worked together. He had a theory, an idea, that gravity is what happens when objects bend the space and time around them. But gravity isn't something easily seen so to test his hypothesis, he needed to see if the gravity of the sun bent the light from a nearby star. The only time someone could get a photograph of this was during a time when the light of the sun was completely blocked during the day, such as a total solar eclipse. This is the story of how Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity was proven by scientist Arthur Eddington, and how the world's understanding of itself and the universe beyond us were changed forever.
By John Sazaklis
North Manakota, Minnesota: Pebble, a Capstone imprint, 2026. Informational.
Want to see how much you know about space? Test your knowledge with these quiz-like questions that will also teach you all sorts of little-known facts about our universe. With vibrant and silly photographs will have you learning something new and laughing while you do it. This book is a fun way to learn about space and what makes our universe so special.
By Bruce Betts PhD
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications, 2024. Informational.
Learn all about different kinds of eclipses through engaging photos and diagrams. Discover when they happen, how to watch them, and all the amazing things that could happen during an eclipse. This book is a good way to learn specifically about solar and lunar eclipses.
Written by Claire Cock-Starkey
Illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross
Beverly, MA: Wide Eyed Editions, 2023. Informational.
We have always been looking up to the sky and telling stories to help explain the wonderous things we see. Learn about the different deities from around the world associated with the Sun and Moon. This book also includes folktales and mythology about eclipses and what people from believed happened when the sun went dark. Told with gorgeous illustrations, this book explores the different beliefs we've had about the sky and beyond.
Written by Gabby Dawnay
Illustrated by Mona k.
New York: Magic Cat Publishing. 2025. Informational. 107 pages.
This book is filled with 10, 5-minute stories to read aloud and discover our solar system. Beautifully illustrated pages turn astronomical facts into enjoyable stories that help teach about space. Discover why the moon glows and how eclipses happen, what's inside of a comet, learn about our planetary neighbors, and more! This book is made to be read aloud so it's a good book to read together as a family to learn about space.
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