A Universe of Grade School Readers
This recommended reading list provides a broad list of books related to this summer’s theme of space. This list includes audio, braille, and large print titles and is recommended for those reading at a 2nd through 4th grade reading level up to a 4th through 7th grade reading level.
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through WolfPAC. Identification numbers for braille books begin with BR, large print books begin with LP, and audiobooks begin with DB or DBC. All audiobooks and available braille books listed are linked to the Braille and Audio Reading Download site (BARD) for downloading.
Grades 2 to 4
Archie Takes Flight by Wendy Mass
DB 78730
Read by Eason Rytter. Reading time: 1 hours, 10 minutes.
When eight-year-old Archie finally gets to ride along in his dad's taxi he discovers it is actually an intergalactic spaceship. As copilot, Archie must steer them into wormholes, deal with a very unusual cat, and save the universe from an evil mastermind. Space Taxi series, book 1. 2014.
Comets and Asteroids by Amanda Davis
LP000603
Briefly discusses the composition and position of comets, asteroids, and meteors. 1997.
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist series by Jim Benton
Lunch Walks among Us by Jim Benton
BR 16991; 1 volume of braille.
DB 89722
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 31 minutes.
Franny prefers all things spooky and creepy, as mad scientists do, but that doesn't help her make friends at her new school. As an experiment, Franny tries to act normal and fit in — until a monster erupts from the trashcan. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 1. 2003.
Attack of the Fifty-Foot Cupid by Jim Benton
BR 16982; 1 volume of braille.
DB 90192
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 37 minutes.
It's almost Valentine's Day. Franny's new lab assistant Igor, a dog of many breeds, accidentally brings to life a picture of Cupid and then enlarges Cupid to gigantic proportions. Now Franny has to deal with the problem. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 2. 2004.
The Invisible Fran by Jim Benton
BR 16985; 1 volume of braille.
DB 90193
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 36 minutes.
Franny drinks a potion to make herself invisible so she can persuade her clueless classmates to work on her robot. The students become so involved that they sneak into school at night to finish the job and unintentionally send the robot on a rampage. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 3. 2004.
The Fran That Time Forgot by Jim Benton
BR 16962; 1 volume of braille.
DB 90194
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 37 minutes.
When her embarrassing middle name is revealed at the school science fair, mad scientist Franny K. Stein goes back in time to change the name. Unfortunately, Franny's experiment does not go as planned. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 4. 2005.
Frantastic Voyage by Jim Benton
BR 16988; 1 volume of braille.
DB 90195
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 42 minutes.
When Franny's dog Igor accidentally swallows her Doomsday Device, she must act quickly before the contraption explodes inside him. She activates her shrinkerizer to make herself small enough to go up Igor's nostril and races against time to bring out the bomb. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 5. 2005.
The Fran with Four Brains by Jim Benton
BR 16994; 1 volume of braille.
DB 90196
Read by Michele O. Medlin. Reading time: 43 minutes.
Franny's solution to feeling overworked is to build three Franbots — mechanical copies of herself. Carried away in their pursuit of excellence, the Franbots plan to neutralize Franny and her family and maybe the world, so Franny must outsmart them. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series, book 6. 2006.
Galaxies, Galaxies! by Gail Gibbons
BR 17336; 1 volume of print/braille.
A brief history of the many galaxies in the universe and the telescopes that made their discoveries possible. Discusses stars, solar systems, light years, and galaxies of various shapes. 2007.
Galileo's Leaning Tower Experiment: A Science Adventure by Wendy Macdonald
BR053833; 1 volume of print/braille.
In Italy, 1589, Massimo drops lunch to his uncle from a bridge, so the food falls into his uncle's boat. One day, Galileo notices that the bread and wheel of cheese land in the boat at the same time. But Aristotle had said that heavy things fall at a faster rate than light ones. Will Galileo and Massimo be able to prove Aristotle's theory wrong? A Children's Braille Book Club book. Illustrated by Paolo Rui. 2009.
Getting Ready for Space by Carmen Bredeson
DB 58552
Read by John Polk. Reading time: 5 minutes.
Describes the training astronauts go through to prepare for living conditions on a space shuttle. Easy reader. 2003.
Liftoff! by Carmen Bredeson
DB 58573
Read by John Polk. Reading time: 4 minutes.
A simple overview of some of the preparations for a space shuttle launch. Easy reader. 2003.
Living on a Space Shuttle by Carmen Bredeson
DB 58446
Read by Gary Telles. Reading time: 3 minutes.
Provides a simple description of how astronauts aboard a space shuttle perform everyday activities such as eating, drinking, and sleeping. Easy reader. 2003.
Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh and Raúl Colón
BR 20035; 1 volume of print/braille.
Biography of Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921), an astronomer who helped discover the first method to correctly measure distances in space during a time when women were not allowed to use the telescope in observatories. 2013.
Midnight on the Moon by Mary Pope Osborne
BR 14195; 1 volume of press braille.
DB 53555
Read by Gillian Green. Reading time: 53 minutes.
Annie and Jack travel to the future to visit a moonbase where they figure out the fourth and final special thing needed to free Morgan le Fay from the magician's spell. 1996.
Mission to Mars by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
BR 14825; 1 volume of braille.
Discusses what people might find if they could travel to Mars; whether there might be air, water, or gravity; and what it might be like to live in a space station while exploring the planet. 2002.
The Moon by Elaine Landau
DB 67109
Read by Erin Jones. Reading time: 29 minutes.
Presents facts about the brightest object in the night sky — the Moon. Explains the phases of the lunar month, conditions on the Moon's surface, and the formation of the Moon. Answers questions about how astronauts survive in space and whether people could live on the Moon. 2008.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series by Mo O'Hara
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O'Hara
DB 79950
Read by Andy Pyle. Reading time: 2 hours, 43 minutes.
LP002366; 179 p.
Tom saves his goldfish, Frankie, from his evil scientist brother's toxic green gunk. But then he starts to notice there's something weird about Frankie — he's a zombie goldfish with hypnotic powers out for revenge. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series, book 1. 2013.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: The Seaquel by Mo O'Hara
DB 80114
Read by Andy Pyle. Reading time: 2 hours, 51 minutes.
LP002832; 201 p.
Frankie, the zombie goldfish, has appointed himself Tom's bodyguard. Together, on the annual family trip, they thwart big brother Mark's evil-scientist plans that involve a monstrous eel of Eel Bay. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series, book 2. 2013.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Series, Books 3-4 by Mo O'Hara
DB 84118
Read by Mike Stefanelli. Reading time: 5 hours, 21 minutes.
LP003034; 216 p. (Book 3)
LP003035; 211 p. (Book 4)
In Fins of Fury, Frankie the pet zombie goldfish and his owner, Tom, go on a crazy camping adventure. Later, Tom and Frankie search for the neighborhood's paranormal pets. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series, books 3-4. 2014.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Series, Books 5-6 by Mo O'Hara
DB 87540
Read by Kurt Elftmann. Reading time: 6 hours, 6 minutes.
LP003309; 220 p. (Book 5)
LP003310; 220 p. (Book 6)
In Live and Let Swim, a trip to the aquarium featuring a hungry psychic octopus endangers Tom's pet zombie goldfish, Frankie. Things get worse for Frankie and Tom during a medieval day reenactment joust in Jurassic Carp. Later, Tom's evil brother clones a prehistoric fish. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series, books 5-6. 2015.
The Sky is Full of Stars by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
DB 22902
Read by Janis Gray. Reading time: 12 minutes.
Explains how to view stars and ways to locate star pictures, the constellations, throughout the year. 1981.
Space Challenger: The Story of Guion Bluford: An Authorized Biography by James Haskins
LP001757; 128 pages.
School counselors told Guion Bluford, who dreamed of building planes that he was not "college material." He eventually earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and became an astronaut, the first black American in space. 1984.
To Space and Back by Sally Ride
DB 26528
Read by Madelyn Buzzard. Reading time: 1 hour.
Describes what it is like to travel in space aboard the space shuttle, where eating, sleeping, getting dressed, and other simple routines become complicated because of weightlessness. 1986.
The Sun: Our Nearest Star by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
BR 15360; 1 volume of press braille.
DB 57817
Read by Erin Jones. Reading time: 7 minutes.
Describes the Sun as a star closest to planet Earth. Talks about the Sun's size and explains how it provides the light and energy needed to support plant and animal life. 1961.
To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space by Dave Williams and Loredana Cunti
DB 86674
Read by Robert Sams. Reading time: 59 minutes.
An examination of how the human body behaves in microgravity, answering questions about topics such as how astronauts go to the bathroom, why they grow taller, and why burping is risky in space. 2016.
Grades 3 to 6
Far-Out Guide to the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson
DB 74659
Read by Kerry Dukin. Reading time: 8 hours, 17 minutes.
Explores ten titles in the Far-Out Guide series: The Sun, The Moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Provides facts, exploration time lines, glossaries, and resources for each entry. 2010.
First on the Moon: What it was Like When Man Landed on the Moon by Barbara Hehner
DB 50657
Read by Lou Harpenau. Reading time: 1 hour, 14 minutes.
Traces the events of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Describes the Saturn V rocket, the lunar module, and the roles of the astronauts — Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first men who walked on the Moon's surface; and Michael Collins, pilot of the command module. 1999.
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
DB 88222
Read by Deborah Desmone. Reading time: 4 hours, 56 minutes.
The lives of four kids are intertwined when a bully's prank leaves shy Virgil stranded at the bottom of a well. Valencia, Kaori, and Gen band together in an epic quest to find and rescue him.
I Want to Know about a Flight to the Moon by Al Worden
DB 09167
Read by John Stratton. Reading time: 56 minutes.
A member of the Apollo 15 crew describes how he became an astronaut, the training he received, and his flight to the moon. 1974.
Is There Life on Other Planets? And Other Questions about Space by Gregory Vogt
DB 71457
Read by Dan Bloom. Reading time: 50 minutes.
Scientific responses to seventeen beliefs about space. Discusses whether astronauts wear diapers in space, or humans really landed on the Moon, or the North Star moves from its place in the sky, and other topics. 2010.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
BR 01431, 1 volume of braille.
BR 10846, 1 volume of braille.
DB 44071
Read by James DeLotel. Reading time: 1 hour, 56 minutes.
LP000147, 180 p.
The narrator's plane was forced down in the African desert where he meets the little prince from Asteroid B-612, who freely shares his experiences with the fascinated pilot. 1995.
Mars by Larry Dane Brimner
BR 12153; 1 volume of braille.
Presents ancient beliefs and basic facts about the Red Planet. Discusses the information sent by space probes passing Mars and from the 1997 landing of Pathfinder on the planet's surface. Concludes with plans for further exploration. 1998.
Mercury by Larry Dane Brimner
BR 12140; 1 volume of braille.
Provides basic facts about the planet closest to the sun. Discusses the Mariner 10 space probe, which sent back much more information than was previously known about Mercury. 1998.
My Brother, the Robot by Bonny Becker
LP000954
When his father buys a SIMON Robot, advertised as "the perfect son," Chip decides that he can't compete with his new brother, but in the end, the whole family learns that perfection may not be so great after all.
The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookie Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes by Robin Davis
BR 12243; 1 volume of press braille.
Twenty-nine recipes arranged as breakfasts, beverages, snacks, main courses, and desserts — each with a list of necessary ingredients and step-by-step instructions. Try the C-3PO pancakes, drink a Yoda soda, snack on a Jabba jiggle, and dine on Obi-Wan kebabs, followed by R2-D2 treats. Includes health and safety tips.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures by Emma Carlson Berne
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures-Volume I by Emma Carlson Berne
LP003429, 119 p.
Based on the all-new animated micro-series spotlighting some of Star Wars? greatest heroes! Three exciting adventures featuring the heroic Rey, Sabine Wren of Star Wars Rebels, and Senator Padmé Amidala! Includes introductions by Maz Kanata and art from the series. Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures series, volume 1. 2017.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures-Volume II by Emma Carlson Berne
LP003430, 119 p.
Based on the all-new animated micro-series spotlighting some of Star Wars? greatest heroes! Three exciting adventures featuring rebel leader Princess Leia, Rogue One's Jyn Erso, and Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano! Includes introductions by Maz Kanata and art from the series. Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures series, volume 2. 2017.
STEM Trailblazer Bios. Books 1-8 by Valerie Bodden
DB 86260
Read by Bob Moore. Reading time: 3 hours, 35 minutes.
Books one through eight, written between 2015 and 2017, featuring notable people with careers in science and technology. Includes Astronaut Mae Jemison, Computer Scientist Jean Bartik, Genetics Expert Joanna L. Kelley, Mars Science Lab Engineer Diana Trujillo, Nintendo Video Game Designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and more. STEM Trailblazer Bios, books 1-8.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
BR 18712; 3 volumes of braille. Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3.
DB 70391
Read by Gabriella Cavallero. Reading time: 4 hours, 41 minutes.
Minli, an adventurous girl, lives in a poor Chinese village near Fruitless Mountain. Inspired by her father's stories, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon to restore the mountain's bounty. Along the way, Minli encounters magical creatures, including a helpful dragon. Newbery Honor Book.
Grades 4 to 7
DC Super Hero Girls Series by Lisa Yee
Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 21630; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 85609
Read by Ashley Eckstein. Reading time: 5 hours, 50 minutes.
Homeschooled on Paradise Island, Wonder Woman applies to Super Hero High School in order to finish her world-saving training. Once enrolled, she juggles friendships, intensive training, a roommate obsessed with social media, and a new experience for Wonder Woman — meeting boys. DC Super Hero Girls series, book 1. 2016.
Supergirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 21635; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 85322
Read by Anais Fairweather. Reading time: 5 hours, 22 minutes.
After losing her home planet, Krypton, a powerful Supergirl struggles to find her place in Super Hero High. Not wanting to be alone in the world, she focuses on making friends, and in the process learns how to battle the dangers in the universe. DC Super Hero Girls series, book 2. 2016.
Batgirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 21856; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 87282
Read by Mae Whitman. Reading time: 4 hours, 29 minutes.
Recruited to Super Hero High by Supergirl, tech genius Barbara Gordon trains for her new role as Batgirl alongside some of the most powerful teenagers in the galaxy. DC Super Hero Girls series, book 3. 2017.
Katana at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 21981; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 88445
Read by Stephanie Sheh. Reading time: 4 hours, 45 minutes.
In addition to training to be a super hero, Katana also follows the noble warrior traditions of the Samurai. Now, an unknown source has given her the responsibility of guarding one hundred ancient Samurai swords, and her super friends plan to help! DC Super Hero Girls series, book 4. 2017.
Harley Quinn at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 22231; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 90116
Read by Tara Sands. Reading time: 4 hours, 49 minutes.
Fun-loving Harley Quinn is unable to resist getting involved in a battle of the bands that is to be held during a rare cosmic carnival. She dons her big mallet and uses her indefatigable sense of humor to tackle a tricky mystery that overshadows the festivities. DC Super Hero Girls series, book 5. 2018.
Bumblebee at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee
BR 22350; 2 volumes of braille in UEB. Volume 1. Volume 2.
DB 91673
Read by Teala Dunn. Reading time: 3 hours, 46 minutes.
When the world's honey supply starts to drop and some of her old tech disappears, super student Bumblebee enlists her friends Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Poison Ivy, and Beast Boy to help her find out why. DC Super Hero Girls series, book 6. 2018.
The Time Bike by Jane Langton
BR051986; 1 volume of braille.
DB 51255
Read by Mimi Bederman. Reading time: 3 hours, 15 minutes.
LP001124; 181 p.
After his beloved brand-new bike is stolen, Eddy receives an old-fashioned bicycle from an uncle in India. Eddy's disappointment vanishes when he realizes the vintage two-wheeler is capable of transporting him back in time. 2000.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
LP000212
The adventures of Mole, Water Rat, Badger, bumptious Mr. Toad, and other animals who live along the river and in the woods. 1997.
The Adventures of Sojourner: The Mission to Mars that Thrilled the World by Susi Trautmann Wunsch
DB 48161
Read by Terence Aselford. Reading time: 11 hours, 26 minutes.
Describes the development of the microrover called Sojourner that would become the first mobile, remote control explorer of another planet. Tells the story of the Mars Pathfinder mission that landed on July 4, 1997, and the successful transmissions back to Earth. 1998.
Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon by Suzanne Slade
DB 92490
Read by Jeff Allin. Reading time: 1 hour, 31 minutes.
Told in free verse. Recounts the story of the American effort to land the first man on the moon in 1969, and the eleven Apollo missions it took to get them there. 2018.
Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger
DB 74739
Read by Gregory Maupin. Reading time: 2 hours, 14 minutes.
Harvey, upset when his Darth Paper finger puppet brings humiliation, gets Dwight suspended. Dwight's puppet — Origami Yoda — asks seventh graders Tommy and Kellen to make a new case file to persuade the school board to reinstate Dwight. But Harvey and Darth Paper have a secret plan.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
DB 77918
Read by Patrick Downer. Reading time: 5 hours, 56 minutes.
Twelve-year-old Kyle and his friends enter a contest to win a Friday-night lock-in at the new public library created by an eccentric game maker. Little do they know that the winners will have to work together to solve puzzles in order to escape. Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, book 1. Mark Twain Award nominee, 2015-2016.
Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond by Martin Jenkins
DB 88462
Read by Downer, Patrick. Reading time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.
Presents a brief history of humankind's space exploration, covering such topics as the first human missions, life on the International Space Station, and our hopes to colonize Mars.
Eye of the Storm: NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Code by Amy E. Cherrix
DB 88337
Read by Mare Travaythan. Reading time: 2 hours, 14 minutes.
Describes the ways in which technology is being used to study hurricanes to predict both the timing and strength of these storms. Focuses on NASA's Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission, which uses drone technology. 2017.
Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
DB 84203
Read by Jill Fox. Reading time: 4 hours, 26 minutes.
Novel in verse. In 1969, seventh-grader Mimi and her family move to an all-white town in Vermont, where Mimi's mixed-race background and interest in "boyish" topics like astronomy and carpentry make her feel like an outsider.
George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy Hawking
DB 66970
Read by Kristin Allison. Reading time: 5 hours, 10 minutes.
George enters the modern world of technology when he meets his new neighbor Annie and her scientist father Eric, whose supercomputer Cosmos can whisk these explorers anywhere in the universe. When a rival scientist sends Eric to a black hole, George must save him.
Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space by Margot Lee Shetterly
DB 86824
LP003375; 281 p.
Read by Jill Ferris. Reading time: 5 hours, 4 minutes.
Profiles four African American women who worked as human computers for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, now known as NASA. Details their lives and groundbreaking contributions to the space program. Basis for the 2016 movie.
John Glenn's Return to Space by Gregory Vogt
DB 52682
Read by L. J. Ganser. Reading time: 1 hour, 26 minutes.
A brief summary of the American space program. Covers astronaut training, equipment, and responsibilities. Focuses on John Glenn's second flight into space in 1998 at age seventy-seven, comparing it with his first flight in 1962. 2000.
The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins by Bea Uusma Schyffert
DB 59121
Read by Dan Bloom. Reading time: 1 hour, 6 minutes.
1969. Chronicles what Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins did, saw, and thought during America's first lunar-landing mission. Relates how teammates Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module and took mankind's first steps on the moon, while Collins piloted Columbia solo fourteen times around the moon. 2003.
Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood
DB 87822
Read by Abigail Maupin. Reading time: 8 hours, 29 minutes.
When her teacher goes missing along with the city's protective magic, troublemaker and talented magical maiden Chantel enlists the help of her friends to protect the Kingdom of Lightning Pass.
Mission to Pluto: The First Visit to an Ice Dwarf and the Kuiper Belt by Mary Kay Carson
DB 87074
Read by Faith Potts. Reading time: 2 hours, 52 minutes.
Overview of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft project and an introduction to the team of scientists as they finally explore Pluto, the space entity originally considered a planet. Highlights the July 2015 Pluto system flyby and the targeted 2019 spacecraft visit to Kuiper belt object 2014 MU69. 2016.
Nick and Tesla's Mysteries, Books 1-4 by Bob Pflugfelder
DB 80750
Read by Joe Peck. Reading time: 16 hours, 41 minutes.
Books one through four, written between 2013 and 2014, feature eleven-year-old siblings who use science and gadgets to solve mysteries. Includes Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab, Nick and Tesla's Robot Army Rampage, Nick and Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle, and Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove. Nick and Tesla's Mysteries, books 1-4.
Ormingat Trilogy by Sylvia Waugh
Space Race by Sylvia Waugh
DB 59831
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 6 hours, 16 minutes.
LP000819; 291 p.
When he learns he and his father must soon leave Earth, 11-year-old Thomas Derwent is upset, but a terrible accident that separates the two of them makes Thomas's situation much worse. Ormingat Trilogy, book 1. 2000.
Earthborn by Sylvia Waugh
DB 59957
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 6 hours, 27 minutes.
LP001341; 331 p.
Upon suddenly learning that her parents are researchers from another planet and they must leave in seven days or risk discover, twelve-year-old Nesta decides to stay in their York, England, home, whether or not her parents go. Ormingat Trilogy, book 2. 2002.
Who goes Home? by Sylvia Waugh
DB 60219
Read by Erik Sandvold. Reading time: 6 hours, 27 minutes.
Secret Ormingat agent Steven assists fellow aliens Nesta and her parents as well as Thomas and Patrick. Steven has also informed his thirteen-year-old half-earthling son, Jacob, about this mission. Jacob's curiosity eventually has unexpected results. Ormingat Trilogy, book 3. 2003.
The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy Star Wars: A New Hope by Alexandra Bracken
DB 83213
Read by Marc Thompson and Rebecca Soler. Reading time: 5 hours, 8 minutes.
Retelling of Star Wars: A New Hope. The Rebel Alliance has won a few battles against the Empire, but hope is fading. In order to quash resistance, the Empire prepares to unveil the Death Star. Meanwhile three unlikely heroes emerge.
Project Alpha by D. J. MacHale
DB 84169
Read by Robbie Daymond. Reading time: 5 hours, 37 minutes.
As Earth's energy crisis gets to a critical state, eight twelve-year-old boys and girls compete for one of the four spots on a dangerous space voyage that will search for a new power source. Voyagers series, book 1.
Space Shuttle by Nigel Hawkes
DB 23473
Read by Mary Pederson. Reading time: 39 minutes.
Discusses the development of a reusable space vehicle and describes plans for the shuttle program. How the shuttle works and how its crew eats, sleeps, and operates in space are explained. 1982.
Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time: What the Hubble Telescope Saw by Elaine Scott
BR 19348; 1 volume of braille.
DB 73167
Read by Patrick Downer. Reading time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.
Recounts discoveries about the universe — seeing a star being born, tracking a galaxy light-years away, verifying the existence of dark energy — made since 1990 by scientists using the Hubble telescope. Discusses the 2009 mission to update Hubble so it could continue probing the mysteries of the cosmos.
Space Station Science: Life in Free Fall by Marianne J. Dyson
DB 49985
Read by Mark Ashby. Reading time: 3 hours, 11 minutes.
Describes what life is like on space stations and how crews are trained to survive in weightlessness. Explains how air, water, and power will be supplied to the station and discusses how the human body will react and what tasks will be performed. Includes experiments and activities related to these topics. 1999.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
BR 19478; 1 volume of braille.
DB 74732
Read by Mark Delgado. Reading time: 2 hours, 11 minutes.
Sixth grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of the Star Wars character Yoda — created, worn, and voiced by their weird classmate Dwight — as they try to figure out whether it can really predict the future.
They Dance in the Sky Native American Star Myths by Jean Guard Monroe
DB 29175
Read by Robert Donley. Reading time: 3 hours, 53 minutes.
Humans have always been fascinated by the stars and spun entertaining tales about them. These legends from various American Indian tribes include "The Celestial Bear: Stories of the Big Dipper," "Coyote Scatters the Stars: Myths from the Southwest," and "Star Beings: Tales from the Southeast."
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
DB 90214
Read by David Tennant. Reading time: 5 hours, 59 minutes.
LP003363; 404 p.
Xar, a human boy from the Wizard tribe who has no magic, and Wish, an outcast from the Warrior tribe, team up for an adventure that brings them to witches long believed to be extinct. Unrated.
Women in Space: Reaching the Last Frontier by Carole S. Briggs
BR 12629; 1 volume of braille.
DB 30205
Read by Rita Hottois. Reading time: 2 hours, 12 minutes.
Profiles of women astronauts, including Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to go into space; Sally K. Ride, the first American woman in space; and Judith Resnik, who died in the 1986 Challenger disaster. 1988.