We’re going to take a little trip to the moon today. But this is the fictional/mythical moon, not the realistic/historical moon we see in our night sky. Today’s books all feature imaginative, fantastical adventures on an imagined version of the Earth’s moon. These run the gamut of moon imaginings from The Moon-King's very imaginative and unique version of what the moon is like to Space Case's meticulously researched look at what an actual moon base might be like in the near future. Happy lunar travels! Click on the links to see my full reviews including content notes.
Brobots and the Shoujo Shennanigans (Brobots, #3) by J. Torres, ill. by Sean Dove
The BroBots are excited about going to Starlight's concert on the moon, but when they get there they discover that someone has knocked out Starlight with poison. Who would do such a thing and why? Can the BroBots save the star and the concert with some help from their friends?
This is a Snow White retelling with robots, a celestial monster, and a superhero singing star (who likes to clarify that she writes all her own lyrics and music, does her own choreography, and never lip syncs at concerts). And take heart/be warned (whichever way you want to take it): It is LOADED with puns.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Fairytale Rewrite Fans, Robot Lovers, Scifi Fans, Pun Fanatics, Lower Grade Readers
Mission Moon (CatStronauts, #1) by Drew Brockington
There's an energy crisis and World's Best Scientist has the solution. Send the CatStronauts to the moon, have them set up solar panels and then use a special device to send the energy down to Earth. There's a limited supply of energy left, so the CatStronauts must train quickly and there's no margin for error on the flight or the Earth will go dark.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Cat Lovers, Scifi Fans, Humor Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The Moon-King (Castle in the Stars, #2) by Alex Alice, translated by Anne & Owen Smith
Though someone tried to sabotage the takeoff, King Ludwig's aethership has made it into the sky. He, Professor Dulac, Dulac's son Seraphin, royal maid Sophie, and local boy Hans are on their way to the aether. Dulac just wants to get there and return to Earth, but King Ludwig has bigger ideas. When further damage to the ship is revealed, the group is forced to land on the Moon. Will they survive? And if so, what will they find there?
This is book 2 in an ongoing graphic novel series based on real history and Prussian/English/French tensions in the 1800s but with an added very non-historical steampunk element of aether ships and a space race.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Steampunk Fans, Adventure/Exploration Fans, Scifi Fans, Space Travel Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Moon Platoon (Space Runners, #1) by Jeramey Kraatz
Benny is super excited he was chosen to be a scholarship winner for a two week visit to Elijah West's Lunar Taj on the Moon. He's hoping that this experience and the money he's promised after the trip will get his family a more permanent home so they can get out of the Drylands. After landing on the Moon, though, some strange things happen. Benny could leave things in Elijah's hands, but his new friends are also curious and dissatisfied with Elijah's responses. They start to do some investigating themselves and stumble upon a find that will rock their worlds and challenge them like never before.
Benny and friends adventures on the Moon and beyond continue in 3 more books.
Target Readers:
Scifi Fans, Camp Story Fans, Mystery Fans, High Action Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Mooncop by Tom Gauld
He's got the best crime fighting rate in the universe. He's also possibly the most bored cop in the universe.
What if there were a colony on the moon complete with its own police force? When the colony thing starts to go bust and the people get replaced by robots or just decide to go home, how would a moon cop fill his time?
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Subtle Humor Fans, Bittersweet Story Fans, Scifi Fans, Young Adult & Adult Readers
Rabbit Moon by Jean Kim
Based on Korean folklore about the Rabbit on the Moon who collects wishes, this story explores what the Rabbit would wish for.
Make sure you read the author's note in the front of this beautifully illustrated book before reading the story to fully get what is going on.
Target Readers:
Korean Folklore Fans, Bedtime Story Fans, Sweet Story Fans, Art Lovers, Picture Book Readers
Space Case (Moon Base Alpha, #1) by Stuart Gibbs
Dashiell Gibson is one of a handful of kids on Moon Base Alpha. Actually, he's one of a handful of people on Moon Base Alpha. There's a few families with both parents filling vital moon base rolls, as well as a couple other single specialists, and one snotty tourist family. Dash thinks they all know each other quite well. But when Dr. Holtz goes out the hatch and dies of a suit malfunction, Dash smells foul play. The Moon Base commander tells him to put his foul play theories deep under a moon rock and leave them there. But Dash can't seem to let things be. Dr. Holtz had a lot of stuff going for him, and just hours before he died, Dash overheard him in the bathroom talking about an exciting new discovery he was about to announce. Why would a scientist on the edge of a breakthrough do something stupid like go on a moonwalk alone? As Dash keeps poking his nose around base (because, let's face it, there's not much else for a kid to do on a small moon base) he discovers more and more residents of the base with possible motives for getting rid of the famous doctor. The question is, which motive was worth killing over, and who is next?
This is the first of 3 cases Dash solves while living on Moon Base Alpha.
Target Readers:
Scifi Fans, Mystery Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
A little boy finds an airplane in the closet, so naturally he takes it for a flight. He accidentally crashes into the moon, where he meets a Martian in a similar predicament. Together, they help each other get home.
Target Readers:
Unlikely Friendship Story Fans, Teamwork Story Fans, Fans of Helpful Characters, Silly Story Fans, Scifi Fans, Picture Book Readers
