Space flights of fancy: children's books set in outer space

People often talk about suspension of disbelief. In space, disbelief - like everything else - becomes weightless. So setting science aside for the time being, here are two great examples of children's fantasy set in space (the image to the right is by Hsf-toshiba).

Doctor Dolittle in the Moon. In this novel from 1928, author Hugh Lofting doesn't even provide a spaceship. He lets the Doctor make do with a giant moth.

The results are truly charming. Assisted by series regular Tommy Stubbins, Doctor Dolittle flies to a moon that's as magical as Hogwarts or Middle Earth. The lunar plants include giant fruit, beautiful flowers and living trees, while ever-shifting colours light up the mountains.

Larklight. This is a more recent novel by Philip Reeve, set in a charming kind of parallel universe. Although the theme is distinctly Victorian, the Solar System has been explored and colonised by the British Empire. In the story that follows, we hear about Martian factories, spiders from Saturn, and a conversation with the Thunderhead, which is known in our own world as the Great Red Spot of Jupiter.

For more serious youngsters, a trip to space doesn't have to be the stuff of nonsense (although as Roald Dahl said, "a little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men"). Some of the best books combine fact with fantasy, and space is a natural home for both. As well as being a frontier for high adventure, it's the perfect place to introduce black holes, gravity, and the strange implications of modern physics. Here are some books which do exactly that, with my own comments on each (by the way - the image to the right is from NASA).

Black Holes and Uncle Albert. Written by British physicist Russell Stannard, this is the second book to feature Uncle Albert and his neice Gedanken. Using a magic "thought bubble", Uncle Albert can transport them anywhere, so they naturally set out to explore the universe. Curious children will be fascinated by Uncle Albert's lessons, which cover diverse topics like black holes and stardust.

George's Secret Key to the Universe. Along similar lines, Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy wrote a book of their own. In this fun novel, George befriends a scientist, whose intelligent supercomputer - aptly known as Cosmos - can teleport people to the ends of the universe. The villain of the story wants to steal Cosmos, and the ensuing chapters blend a tense tale of Earth with scenes set in space. Thanks to Stephen Hawking's influence, the story also touches on the newest theories regarding black holes.

Children who enjoy it will be delighted to hear that it has a sequel called George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt. Before writing the book, Lucy Hawking tried zero gravity and interviewed real astronauts, and her personal experience gives the book a real sense of authenticity.

If you and your child enjoy this approach to learning, you might want to check out Merlin's Tour of the Universe by astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson. In this book, Merlin - a wizard from the Andromeda Galaxy - answers all kinds of questions about space (e.g., "what would happen if the earth stopped turning...?"). I've not read this one myself, but I have read his essays for adults, and I expect Merlin's Tour to be just as excellent.