Book picks similar to
Up, Up and Away by Tom McLaughlin


picture-books
children-s-books
storytime
sci-fi

Rocket Says Look Up!


Nathan Bryon - 2019
    Rocket's enthusiasm brings neighbors and family together to witness a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Perfect for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist and young science lovers excited about the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Look Up! will inspire readers of all ages to dream big as it models Rocket's passion for science and infectious curiosity.Author Nathan Bryon, an actor and screenwriter, and Dapo Adeola, a community-minded freelance illustrator, bring their fresh talents, passion, and enthusiasm to the picture book medium.

Nightlights


Lorena Alvarez Gomez - 2017
    She catches them and creates wonderful creatures to play with until she falls asleep, and in the morning brings them back to life in the whimsical drawings. When a mysterious new girl appears at school, Sandy's drawings are noticed for the first time... but Morfie's fascination with Sandy's talent soon turns into something far more sinister.

Clementine


Sebastian Loth - 2011
    Oh, how she longed to glide gently over the moon’s surface, around and around and around. And so she made a daring decision—she’d find a way to fly to the moon! This is a story about dreams and determination.

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest


Steve Jenkins - 1995
     What is the biggest land animal? What animal runs the fastest? Can elephants really eat more than 300 pounds of grass each day? Dive into this fascinating book that introduces fourteen members of the animal kingdom who hold “world records” for their astonishing traits. Young readers will find easy to understand comparisons, helpful charts, and a guide to where these amazing animals can be found in the wild. Made with his award-winning cut-page collage illustrations, Steve Jenkins brings the fascinating facts about our natural world alive in this educational and entertaining book.

The Odd Egg


Emily Gravett - 2008
    When Duck finds an egg of his own he's delighted; it's the most beautiful egg in the world! But all the other birds think it's a very odd egg indeed and everyone's in for a big surprise when the egg hatches!

Dinosaur Bones


Bob Barner - 2001
    Filled with fun dinosaur facts (a T. Rex skull can weigh up to 750 pounds!) and an informational "Dinometer," Dinosaur Bones is sure to make young dinosaur enthusiasts roar with delight.

Carl and the Meaning of Life


Deborah Freedman - 2019
    He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short: "Why?" Carl's quest takes him on an adventure to meet all the animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do, unlike the curious Carl. But it's not until the world around him has changed that Carl begins to realize everyone, no matter how small, makes a big difference just by being themselves.

Have You Seen My Monster?


Steve Light - 2015
    A little girl gallivants through a county fair, searching for her furry friend. Readers will surely spot the friendly monster as well as twenty shapes, identified here by their proper names—trapezoids, ellipses, kites, and more—hidden among iconic fair attractions from the fun house to the Ferris wheel. Maybe the monster is judging the pies? Or perhaps he’s at the monster-truck rally? Youngsters will be so mesmerized by Steve Light’s masterful pen-and-ink illustrations, decorated with vivid splashes of color, they won’t even realize they’ve learned how to spot a nonagon while looking for a monster.

You're Safe With Me


Chitra Soundar - 2018
    But tonight, when the skies turn dark and the night grows stormy, the little ones can't sleep. SWISH-SWISH! CRACK-TRACK! FLASH-SNAP! goes the storm. Only Mama Elephant with her words of wisdom can reassure them, "You're safe with me."

Have You Ever Seen a Flower?


Shawn Harris - 2021
    One child experiences a flower with all five senses—from its color to its fragrance to the entire universe it evokes—revealing how a single flower can expand one's perspective in many ways.

The Baby Tree


Sophie Blackall - 2014
    Cleverly revealing the basics of reproduction in an age-appropriate way, award-winning Sophie Blackall has created a beautiful picture book full of playful details to amuse and engage readers. Sooner or later, every child will ask, Where do babies come from? Answering this question has never been this easy or entertaining! Join a curious little boy who asks everyone from his babysitter to the mailman, getting all sorts of funny answers along the way, before his parents gently set him straight.

Stellaluna


Janell Cannon - 1993
    This award-winning book by Janell Cannon has sold over 500,000 copies and was on the bestseller list for more than two years.

Space Boy


Leo Landry - 2007
    Time to take a trip. He packs a snack, puts on his suit, and takes off . . . to the utterly quiet craters and vast deserts of the distant moon. In this utterly charming picture book, the allure of space travel and the longing for peace and quiet entice a young boy to take his space rocket to the moon for a picnic.

Little Beauty


Anthony Browne - 2008
    He appears to have everything he needs, but one day he signs that he is sad and needs a friend. His keepers bring him a tiny cat called Beauty and the two of them become inseparable.

The Falling Raindrop


Neil Johnson - 2010
    But when flying begins to feel like falling, the raindrop can’t enjoy himself for fear that a big change is coming.  After hitting a campfire on the ground, the raindrop begins his journey back to the clouds as a wisp of steam. Readers will cheer for the little raindrop, experiencing his joys as well as his worries. This simple story uses spare text and art to explain the science of the water cycle, while happily showing that good things can result from change.