THE SPACE SCIENCE HANDBOOK: 32 CELESTIAL SCIENCE PROJECTS FOR KIDS, by Cara Florance, Sourcebooks Explore, Sept. 2, 2025, Paperback, $16.99 (ages 7-12)
The Space Science Handbook, by Cara Florance, is an activity-driven exploration of space science, future tech and critical thinking.
The Space Science Handbook takes children on a tour of the cosmos through scientific experiments, creative projects, and demonstrations. In addition to exploring aspects of the solar system, extraterrestrial life, and space technology, this book teaches vital scientific concepts and helps children consider sociological and philosophical implications of a future in the stars. Each experiment includes a mission brief, simple instructions and diagrams, and an explanation of the science at work!
Experiments include:
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- Atmospheric Pressure: Crush a can using the Earth’s atmosphere
- Turbulent Flow: Study turbulent flow using milk, food coloring, and dish soap
- Space Sludge: Make magnetic slime
- Emergency Battery: Create a battery from potatoes
- Wearable Electronics: Create a signaling patch
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—Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Explore
Divided into five sections, The Space Science Handbook focuses on astronomy, other worlds, extraterrestrial life, life in space and space technology. Each section features six or seven “missions.” The missions focus on a topic and include a list of supplies, a brief, a procedure and a debrief. Most of them can be accomplished by older middle-readers on their own, but supervision may be warranted for younger kids.
The Space Science Handbook is the type of book that any science-loving kid will be drawn to. The experiments are straight-forward and exciting. And the handbook ties everything back to real concepts.
The Space Science Handbook would be particularly fun for homeschoolers, but I can see and future astronaut eating it up. It’s lots of fun.
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