DREAMS OF SPACE: A list of
non-fiction children's books about spaceflight 1945-1975
Version 1.0 August 2007
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A. Bibliographic scope
statement
This bibliography is primarily a list of hardcover non-fiction children’s books published between 1945 and 1975 that had significant “space art” illustrations (see the discussion of space art in the essay) and/or focused on manned space flight. Such lists are always incomplete but no other unified bibliography of these books currently exists to my knowledge.
However in addition to hardcover books the list includes selected soft cover books as well as other ephemera such as workbooks, play activity books and comic books. These were included based on their containing a significant focus on non-fictional descriptions of space flight. By the nature of the material (children's books) the fiction/non-fiction line is not always clear so there are also a selected number of fictional books included based on their significant focus on non-fictional descriptions of space flight.
My definition of “children’s books” is flexible and includes
selected high school/young adult material about space flight. Selected
children’s astronomy books possessing significant discussions of space flight
or images of the surface of the Moon and/or the planets were also included. I
have limited this list to English language materials focusing on those
published in the
Each entry includes copyright date, title, author, illustrator (if known), publisher, place of publication, size and number of pages (whether actually numbered or not). Most entries also include a brief annotation indicating age level of book, type of illustrations, a brief description of its contents and/or significance, and a notation about other editions or when a book was reprinted.
The list is arranged chronologically and alphabetical by author within each year. This chronological organization causes some titles to appear several times as they appeared in new editions with all entries pointing back to the 1st edition. I choose to define edition as a change in content or illustrations. This may lead to my labeling of "revised editions" as new editions. I indicate in the annotation of the first appearance of each title the dates of future editions. Other editions have annotations only if they have changes worth noting. Most annotations beyond edition notes are based on an actual book I have examined.
A note on format: Many of these books were also issued in library editions with illustrated cloth covers and may be actually more common than the true 1st editions with dust jackets as issued by the publisher. Because of this it is difficult to know the exact format of the first edition in a number of cases unless both formats have been observed. My assumption is that the majority of these hardbacks were issued with dust jackets.
B. Terms used in
annotations:
Format
Illustrated Boards=hard glossy cardboard cover
Cloth= cloth-covered cardboard cover
Illustrated Cloth= illustrations printed on cloth covered cardboard
DJ=dust jacket
Softcover=Soft cardboard or paper cover
Age level
Primary= ages 0-10
Secondary= ages 11-18
Adult= ages 18 and above
Illustrations
B&W= black and white
B&W (with ??? tinted) =black and white illustrations with an additional color added to highlight drawings
2 color or 3 color = 2 or 3 primary colors used for illustrations but not full color
Color = 4 or more colors including tints and pastels
Paintings = oil, tempra or watercolor
Drawings = pen, pencil, or charcoal
Type
of non-fiction book
Information books
IA-Anthology of short non-fiction and fiction essays
IC- Concept (abstract idea shown through concrete examples)
ID-Identification (very basic story to expand understanding)
IE-Experiment and activity
IH-Craft and how-to
IP-Photographic or artistic essay
IR-Recent history (Description of recent past "historical" events)
IS-Informational storybook (fiction used to present facts)
IT-Content area text (cursory examination of many topics)
Biographies
BF-Full
BP-Partial
BC-Collective
BA-Autobiography
C. Model citation
Author1
Illustrator2
Title3
Place of publication4
Publisher5
Pages6
Size7
Format8
Bendick,
Jeanne1. Illustrated by Bendick, Jeanne2. First Book of Space Travel3. New York4 : Franklin Watts Inc5. (69 p.6) 23 cm7. Cloth, DJ8.
ID9. Primary10. B&W (red-tinted)
drawings11. This is one of my favorite spaceflight books for
its charm and the illustrations of space suits, space crafts, space stations,
and the surface of the Moon, all done in a childlike style. Went through as
many as 16 reprintings, including an undated softcover reprint12. "First Book" series13. Also reprinted later as part of "The First Book
Library for Boys and Girls" (9 volume set of "First Book"
series)14. Also 1960, 1963 editions under the same title and 1969
edition as "Space Travel"15.
Type of book9
Age level10
Type of illustrations11
Description12
Series information13
Reprint information14
Other edition information15
D.
Bibliography
Meyer,
Jerome S. Illustrated by Floethe, Richard. Picture Book of Astronomy.
IT. Primary. B&W and 2 color paintings. Mostly
about astronomy. The text discusses gravity, the Earth's rotation, and
conditions on the Moon and the planets. Wonderful illustrations include
those of a rocket launch, children floating inside the spacecraft looking at
the Earth, children exploring the Moon, and children visiting Mars (with
vegetation). One of the earliest non-fiction children's books I have
found showing a rocket flight to the Moon. Also reprinted in the late 1950s
(undated).
Pease,
Josephine Van Dolzen. Illustrated by Friend, Esther. It Seems Like Magic.
IT. Primary. Color and B&W paintings. 34 very basic 2 page illustrated essays about science and technology. Of interest is "Maybe a Trip to the Moon" on pp. 36-37. Illustration of a stylized rocket flying toward the moon.
Editors
of My Weekly Reader, Freund, Rudolf, and Knight, Clayton. Weekly Reader Parade:
Stories, Adventures, Things to do, Aviation, Foreign lands, Wonders of nature,
Marvels of science, and
IA. Primary.
Color and B&W paintings. A collection of non-fiction and fictional stories
from "My Weekly Reader" magazine. Illustrations and stories of
interest are: "Rocket to the Moon" (p. 8), "Weatherman on the
Moon" (p. 22), "How does a rocket work" (p. 25), and
"Rocket port" (p. 64).
Yates,
Raymond F. Illustrated by Yates, Raymond F.
The Boy's Book of Rockets.
IT. Secondary. B&W drawings and photographs. A primer
on rocket theory as well as a history of rocket research up to the time.
Written from the point of view that we will go into space soon and here are the
problems that must be solved. Chapter 3 is entitled, "And So to the
Moon" laying out exactly what can be expected. It has no "space
art". See 1950
Ross
Jr., Frank. Young People's Book of Jet Propulsion. New York: R.M. McBride. (126
p.) 21 cm. Cloth, DJ.
IT. Secondary. B&W drawings and photographs. Also 1950 revised and enlarged edition. 1954, 1959 editions with added subtitle "containing foreign jets".
Way, R.
Barnard and Green, Noel D. Illustrated by Way, R. Barnard. Rockets and Jets.
IT.
Secondary/adult. Illustrated with drawings and diagrams. "The
Modern How It Works" series.
Fenton,
Carroll L and Fenton, Mildred A. Illustrated by Fenton, Carroll L and Fenton,
Mildred A. Worlds in the Sky. New York: John Day Co. (96 p.) 23 cm. Cloth, DJ.
ID. Primary. Blue
and white drawings. Mostly an astronomy book, the text is concerned with phases
of the Moon, conditions on the Moon and planets, comets, other stars, and
galaxies. Text mentions an "imaginary rocket ship" used to tour the
solar system but has no illustrations of or discussion of manned space flight.
Illustrations of the Earth, Moon, Sun and the Planets as viewed from space.
Also 1963 edition.
Ross
Jr., Frank. Young People's Book of Jet Propulsion (1st edition,
revised). New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co Inc. (163 p.) 21 cm. Cloth, DJ.
IT.
Revised and enlarged. See 1948 1st edition.
Smith,
Jeanette. Sun, Moon and Stars. New York: Charles E Merrill Co. (32 p.) 21 cm.
Softcover.
IT. Primary.
B&W drawings and photographs. Cover astronomy in a superficial way.
Notable for one detailed drawing of a manned rocket on the Moon. "Little
Wonder Book" series" (#211).
Yates,
Raymond F. Illustrated by Yates, Raymond F.
The Boy's Book of Rockets.
IT.
Coggins,
Jack and Pratt, Fletcher. Illustrated by Coggins, Jack. Rockets, Jets, Guided
Missiles, and Space Ships. New York: Random House. (64 p.) 29 cm. Illustrated Boards.
IT. Primary. Color paintings. This is arguably the first
children's book solely about manned space flight. Illustrated wonderfully by
Jack Coggins, this book lays out the history and principles of rockets,
focusing on their use in World War II. It then discusses the American
experiments since the war, how rockets are a reality, and describes how a trip
to the Moon might take place. Wonderful paintings of rockets, astronauts, space
stations and a lunar lander, all in an industrial "forged metal"
style. With an introduction by Willy Ley, this book was followed in 1952 by
Coggins. "By Space Ship to the Moon". Also 1958 edition.
Goodwin, Hal.
Illustrated by Wenck, Paul. The Real Book about
Stars. New York: Garden City Books. (189 p.) 21 cm. Cloth, DJ.
IT. Primary.
B&W drawings. Contrary to the title this book has a substantial amount
about the Moon, the planets and the sun (pp. 34-116). No discussion of space
flight and illustrations only of the Moon and planets from space. "Real
Books" series(#?). Also 1962
Lewellen,
John. Illustrated by Fitch, Winnie and Phelan, Joe. You and Space Travel.
Chicago: Children's Press. Inc. (60 p.) 24 cm. Cloth, DJ.
ID. Primary.
B&W (blue tinted) drawings. Reprinted numerous times this is one of the
first children's books about the possibility of space travel. It has
illustrations primarily of rockets and how they work. There are several
spacesuit illustrations as well as a landing on the Moon. See 1958 reprint.
Neurath,
Marie. Rockets and Jets.
ID.
Primary. 3 color drawings. The text concentrates on jet airplanes with the last
6 pages focusing on rockets in space and a trip to the Moon. Illustrations of
rockets. Also 1953 (2nd),1956 (3rd), 1958?(4th)
1960 (5th), 1963(6th) editions. See 1952 US reprint.
Ross,
Frank Jr. Guided Missiles: Rockets and Torpedoes, covering the principles and
techniques of the missiles of today and tomorrow. New York: Lothrop, Lee and
Shepard. (186 p.) 21 cm. Cloth, DJ.
IT.
Primary/secondary. B&W photographs and drawings. Discusses the history of
rockets,