31 Days, 31 Lists: 2024 Science Fiction Books for Kids

I don’t know about you folks but for me, this may be my most beloved category. Most ignored, certainly. There is a wisdom commonly held that science fiction for kids doesn’t sell. Sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you ask me. If you assume something won’t sell, and you’re a publisher, it probably won’t. Today, I celebrate what little science fiction there is. And, interestingly enough, the bulk of it this year seemed to come in the form of picture books. What are we to make of that? Not sure, but it’s kinda cool.

You can find a full PDF of this list here.

Want to read other science fiction lists that ALSO deserve love? Then check these out:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019

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2024 Science Fiction Books for Kids

Picture Books

Aiko and the Planet of Dogs by Christoffer Ellegaard, ill. Ainhoa Cayuso, translated by Irene Vázquez

Space! The final frontier! You know, years ago I was talking to someone who wanted to create a graphic novel or story in which the dogs sent into space during the Russian space program had created their own society amongst the stars (but were reported dead so as not to frighten the populace of the world). This book very much feels like it was written along the same lines. After all, how do YOU think those dogs felt when they were cast into the great beyond? If they happened to get a planet of their own, they really wouldn’t feel all that hospitable towards human folk. That’s what courageous astronaut Aiko discovers when she lands on a planet inhabited entirely by dogs. At first everything goes swimmingly, but when she tells them that she’s going to tell Earth about them and become the most famous astronaut as a result, things take a turn. She’s turned into a pet herself and while things end happily, she definitely promises not to report anything in the future. There are little jokes in the art that you notice after several readings. I appreciated in particular the “Astro Bouf” and “Pizza Puree” that Aiko eats in her spaceship. I also liked the rather subtle (but definitely there) fountain of a dog that is clearly peeing. Also, if you’d like to see a rather good dog conga line, I most certainly have the book for you. Previously seen on the Funny Picture Books List.

Artificial Intelligence by David Biedrzycki

Humor and Mr. Biedrzycki go hand in hand. Now in the past he’s done quite a nice bit of work with aliens invading (Invasion of the Unicorns) but now that everyone else is doing that, this year he’s switching gears and going for robots instead. Specifically a robot that knows that he’s different right from the get go (an accident involving a drop of paint and his microchip is told at the start). Biedrzycki is one of those Wiesner-like creators that can tell a story with words on the one hand and with pictures on the other. Our hero, the generically named Robot, is a bit of a daydreamer. There are some serious WALL-E vibes going on in this little number, particularly when Robot upsets the status quo with his insistence on creating art. You may also get some Wild Robot feels as well, since Robot’s interactions with people carry echoes of Peter Brown’s book. If you’ve a kid who is simply gaga for robots, this is probably the quintessential funny story to hand them. Art and all. Previously seen on the Funny Picture Books List. 

Barnaby Unboxed by Terry, Eric, and Devin Fan

Genetic manipulation is definitely a science fiction trope, but rarely one that finds an audience with the younger elementary school set. Yet that’s precisely what you had when the Fan brothers created the picture book The Barnabus Project back in 2020. If you’ll recall, the hero of that book was a little elephant/mouse combo, capable of inspiring a cacophony of chaos. This book stars a pink version of Barnabus called Barnaby (the pink comes from flamingo DNA, naturally). As a designer pet, Barnaby is thrilled when he’s adopted by a little girl. She teaches him tricks, takes him on walks, dresses him in cute costumes, and more. Then, one day, she learns that there’s a version of Barnaby out there with stripes. It’s one of those familiar tales where a pet or toy fears being replaced (which, I suppose, is just a metaphor for kids who fear the same thing when a new sibling comes along). Barnaby accidentally/intentionally runs away, then finds that he can’t get back. Befriended by squirrels, he makes an entirely new life for himself. Then spring comes and the little girl finds him again. Will he go back? The book has all the feelings of an epic adventure, and indeed it’s packed full of pages. Even so, there’s also a coziness to it. Kids will have fun spotting the lost pet posters that appear high above Barnaby, so that he never knows they’re there until a climactic moment. Unique but filled with familiar elements, this one’s a keeper. Previously seen on the Unconventional Books List.

Cookie Time by Jessie Sima

Jessie Sima, you sly dog, you’ve been holding out on us! Who knew she had a science fiction time travel streak in her? The creator of “Not Quite a Narwhal” fame plays around with a time travel machine straight out of Calvin & Hobbes (scientific progress truly does go boink here). Kat and Ari are all about cookie time with Grandpa. The problem? The whole waiting for the cookies to bake part. But why wait then when you can just build a time machine and go forward into the future to when the cookies are done? What could go wrong? Well, when you’ve an over-excited pup with a penchant for mischief, a lot. Part of what I love about this book is that it’s one of those time travel storylines that both expands little minds with the concept, and has its own internal rules (think, time travel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Our heroes ricochet back and forth between the past and future (the future in this version with its multi-colored windmills looks, and I mean this sincerely, like the one I want to live in). Their future shelves are also completely awesome (hairy legs 4-evah!!). This is a friggin’ ambitious picture book with a bit of a message at the end AND it nails the landing with its ending. Will you want cookies after this book? You will most definitely want cookies. But even if you don’t get any, this book is a pretty good stand-in. 

The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer

When something unexpected happens on the first day of school, nobody realizes that the new kid who arrives soon after is going to be quite as… interesting as they are. Ho ho! You know what this is, don’t you? This is a science fiction first day of school book. Now I have a working theory that each year there is always one first day of school book that stands apart from the pack. I think we’ve found the one for 2024. It kind of feel like a Wes Anderson book brought to life (even the cover has that feel), and I am down for that. Definitely on the upper end of the comprehension scale for picture book readers, there’s a lot to keep up with and notice when you read it. Plus, I like the sheer variety of Beckmeyer’s books. You just never know what that dude is gonna do next.

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker

In a flooded world, a single giant robot works hard to save all the animals it can find. Wall-E meets Noah’s Ark in this magnificent, wordless tale. If you found yourself recently wondering, “Gee, has Betsy found her favorite post-apocalyptic picture book of 2024 yet?” consider this your answer! Again with the Becker. Is the book wordless? Of course. Does it have an ecological message? You bet it does! And is there a grandiose storyline involving storms and cute tiny rhinos and a happy ending? Yes and yes again. Now am I just reading too much into this, or doesn’t this also kind of feel like it starts out like Noah’s Ark and ends like the story of Adam and Eve? Knowing Mr. Becker, I suspect that this isn’t just me. This is for those older kids that love their picture books when their picture books are full of adventure and epic storytelling. Previously seen on the Wordless Picture Books List.

The Luna Sisters and Their Amazing Lunafish by Dan Yaccarino

Dan Yaccarino is a man unafraid of science fiction. Perhaps you were lucky enough to read his lovely City Under the City, which was this mind blowingly epic picture book complete with dystopias, robots, and underground libraries. Luna Sisters, in contrast, is more of an easy book, so he’s necessarily limited by the form. At its heart, it’s a tale of sibling rivalry more than anything else. Nera and Lucy live in the same house on the moon but one lives on the Dark Side, and one lives on the Bright. Their personalities match where they live. When they receive a fish for their birthday (they’re twins, you see) it grows to an incredible size and then Nera decides to sell it. This was a bit of a twist I didn’t see coming, though inevitably Lucy is not on board with this plan. With so few words, Yaccarino is still capable of some fairly epic storytelling in a minute package. All turns out well in the end, but not before the term “cosmic piranha” comes up (as is right). A fine and fancy interstellar tale. 

One Giant Leap by Thao Lam

Thao Lam: Canadian Wordless Cut Paper Queen. So sayeth I, and let no one contest me on the matter. The thing about Lam is that with each picture book she does, she just gets more and more interesting. Here, the cut paper is so vibrant on the page that I found myself reaching out to touch it, just to see if it was actually three-dimensional (and you know that if a 46-year-old woman has that reaction, a preschooler is possibly going to do the same thing). Aliens are particularly hot in picture books this year. I’m not entirely certain why (could be all those news items from a year or so ago saying that the government acknowledged unidentified flying objects). Whatever the case, you get to see a couple in Lam’s latest, and I am here for it! It’s remarkable how much emotion Lam is able to get out of the hero of this book, considering the fact that their head is helmeted most of the time. It’s just such a fun book, told so well and with zero words at all, that I can’t resist. Previously seen on the Wordless List.

The Spaceman by Randy Cecil

Talk about traveling a lot for work! A tiny spaceman has worked for who knows how long at “collecting samples, labeling and filing them, and moving on to the next planet.”But what happens when he finds a planet that he doesn’t want to leave? Anyone else notice the significant uptick in space-related children’s books in 2024? Maybe all that talk in the news about UFOs and UAPs has filtered into our children’s literature. Whatever the reason, if that means we get more books like The Spaceman then I’m all for it! I could recognize Randy Cecil’s style, but as far as I’m concerned this is his breakout hit. The subtlety of the Spaceman’s little tiny expressions is worth the price of admission alone. I love his tiny smiles and the oh-so-casual way with which he “accidentally” tips his spaceship into the pond. This book is an absolute delight. More of this, please!

We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang

Someone has crashed in Mr. Li’s field and they are quick assure him that they are “definitely” human. A hilarious and strangely touching story of helping strangers in need. I believe it was last year that I missed X. Fang’s Dim Sum Palace for my library’s 101 Great Books for Kids list, and by gum we’re not missing her again! I love how many alien and science fiction related picture books we’re getting this year. This pairs very well with Randy Cecil’s The Spaceman, and has a not dissimilar message. Of course what I take from this book is a rather progressive call to action for communities, in this case rural, to embrace otherness and help people who need it because that’s what we do. And the fact that it pokes fun at our attitudes towards Europeans? That’s just a bonus. 

Middle Grade

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

It’s 1999 and Michael is terrified of what will happen when Y2K hits. When he meets a teen time traveler named Ridge he’s convinced he has the key to his problems in hand. A strange, fun tale of living in the now. Also, it’s definitely a toned down version of When You Reach Me. I liked it just fine. Always happy to see another science fiction book on our shelves. I was a little sad that the book missed a golden opportunity with Y2K, of course. I always thought the cool thing about Y2K is that we were really worried that something bad was going to happen but then a bunch of people all around the world worked together to solve the problem. When nothing bad happened, people just thought it was a hoax when it was really people working together well. But Kelly’s not interested in that story, which is a bummer. That aside, the book is nice. Sort of a very soft 12 Monkeys.

Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo

Indu was a kid found on the moon, and after living with his mom in space for a while it’s time to make a life on Earth. But just living in this world can be painful, and Indu has to figure out how to sort it out before the moon decides it wants him back. You know how much I love science fiction, and science fiction graphic novels are the absolute best. This one has a distinct Indonesian take that I think is particularly interesting. You know a book is good when the fact that its hero was found wandering on the moon is the least interesting thing about it. There’s a lot of talk in this book about pain and whether or not it’s worth it to live in this world, particularly if you’re queer and still trying to figure things out. The Little Prince is directly referenced at least once (and probably more than once), which sort of makes me start to rethink that book as well. Hm. Beautifully illustrated and the text really sings. This one’s a standout. Previously seen on the Graphic Novels List.

Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde

What would you do if you discovered your parents had a device placed in your brain without your knowledge? Paige is autistic, and now she’s in serious danger of having her brain’s information sold off to the highest bidder. The only thing to do? Bring the whole system DOWN! At about page 17 I looked up from this book and exclaimed to my family, “This thing is REALLY moving!” This book doesn’t just hop. It runs into its own plot at a breakneck speed. By page 17 you already know that our heroine, who is autistic, is going to have to take down an Elon Musk-esque billionaire who has had a chip (essentially) implanted into her brain. And that’s not even getting into the fact that Paige is beginning to think that she’s a nonbinary kid (this isn’t resolved by the story’s end, so I think this description can continue to refer to Paige as “she/her”), that she has a crush on her best friend, and that there’s a wide range of different types of kids on the autism spectrum that she befriends. By the point she’s rounding up other kids with chips in their heads I was reminded of one of my favorite books as a kid, The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts. It rushes the ending, and gives the story a kind of deus ex machina of a scientist that strains credulity, so that’s why I’m a bit mixed on it. But all told it’s a wild sci-fi ride all the same and the autism content is really very good.

Viewfinder by Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka

In this wordless comic, a girl from space discovers a new planet where all the people seem to have disappeared. Where did they go? And is she truly alone? I never like to read the description of a book before I read it, so going through this wordless graphic novel was a fascinating experience. I had to figure out what, precisely, the heroine was looking for and why, which isn’t immediately intuitive or obvious. And since I have a tendency to read a lot of dystopian fiction, I kept worrying that the mushrooms everywhere were dangerous (I blame Last of Us for that one). Once you relax into it, though, you’ll find it a really fun investigation. It’s a mystery in a way, and I love the use of photographs and a viewfinder to compare the past to the present. I suspect you could have a lot of fun doing a program with kids after this having them find old photographs of their own cities, then taking photos of what those places look like today. Science fiction and utterly unique. My favorite combo. Previously seen on the Wordless List.

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So with all that in mind, here are the other lists for 2024:

December 1 – Great Board Books

December 2 – Picture Book Readalouds

December 3 – Simple Picture Book Texts

December 4 – Transcendent Holiday Picture Books

December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books

December 6 – Funny Picture Books

December 7 – CaldeNotts

December 8 – Picture Book Reprints

December 9 – Bilingual Books for Kids

December 10 – Math Books for Kids

December 11 – Books with a Message / Social Emotional Learning

December 12 – Fabulous Photography

December 13 – Translated Picture Books

December 14 – Fairy Tales / Folktales / Religious Tales

December 15 – Wordless Picture Books

December 16 – Poetry Books

December 17 – Unconventional Children’s Books

December 18 – Easy Books & Early Chapter Books

December 19 – Comics & Graphic Novels

December 20 – Older Funny Books

December 21 – Science Fiction Books

December 22 – Fantasy Books

December 23 – Informational Fiction

December 24 – Gross Books

December 25 – Science & Nature Books

December 26 – Unique Biographies

December 27 – Blueberry Award Contenders (Celebrating the Environment)

December 28 – Nonfiction Picture Books

December 29 – Nonfiction Books for Older Readers

December 30 – Middle Grade Novels

December 31 – Picture Books

Filed under: 31 Days 31 Lists, Best Books, Best Books of 2024