If you want to add some wonder and fun to your next trip, Cape Canaveral is a great destination. It’s home to Kennedy Space Center. But it also sits next to Cocoa Beach, has easy access to Orlando’s theme parks and is halfway between north and south Florida. It’s a stop worth taking. Because I think it would make a great family spring break destination, I wanted to take a look at the best children’s books for a trip to Cape Canaveral.
Related: Bloggers Recommend their Favorite Florida Spring Break Destinations
I feel like every Florida post I write starts off with me having some personal connection to the place I’m writing about. That’s because I do. Cape Canaveral’s no different. I have family in the area. I spent a lot of my childhood, and adulthood visiting. I love Kennedy Space Center and some of the surrounding areas.
Things to do around Cape Canaveral for Families
One of my favorite beaches is Jetty Beach. There’s a small fee to enter, but I think it’s worth it. Head a little bit south and you can check out the Cocoa Beach Pier and the original, and very large, Ron Jon’s Surf Shop. Make sure to get a t-shirt while you’re there. Check out this post for Florida beach children’s books.
The Real Focus – Kennedy Space Center
For this particular post, I’m focusing on Cape Canaveral’s biggest attraction – Kennedy Space Center. Though I can go on and on about why books make trips better, I think it’s even more important for families visiting Kennedy Space Center. There’s a lot to take in. Going to SPACE is a concept that’s out of this world… yes, I did that.
Anyway, your kids and your wallet will benefit from a little brush up on why all of this is so cool. So here are some books set in Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center for kids and some books about space and astronauts.
Children’s books about the Kennedy Space Center
This is the Way to the Moon: A Children’s Classic
by Miroslav Sasek (Author)
The unofficial rule of this website is that if there’s a Miroslav Sasek book about a place, I will recommend it. I like this book specifically because it was written around the same time Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center were just becoming a big deal. So there’s the nostalgia of a place that, at the time, was the cutting edge of technology and gateway to the future.
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery at Missile Town
by Jerry West (Author), Helen S. Hamilton (Illustrator)
This is another classic book – part of the Happy Hollisters series. It was written and originally published in the 1960s, so that awe of the space program is there. It’s been recently republished and is also available as an ebook.
Tex the T. Rex: Tex Visits Cape Canaveral
by Cherry Tree (Author)
This is a more recent book that gets some mixed reviews, but may be just what your family is looking for.
Buddydog Goes to NASA
by Sean michael Dever (Author)
Buddydog visits both Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.
The following children’s book sections of this post are not specific to Kennedy Space Center. Instead, it’s categorized by different things kids might see and have questions about during their visit. Kennedy Space Center attractions include things like the Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Apollo Missions, and scheduled Rocket Launches. So, I selected a small group of books for each of these categories to get you started.
Children’s books about space
Here are three books about space by reputable companies. Click on the image for more details or to purchase directly on Amazon.
Children’s books about astronauts
The following books include a general book about astronauts and three books about specific astronauts. Neil Armstrong – the first man to walk on the moon, Scott Kelly – the first American man to spend a year in space, and Mae Jemison – the first black woman in space.
Children’s books about rockets and space shuttles
Rockets are a big part of the Kennedy Space Center experience. Here are a few books about rockets. Click on the image to go to the Amazon descriptions.
Children’s books about the Apollo Missions
The Apollo missions are another thing kids will learn about when they visit Kennedy Space Center. I included some books about the missions, walking on the moon, and the people who helped make these missions successful. Click on the image to go to the Amazon description.
This is just a handful of books about space exploration. Are there any books you would add to the list?
Visiting Cape Canaveral?
Here are some quick tips.
You can buy your tickets to Kennedy Space Center in advance.
See dolphins and manatees on a kayak tour.
Visit the beach at Jetty Park.
Buy a t-shirt at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, open 24 hours.
Cape Canaveral Hotels
Below you’ll find hotels in the Cape Canaveral area. I’d also recommend looking for hotels in Cocoa Beach. It’s a close drive and there are a ton of options for beachside hotels in Cocoa Beach.
Booking.com
