Best Books about Rockets and an Easy Craft
📝This post, Make a Rocket, was originally published in 2012 and has been updated with new information and resources.
Is there anything that gets kids more excited than rockets? The moment you mention countdowns and space travel, little hands shoot up, imaginations take off, and suddenly everyone wants to build their own rocket ship! We’ve been rocket fans in our house for years, and after one too many flimsy rockets that didn’t survive launch, we finally found the perfect solution. Keep reading for our favorite rocket craft, the best books about rockets, and plenty of ideas to keep your little astronauts exploring!
I found this great video, “How Rockets Work,” that explains just that — how rockets work! The video is a really simple explanation not only of how they work, but also of the jobs they do!
Build Your Own Rocket
Materials Needed
✔️mailing tube (available at the post office or office supply store)
✔️metallic paint
✔️hot glue gun
✔️cardboard
✔️fabric (colored paper would work too)
✔️plastic tubing or wire
✔️scissors
✔️metallic craft paper — you can find this at your local craft store
Creating the Rocket
🚀Grab your mailing tube and cut it in half. I used a bread knife!
🚀Paint the tubes silver and set them aside to dry.
🚀Meanwhile, cut “fins” from a cardboard box, paint them to match the tube, and set them aside to dry.
🚀Once the parts are dry, use a hot glue gun to attach the fins as shown in the picture.
🚀Cut the metallic craft paper- you can find this in a craft store in the scrapbooking section, cut it into a circle, then cut away ¼ of the circle. Bend the circle to create a cone shape and glue it closed. Then glue it to the top of the tube to create the nose. See the picture.
🔥Cut two rectangles of fabric- one orange and one red.
🔥 Glue the two pieces of fabric at the top, then trim about an inch from the red fabric so the orange fabric is visible below it.
🔥 Cut fat fringes from both pieces of fabric, starting at the bottom and extending about 3/4 of the way to the top.
🔥 Cut a piece of plastic tubing so it fits inside the tube.
🔥 Glue the tube to the top of the fabric, roll the fabric down over the tube, and glue the tubing closed to create a circle.
🔥 Insert the plume inside the bottom of the rocket and secure it with hot glue.
🔥 Voila! Your rocket is finished and ready for takeoff. Add a name or flag to the rocket to make it look more official.
📝 Note: Before the rocket “takes off,” stuff the plume inside the rocket. Then, when it blasts off, pull the fabric out and go!
More Rocket Fun
💡 Practice counting backward from 10 (or even higher)!
💡 Pretend YOU are a rocket and blast off!
💡 Watch a video from a real rocket launch.
💡 Read a book about rockets.
💡 Learn about the parts of rockets.
💡 Write a rocket story.
Further Exploration of Rockets
If your students or kids are fascinated by rockets, grab a few rocket books and get reading! So much can be learned from a good book! These are the rocket books we found ourselves reading again and again.
Best Books about Rockets
Edward Built a Rocket Ship by Michael Rack
3…2…1… KAA-BOOM! Edward blasts into space on a magical tour of the Milky Way with meteor showers, asteroids, and aliens.
Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton
Follow Rabbit, Bird, and Mouse as they zoom to the Moon on a rocket!
On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book about Rockets by Michael Dahl
3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . blastoff! A space shuttle awaits liftoff as readers practice counting!
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
One star-loving boy is determined to catch a star of his very own — even building his own rocket ship to try! A sweet story about big dreams, persistence, and unexpected discoveries!
If You Decide to Go to the Moon, Faith McNulty
This book puts YOU in the rocket ship! From packing for the trip to landing on the moon, it’s an immersive space adventure that makes readers feel like real astronauts!
Zoom Zoom Zoom! I’m Off to the Moon! by Dan Yaccarino
This book tells the story of a boy astronaut and his fabulous rocketship as they blast into space for an out-of-this-world adventure.
Rocket to the Moon by Lerryn Korda
Little Nye is building his very own rocket to fly to the moon — until it all comes tumbling down! A sweet story about imagination, friendship, and how a little creativity can save the day!
Looking for More Ideas?
Books about Space with Extension Activities
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I wonder if you could do the same with a paper towel tube? They came out great, especially love the flame. Vicky from http://www.messforless.net
I would think so!
How to catch a star is awesome. There’s a beautiful line about how his rocket is out of petrol that’s just so matter of fact, I love it. Rockets are pretty hight on the awesome list at ours so thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pete!
What a cool idea! I love the flames coming out the bottom. Thanks for linking up on our We Made That Linky!
Perfect timing! I’m making these for Benji’s birthday favors, only the tops are removable so I can put watercolors and coloring pages inside!
That is a great idea!!
We’ve recently blogged about The Sea of Tranquility by Mark Haddon – do you know it? As they like rockets, your boys will probably like this text – let us know what you think.
Rachel Clarke, Coventry Primary English Consultant