This list is for YA and middle grade science fiction published in the 20th century.

No fantasy! Science fiction only, encompassing futuristic, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and space themed stories. Books on this list must be published for the YA and middle grade market.
101

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3.96 avg rating — 12,443 ratings
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102

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4.04 avg rating — 59,932 ratings
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103

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4.14 avg rating — 151 ratings
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103

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3.96 avg rating — 4,968 ratings
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103

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4.07 avg rating — 27 ratings
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103

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liked it 3.00 avg rating — 4 ratings
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103

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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
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103

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4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings
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103

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4.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
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110

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3.65 avg rating — 316 ratings
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110

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4.02 avg rating — 118 ratings
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110

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4.24 avg rating — 17 ratings
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110

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2.67 avg rating — 6 ratings
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110

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3.19 avg rating — 37 ratings
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115

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3.56 avg rating — 228 ratings
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115

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3.79 avg rating — 14 ratings
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115

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4.21 avg rating — 244 ratings
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115

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3.40 avg rating — 15 ratings
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115

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4.32 avg rating — 178,664 ratings
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115

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
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115

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4.07 avg rating — 196,438 ratings
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122

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3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
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122

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3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
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122

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4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings
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122

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3.33 avg rating — 84 ratings
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122

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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
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122

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2.20 avg rating — 5 ratings
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122

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3.91 avg rating — 28,751 ratings
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129

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3.72 avg rating — 69 ratings
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129

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3.33 avg rating — 6 ratings
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129

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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
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129

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3.93 avg rating — 61,276 ratings
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129

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3.97 avg rating — 145 ratings
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129

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
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129

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3.81 avg rating — 137 ratings
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129

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4.21 avg rating — 373,229 ratings
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137

by
3.87 avg rating — 103 ratings
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137

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3.74 avg rating — 425 ratings
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137

by
3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
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137

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3.90 avg rating — 28,773 ratings
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137

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3.83 avg rating — 23 ratings
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137

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3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
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137

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4.29 avg rating — 4,034 ratings
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144

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3.75 avg rating — 648 ratings
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144

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4.19 avg rating — 31 ratings
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144

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3.17 avg rating — 6 ratings
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144

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3.87 avg rating — 11,833 ratings
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144

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3.13 avg rating — 15 ratings
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144

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3.71 avg rating — 97 ratings
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144

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3.48 avg rating — 29 ratings
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144

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3.08 avg rating — 13 ratings
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144

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3.80 avg rating — 14,819 ratings
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153

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3.33 avg rating — 61 ratings
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153

by
3.67 avg rating — 42 ratings
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153

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3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings
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153

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4.03 avg rating — 1,892 ratings
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153

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4.10 avg rating — 31 ratings
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153

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2.83 avg rating — 6 ratings
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153

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3.67 avg rating — 4,839 ratings
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153

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3.29 avg rating — 7 ratings
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161

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4.22 avg rating — 5,910 ratings
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161

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4.06 avg rating — 82 ratings
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161

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3.42 avg rating — 26 ratings
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161

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liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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161

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3.72 avg rating — 398 ratings
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161

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3.73 avg rating — 51 ratings
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161

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3.61 avg rating — 23 ratings
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161

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3.80 avg rating — 9,962 ratings
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161

by
3.21 avg rating — 174 ratings
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161

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3.66 avg rating — 18,252 ratings
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171

by
3.73 avg rating — 89 ratings
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171

by
3.79 avg rating — 98 ratings
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171

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4.30 avg rating — 185 ratings
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171

by
liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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171

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3.69 avg rating — 1,873 ratings
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171

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3.44 avg rating — 18 ratings
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171

by
3.81 avg rating — 27 ratings
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171

by
4.67 avg rating — 15 ratings
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179

by
3.86 avg rating — 598 ratings
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179

by
3.83 avg rating — 5,418 ratings
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179

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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179

by
3.59 avg rating — 125 ratings
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179

by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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179

by
3.64 avg rating — 33 ratings
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179

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings
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179

by
3.50 avg rating — 10 ratings
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179

by
3.67 avg rating — 12 ratings
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179

by
4.03 avg rating — 72 ratings
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189

by
3.68 avg rating — 1,919 ratings
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189

by
3.77 avg rating — 13 ratings
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189

by
3.86 avg rating — 634 ratings
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189

by
4.60 avg rating — 52 ratings
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189

by
4.21 avg rating — 39 ratings
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189

by
3.32 avg rating — 124 ratings
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189

by
3.55 avg rating — 11 ratings
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189

by
3.93 avg rating — 27 ratings
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197

by
3.67 avg rating — 286 ratings
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197

by
2.89 avg rating — 207 ratings
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197

by
3.87 avg rating — 549 ratings
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197

by
3.77 avg rating — 35 ratings
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11 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Rainbowheart 2037 books
155 friends
Jennifer 3496 books
993 friends
Jacob 1546 books
27 friends
Jan 5081 books
128 friends
SamSpayedPI 2054 books
30 friends
Elizabeth 5333 books
86 friends
Jill 2511 books
909 friends
Adele 2897 books
67 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-27 of 27 (27 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by SamSpayedPI (new)

SamSpayedPI How'd you miss A Wrinkle in Time, Rainbowheart?


message 2: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart That was a pretty big oversight!

The list is looking good, but I'm sure there are lots more to add. I deleted Messenger and Son by Lois Lowry because they are 21st century, not 20th.


message 3: by Rosa (last edited Dec 16, 2021 07:23PM) (new)

Rosa SamSpayedPI wrote: "How'd you miss A Wrinkle in Time, Rainbowheart?"

That book seems like a fusion to me.

So we're counting 2000 as part of the twentieth century? Technically it is, but…


message 4: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart I'm a little iffy on that, personally. I consider 1999 the end, but Google says otherwise? I'd say leave 2000 in, but 2001 and later should obviously be cut.


message 5: by Bargle (last edited Jan 06, 2022 03:30AM) (new)

Bargle Rainbowheart wrote: "I'd say leave 2000 in, but 2001 and later should obviously be cut."

Agreed.


message 6: by Capn (new)

Capn Hey Rainbowheart,
I think this is a re-issue of stories from the 90s or earlier: Death of a Dinosaur. Not sure...


message 7: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart I do believe you are right! Worldcat says it was first published as Death of a Lizard in 1990. I updated the GR page to reflect that.


message 8: by Capn (last edited Jul 24, 2022 02:45PM) (new)

Capn Urgh, I've cannibalized all the votes I can. Here's another for someone else to add. :)

The Space People

And:
The Mask
The Robot People
The Mirror Planet
Strange Things Happen in the Woods
The Robot Birthday
Wanna Buy an Alien?
The Cloverdale Switch
The Followers
(I'm going through Eve Bunting's lesser known sci-fi books, so there will be more to come..)


message 9: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Thanks! We need to recruit more voters, lol. I've invited everyone I have on my friend list. ;)


message 10: by Capn (last edited Jul 30, 2022 05:59AM) (new)


message 11: by Capn (last edited Sep 19, 2022 02:04AM) (new)

Capn Found another classic that ought to be here, from 1965:
Alice: The Girl From Earth
translated from the prolific Russian author, the late Kir Bulychev


and also The Legend Of Lost Earth, 1977, Hope Campbell.


message 12: by Amy (Other Amy) (new)

Amy (Other Amy) I added those.


message 13: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Thank you, Amy, for all the additions!


message 14: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart I removed The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away, which is from 2019.


message 15: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart I'm out of votes, so if anyone has room to add these, it would be appreciated!

Starluck
The Exchange Student
Nick and the Glimmung


message 16: by Amy (Other Amy) (new)

Amy (Other Amy) I added them :-)


message 17: by Capn (new)

Capn Thank you!


message 18: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Awesome, thanks, Amy!


message 19: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Mr. Wuffles is a wordless picture book.

What about Sweetwater by Laurence Yep? Takes place on a colony on another planet.


message 20: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Thanks for the heads up! I removed Mr. Wuffles.

Sweetwater, yep, definitely can be added in!


message 21: by Capn (new)

Capn Mr. Wuffles! fits in well on a list such as "Children's Picture Books with Aliens!": https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
(just FYI, if someone's looking for a similar list, but for a younger audience). ;)

Similarly, there's "Great Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Monster Picture Books": https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...


message 22: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Few more to add, if anyone has room!

Collidescope
Stinker from Space
Escape from Splatterbang


message 23: by Amy (Other Amy) (new)

Amy (Other Amy) I had room. Added :)


message 24: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Thank you, Amy!


message 26: by Capn (last edited Apr 05, 2023 08:54AM) (new)

Capn and Alien Game :)

and From the Thorenson Dykes - that's a crashed UFO on the cover, isn't it?! (Written by the same dude who brought you "Guess How Much I Love You?", of all things!)


message 27: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl I just have to say, my favorite back in the day was The Forgotten Door. Even though it's short & relatively simple, and even though I was a good reader, I did read this over & over.


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