The following are reading suggestions of children’s and young adult science fiction books published before 1991. They are pre-Golden Duck Awards and were not considered for these Awards.
Recommended Picture Books (Ages up to 6 years)
- Space Case by James Marshall
- Merry Christmas, Space Case by James Marshall
- Alastair in Outer Space by Marilyn Sadler
- Commander Toad and the Big Black Hole by Jane Yolen
- Commander Toad and the Dis-asteroid by Jane Yolen
- Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy by Jane Yolen
- Commander Toad and the Planet of the Grapes by Jane Yolen
- Commander Toad and the Space Pirates by Jane Yolen
- Commander Toad in Space by Jane Yolen
Recommended Books for Ages 6 to 9 Years Old
- The Dinosaur That Followed Me Home by Bruce Coville
- How I Survived My Summer Vacation by Bruce Coville
- Invasion of the Brain Sharpeners by Phillip Curtis
- Invasion of the Comet People by Phillip Curtis
- Space Ship Under the Apple Tree by Louis Slobodkin
- The Space Ship Returns to the Apple Tree by Louis Slobodkin
Recommended Books for Ages 10 to 12 Years Old
- Anna to the Infinite Power by Mildred Ames
- The Brain on Quartz Mountain by Margaret J. Anderson
- Mutants by Isaac Asimov
- Young Mutants by Isaac Asimov & Martin Greenberg, edited by Charles Waugh
- The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
- The Computer Nut by Betsy Byars
- Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron
- Time and Mr. Bass by Eleanor Cameron
- Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron
- White Mountains by John Christopher
- Margaret and the Rats of NIMH by Jane Conly & R-T Leslie
- The Deadly Hoax by Scott Corbett
- My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville
- Black Suits from Outer Space by Gene DeWeese
- The Brave Little Toaster by Thomas M. Disch
- The Pet by John Gilden
- Burton’s Zoom Zoom Va-room Machine by Dorothy Haas
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien
- The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
- Stinker from Space by Pamela Service
- The Three-Seated Spaceship by Louis Slobodkin
- Stowaways by Bruce Strickland
Recommended Books for Ages 13 to 15 Years Old
- City of Darkness by Ben Bova
- End of Exile by Ben Bova
- R is for Rocket by Ray Bradbury
- S is for Space by Ray Bradbury
- Snows of Jaspre by Mary Caraker
- Beyond the Burning Lands by John Christopher
- The Prince in Waiting by John Christopher
- The Sword of the Spirits by John Christopher
- The White Mountains by John Christopher
- City of Lead and Gold by John Christopher
- Pool of Fire by John Christopher
- Dolphin Island by Arthur C. Clarke
- This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danziger
- Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois
- Enchantress from the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl
- This Star Shall Abide by Sylvia Louise Engdahl
- Between Planets by Robert Heinlein
- Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert Heinlein
- Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein
- Have Space Suit — Will Travel by Robert Heinlein
- Red Planet by Robert Heinlein
- Rocketship Galileo by Robert Heinlein
- The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein
- Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein
- The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein
- Starman Jones by Robert Heinlein
- Time for Stars by Robert Heinlein
- Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein
- Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes
- The Guardian of Isis by Monica Hughes
- The Bell Tree by H.M. Hoover
- The Rains of Eridan by H.M. Hoover
- The Shepard Moon by H.M. Hoover
- But We Are Not of Earth by Jean Karl
- Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
- Wind in the Door by Madeline L’Engle
- A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L’Engle
- Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L’Engle
- Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
- Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey
- Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
- Forerunner by Andre Norton
- Moon of Three Rings by Andre Norton
- The Zero Stone by Andre Norton
- Z for Zachariah by Robert O’Brien
- My Sister Sif by Ruth Park
- Experiment in Terror by Bernal C. Payne
- Lizard Music by Daniel M. Pinkwater
- Space Demons by Gillian Rubinstein
- Skymaze by Gillian Rubinstein
- Interstellar Pig by William Sleator
- House of Stairs by William Sleator
- Clone Catcher by Alfed Slote
- My Robot Buddy by Alfed Slote
- My Trip to Alpha I. by Alfed Slote
- C.O.L.A.R.: A Tale of Outer Space by Alfed Slote
- Omega Station by Alfed Slote
- River Rats by Caroline Stevermer
- Sweetwater by Lawrence Yep
Recommended Books for Young Adults
- Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Earthman’s Burden by Poul Anderson
- Guardians of Time by Poul Anderson
- The High Crusade by Poul Anderson
- The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
- Nightfall and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- Foundation’s Edge by Isaac Asimov
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Pride of Chanur by C.J. Cherryh
- Red Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke
- Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Lensman Series by E.E. Smith
- The Skylark Series by E.E. Smith
- Slan by A.E. Van Vogt
- The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
- The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
- The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
- Encounter Near Venus by Leonard Wibberly
- The Legion of Space by Jack Williamson
- The Legion of Time by Jack Williamson
- The Moon Children by Jack Williamson