Your kids can watch astronauts read popular books from space

Reading books to your kids is a great way both to bond and to foster a love of reading. But have you really done all you can to make books as appealing as possible?

If you’re looking for a way to take story time to the next level, check out Story Time From Space. The video series features astronauts reading children’s books from the International Space Station. A project of the Global Space Education Foundation, videos are available on the nonprofit’s site for free, and can also be accessed via YouTube.

Watch astronaut Mike Hopkins read “Max Goes to the Moon”:

And here’s an image of astronaut Tim Peake reading from “The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home,” from the same company that creates the super-adorable, personalized Lost My Name books:

“What better role models to engage kids in science and to engage them in reading?” Patricia Tribe, the former director of education at Space Center Houston, told Huffington Post. “You’re not only looking and listening to the books, you’re looking around the International Space Station.”

All of the stories featured on the series can be read in about 15 minutes, and they each involve a concept connected to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Some of the astronauts volunteer for the project, while others are selected for their background in education or other applicable specialties.

According to a 2015 Pew study, STEM is an area of study with which many American students struggle.  Additionally, women in particular are underrepresented in STEM careers. A series such as this can help to spark an interest in STEM early on in life.

The Story Time From Space site will soon include videos of science experiments completed on the International Space Station. The demonstrations will cover topics for multiple grade levels and will complement many of the concepts introduced by the books. Some of those concepts include balance, buoyancy, orbits, light, heat transfer, pendulous motion and the human body.

If you struggle with limiting your kids’ screen time, Story Time From Space could be a great way to let them spend some time on the iPad while also sneaking in some education. What a cool way to get kids interested in reading and science at the same time!

[h/t: Huffington Post]