Recs if you like The Wild Robot ...

Not all science fiction is laser battles and intergalactic warfare! This list is aiming for the softer side of sci-fi. The kind where the stars hum quietly, the characters pause to breathe, and discoveries are found within. ✨

I’m attempting to cultivate a collection of books that are low stakes, cozy sci-fi, filled with found family, gentle exploration, and quiet wonder. 😌

If you have recommendations, please leave them in the comments! 📝

"We’re solarpunks because the only other options are denial or despair” - Adam Flynn Solarpunk is a genre of sci-fi that has emerged as a response to modern problems: climate change, technofascism, and rising individualism at the expense of community. Solarpunk is inherently optimistic and envisions the future I would want to live in.

This is like literary sorbet, books that are simple, sweet, and pretty easy to digest when you want to turn your brain off, decompress after a big, intense book, or break out of a reading slump.

Because Milo winter isn't the first to do so! Books and novels with illustrations have always existed! And I love seeing art peppered in through out a novel to get the extra boost as a reader. So here are novels with pretty illustrations in case you want that extra pizzazz in your books.

Name-calling and insults you might hear on the playground and beyond...

Anything can be an insult if you believe it! My kid brother used to get in trouble for calling us "you...you BEAN" with all the spite his little preschool self could manage 🥹

Books with short chapters!!! I started a challenge where I read a super long book a chapter-a-day and annotate it using a study guide! I found that annotating short chapters is super accessible and not overwhelming at all for me, so I wanted to share this list with anyone that wants to start over-analyzing their books :) I included a variety of stories because HOW you read is as important (if not more) than WHAT you read!!!!

There will be a time after big tech

Books that were adapted into movies (not tv shows). Let's make this list as long as possible!

(going to only add the first book in a series)

This is a list of books representing every pokemon in HeartGold and SoulSilver (So Johto+Kanto regions). For my sanity, this is one book per evo line. The list with match-ups is in the comments✊🏻💚

Books that feel like a warm hug and leave us feeling hopeful and whimsical, a little light amidst the dark. For the days we cannot have any more reality but instead need a cup of fluffy dreams and a pick-me-up and some optimism for the future

This is just something I'm working on because I've decided this is my favorite trope. I'll be collecting here, so don't expect it to be amazing right now 😅. These are characters that stray far from being human but still contain an edge of humanity that makes me feel okay to be delightfully weird. Suggestions welcome!

alternatively: robots and androids murderbot would begrudgingly and unintentionally befriend.

OR

robots and androids who teach us a little more about humanity, friendship, and the human condition. and also sarcasm and sardonic humour, on occasion.

Getting kids reading is as important as teaching them about the natural world, so why not do both at once! Books range in ages, from 2-10+ years.

Please drop any suggestions in the comments!

These are just ones I’ve read and can confirm are good/recommendations from others. Some of these have sequels!

I'm becoming a bit of an expert on curating chapter books to read aloud at bedtime for an INCREDIBLY critical audience (the bedtime story DNF rate at our house is WILD). Collecting them here to share with other parents and guardians. Suggestions welcome and encouraged (please - they are ravenous for the stories)

Much like books to movies but solely focused on animated movies/series! Suggestions welcome!

Young readers and middle grade

cozy sci-fi