The Darkest Dark

The Darkest Dark is a beautifully illustrated picture book by astronaut Chris Hadfield, based on his childhood fears and dreams. Young Chris loves pretending to be an astronaut but is afraid of the dark-until the night he watches the Apollo 11 moon landing and realises that real astronauts face the deepest dark of all. This uplifting, autobiographical story encourages children to dream big, be curious, and overcome their fears with courage and imagination.

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages resilience, curiosity, and aspiration.
• Promotes awareness of space exploration and STEM careers.
• Helps children understand and manage common fears.
• Introduces biographical storytelling in a relatable way.

Classroom Ideas:

• Link to science topics by learning about astronauts and space travel.
• Write personal stories about facing a fear or chasing a dream.
• Discuss how imagination helps us overcome challenges.
• Create artwork inspired by space and the night sky.

Information:

• Ages: 4-8 years
• Author: Chris Hadfield
• Illustrators: The Fan Brothers
• Theme: Space, fears, ambition