At its best, science fiction shows us a new way of envisioning our relationship to technology and discovery, both in the future and the present, bridging the imaginary with the marvels of scientific knowledge. For many young readers, it offers a sense of the scope of possibilities available in storytelling. That's why we hope you'll sit down and explore other worlds with the kid readers in your life with these books from our Best Books for Kids 2017 list. Do you have other science fiction favorites from 2017? Share your recommendations in the comment section below.

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
When Albie's mother dies from cancer, his father explains that she may be alive in a parallel universe, so he decides to universe-hop and find her with the help of a banana, a laptop, and a box.

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King
Obe Devlin spends a lot of his time cleaning up the creek that runs through what little is left of his family's once extensive farmland, and worrying about what the developers are doing nearby, and the pollution it is causing—but one day he finds a strange creature by his creek that eats plastic, and soon the animal he calls Marvin Gardens becomes his personal secret, which he believes needs to be protected from pretty much everybody.

Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel
Discovering a smelly creature in her garbage can that she names after herself, Olga befriends and studies the eccentric Olgamus using the scientific method, the practices of Jane Goodall, and other scientific concepts.

One Trick Pony by Nathan Hale
In a future where alien beings consume technology as a few humans try to preserve it, Strata, her brother, and a friend are separated from their caravan and, with a wonderful robotic horse, must fight their way back.

The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel & Alexis Siegel and  illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller & Boya Sun
Five imperiled worlds will be rendered extinct unless five ancient and mysterious beacons can be lit in the wake of erupting wars during which three unlikely heroes make surprising discoveries about their homes and themselves.

The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby
In an alternate history of New York, three kids try to solve a modern-world puzzle and complete a treasure hunt laid into the streets and buildings of the city.

A Whisper of Horses by Zillah Bethell
In a post-apocalyptic Great Britain, after her mother's death Serendipity, about twelve, leaves Lahn Dan and teams up with an orphan, Tab, hoping to find horses surviving somewhere.