Royal Society Unveils Young People’s Science Book Prize
The Royal Society has shortlisted six exciting science books for the 2024 Young People's Book Prize, and young readers will pick the winner.
Have you ever wondered if colourful rainbows can appear in outer space, or how computers make sense of giant towers of information? On 6 November 2024 in London, the Royal Society announced its official six-book shortlist for the 2024 young people’s book prize! This prestigious annual competition celebrates the very best science books created especially for readers under 14 years old.
Before reaching this final stage, an expert adult judging panel read and evaluated over 100 submitted children’s science books. Now that the top six contenders have been chosen, the most exciting part begins. A record panel of young student judges will take over to read, review, and decide which title deserves the crown!
What happened?
The adult panel was chaired by Professor Dorothy Bishop, who is an Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neuropsychology at the University of Oxford. She worked alongside CBeebies presenter and conservationist Chantelle Lindsay, Wallace Primary School headteacher David Rigmand, science communicator Dr. Emily Grossman, and Swansea University research fellow Dr. Emrys Evans. Together, they narrowed down the huge collection of entries to six inspiring finalists.
The shortlisted books explore a wide range of scientific adventures, from astrophysics and human evolution to big data and polar exploration. One nominated title is Can You Get Rainbows in Space? written by Dr. Sheila Kanani and illustrated by Liz Kay. Another contender is Where Are You Really From? by Adam Rutherford, featuring illustrations by Adam Ming.
Readers can also take a freezing journey in Mission: Arctic by Katharina Weiss-Tuider, illustrated by Christian Schneider and translated by Shelley Tanaka. For those curious about human biology, All Bodies Are Wonderful by Beth Cox, illustrated by Samantha Meredith, also made the list.
The final two nominees are Engineers Making a Difference by Dr. Shini Somara, illustrated by Manuel Ε umberac and Adam Allsuch Boardman, and The Expanding World of Data by Tom Jackson, illustrated by Ekaterina Gorelova and Ana Seixas.
Copies of all six books are being distributed to more than 770 schools, youth groups, and reading clubs across the United Kingdom. Student judges will read them independently before casting their votes. The winning author will be announced at a special ceremony featuring hands-on science workshops in Scotland in March 2025. The winner will receive a Β£10,000 prize, while the other shortlisted authors will receive Β£2,500.
Why does it matter to you?
Even though this contest takes place in the United Kingdom, it shares an important message for young readers in India. Grown-ups often pick the books that children study, but this competition puts the final choice entirely into the hands of kids. It shows that young readers are fantastic critics who understand what makes learning fun.
Reading bright and creative books can make tricky scientific concepts like climate change, genetics, and outer space feel simple and exciting. You can even create your own science book club with friends at school to share your favourite discoveries!
Words to know
- Neuropsychology: the study of how our brain structure influences how we think, learn, and behave.
- Astrophysics: the branch of space science that studies the physical properties of stars, planets, and galaxies.
- Big data: extremely large collections of digital information that computers analyse to find helpful patterns.
- Shortlist: a small list of the best contenders selected from a much bigger group for an award.
Did you know?
More than 770 schools, reading clubs, and youth groups are taking part in reviewing these books to choose the final winner!
Think about it
If you were chosen as a student judge, which scientific mystery would you like to read about first? How do colourful illustrations help you understand complicated ideas?
Quick quiz
Where will the winning science book be announced in March 2025?
- Scotland
- London
- Oxford
See the answer
Scotland
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
