Judges pick bogies, bugs and bacteria for Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize shortlist

Blast off to faraway galaxies and discover how long it takes to fly to a star, or whether there are rainbows on distant planets; then travel back in time to uncover the secrets of the Stone Age with the six incredible science books shortlisted for this year’s Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize. 

The prize celebrates the very best science books for under 14s, highlighting books that communicate science to young people in an accessible, creative way.

An adult judging panel, including NHS paediatrician, TV presenter, and co-creator of BBC’s BAFTA-winning Get Well Soon, Dr Ranj Singh, and bestselling author and plastics campaigner, MG Leonard, have narrowed down the best of this year’s children’s science books to a shortlist of six. 

Now the decision is in the hands of the young judging panels, drawn from schools, youth groups, and reading clubs across the country. The young judges will get stuck into the six shortlisted books and deliberate over the pages to declare their winner. 

The winning book will be unveiled at an award ceremony in March 2024.

Chair of the judges Professor Usha Goswami CBE FRS FBA said: 

“Children have an immense curiosity about the world around them and reading a good science book satisfies this curiosity. I was impressed to see so many books that didn’t shy away from complex topics, and explained the science in such a comprehensible, imaginative way that will appeal to children of all ages. The young judges have a difficult decision ahead of them, I know I would struggle to pick a winner.”

The shortlisted books for the Young People’s Book Prize 2023 are: 

• Step inside Science: Germs by Sarah Hull, illustrated by Teresa Bellón (Usborne)
• A Bug's World by Dr Erica McAlister, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Wren and Rook, Hachette Children’s Group)
• Live Like a Hunter Gatherer by Naomi Walmsley, illustrated by Mia Underwood (Button Books)
• Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals by Ben Rothery (Ladybird, Penguin Random House Children’s)
• Am I made of Stardust? by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, illustrated by Chelen Écija (Buster Books, Michael O’Mara Books) 
• Bodies, Brains and Bogies by Paul Ian Cross, PhD, illustrated by Steve Brown

What the panel said about this year’s shortlist:

On Bodies, Brains and Bogies by Paul Ian Cross, PhD, illustrated by Steve Brown (Welbeck Publishing)

Judge MG Leonard, bestselling author and vice president of the insect charity Buglife, said: "Disgustingly gruesome and gut-churning - my son devoured this book in one sitting. It's filled with easily digestible facts about the human body presented in a unique, fun tone that will appeal to any child with a gross sense of humour."

On Am I made of Stardust? by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, illustrated by Chelen Écija(Buster Books, Michael O’Mara Books)

Judge and TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh said: "The universe fascinates most of us, but especially children. I loved the question-and-answer format of this book, and it really felt like a conversation between the reader and the author. The science is excellently presented and answers all sorts of questions about our universe, some of which I never would’ve thought to ask myself!”

On Live like a Hunter Gatherer by Naomi Walmsley, illustrated by Mia Underwood (Button Books)

Judge and teacher Jennifer Love said: "I was particularly looking for books that encourage the reader to get involved, and this book does just that. From craft projects to recipes, every element of this book is interactive. I used it to plan a week’s worth of lessons in my classroom, and the children loved getting their hands dirty and experiencing life as their ancestors would've lived."

On Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals by Ben Rothery (Ladybird, Penguin Random House Children’s)

Chair of the judges Professor Usha Goswami said: "The detailed illustrations in this book are incredible, it really feels like you could reach out and touch some of the animals through the page. The incorporation of the Latin names for the animals pictured was very unique.”

On A Bug’s World by Dr Erica McAlister, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Wren and Rook, Hachette Children’s Group)
Chair of the judges Professor Usha Goswami said: "The cover of this book alone was stunning, and I was immediately drawn to it. Each page features gorgeous, detailed illustrations and amazing facts about the role bugs play in our day to day lives. I particularly loved the page on bugs in space – who knew spiders could be astronauts?”

On Step inside science: Germs by Sarah Hull, illustrated by Teresa Bellón (Usborne)

Judge and Royal Society Research Fellow Dr Ryan Cooke said: “Not all germs are bad, and this book showcases so many unusual, exciting roles of germs – from making medicines to destroying plastic waste in oceans. This was the book that my daughter went out of her way to steal from me, and she spent hours pulling back the flaps and peering through the gaps in the pages to reveal the hidden facts.”