The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize celebrates the the best science books for children written in the previous year in the UK. It 'aims to inspire young people to read about science and promotes the writing of excellent, accessible books for under-14s,' reads a statement on their official website.
The 2019 shortlist consisting of six best science books for kids to read this year was revealed recently. It is noted that while the shortlist was selected by an adult panel of judges, the overall winner of the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize will be decided by roughly 10,000 young readers in the UK by voting for their favourite book among the six shortlisted books. These books are not only informative but fun too, making them perfect reads for children and young readers. So, check out this list of the best science books for children to read this year, which make learning fun!
Kid Scientists by David Stabler
'Kid Scientists' is written by David Stabler and illustrated by Anoosha Syed. The book tells interesting true stories from the childhoods of some of the world's most brilliant scientists before they became famous. For instance-- Jane Goodall, the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, had a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee as a kid; or theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking disliked going to school as a child and instead he spent his free time inventing Board games and other things! The book serves as an introduction to popular scientists across the world for kids.
Planetarium by Raman Prinja
'Planetarium' is written by Professor Raman Prinja and illustrated by Chris Wormell. As the title suggests, this fascinating book features all aspects of space-- from the Sun, our Solar System, to stars, the Milky Way and the Universe. The artwork and informative text makes this book a wonderful read for children who would like to explore and learn more about the outer space.
100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers & Coding by various writers
'100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers & Coding' is written by Alice James, Eddie Reynolds, Minna Lacey, Rose Hall and Alex Frith, illustrated by Federico Mariani, Parko Polo and Shaw Nielsen.
Did you know that there's a single spot in the human brain for recognizing numbers, or the most of the internet is laid under water? This book, as the title suggests, is filled with 100 such interesting facts along with infographic illustrations and website recommendations for further reading which would keep curious readers hooked to it.
Science Makers: Making with States of Matter by Anna Claybourne
Anna Claybourne's 'Science Makers: Making with States of Matter' not only profiles great scientists, artists and engineers but also shares the experimentes which lead to their science discoveries. Some of the fun activities in this book include: how to make ice cream by using ice and salt like inventor Nancy Johnson, and how to create melting ice people as done by sculptor Néle Azevedo. 'Children will learn about and create the experiments and builds that have led to world-changing discoveries, amazing machines and inspiring artworks,' reads the book's blurb.
The Bacteria Book by Steve Mould
Bestselling author and science comedian Steve Mould's 'The Bacteria Book' introduces young readers to the world of microbes and their importance. The book 'is a fun and informative introduction to a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) subject that brings kids up-close to the big world of tiny science. With remarkable photography, kooky character illustrations, and lots of fun facts, this book uses real-life examples of microbiology in action to show how microbes keep our bodies and our world running,' reads the book's blurb.
The Element in the Room by Mike Barfield
'The Element in the Room' is written by Mike Barfield and illustrated by Lauren Humphrey. This wonderful book introduces young readers to the elements in the periodic table, while they help Sherlock Ohms solve the mystery of how everything came to exist, according to the book's synopsis. Filled with interesting science facts, the book tells the readers how everything in the universe is made from only 92 elements!