Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2025 shortlist revealed

What happens in nature in eight minutes? What does a frog look like on the inside? What was the first written language? These questions, along with a world of rocks, the life of prehistoric animals and the secret inner workings of a tree are all covered in the books shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize.

The prize recognises the best science books for under-14s, aiming to promote literacy in young people and inspire them to read about science. Young people are at the heart of this prize, with students across the UK in charge of selecting the winner.

The shortlisted books for the Young People’s Book Prize 2025 are (in alphabetical order):

Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Patience by Rachel Williams, illustrated by Leonie Lord

The Animal Body Book by Jess French, illustrated by Jonathan Woodward

The History of Information by Chris Haughton with Loonie Park

The Rocks Book by Nancy Dickmann

The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Paula Bossio

For more than 35 years, the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize has promoted the joy of reading about science among under-14s, and has supported the writing of excellent, accessible STEM books.

This year’s shortlist was selected by a panel of five judges: Hollywood science advisor and dinosaur expert Professor Steve Brusatte, award-winning children’s author and illustrator Helen Cooper, brain scientist and Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow Dr Betina Ip, primary school teacher and science lead Vicky Walsh and volcano expert Professor Tamsin Mather FRS who chairs the panel.

Professor Tamsin Mather FRS, chair of the judging panel said:

“As we move into the National Year of Reading, the proportion of children who report reading for enjoyment is at its lowest in 20 years in the UK. Diversity of choice will be key to reversing this trend and non-fiction books are very important. Science books offer strong narratives aimed at explaining the world around us and can be something children can dip in and out of, making them a fantastic way to draw in young readers including some reluctant to engage with other genres.

“Despite non-fiction books being popular among kids and young people, we often do not put them front and centre when we talk about literature for children. It is a great pleasure to be part of the judging panel for this prize and get the chance to highlight the best of the best in science books for young people.”

The full shortlist will now be sent out to over 600 schools, youth groups, and reading clubs across the UK who will read, discuss and ultimately choose the winner out of the six shortlisted books. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in April 2026.

What the shortlisting panel said about this year’s books:

Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Professor Tamsin Mather FRS said: “This book is a great showcase of the visual language of science. The illustrations are beautiful, and the drawing of a cross-section of the leaf especially won me over. The 4.5-billion-year story of our now green planet, told by the pictures and relatively simple text, is a rich opportunity to share the science of plants and a deeper understanding of ecology with younger children.”

Patience by Rachel Williams, illustrated by Leonie Lord

Vicky Walsh said: “I love the concept of this book – looking at the world through the lens of time. The potential for teaching with it is amazing, there are so many activities you can draw from it. It is the type of book that every teacher should have access to and be able to pick up throughout the year.”

The Animal Body Book by Jess French, illustrated by Jonathan Woodward

Dr Betina Ip said: “This book goes far beyond simply highlighting animal features and saying, ‘look at this, this is cool’. It delves into the fascinating mechanisms behind each body part, and the significance of form and function across different species, in an engaging and accessible way.”

The History of Information by Chris Haughton with Loonie Park

Helen Cooper said: “This is a groundbreaking book: the history of how humans learned to record and communicate information, from cave markings to a clear explanation of computer code and AI. The superb illustrations echo ancient symbols, yet also clarify the science and technology behind propaganda, advertising, and social media. It’s an essential story, told in a fascinating way that is accessible for young people.”

The Rocks Book by Nancy Dickmann

Professor Tamsin Mather FRS said: “This reminds me of the sort of book that had me engrossed for hours as a child. It is packed full of amazing pictures and facts but also details the systems used to organise our knowledge. I really like how the author combines information about fantastic exotic rocks, minerals and landscapes from all over the world, along with encouraging readers to explore the rocks in their own back gardens. It certainly excites the explorer in me, and I hope it will our young judges!”

The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Paula Bossio

Professor Steve Brusatte said: “The science in this book is spot on, and the comic book style is really engaging. I especially appreciate that it covers all prehistoric life, not just dinosaurs; it manages to cover huge ground.”