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Royal Society unveils 2026 shortlist and judging panel for the Young People鈥檚 Book Prize

29 October 2026

The elements and atoms that make up our bodies, an adventure through evolution, and humans on Mars. Magical experiments, a trip across the galaxy and an investigation to how we get food from flowers. These are all part of the 2026 shortlist for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize, unveiled today.

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 2026 are (in alphabetical order):

The shortlist was selected by a panel of five judges, including: Andrew Blair, year 3 and 4 teacher and science lead; Dr Joshua Kestel, a Royal Society Newton International Fellow researching the relationships between plants and their pollinators; Hiba Noor Khan, award-winning children’s book author and former physics teacher; and Ken Wilson-Max, award-winning children's book author, illustrator, and publisher.

The panel was chaired by Professor Cristina Lazzeroni FRS, Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Birmingham, who also works on creating and testing activities and resources for students at primary and secondary schools. Together, they have narrowed down a longlist of nearly 50 books to the six on the shortlist.

This year's shortlist features an interactive choose-your-own-adventure style introduction to the evolution of life on Earth; a vast comic book journey through space; a vibrant explanation of pollination and how we get food from plants; a joyful exploration of the chemical elements we come across in a day of our life; a thorough investigation into what it would take to move humanity to Mars; and a spellbinding collection of science experiments to try at home.

The full shortlist will now be sent out to schools, youth groups, and reading clubs across the UK who will read, discuss and ultimately choose the winner out of the six shortlisted books. Last year, over 600 schools and 11,000 young people took part in the judging. The winner will be announced in June 2027.

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

Professor Cristina Lazzeroni FRS, chair of the judging panel said:

“Chairing this panel was my favourite task of the year. Each of the books on this shortlist is a window into a different corner of science, and there is so much to learn from all of them. I hope that they will spark curiosity and become the starting point for what could be a lifelong passion for science and exploration among young readers.

“After years of decline, the National Literacy Trust is now reporting a slight increase in both daily reading and reading enjoyment among young people. This is encouraging, and we should continue to build on this. Non-fiction books can be a fantastic way to engage those who may find reading and science a bit daunting or inaccessible. This shortlist offers a variety of approaches and perspectives, and has something for everyone.”

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

Choose Your Own Evolution by Jules Howard, illustrated by Gordy Wright (Nosy Crow)

Dr Joshua Kestel said: “This book has really pulled off something unique and special. Its 'choose your own adventure' style will allow kids to journey through evolution in highly entertaining and interactive way. Will your reign as king of the dinosaurs - the T Rex – be cut short or will you evolve to waddle among the Emperor Penguins in Antarctica?”

Cosmo Park by Madeleine Finlay, illustrated by Tom Dearie (Flying Eye Books)

Ken Wilson-Max said: “Through its fun illustrations and original story, this clever comic book is a great way to get real science to kids, especially reluctant readers who may prefer more visual forms of storytelling.”

Elements of the Day by Samantha Lewis, illustrated by Hao Hao (Red Shed, HarperCollins)

Hiba Noor Khan said: “The humour, bizarreness and wonder of this book is just fantastic. It does a great job at introducing something that every child is going to study at school and that can often be quite dull.”

Moving to Mars by Eduard Altarriba, Guillem Anglada-Escudé, Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón and Miquel Sureda Anfres, illustrated by Eduard Altarriba (Button Books)

Professor Cristina Lazzeroni FRS said: “I really enjoyed this book. It balances a wide range of scientific questions and perspectives we would need to consider before moving to Mars, making it an approachable idea. There is a good amount of science, and the visuals are really great!”

The Great Pollination Investigation by Deborah Hocking (Templar Books (Bonnier Books UK))

Professor Cristina Lazzeroni FRS said: “This is such a beautiful book! The illustrations are magnificent and there are lots of hidden interactive surprises. It introduces the science at a level perfectly suited to the younger age group of 5–7-year-olds.”

The Wizard's Guide to Magical Experiments by AJ Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux (Magic Cat)

Andrew Blair said: “The collection of experiments is a fantastic idea - I can really see children picking this book up. They will be engaged by the interactivity and the magical science and can then go on to explore why the experiments work the way they do.”