The shortlist for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2022 has been announced. The Young People’s Book Prize celebrates the very best STEM books for under-14s with the aim of encouraging young people to read about and immerse themselves in the wonderful world of science.

This year’s shortlist was chosen by a panel of scientists, teachers and authors who narrowed the longlist of over 60 titles down to six books that cover subjects as diverse as the microscopic world of bacteria and viruses to the feats of engineering that made some of the world’s tallest buildings possible.

On his appointment as Chair of this year’s shortlisting panel, Professor Alan Wilson, Fellow of the Royal Society, said: “Some people believe that science is all about facts – but it is not.

“Science is about exploration, innovation and debate. Exciting science books can stimulate curiosity and discussion in young people honing these key life skills.”

Over 15,000 young judges across the UK will now have the opportunity to do just that, reading, discussing and debating the merits of the six shortlisted titles before choosing their overall winner.

Congratulations to all this year’s shortlisted authors and illustrators!

The 2022 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize Shortlist:

Beetles for Breakfast… and Other Weird and Wonderful Ways to Save the Planet by Madeleine Finlay, illustrated by Jisu Choi (Flying Eye Books)

Fantastically Great Women Scientists and their Stories by Kate Pankhurst (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Fourteen Wolves by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Jenni Desmond (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

How Was That Built?: The Stories Behind Awesome Structures by Roma Agrawal, illustrated by Katie Hickey (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

If the World Were 100 People by Jackie McCann, illustrated by Aaron Cushley (Red Shed)

Microbe Wars by Gill Arbuthnott, illustrated by Marianna Madriz (Templar Publishing)

The winners of this year’s Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize will be announced at an online awards ceremony in March 2023. Find out more about the prize and how your school could get involved in judging next year’s prize here.