Books for Kids Age 6-8
recommended by authors, scientists, artists and children
Last updated: March 16, 2025
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1
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement
by Carole Boston Weatherford & Euka Holmes -
2
Josephine: A Dazzling Life
by Christian Robinson & Patricia Hruby Powell -
3
The Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
by Vashti Harrison -
4
Firebird
by Misty Copeland -
5
Life Doesn't Frighten Me
by Jean-Michel Basquiat & Maya Angelou
Books on Black Icons for Children, recommended by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins
Books on Black Icons for Children, recommended by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins
Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins discuss books that that tell the stories of some of the greatest black icons in history – and explain why reading books that celebrate these extraordinary lives can be transformational for all children.
The Best Books for Kids on Christmas, recommended by Father Christmas
Shelve your cynicism – Santa Claus does exist, and he took the time out to tell us his five favourite Christmas-time books. He’s more of a pictures than words kind of guy, and he’s been to Las Vegas.
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1
Bodies, Brains & Bogies
by Paul Ian Cross & Steve Brown (illustrator) -
2
Live Like a Hunter Gatherer
Naomi Walmsley, Mia Underwood (illustrator) -
3
Am I Made of Stardust?
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Chelen Écija (illustrator) -
4
Step Inside Science: Germs
by Sarah Hull & Teresa Bellon (illustrator) -
5
Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals
by Ben Rothery -
6
A Bug's World
by Dr Erica McAlister & Stephanie Fizer Coleman (illustrator)
The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Usha Goswami
The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Usha Goswami
The judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize look for books that explain high quality science in an engaging and accessible way. Neuroscientist Usha Goswami, chair of the 2023 judging panel, explains why it is important to get children excited about science via books, and introduces us to the fabulous titles that made this year’s shortlist.
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1
How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures
Roma Agrawal, Katie Hickey (illustrator) -
2
Microbe Wars: Humanity's Biggest Battles with the World's Smallest Life-Forms
by Gill Arbuthnott & Marianna Madriz (illustrator) -
3
Fourteen Wolves: A Rewilding Story
by Catherine Barr & Jenni Desmond (illustrator) -
4
Fantastically Great Women Scientists and their Stories
by Kate Pankhurst -
5
If the World Were 100 People
Jackie McCann, Aaron Cushley (illustrator) -
6
Beetles for Breakfast and Other Weird and Wonderful Ways to Save the Planet
Madeleine Finlay, Jisu Choi (illustrator)
Best Science Books for Children: the 2022 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Alan Wilson
Best Science Books for Children: the 2022 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Alan Wilson
The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize celebrates books that stimulate children’s curiosity and enthusiasm to explore, innovate and debate. Alan Wilson, Chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six outstanding science books for kids that made the 2022 shortlist.
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1
Under the Stars: Astrophysics for Everyone
by Lisa Harvey-Smith & Mel Matthews (illustrator) -
2
I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast
by Michael Holland & Philip Giordano (illustrator) -
3
Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes
by Sophie Deen & Anjan Sarkar (illustrator) -
4
Inventors: Incredible Stories of the World's Most Ingenious Inventions
by Robert Winston & Jessamy Hawke (illustrator) -
5
I am a book. I am a portal to the universe.
by Stefanie Posavec & Miriam Quick (illustrator) -
6
100 Things to Know about Saving the Planet
Best Science Books for Children: the 2021 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Katharine Cashman
Best Science Books for Children: the 2021 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Katharine Cashman
In selecting the best science books for children, the judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize identify books that are scientifically accurate as well as accessible and engaging. Katharine Cashman, Professor of Volcanology at Bristol University and Chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six wonderful books that made the 2021 shortlist.
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1
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson & with Gregory Mone -
2
Cats React to Science Facts
by Izzi Howell -
3
In the Key of Code
by Aimee Lucido -
4
How to Win a Nobel Prize
by Barry Marshall, Bernard Caleo (illustrator) & with Lorna Hendry -
5
Gut Garden: A journey into the wonderful world of your microbiome
by Katie Brosnan -
6
Everyday Journeys Of Ordinary Things
by Libby Deutsch & Valpuri Kerttula (illustrator)
The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Mike Kendall
The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Mike Kendall
To find the best science books for kids, the judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize look for books that are not only accurate but also entertaining. Mike Kendall, Professor of Geophysics at Oxford University and chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six fabulous books that made the 2020 shortlist (the final winner will be chosen by the real experts: more than 13,000 kids).
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1
Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer
by Jeyaraney Kathirithamby & Sarah B Pomeroy -
2
Young Heroes
by Lula Bridgeport -
3
What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky
by Kelsey Oseid -
4
Ocean
by Emmanuelle Grundmann & Hélène Druvert -
5
A History of Pictures for Children
by David Hockney & Martin Gayford
The Best Children’s Nonfiction of 2018, recommended by Zoe Greaves
The Best Children’s Nonfiction of 2018, recommended by Zoe Greaves
Author and Five Books children’s editor Zoe Greaves selects the best nonfiction books for children published in 2018.