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Best Books for Kids and Teens » Science

Browse book recommendations:

Best Books for Kids and Teens

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Books about STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – will help your kids learn more about the physical world around them and how it works, as well as being key to their future employability. Here we have some suggestions for science books aimed directly at a young audience, to help generate children's interest and enthusiasm early.

For kids who like to learn through fiction, physics teacher and author Alom Shaha chooses the best science-based novels for children, exploring the multiverse, among other subjects. A lot of fun for very young kids—who will spend hours poring over them—is the list by science writer Alice Bell on her favourite science books for kids.

In terms of the latest science books for kids, the Royal Society has an annual book prize, awarded to the best science book for an under-14 audience. Physicist and astronomer Sheila Rowan, chair of the 2019 judging panel, talked us through the books that made the 2019 shortlist. and seismologist Mike Kendall, chair of the 2020 judging panel, talked us through the 2020 shortlist. The ultimate winner of the prize is always chosen by kids.

    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Mike Kendall

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson & with Gregory Mone

    1

    Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
    by Neil deGrasse Tyson & with Gregory Mone

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Cats React to Science Facts by Izzi Howell

    2

    Cats React to Science Facts
    by Izzi Howell

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - In the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido

    3

    In the Key of Code
    by Aimee Lucido

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - How to Win a Nobel Prize by Barry Marshall, Bernard Caleo (illustrator) & with Lorna Hendry

    4

    How to Win a Nobel Prize
    by Barry Marshall, Bernard Caleo (illustrator) & with Lorna Hendry

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Gut Garden: A journey into the wonderful world of your microbiome by Katie Brosnan

    5

    Gut Garden: A journey into the wonderful world of your microbiome
    by Katie Brosnan

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2020 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Everyday Journeys Of Ordinary Things by Libby Deutsch & Valpuri Kerttula (illustrator)

    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

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).

    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Sheila Rowan

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - 100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers & Coding Alex Frith (illustrated by Federico Mariani and Parko Polo)

    1

    100 Things to Know About Numbers, Computers & Coding
    Alex Frith (illustrated by Federico Mariani and Parko Polo)

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes by Steve Mould

    2

    The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes
    by Steve Mould

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home Mike Barfield (illustrated by Lauren Humphrey)

    3

    The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home
    Mike Barfield (illustrated by Lauren Humphrey)

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars David Stabler (illustrated by Anoosha Syed)

    4

    Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars
    David Stabler (illustrated by Anoosha Syed)

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Planetarium: Welcome to the Museum Raman Prinja (illustrated by Chris Wormell)

    5

    Planetarium: Welcome to the Museum
    Raman Prinja (illustrated by Chris Wormell)

  • Read
    The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize - Making With States of Matter by Anna Claybourne

    6

    Making With States of Matter
    by Anna Claybourne

The Best Science Books for Kids: the 2019 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Sheila Rowan

If you’re looking for the best books to get kids excited about science, the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize is a great place to start. Physicist and astronomer Sheila Rowan, chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the fabulous books that made this year’s shortlist.

    The Best Science-based Novels for Children, recommended by Alom Shaha

  • Read
    The Best Science-based Novels for Children - The Diary of Curious Cuthbert by Jack Challoner

    1

    The Diary of Curious Cuthbert
    by Jack Challoner

  • Read
    The Best Science-based Novels for Children - The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge

    2

    The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
    by Christopher Edge

  • Read
    The Best Science-based Novels for Children - City of Ember (Book 1 of Book of Ember series) by Jeanne DuPrau

    3

    City of Ember (Book 1 of Book of Ember series)
    by Jeanne DuPrau

  • Read
    The Best Science-based Novels for Children - The Same Stuff As Stars by Katherine Paterson

    4

    The Same Stuff As Stars
    by Katherine Paterson

  • Read
    The Best Science-based Novels for Children - When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs

    5

    When the Wind Blows
    by Raymond Briggs

The Best Science-based Novels for Children, recommended by Alom Shaha

There are umpteen science textbooks out there to help kids with their science homework. But what about the broader picture, the creativity, the advantages of becoming a scientifically literate individual? Alom Shaha, teacher, filmmaker and science communicator, recommends five great novels to inspire your kids with the wonder of science.

    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Kate Lee (St Paul's Girls' School)

  • Read
    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe

    1

    Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
    by Randall Munroe

  • Read
    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Human Universe by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen

    2

    Human Universe
    by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen

  • Read
    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

    3

    The Right Stuff
    by Tom Wolfe

  • Read
    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman

    4

    Six Easy Pieces
    by Richard Feynman

  • Read
    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - The Large Hadron Collider Pop-up Book: Voyage to the Heart of Matter by Anton Radevsky and Emma Sanders

    5

    The Large Hadron Collider Pop-up Book: Voyage to the Heart of Matter
    by Anton Radevsky and Emma Sanders

The Best Physics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Kate Lee (St Paul's Girls' School)

What are the best books for getting a teenager into physics? Kate Lee, Head of Physics at St Paul’s Girls School, recommends books about NASA, space travel, and the Big Bang—and puzzles the question of why it is so hard for young women to stay in physics as a profession.

    The Best Psychology Books for Teens, recommended by Jessica Flitter, Laura Brandt & Nancy Fenton

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

    1

    Moonwalking with Einstein
    by Joshua Foer

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry by Jeffrey A. Lieberman & Ogi Ogas

    2

    Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry
    by Jeffrey A. Lieberman & Ogi Ogas

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

    3

    Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness
    by Susannah Cahalan

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - The Upside of Your Dark Side by Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan

    4

    The Upside of Your Dark Side
    by Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney

    5

    You Are Not So Smart
    by David McRaney

The Best Psychology Books for Teens, recommended by Jessica Flitter, Laura Brandt & Nancy Fenton

Three award-winning US high school psychology teachers—authors of the website Books for Psychology Class—share their recommendations of the best psychology books for teenagers, students and their teachers—and reflect on why storytelling is a key aspect of the art of teaching.

    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids

  • Read
    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids - How Your Body Works by Judy Hindley and Christopher Rawson

    1

    How Your Body Works
    by Judy Hindley and Christopher Rawson

  • Read
    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids - Dinosaur by David Norman

    2

    Dinosaur
    by David Norman

  • Read
    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids - The Boy’s Playbook of Science by John Henry Pepper

    3

    The Boy’s Playbook of Science
    by John Henry Pepper

  • Read
    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids - Uncle Albert and the Quantum Quest by Russell Stannard

    4

    Uncle Albert and the Quantum Quest
    by Russell Stannard

  • Read
    Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids - How to Turn Your Parents Green by James Russell

    5

    How to Turn Your Parents Green
    by James Russell

Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids

Children learn in many different ways and the best science books for young people reflect that, says science writer Alice Bell. She recommends some of her favourite science books for kids.

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