Discover how an insect diet could help the planet, how soaring skyscrapers reach beyond the clouds, and how the women that dared to think differently contributed to life-changing scientific discoveries, with the shortlist of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize.

The prize celebrates the very best science books for under-14s and aims to encourage young readers to satisfy their curiosity by immersing themselves in the wonderful world of science.

A shortlisting panel made up of scientists, an actor, a teacher, and authors has whittled down dozens of titles to six of the year’s most fascinating books.

The shortlist will now be sent out to over 700 UK schools, science clubs and groups, where more than 15,000 young judges will pore over the pages before declaring their winner.

The winning book will be unveiled at an online awards ceremony in March 2023.

Professor Alan Wilson, Fellow of the Royal Society and Chair of this year’s Young People’s Book Prize adult judging panel, said: “The shortlist this year will take you all the way from the top of the tallest skyscraper to the underground den of a family of wolves. I am pleased to see the exciting range of books available, and I hope the young judges enjoy the shortlist as much as we did.”

The shortlisted books for the Young People’s Book Prize 2022 are:

Beetles for Breakfast...and Other Weird and Wonderful Ways to Save The Planet by Madeleine Finlay, illustrated by Jisu Choi

Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories by Kate Pankhurst

Fourteen Wolves by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Jenni Desmond

How Was That Built? by Roma Agrawal, illustrated by Katie Hickey

If the World Were 100 People by Jackie McCann, illustrated by Aaron Cushley

Microbe Wars by Gill Arbuthnott, illustrated by Marianna Madriz