We’re thrilled to see that Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Emily Sutton is on the Young People’s Book Prize shortlist.

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

A panel of five judges selected this year’s shortlist: Hollywood science advisor and dinosaur expert Professor Steve Brusatte, award-winning children’s author and illustrator Helen Cooper, brain scientist and Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow Dr Betina Ip, primary school teacher and science lead Vicky Walsh and volcano expert Professor Tamsin Mather FRS, who chairs the panel.

On Green, Professor Tamsin Mather FRS said: “This book is a great showcase of the visual language of science. The illustrations are beautiful, and the drawing of a cross-section of the leaf especially won me over. The 4.5-billion-year story of our now green planet, told by the pictures and relatively simple text, is a rich opportunity to share the science of plants and a deeper understanding of ecology with younger children.”

The full shortlist will now be sent out to over 600 schools, youth groups, and reading clubs across the UK who will read, discuss and ultimately choose the winner out of the six shortlisted books. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in April 2026. To see the full shortlist, click here.