The winners of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F (Science Book & Film) Book Awards were announced in January. Yes, that was a few months ago, but you can imagine how annoyed I have been that I’ve not had a chance to write anything about it!
The 2015 prizes recognize efforts in four categories: Children’s Science Picture Books, Middle Grades Science Books, Young Adult Science Books, and Hands-on Science Books. Winners will receive $1,500 and a plaque on 13 February during the 2015 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Jose, California.
Editor in Chief, Maria Sosa noted:
This year’s competition was intense,” she said. “Publishers and authors have certainly upped their game with this year’s offerings. It bodes well for the integration of reading and science in formal and informal science education.
These awards began in 2005 and have highlighted some excellent titles in the promotion and engagement of kids into science. I featured last year’s winners and look forward to covering the previous decade of winners. I’ve also tried to interview the authors and illustrators. Check them out by following the links below 🙂
Click here for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Press Release
WINNING CHILDREN’S SCIENCE PICTURE BOOK
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton
Find out how the smallest things on the planet do some of the biggest jobs in this intriguing introduction to the world of microbes. All around the world — in the sea, in the soil, in the air, and in your body — there are living things so tiny that millions could fit on an ant’s antenna. They’re busy doing all sorts of things, from giving you a cold and making yogurt to eroding mountains and helping to make the air we breathe. If you could see them with your eye, you’d find that they all look different, and that they’re really good at changing things into something else and at making many more microbes like themselves! From Nicola Davies comes a first exploration for young readers of the world’s tiniest living organisms.
WINNING MIDDLE GRADES SCIENCE BOOK
Learn about what it takes to send humans to Mars–from spacesuits and rovers to surviving subzero temperatures and raging dust storms. The United States plans to send astronauts to Mars around 2035, and MISSION: MARS shows kids how they could start training to join the first crew to the Red Planet! The author, a leading Mars expert, shows the “Future Mars Explorers” the latest designs for spacesuits and exploration rovers. Readers will also learn how to navigate a spaceship, search for alien life, and get an up-close look at some of the world’s leading space scientists at work. MISSION: MARS is visually-driven and written in exciting kid-friendly language. It acts as both a training manual and a reference book for future Mars explorers!
WINNING YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE BOOK
Extreme Medicine: How Exploration Transformed Medicine in the Twentieth Century by Kevin Fong
Kevin Fong is an anesthesiologist who is also trained in intensive care medicine. His work involves researching how humans survive extremes such as heat, cold, and trauma in environments that include outer space and the deep sea. In Extreme Medicine, Fong’s strong narrative voice and his likening of medical discovery to extreme geographical exploration immerse the reader fully into a discussion of science, medical practice, and innovation. He offers compelling stories of doctors and patients that include just enough detail to contextualize and educate without overwhelming, making this book a perfect choice for teen and young adult readers. Fong begins his story with the explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s death by freezing in Antarctica in 1912 and ends with the medical issues presented by a future manned trip to Mars. His passion for his work as a doctor and his clear compassion for the ill (or harmed) shows in every case he describes. His curiosity taps the reader’s curiosity. And, more than anything else, the unanswered questions invite young readers into the challenge of charting the future path of medicine.
WINNING HANDS-ON SCIENCE BOOK
Kids Guide to Exploring Nature (BBG Guides for a Greener Planet) by Brooklyn Botanic Garden Educators and Illustrated by László Veres
This gorgeously illustrated guide calls on children to look closely at the world around them through 24 “adventures” that invite readers to explore the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park. Detailed, scientifically based drawings help young scientists identify hundreds of North American plants and animals, while dozens of fun projects include keeping a journal, conducting field experiments, and exploring nature with all five senses. The activities are organized by season and the book also includes summaries of common careers, such as nature educator and field biologist.
Science Book a Day 