ASE Book of the Year Award

Submissions for 2024 are now closed

The winners of ASE Book of the Year 2024 can be viewed on our news page.

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2024!

Thanks to all those submitted. This page will be updated when the 2025 submissions open.

Criteria for title submission

Please read terms below before entering Updated May 2024

The science content must be accurate and up to date
The publication needs to be considered useful to teachers of science
Textbooks and exam board-specific material will not be accepted
It must have been published in the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
Books must be submitted written in the English language
8 physical copies of the book must be provided to ASE for review (details on the submission form)
Unfortunately NO eBooks can be accepted
Provide a link to where the book is available for purchase (these will be used in any promotion around BOTY)
Any queries should be sent to: lauratownsend@ase.org.uk
By submitting to the ASE Book of the Year you are agreeing to the above criteria and terms
Deadline to receive all books for entry is Friday 12th July 2024 (we must recieve the physical copies by this date to be consider for entry)

Please note: ASE will no longer purchase copies of book for sale as part of BOTY, and instead will ask for a link that directs to where the book is available for purchase. All promotions of BOTY books will be directed to this link.

Terms and conditions

The Panel's decision on the eligibility of an entry is final.
Entries must be made by the publisher of the book
Entries must have an English language version published between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.
There is no restriction on the location of publishers. There are no restrictions on the nationality, age or any other characteristic of the author/s.
Publishers may submit up to 5 entries.
There is no charge to enter.
The author/s of the book will be the recipient of the award.
Books must be submitted by the publisher and any submission will be taken as agreement for the work to be considered.
The publishers must be able to give the ASE permission to promote the book as part of BOTY 2024.
The review panel is appointed by the ASE. The judge’s decision is final.
In the event of a book being shortlisted for the Award, publishers agree that they will supply a book synopsis, author biography, photograph of the author and book cover (licensed for royalty-free use and distribution).
Publishers will be allowed to acknowledge the Award in subsequent reprints, editions and marketing of shortlisted and winning books.
No books submitted will be returned to the publishers.
The Award has no monetary value.
Deadline to receive all books for entry is Friday 12th July 2024 (we must recieve the physical copies by this date to be consider for entry)

2023 Winners

Primary Category

WINNER

Gary Vity By Jules Pottle, Illustrated by Rufus Cooper

This is the story of Rosa. Rosa’s mind is always busy. When she finds out that the mysterious Gary Vity is playing tricks on her, she wonders what she can do about it. With the help of her grandmother, she goes in search of Gary Vity and what she learns changes her life forever.

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HIGHLY COMMENDED

Darwin and Hooker By Alexandra Stewart, Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Across many years, countless adventures and numerous letters, this captivating and wonderfully illustrated book tells the story of one of greatest friendships to happen to science. Publishing in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this book will show children how teamwork, curiosity, openness and trust can be the greatest tools a scientist will ever need.

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Secondary Category

This year two winners have been selected in the Secondary Category for the award. The books were very different from each other be equally compelling and as such both were picked to be the winning books.

WINNER

Organs, Systems, and Surgery (Oxford Biology Primers Series) By William Fullick and James Fullick

Written primarily for 16-19-year-old students, this primer covers the anatomy and physiology of the key organ systems in the human body. It provides students with an overview of the anatomical details and physiological principles of the organ systems of the body and discusses the pathophysiology of common diseases that can affect them.

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WINNER

The Gene – What Makes You, You? By Ben Martynoga, Illustrated by Moose Allain

Based on up-to-the-minute science, The Gene explores how these tiny tangles of DNA build and operate all living things. See what genes can reveal about you, and find out how today’s scientists ‘edit’ genes. Will these breakthroughs help or harm our future?

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HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Cell – The Heart of All Life By Ben Martynoga. Illustrated by Moose Allain

Packed with up-to-the-minute science, The Cell confronts the biggest mysteries of the microscopic marvels that sustain the living world. Can cells save our planet next?

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Reader's Choice

We also introduced the Reader Choice award for 2023 and it has been wonderful to receive such great feedback from all those that voted.

Primary Category

WINNER

Paper World: Human Body By Ruth Symons, Designed and Paper engineered by Richard Ferguson, Illustrated by Gail Armstrong

Uses ingenious paper cuts to reveal the wonders of the human body, from lifting the lid on your brain, to following the journey of a single bite of food! With detailed art by paper-cut artist Gail Armstrong, a fact-packed text, and flaps and die-cuts on every spread, this unique novelty book for children 7 plus will surely appeal to all the family.

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Secondary Category

WINNER

Organs, Systems, and Surgery (Oxford Biology Primers Series) By William Fullick and James Fullick

Written primarily for 16-19-year-old students, this primer covers the anatomy and physiology of the key organ systems in the human body. It provides students with an overview of the anatomical details and physiological principles of the organ systems of the body and discusses the pathophysiology of common diseases that can affect them.

View Book

ASE Book of the Year 2023 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2022

Primary Category


Gary Vity	The Tigers’ Tale: A conservation stor	The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions – Real Life Adventures in Curiosity	Paper World: Human Body: A fact-packed novelty book with 40 flaps to lift!
by Jules Pottle (Author), R. Thomas (Illustrator)	by Catherine Barr(Author), Tara Anand (Illustrator)	by Isabel Thomas(Author), Aaron Cushley (Illustrator)	by Ruth Symons (Author), Gail Armstrong (Illustrator)
This is the story of Rosa. Rosa’s mind is always busy. When she finds out that the mysterious Gary Vity is playing tricks on her, she wonders what she can do about it. With the help of her grandmother, she goes in search of Gary Vity and what she learns changes her life forever.	Magnificent, powerful and mysterious, the tiger is one of the world’s most iconic animals. It is also one of most endangered. For hundreds of years, these exceptional beasts have been hunted, pushing them to the brink of extinction. How can we save them?	The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions tackles the weird and wonderful questions that pop into kids’ heads right before they fall asleep, making it the perfect book to delve into before bed!	With detailed art by paper-cut artist Gail Armstrong, a fact-packed text, and flaps and die-cuts on every spread, this unique novelty book for children 7 plus will surely appeal to all the family.

Secondary Category


Organs, Systems, and Surgery (Oxford Biology Primers)	EXPLODAPEDIA: The Gene: What Makes You, You?	Explodapedia: The Cell: The Heart of All Life
by William Fullick and James Fullick (Authors)	by Ben Martynoga (Author), Moose Allain (Illustrator)	by Ben Martynoga (Author), Moose Allain (Illustrator)
Written primarily for 16-19-year-old students, this primer covers the anatomy and physiology of the key organ systems in the human body. It provides students with an overview of the anatomical details and physiological principles of the organ systems of the body and discusses the pathophysiology of common diseases that can affect them.	Based on up-to-the-minute science, The Gene explores how these tiny tangles of DNA build and operate all living things. See what genes can reveal about you, and find out how today’s scientists ‘edit’ genes. Will these breakthroughs help or harm our future?	Packed with up-to-the-minute science, The Cell confronts the biggest mysteries of the microscopic marvels that sustain the living world. Can cells save our planet next?

ASE Book of the Year 2022 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2022


A Walk in the Woods: A Changing Seasons Story	Inside Animal	RSPB Nature Guide: Minibeasts	Our Time on Earth: From the Mayfly to the Immortal Jellyfish
by Flora Martyn (Author), Hannah Tolson (Illustrator)	by Barbara Taylor (Author), Margaux Carpentier (Illustrator)	by Catherine Brereton (Author), Kate McLelland (Illustrator)	by Lily Murray (Author), Jesse Hodgson (Illustrator)
Come rain or shine, Oscar and Lucy walk Jasper the dog every day. In spring, the world is waking up. On hot summer afternoons picnics are a joy to have. On autumn evenings, the sky turns black and minibeasts find their perfect hiding spots. Winter mornings are frosty and cold. Spot all the nature elements that make woodland walks so special!	Did you know that a frog can stop its heart from beating? Or that an elephant's tooth is heavier than a brick? Or that the brain of an ostrich is smaller than its eyeball? 21 cross-sections show how skeletons, organs, nerves and muscles fit together inside creatures from across the globe. Each creature has its own unique body to help it survive and thrive in the wild.	Minibeasts are everywhere to be found! From gorgeous orange-tip butterflies to the fierce looking stag beetle, get ready to find out about over 190 different minibeasts and bugs. There are so many wonderful living things to meet in this children's spotter's guide, published in collaboration with the RSPB.	This breath-taking title provides a unique and beautiful insight into one of the most taboo subjects in biology – animal lifespans. Beginning with the very shortest (the mayfly, which lives for just a few hours), and ending with the death-defying immortal jellyfish, the book is far from bleak – it is in fact a celebration of life, and gives an absolutely fascinating account of these creatures' habitats, features and habits.

ASE Book of the Year 2021 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2021


A Trip to the Future	Prehistoric Pets	Fox: A Circle of Life Story	Train Your Brain: Think Like a Scientist
By Moira Butterfield	By Dean Lomax	By Isabel Thomas Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus	By Alex Woolf
From floating cities to colonies on far-off planets, each spread will take the reader further and further from home. Stunning full-page spreads create an immersive feel.	We take a close look at our pets, from guinea pigs to cats to horses, and - as if they were furry time machines - use fossil facts to trace them back to their prehistoric animal ancestors.	Brings together story and science to explain this big concept to children who have lost a pet or a loved one, or who simply are curious about death and what happens after we die.	Children's brains are powerful and flexible, but they need exercising and challenging to develop. In this book they will uncover the core skills that can make a good scientist great.

ASE Book of the Year 2020 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2020


A Climate in Chaos	Do You Love Bugs?	Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet	Wildhood
By Neal Layton	By Matt Robertson	By Kate Pankhurst	By Barbara Natterson
Our world is warming up, and it's a big problem. Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain what climate change is, what's causing it and why it's dangerous for animals and humans alike.	Find out how honey bees make their honey, why moths always fly around lamps and how bombardier beetles protect themselves from hungry predators.	Brings together story and science to explain this big concept to children who have lost a pet or a loved one, or who simply are curious about death and what happens after we die.	Examine the four universal challenges that every adolescent on our planet must face on the journey to adulthood: how to be safe, how to navigate hierarchy, how to court potential mates, and how to leave the nest.

ASE Book of the Year 2019 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2019


The Molliebird: An Evolution Story	If Polar Bears Disappeared	The Element in the Room	Highly Commended -The Problem with Plastic
By Jules Pottle	By Lily Williams	By Mike Barfield & Lauren Humphrey	By Ruth Owen
After a natural disaster that leaves her badly camouflaged in her surroundings, the bright blue Molliebird becomes desperate for her babies to survive.	The Arctic is home to many different kinds of animals. They can be strong like a walrus, tough like a lemming and sometimes hard to see like a polar bear. But now their habitat is melting at an alarming rate.	Brings together story and science to explain this big concept to children who have lost a pet or a loved one, or who simply are curious about death and what happens after we die.	Children's brains are powerful and flexible, but they need exercising and challenging to develop. In this book they will uncover the core skills that can make a good scientist great.

ASE Book of the Year 2018 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2018


The DNA Detectives: To Catch a Thief	The End of Epidemics	The Poo That Animals Do	Destroy This Book in the Name of Science
By Mandy Hartley	By Jonathan D Quick	By Paul Mason and Tony De Saulles	By Mike Barfield
The first book in the ‘DNA Detectives’ series. The story is based on a famous five style adventure where the characters use DNA to solve a crime. In addition to the exciting storyline readers will learn about DNA, cells and forensic science.	Somewhere out there, a super virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a bird, bat, monkey, or pig, preparing to jump to a human being. This as-yet-undetected germ has the potential to kill more than 300 million people and reduce global GDP by 5–10%.	A fascinating insight into the world of animal poo – with “strange but poo” facts, from the smelliest, biggest, smallest, and most expensive poo to poo camouflage and keeping warm, discover all there is to know about animal poo and its uses, supported by real science.	Is the ultimate activity-based book, perfect for curious children who are inspired by cool science, with fascinating information, colouring and doodling activities to complete

ASE Book of the Year 2017 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2017


I love This Tree	Lost Science: Astonishing Tales Of Forgotten Genius	The Best Ways To Teach Primary Science	Roller-coaster Ride Around the Body
By Anna Claybourne	By Kitty Ferguson	By Michael Allen	By Gabby Dawnay
A book which looks at the life of an old living deciduous tree and through it explores the amazing life of a tree and the creatures that inhabit it. Using a mixture of photos and artwork the book shows how the tree has changed and how it acts as a habitat for other life.	Acclaimed popular-science writer Kitty Ferguson investigates little-explored by-roads in the history of science, from Johannes Kepler’s nearly disastrous venture into the realm of science fiction to a mid-20th-century experiment involving cats and rocket fuel.	Drawing on the significant body of research carried out over the past 35 years, the book provides valuable evidence about which tried-and-tested approaches enhance learning and help children actually learn science.	Jump on board and take a ride around the human body on our read-aloud, rollicking rollercoaster. Created by CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominees Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow, prepare to take your inquisitive youngster on a visually led, fast-paced rhythmic trip.

ASE Book of the Year 2016 Shortlist

Below is the short list for ASE Book of the Year 2016


The Abyss of Time	Self-Destructing Science: Space	Exploring Science with Young Children
By Paul Lyle	By Isabel Thomas	By Terry Russell and Linda McGuigan
Geologists are among that group of scientists who must factor the passage of time into their investigations and they thus have a perspective on time that sets them apart from many other researchers. The proposition that geological time is vast, encompassing thousands of millions of years, is relatively recent.	Warning: this book will self-destruct! Packed full of fun and exciting projects which use its pages in different ways, this book will have you tearing, folding, cutting, experimenting and scribbling as you find out all about the wonders of space.	Science in the early years is about more than developing understanding of key scientific concepts. It is about encouraging imagination, creativity and curiosity and nurturing key scientific skills to form a firm base for learning.

ASE Book of the Year Award