ASE Book of the Year 2025 Winners
We are delighted to announce the winners of ASE's Book of the Year awards 2025, the tenth year of the award designed to celebrate science writing that educates and inspires science learners of all ages.
Following record numbers of submissions across all categories, our reviewers worked hard to narrow down a shortlist for each of our three categories: Primary, Secondary and Textbook. All shortlisted titles are highly commended and can be viewed by clicking the button below.
We would like to thank all those who submitted their titles as well as our reviewers and panellists for their work in narrowing down a very competitive set of submissions to shortlists and finally winners.
For more details on the awards, please visit our Book of the Year homepage.
Primary Category Winner
EUREK-HER! Stories of Inspirational Women in STEM
By Frances Durkin, Illustrated by Nur Ventura
In this book, 20 inspirational women from ancient Mesopotamia to the modern day, from all around the world and using many different forms of science, show readers how female scientists and inventors throughout history have turned their ideas into important inventions and discoveries that still help and inspire people today. The book also includes 12 experiments/activities for readers to try at home.
Our reviewers said:
“A super range of female STEM role models both historic and contemporary from a range of backgrounds, countries and areas of STEM. The illustrations are bright, colourful and clear with images of the characters and their discovery or invention."
“I think illuminating the world of STEM to the younger female generation is so important, if we are going to inspire girls/women into science-based jobs. It makes the appeal of working with a STEM-based career appealing and really chooses some excellent trailblazers to show this, from a range of different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities.”
“There are a really wide range of women and their stories described in the book, including many that were new to me. The stories included date from the beginning of recorded history to modern day and come from all across the world. For each woman’s story, there are also notes on the science behind it, a link to a scientific career and, for most, a linked ‘try at home’ activity’.”
Secondary Category Winner
Explodapedia: The Brain
By Ben Martynoga, Illustrated by Moose Allain
Explodapedia is an exploded encyclopaedia – everything you need to know, one book at a time! In The Brain, you’ll meet the pioneer scientists who first peered inside our skulls, and explore fascinating and vital topics such as how social media impacts our mental health. It’s a fresh approach to non-fiction, taking key scientific subjects and presenting them in a way that’s hugely entertaining and readable, whilst still presenting reliable, serious, and in-depth information that will help readers gain a true and lasting understanding of these crucial topics. This book will help you maximise your understanding of our miraculous minds!
Our reviewers said:
“Wonderful book, written by a neuroscientist, covering many aspects of brain structure & function in an entertaining and informative way. It’s a ‘serious’ graphic novel, with cartoon images, speech bubbles etc, lots of jokes too.
“[It makes] a positive contribution to the mental health crisis affecting some young people”
“I read this book with my 10-year-old daughter and we both really enjoyed it [she] particularly enjoyed the jokes and was able to explain what she was reading”
Textbook Category Winner
Science Fix
By Danny Nicholson
Science Fix is a practical, easy-to-use guide that supports primary teachers in delivering engaging science lessons with confidence. Danny Nicholson clearly explains each area of the primary science curriculum, building teachers’ subject knowledge while offering practical strategies, clear planning advice, and ready-to-use activities that encourage scientific thinking in the classroom. By tackling common misconceptions and focusing on what it really means to work scientifically, this book equips teachers with the tools they need to help children explore, question, and learn like young scientists.
Our reviewers said:
“An essential book for all trainee teachers and would be a useful addition for science subject leaders to have in their grasp to support their ideas for additional links to sustainability and valuable websites and sources of support and information but also to help guide and encourage other teachers too”
“An excellent and thorough guide for primary science which includes working scientifically, misconceptions and a varied list of scientists from a range of different backgrounds.”
