More than 11,000 young judges helped choose a comic-style journey through prehistoric life.
Dated news brief · April 20, 2026
Illustrative photograph, not an image of the specific event or discovery reported. Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash.
Mike Barfield's The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals, illustrated by Paula Bossio, won the Royal Society's 2025 children's science-book prize. The result was announced in Bradford in April 2026.
More than 11,000 young readers chose the winner from six books shortlisted by adult experts. They read, discussed and compared the contenders before voting.
The winning book uses comics to explore several eras of prehistoric life, reaching beyond dinosaurs. The prize celebrates science books for readers under 14. Judges welcomed a format suited both to browsing and to reading from beginning to end.
A conversation to try
Ask your reader what makes a factual book inviting: a picture, a surprising detail or a funny caption. Their answer can guide the next library browse. Choosing one interesting page can be a satisfying start.
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