Best Books in Science - Finalists Announced for 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize

The finalists for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books have been announced. This prize "celebrates outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults."

Children's Science Picture Book

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
written by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm, illustrated by Molly Bang
(Visit Molly Bang's web site for more information.)

Redwoods
written and illustrated by Jason Chin
(See the review at Seven Imp and check out the book's web site.)

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
written and illustrated by Brian Floca
(Read my review.)

What Bluebirds Do
written and photographed by Pamela Kirby
(Read my review.)

Middle Grades Science Book

Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon
written by Andrew Chaikin and illustrated by Alan Bean

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past
written by James M. Deem

Cars on Mars: Roving the Red Planet
written by Alexandra Siy

Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From
written by Catherine Thimmesh

The Frog Scientist
written by Pamela S. Turner, with photographs by Andy Comins

Young Adult Science Book

Invisible Kingdom: From the Tips of Our Fingers to the Tops of Our Trash, Inside the Curious World of Microbes
written by Idah Ben-Barak

Why Sh*t Happens: The Science of a Really Bad Day
written by Peter J. Bentley

The Survivor's Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life
written by Ben Sherwood

Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
written by Seth Shostak, with a foreword by Frank Drake

Hands-on Science Book

Sadly, the judges and editors are choosing not to award a prize in the hands-on category this year, feeling that there were no hands-on science books that met the high standards of the SB&F Prize. Instead of honoring a single book, they will be giving a lifetime achievement award to a hands-on science book author for "their significant and lasting contribution to children's and a young adult science books." The recipient of that award will be announced in early January.

There are many terrific titles here, along with a few I haven't seen. (The Frog Scientist has been on my TBR for too long now!) While waiting for the winners to be announced, I'll be reading through these and making my best guess about the outcome. Won't you join me?