Am I Made of Stardust? Dr Maggie Answers the Big Questions for Young Scientists by Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock is the winner of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2023. The selection was announced in an online award ceremony on March 19. Watch the livestream now.

Picked by more than 12,000 school age judges across the UK, Am I Made of Stardust?  launches young readers through the wonders of the universe, past our moon and solar system towards distant galaxies and faraway planets.

In the book, Dr Maggie and her trusty robot assistant IQ are on hand to answer their readers’ burning questions, from “What would happen if I fell into a black hole?” to “Does it really rain diamonds on Jupiter?”.

Over the last few months hundreds of school and youth group judging panels across the UK pored over the six shortlisted science books, which spanned prehistoric living, deadly creatures, bugs, brains and bogies, before picking their favorite. The shortlist was compiled by a panel of scientists, teachers and famous faces including NHS pediatrician and TV presenter Dr. Ranj Singh and bestselling author MG Leonard. 

The other shortlisted works were:

• A Bug’s World by Dr Erica McAlister, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Wren and Rook)
• Bodies, Brains and Bogies by Dr Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Steve Brown (Welbeck Children’s Books)
• Ben Rothery’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals by Ben Rothery (Ladybird)
• Live Like a Hunter Gatherer by Naomi Walmsley, illustrated by Mia Underwood (Button Books)
• Step Inside Science: Germs by Sarah Hull, illustrated by Teresa Bellón (Usborne Publishing Ltd)

Each shortlisted author receives £2,500, with a grand prize of £10,000 for the winner.

[Based on a press release.]