Helping children to understand science is the aim of the Aventis Science Prize for Children, run jointly by the Science Museum and Copus (the Committee on Public Understanding of Science of the Royal Society). The prize, for which a shortlist of six books has been selected by a panel of adults chaired by conservationist David Bellamy, is judged by pupils from 31 schools who will pick the book they feel does its job the best.
The problems of presenting scientific information in an accessible but non-patronising way, all the while keeping it simple yet not over-simplified, are legion, and the diverse approaches and styles of the shortlisted titles reflect very different solutions.
Richard Robinson's Brainwaves in the Bedroom (OUP, £3.99) is one of a series of indoor tricks for the different rooms of the house. The combination of simple scientific principles - like the optical illusion that makes us think a vertical line is longer than a horizontal one because of our natural fear of falling - with paper and pencil tricks which can be simply played on friends and family, teaches effortlessly. The fun factor far outweighs any sense of instruction.
Phil Gates's Evolve or Die (Scholastic, £3.99) is one of the Horrible Science series that uses the successful approach of Horrible Histories. Again, the emphasis is on fun and the attractive way the story is told, helped by cartoon illustrations, will be the initial lure. But the science is sound, too, exploring the issues around evolution including a long account of Darwin's views and their implications.
The Usborne First Encyclopedia of our World (Usborne, £8.99) has a more traditional, textbook feel. Split into double-page spreads, it covers the key topics in physical geography from the formation of the world to pollution today. Well-labelled illustrations help to explain the scientific facts, making it an easy but absorbing introduction to science.
Martin Redfern's The Kingfisher Book of Planet Earth (Kingfisher, £14.99) examines how the planet was formed by looking at the forces of nature. The text reflects the excitement - and violence - of the earth's ever-changing make-up.
Read all about it - hot headlines flag up new developments in space discovery in Michael Johnstone's The History News (Walker, £10.99). Eye-catching newspaper spreads chart observations of space from Ptolemy to Hubble with suitable illustrations for each period.
It is the astonishing quality and detail of the photographs in Peter Bond's DK Guide to Space (Dorling Kindersley, £12.99) that make it so irresistible. It includes the latest images from the Hubble telescope revealing every blemish on the planets and capturing the amazing moments of the birth and death of a star.
The winning book will receive the £10,000 prize at a ceremony at the Science Museum on May 23.
Lyn Garner's selection of the best books for kids is on Books Unlimited's children's library special report.
