Optical Illusions wins Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize

A book about optical illusions has beaten off competition from titles about space and dinosaurs to win this year’s £10,000 Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize.

Optical Illusions by visual artist and author team Gianni A. Sarcone and Marie-Jo Waeber, published by QED Publishing, features illusions and tricks that deceive the eye, but also explains the science behind the images and encourages young readers to create their own optic art.

The book was chosen as the winner by 6,000 young people who voted from 360 schools and youth groups in the UK.

Professor Yadvinder Malhi, who chaired the judging process, said: “Optical Illusions draws you in from the moment you open it. It manages to combine instant appeal of some wonderful and mind-blowing optical illusions with just the right level of explanation that explains the science behind the illusion. As such it has something for every age from four to 14, and indeed for adults as well. It both entertains and educates in some surprising ways, and is a worthy winner of the Young People’s Book Prize.”

The other shortlisted authors titles, whose creators received £2,500, were: Exploring Space by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Walker Books); Scientist Academy by Steve Martin, illustrated by Essi Kimpimäki (Ivy Kids); Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky (Hachette Children's Group); Lonely Planet Kids' Dinosaur Atlas by Anne Rooney, illustrated by James Gilleard (Lonely Planet Kids); and Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum (Walker Studio).