York author’s first book shortlisted for prestigious award

Buzzing!, by Anneliese Emmans Dean, is one of six books shortlisted for the prestigious prize which celebrates the best English-language books that communicate science to young people up to the age of 14.

“I’m thrilled to be shortlisted for this important prize,” said Anneliese, whose Buzzing! book was also was nominated for the 2013 Carnegie Medal. “Last year’s winner was a book by Professor Lord Robert Winston!”

Buzzing! marries science with humorous poems and colourful close-up photos – most of which Anneliese took in her small garden in York – to create a book that aims to “edu-tain” six to 12 year olds about the amazing wildlife we all have on our doorsteps.

The judging panel, consisting of five eminent scientists, science communicators and educationalists, described the book as “buzzing with interesting science facts and wonderful poetry. Each page features a different British minibeast that you might find in your back garden, with a funny poem about them”.

Chair of the panel, Professor John Goodby FRS, said: “This year’s books have shown how science can become the subject of beautiful poems, be the object of wonderful works of art, and all the time stretching minds, young and old.”

Copies of all six shortlisted books are being sent out to groups of young people nationwide, who will cast their vote for the ultimate winner to be announced on November 11.

Buzzing! has a foreword by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and is published by Brambleby Books. “It’s heartening that a book published by a small independent publisher is able to compete against books published by big, mainstream publishers,” Anneliese said.

Buzzing! is available from bookshops and online at Amazon and at Anneliese’s website, where you can also see sample pages and download a free teachers’ resource all about bumblebees.