TheGold Shelf

Nature and science books for ages 9 to 12

57 award-winning books for ages 9 to 12. Seasons, oceans, space, plants and how things work.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals112Adventure205Fantasy and magic203Funny books85Family182Friendship87History and real people398Nature and science57Folktales and fairy tales62Poetry and rhyme48Feelings and big moments101

57 books

Cover of Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun BearWinner2023Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun BearTrang Nguyen2023 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of October, OctoberWinner2022October, OctoberKatya Balen2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Lost WordsWinner2019The Lost WordsRobert Macfarlane2019 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Grand CanyonHonor2018Grand CanyonJason Chin2018 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of How to BeeWinner2018How to BeeBren MacDibble2018 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of One Small Island: The Story of Macquarie IslandWinner2012One Small Island: The Story of Macquarie IslandAlison Lester and Coral Tulloch2012 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the NightHonor2011Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the NightJoyce Sidman2011 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Evolution of Calpurnia TateHonor2010The Evolution of Calpurnia TateJacqueline Kelly2010 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael CollinsHonor2004The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael CollinsBea Uusma Schyffert2004 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of HootHonor2003HootCarl Hiaasen2003 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Joyful Noise: Poems for Two VoicesWinner1989Joyful Noise: Poems for Two VoicesPaul Fleischman1989 Newbery Medal winnerCover of HatchetHonor1988HatchetGary Paulsen1988 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. HelensHonor1987Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. HelensPatricia Lauber1987 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Sugaring TimeHonor1984Sugaring TimeKathryn Lasky1984 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Incident at Hawk's HillHonor1972Incident at Hawk's HillAllan W. Eckert1972 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Ash RoadWinner1966Ash RoadIvan Southall1966 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of My Side of the MountainHonor1960My Side of the MountainJean Craighead George1960 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Miracles on Maple HillWinner1957Miracles on Maple HillVirginia Sorensen1957 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Men, Microscopes, and Living ThingsHonor1956Men, Microscopes, and Living ThingsKatherine Shippen1956 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Minn of the MississippiHonor1952Minn of the MississippiHolling C. Holling1952 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Big TreeHonor1947Big TreeMary & Conrad Buff1947 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Little Grey MenWinner1942The Little Grey MenBB1942 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Jane's IslandHonor1932Jane's IslandMarjorie Hill Allee1932 Newbery Medal Honor BookDEEP: Delve into hidden worldsJess McGeachinWinner2023DEEP: Delve into hidden worldsJess McGeachin2023 Eve Pownall Award winnerAmazing Animals of Australia's National ParksGina M. NewtonWinner2017Amazing Animals of Australia's National ParksGina M. Newton2017 Eve Pownall Award winnerTo the Moon and Back: The Amazing Australians at the Forefront of Space Travel Plus Fantastic Moon FactsJackie French with Bryan SullivanWinner2005To the Moon and Back: The Amazing Australians at the Forefront of Space Travel Plus Fantastic Moon FactsJackie French with Bryan Sullivan2005 Eve Pownall Award winnerKiller Plants and How to Grow ThemGordon Cheers and Julie SilkWinner1997Killer Plants and How to Grow ThemGordon Cheers and Julie Silk1997 Eve Pownall Award winnerThe Making of ManIan Wolfran CornwallWinner1960The Making of ManIan Wolfran Cornwall1960 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerAircraft of Today and TomorrowJames H. Martin and W. D. MartinWinner1953Aircraft of Today and TomorrowJames H. Martin and W. D. Martin1953 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerThe Australia BookEve PownallWinner1952The Australia BookEve Pownall1952 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerThe Story of Karrawingi the EmuLeslie ReesWinner1946The Story of Karrawingi the EmuLeslie Rees1946 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerRunner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis AgassizMabel RobinsonHonor1940Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis AgassizMabel Robinson1940 Newbery Medal Honor BookAudubonConstance RourkeHonor1937AudubonConstance Rourke1937 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of BeraniFinalist2023BeraniMichelle Kadarusman2023 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Where My Wellies Take MeShortlist2014Where My Wellies Take MeMichael Morpurgo and Clare Morpurgo2014 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Can We Save the Tiger? (nonfiction)Shortlist2012Can We Save the Tiger? (nonfiction)Martin Jenkins2012 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of A Bone from a Dry SeaCommended1992A Bone from a Dry SeaPeter Dickinson1992 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Incredible Cross-SectionsShortlist1992Incredible Cross-SectionsRichard Platt1992 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Awaiting DevelopmentsCommended1988Awaiting DevelopmentsJudy Allen1988 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Exploring the Night SkyFinalist1987Exploring the Night SkyTerence Dickinson1987 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Everyday InventionsCommended1973Everyday InventionsMeredith Hooper1973 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedCover of February DragonCommended1966February DragonColin Thiele1966 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedCover of The Orchestra and Its InstrumentsCommended1965The Orchestra and Its InstrumentsC. Headington1965 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Storm BoyCommended1964Storm BoyColin Thiele1964 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedCover of The Latchkey ChildrenCommended1963The Latchkey ChildrenEric Allan1963 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Silver Brumby's DaughterCommended1961Silver Brumby's DaughterElyne Mitchell1961 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedCover of The Silver BrumbyCommended1959The Silver BrumbyElyne Mitchell1959 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedThe Tragic Tale of the Great AukJan ThornhillFinalist2017The Tragic Tale of the Great AukJan Thornhill2017 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistThe Last Great DinosaursMonty ReidFinalist1991The Last Great DinosaursMonty Reid1991 Governor General's Award (text) finalistWhale SingerWelwyn Wilton KatzFinalist1990Whale SingerWelwyn Wilton Katz1990 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCricket the Australian WayJack PollardCommended1969Cricket the Australian WayJack Pollard1969 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedThe Wonderland of NatureNuri MassCommended1965The Wonderland of NatureNuri Mass1965 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedAustralian and New Zealand Ships of TodayFrank NortonCommended1959Australian and New Zealand Ships of TodayFrank Norton1959 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedMan Must Measure: The Wonderful World of MathematicsLancelot HogbenCommended1955Man Must Measure: The Wonderful World of MathematicsLancelot Hogben1955 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedBeetles A'Hoy!Ada JacksonCommended1948Beetles A'Hoy!Ada Jackson1948 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedBush CobbersMusette MorellCommended1948Bush CobbersMusette Morell1948 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedThe Story of Shadow, the Rock WallabyLeslie ReesCommended1948The Story of Shadow, the Rock WallabyLeslie Rees1948 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commended