Science teachers and mentors continue to be challenged to meet the high expectations of "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" and the "Next Generation Science Standards" ("NGSS"). Indeed the "Framework" urges to help learners "[build] progressively more sophisticated explanations of natural phenomena..." while the "NGSS" provide a model for "gathering, describing, and using information about the natural and designed world(s)." This year's list of Outstanding Science Trade Books has been organized in response to "NGSS." These award-winning books include not only traditional science content but also engineering and design.