New children's books we love
Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones we like best in May: guaranteed to get your child reading...
Whether they're a teeny toddler or a very particular teen, this is where you can find your child's next amazing book: just scroll down to find books for a range of ages.
You can also keep track of the latest titles by looking at our past reading recommendations for:
May | April | March | February | January | December | November
We've sorted our favourite new books into rough age ranges, but this is just a guide and readers might find something they'll love in a different category.
Fancy writing a book review yourself? Read our handy guide and have a go!
Irish Book of the Month
Cactus Joe is lean and mean and happy by himself. Or is he? Funny and visually enticing, this is a must-read for the grumpy cactus’s expressions alone!
Playtime: A Tummy Time Play Book for Babies
A delightful book to play with when it's propped in front of a baby.
Watch Out! There’s a Monster Coming!
Tiptoeing, sneaking,snuffling and creeping, a monster travels far and wide in pursuit of its favourite snack. But will it find what it hungers for? And is it what we expected?
Follow one toddler’s lively account of their busy day in this charmingly playful and inclusive board book about daily routines for pre-schoolers.
Sink is a massive fan of trucks, but he realises he has none that are pink. Rebelling against the normal “colour rules” he decides to build himself a brilliantly pink truck.
Join Little Snail as he meets all the bugs, insects and other tiny creatures in the garden. A stylish, yet child-friendly guide to the tiny creatures that are so vital to our planet.
In a wonderful allegorical story highlighting a crucial part of Black history, superstar children’s author Trish Cooke tells a tale inspired by the real stories of enslaved Africans who made patterns in their cornrowed hair, using them as maps to escape their enslavers.
A funny and rhyming picture book about favourite toys, blankies and snugglies, and what happens when we lose them, with a really enjoyable, readable rhyme.
When Fluffy the dog becomes lost in the big city, she is saved by a homeless man and his dog. Their adventure encourages readers to reconsider the perception of homeless people.
This wonderful collection of 50 poemscelebratesdifferent aspects of the natural world, from animals and plants to seasons and weather. Perfect for anyone with a love of the outdoors, each verse is accompanied by charming, colourful artwork.
Woodland Explorers Club: Benji’s Emerald King
When Benji and his friends discover a damaged oak tree in Willow Wish Woods, they form the Woodland Explorers Club and vow to protect the forest and its inhabitants. Celebrating friendship, teamwork and caring for the environment, this magical, nature-inspired mystery contains a wealth of interesting wildlife facts.
Read more about Woodland Explorers Club: Benji’s Emerald King
Mathematicians are Counting the Stars!
In this beautiful and fascinating cartoon-style picture book, Saskia Gwinn and Ana Albero explain all the different ways that mathematicians are finding out brilliant things about the world and using maths to help our future.
Betty Steady and the Toad Witch
Betty Steady is the fiercelyindependent guardian of the kingdom of Wobbly Rock. When she’s captured by the Toad Witch, Betty’s eccentric friends come to the rescue, and she’s surprised to discover that teamwork can be fun. This magical adventure is fast-paced, funny and utterly bonkers.
Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance
When Yara’s dance school is threatened with closure, she and her ballet friends stage a special performance, which they hope will save the day. The first in a series, this heartwarming, illustrated chapter book is ideal for ballet enthusiasts.
This delightful, illustrated chapter book contains two short stories about animals on Willow Farm: Snowy the sheepdog wants to play with the sheep, rather than herd them, and Cowslip the calf is desperate to find a friend. Ideal for reluctant and dyslexic readers.
Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze
Sun Wukong, legendary monkey king and warrior, faces an ancient evil which threatens the world. Join him on a wild and comical adventure as he battles the monsters of ancient Greece.
Read more about Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze
How to Teach Grown-ups About Climate Change: The Cutting Edge Science of our Changing Planet
This practical and helpful book has lots of great ideas for saving the planet, including using renewable energy, recycling and reusing clothes and moving to a more plant-based diet.
Will and his dad don’t have much, and when there’s the chance to make easy money, Will must make a difficult decision. Moving and gritty, this is a fantastic read.
Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons
A cracking fantasy adventure featuring devious baddies, a golden flying bathtub, a host of magical creatures, a conspiratorial teacher, a heartbroken baby dragon and even an encounter with the Loch Ness Monster.
Can thirteen-year-old Priya be honest about how she feels without ruining her life? Funny, fresh and full of heart.
Can Nush find her family’s emerald in Queen Victoria’s palaces? A jewel of a book – shining a light on historical events through memorable characters and a pacy plot.
Nature's Fascinating Friendships
Kerry Hyndman and Mike Hills explore symbiotic relationships in nature, from scary tarantulas who are homies with poisonous frogs, to fig wasps that pollinate figs and nobly die in the act.
A diverse and exciting collection of short stories with an environmental theme from a group of exceptional authors. Some are funny, others scary, some deal with difficult emotions while others are more slapstick, but all are compulsively readable.
Mixing Bengali folklore with elements from classic fairytales, this coming-of-age fantasy revolves around a falling star, a young girl with spectacular gifts and a power-hungry witch.
Sports expert Clare Balding is here to commentate on a stupendous set of eight edge-of-your-seat sporting events featuring all manner of brilliantly fast, strong and agile animals.
The Letter With the Golden Stamp
Is someone spying on Audrey and her family? Fun, fast-paced chapter book on the adventures of a young carer.
Rewild: Can Nature Heal Our World?
Positive, informative non-fiction book on Rewilding
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