Books we love in May 2022

The Comet

Author: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 4-8

Joe Todd-Stanton’s new picture book explores how a family can create a home filled with imagination and warmth, even in less than perfect circumstances. It’s a lovely one to read with mid-aged primary school children who might be worried about moving house.

Willow Wildthing and the Magic Spell

Author: Gill Lewis Illustrator: Rebecca Bagley
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 8-11
Reading age: 8+

A gentle adventure story about the nature-loving Willow and her ‘Wild Thing’ friends.

Spot’s Slide-and-Seek: Aquarium

Author: Eric Hill
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 0-3

The famous Spot the Dog is back and this time him and Dad are off to the aquarium to spot as many sea creatures as they can in this interactive adventure.

Bedtime for Duckling

Author: Amelia Hepworth Illustrator: Anna Doherty
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 0-3

Duckling is looking for somewhere to sleep, but Fox’s den is too muddy and Owl’s nest is too high up… where will they end up cosy and sleeping?

Where Are You, Puffling?

Author: Erika McGann and Gerry Daly
Publisher: O'Brien
Interest age: 1-3

A curious little puffling goes on an adventure across the dramatic landscape of Skellig Michael in Ireland.

Pizazz vs The Demons

Author: Sophy Henn
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

Pizazz is from a superhero family but doesn't always think her superpower is as cool as her family's. When the evil Copycat makes five clones of her that represent her demons, Pizazz must face her up to her demons with the help of her friends.

Bumblebee Grumblebee

Author: David Elliot
Publisher: Gecko Press
Interest age: 0-3

This fun book encourages readers to have fun with words and is packed full of bold and familiar illustrations.

The Ogress and the Orphans

Author: Kelly Barnhill
Publisher: Piccadilly
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

A tale set in a fun fairytale land in which the dragon slayer Mayor isn't necessarily to be trusted and the new Ogress may just save the day.

Real Pigeons: Nest Hard

Author: Andrew McDonald Illustrator: Ben Wood
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

The third adventure in this series, this book follows a group of plucky pigeon as find long lost family, help the Child Beast and outwit the evil pinchy pigeon.

The Bird Singers

Author: Eve Wersocki Morris
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Sisters Layah and Izzie aren't best pleased when their mum moves them to a sleepy village without their Dad. But they soon discover that the village has more to offer than they first thought.

Ellie Pillai is Brown

Author: Christine Pillainayagam
Publisher: Faber
Interest age: 12-15
Reading age: 12+

Join music and film lover, 15 year old Ellie as she navigates her identity, secrets, love and the perils of growing up.

Please Write Soon

Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

This important and moving book from an acclaimed author follows pen pals Solly, an English schoolboy, and his Polish cousin Bernie during World War II.

Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives

Author: Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

This clever story within a story teaches important lessons about perspective as well as a variety of literary and drawing techniques.

A Good Place

Author: Lucy Cousins
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 5-7
Reading age: 3+

Four friends including a ladybird, a bee, a beetle and a dragonfly search for a new home and finally find the perfect place in a little boy's garden.

The Eyebrows of Doom

Author: Steve Smallman Illustrator: Miguel Ordonez
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 4+

Dave the bear is innocently sweeping up when th eyebrows of doom latch onto his face and take control. The eyebrows declare their intension to rule the world and proceed to jump from animal to animal in pursuit of their goal.

I Love You Like Yellow

Author: Andrea Beaty Illustrator: Vashti Harrison
Publisher: Abrams Books
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 2+

This beautiful book display all the ways we express of love and is accompanied by glorious illustrations.

Nick Sharratt’s Super Silly Museums

Author: Nick Sharratt
Publisher: Alison Green Books
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 2+

Nick Sharratt uses his unique and fun style to show you every kind of museum you could imagine and even leaves space at the end for you to draw your own.

Gretel the Wonder Mammoth

Author: Kim Hillyard
Publisher: Ladybird Books
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 4+

This book follows Gretel, the very last mammoth, as she tackles her anxiety with the help of her friends and learns her place in the world.

The Accidental Diary of B.U.G: Sister Act

Author: Jen Carney Illustrator: Jen Carney
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 8-11
Reading age: 8+

Billie Upton Green is about to embark on her third accidental diary (which is cunningly disguised as a Spellings jotter so her Mums think she’s studying and not scribbling). And she has life-changing news.

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup

Author: Andy Sagar
Publisher: Orion
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 8+

An enchanting, magical adventure with just a touch of darkness.

I Love Me

Author: Marvyn Harrison Illustrator: Diane Ewen
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 3-5
Reading age: 3+

A first book of positive affirmation designed to boost confidence, enhance self-image and promote resilience and happiness in pre-schoolers.

The Secret Sunshine Project

Author: Benjamin Dean Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9+

How will a sleepy village react when Bea attempts to bring the glitter and rainbows of Pride to their doorstep?

Zoopertown: X-Ray Rabbit

Author: Jem Packer Illustrator: Emily Fox
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Reading age: 3+

When all the food goes missing it's up to the Zooperheroes to save the day. A fun, comic book-style story full of action.

Bunnies in a Boat

Author: Philip Ardagh
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 3+

Follow a group of bunnies as they cause choas around the bay in Sunny Town.

Noni the Pony Counts to a Million

Author: Alison Lester
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Interest age: 0-4

This cute counting picture book takes little ones up to a million as Noni the pony and her friends count what they see during a day of fun.

Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World

Author: Maliha Abidi
Publisher: Saqi Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

An inspirational book detailing the achievements of 100 women of colour which includes a full page portrait and biography of each amazing woman.

Wished

Author: Lissa Evans
Publisher: David Fickling
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9+

Utterly bonkers and totally brilliant; searingly funny and acutely painful; completely fantastical yet strangely believable; this crazy adventure will make you gasp, smile and maybe even shed a tear or two.

Fake

Author: Ele Fountain
Publisher: Pushkin
Interest age: 11- 14
Reading age: 9+

A timely and thrilling adventure about the ways in which global technology giants can manipulate every aspect of our lives - and even reality itself.

We Sang Across the Sea The Empire Windrush and Me

Author: Benjamin Zephaniah Illustrator: Onyinye Iwu
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 5-6
Reading age: 5+

Written by multi award-winning poet Benjamin Zephaniah, this lyrical rhyming poem is told through the real-life experiences of the Trinidadian musician, Mona Baptiste, who boarded The Empire Windrush in the hopes of becoming a singer and making a better life for herself.