Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for May! Who knows what the weather might do next, which is why it’s always best to have a book (or three!) to hand. Check out what we were reading over the previous month below, and see what you want to add to your TBR pile!
Fiction
Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion – Abiola Bello and Emma McCann (pub. Simon & Schuster UK)
Meet twins Misha and Ziggy, in this first book of a new series full of animals and secret powers!
When the twins’ dad can’t find anyone to look after them, he has no choice but to take them to work with him. The trouble is that their dad is a wildlife documentary presenter, and his next job is in Ethiopia – searching for the legendary Black Lion. Can the twins’ secret powers help?
This fast-paced adventure is full of fun with a dash of danger. The endearing characters are perfectly captured in McCann’s illustrations, along with the animals, of course! And be sure not to miss the fascinating facts about the Black Lion and Ethiopia at the back of the book.
Will their dad take them on his next assignment? We certainly hope so!
The Agency For All Things Spectral: The Case Of Dr. Dust – Samuel J. Halpin and Laura Borio (pub. Sweet Cherry Publishing)
We have been spoiled with the number of great new series we have read this month, and this one is no exception!
When Billy (whose summer has not started well) acquires some mysterious spectacles, the town of Stony Brook suddenly becomes a lot spookier. Where has the strange mist come from, and what are the machine sounds echoing in the night?
This story will have readers laughing out loud before hiding under the covers, as we join Billy and her new friend Dorothy as they try to catch the villainous Dr. Dust and save the town’s small shops in the process.
The first in what will be a humorous, creepy series with three fearless, intrepid investigators taking on all things spectral!
The House at the Edge of the World – Nadine Aisha Jassat and Flavia Sorrentino (pub. Orion Children’s Books)
When Amal’s family lose their home and livelihood, they face a bleak future – until a letter arrives saying they have inherited Hope House from Evelyn Hope.
Although no one knows who Evelyn Hope is, the strange, abandoned mansion on the cliff’s edge is just what they need: a home. But when there’s another claim on the property, the family are going to have to prove it’s theirs…
Full of warm characters, nasty and smug villains, a supportive older sister, a mysterious house that seems to know what it wants, and a feisty 11-year-old who needs to believe in herself.
This is Nadine’s third book in free verse (a form of open poetry), and it’s a wonderful roller-coaster of a read!
Non-fiction
My Nature Collection: Up in the Air / Under the Sea – Cameron Menzies and Marc Pattenden (pub. Wayland Books)
These two titles are the first in the stunning series ‘My Nature Collection’, made in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.
With gorgeous illustrations that capture the beauty of the natural world, these books work on several different levels, the first being an exploration of the habitats and what lives there. These books also have a fun ‘seek and find’ game that invites the reader to examine the scenes in detail, and questions throughout with the answers at the back of the books, alongside a glossary. Ideal for nature lovers at home or in school!
Curious Features of Extraordinary Creatures: Nature’s Clean-Up Crew – Fiona Fogg and Camilla de la Bedoyere (pub. Macmillan Children’s Books)
Children will be intrigued to find out the assorted insects, animals, plants, and sea life that clean up and dispose of the unwanted waste of the natural world.
We meet the scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers of different habitats, who deal with breaking down dead animals and plants, recycling them so nothing goes to waste. We also meet those that deal with the excrement of animals – a wonderfully unusual topic for a book!
Containing detailed storyboards for the various flora and fauna that are highlighted, this book gives an in-depth look at the unsung workers of the natural world that are often overlooked.
Little Myths: Medusa / Thor – Emma Adams and Erica Salcedo / Sam Caldwell (pub. Hodder Children’s Books)
Myths are always popular, and this new illustrated series ‘Little Myths’ is a brilliant addition for younger readers. The first two titles cover a character each from Greek and Norse myths with bright, eye-catching pictures to attract even reluctant readers.
It’s nice to see a different perspective in these stories, starting from their childhood – for example, was Medusa always the snake-haired terror we know from the story of Perseus? And how did Thor come by his mighty hammer, Mjollnir?
With further titles out in August – ‘Rama & Sita’ and ‘Loki’ – this is definitely a series to look out for!
Epic Cities – Sam Sedgman and Daniel Long (pub. Macmillan Children’s Books)
In this stunning book, you can visit 24 dazzling cities and find out some of their hidden secrets.
Enter the catacombs under Paris, or the underground city in snow-covered Montreal; travel in the cable cars in Medellin, or get your lunch delivered by the dabbawalas in Mumbai.
This book shares the surprising ways that cities tackle issues, and explains about the disasters they face, the wildlife that lives alongside them, and those cities that are lost in time.
A fascinating, informative book about the places we think we know, or may one day visit!
Picture books
My Rice Is Best! – Selina Brown and Maxwell A. Oginni (pub. Puffin Books)
In this fabulously bright and joyful book that will make you laugh out loud, we meet Shane and Yinka trying to solve the important but tricky question: ‘whose rice is best?’
Is it Shane’s rice and peas? Or is it Yinka’s jollof rice? That’s how things start out but as things get a little heated, others think that theirs is the best, and it’s no longer just a competition between the two!
A celebration of different cultures, friendship, food, and of course, rice!
The Boy Who Became Queen: The Story of a Young Actor in Shakespeare’s London – Christina Balit (pub. Otter Barry Books)
Christina Balit is known for her sumptuous historical picture books, and this one is another stunning addition to her catalogue.
Jack’s an orphan, literally singing for his supper (well, any food!) on the streets of London. But a lone boy on the streets is not safe, and he’s soon snatched up to become a ‘Blackfriars Boy’, a group of boy singers to nobility. It’s there that his life changes when he’s spotted by Shakespeare and his journey to the stage begins.
The illustrations capture the hustle and bustle of Tudor London and the feel of the original Globe. And although Jack is a fictional character, his circumstances may well have been true.
This is a fascinating insight to the lesser-known details of Tudor entertainment.
That’s it for May’s recommendations, from ancient myths to the wilds and wonders of nature, and from Tudor London to the edge of the world! Join us on Threads/Instagram, Bluesky, or Twitter/X, and let us know what you’ve been reading!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
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If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
