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Spring is here, along with a bumper crop of new children’s releases. If you know a young reader who’s looking for more to read in the buildup to summer, or you’re a kidlit fan yourself who wants to add to your TBR pile, then there are plenty of great stories coming out in May that will appeal to every taste, from contemporary to fantasy, prose to comics.
For very small readers and their caregivers, there are several brilliant picture books coming out in May on a whole host of different topics – from cleaning up (and making more mess) and having fun with a parent, to using your creative skills to find your voice on your own terms. There are explorations of grief at a level suitable for small children, and easily-accessible introductions to building resilience and self-confidence, with lovely illustrations and strong messages for kids and their adults.
Middle grade readers have plenty to get their teeth into, too. Whether the young reader you know loves zany adventure stories, twists on superhero comics, or thoughtful looks at growing up and working out who you are, there are some great books to entertain independent readers. From stories of time travel to baking-inspired fiction, middle grade fans will find something that chimes with their interests in these May children’s new releases.
Picture Books
Brave Like a Lion! by Megan Piphus and Niña Mata
Fans of Sesame Street will adore this semi-autobiographical story by one of the show’s puppeteers. Young May is shy at school, but loves playing with her puppets at home. When a school project gives her the opportunity to show her talents, May finds the courage to perform.
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Mama Says I’m Fine by Brittney Cooper and Tamisha Anthony
Mama Says I’m Fine tells the story of the bond between a mother and daughter, and shows young readers different ways to be resilient. When the story’s heroine faces challenges, she knows that her mother will always be there to support her, help her through, and remind her that she’s fine.
The Bookship by Hiba Noor Khan and Julian Ariza
Dealing with grief, healing and the importance of storytelling, The Bookship follows a young girl who loses her beloved grandfather, and, with him, the stories he tells. While she is trying to process her loss, the heroine finds a note from her grandfather telling her about the Bookship, a magical ship that will help her find stories of her own.
Daddy is Cleaning by Angel Dike and Ebony Glenn
Note: this bonus pick is currently only available in the UK
In this sweet story, a young baby “helps” their father with the household chores, which may make the chores take longer, but gives the pair plenty of lovely bonding moments together. With beautiful illustrations, a heartwarming story, and a gentle pushback against gendered stereotypes, Daddy is Cleaning is the perfect read for caregivers and their little ones.
Middle Grade Books
Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller by Amelia Tait
In this funny time travel book, Lily finds herself whisked back in time on New Year’s Eve—along with a couple of friends and her cat. Told through diary entries, Lily’s story is a fun sci-fi adventure, perfect for young readers who love historical fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Alana’s Recipe for Kindness by Coco Simon and Manuela López
Part of the Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch series, Alana’s Recipe for Kindness continues the adventures of the Mini Cupcake Club. Alana is spending less time baking and more on her after-school activities, and her friends start to feel like she’s ignoring them. Alana has to show her friends that they’re still important, but also stand her ground and set her own boundaries around what she chooses to do with her time.
Berserkers by M.A. Larson
Fans of Magnus Chase will love this funny adventure story. It follows Danny Hall, a boy from Minnesota who ends up on a quest to find missing Viking treasure and defeat evil conquistadors, and a whole cast of fantasy characters, including a sentient rock and a blue moose. As Danny and his friends look for Viking gold, they have to outsmart villains, survive the caves beneath their town, and make sure they stay alive.
Superpunk by Mirtes Santana and Guilherme Petreca
In this fun middle grade comic book, young punk Violeta plays a cassette tape backwards and gets magical powers. The tape also releases a host of monsters, which Violeta has to fight in order to protect her town. Like every schoolgoing superhero, Violeta finds it difficult to balance monster hunting with homework, not to mention her two loves: skateboarding and podcasting. To make sure she doesn’t burn out, Violeta has to enlist the help of her friends to fight the monsters without missing too much class.
Opting Out by Maia Kobabe and Lucky Srikumar
Opting Out follows Saachi, a new seventh grader who starts to feel out of place at school. All of Saachi’s friends and classmates are starting to get interested in dating—and, on top of that, everyone is starting to go through puberty, which Saachi is also finding difficult to deal with. Uncomfortable with the girl/boy binary, Saachi has to find their own path to follow.
Need more new children’s books for your young readers’ TBR? Try 5 Modern Kid Lit Classics: Great Books to Gift New Parents. Are you finding the number of new kidlit releases hard to manage? Have a look at The Best Way to Keep Track of New Children’s Books.