Welcome to May at Lovereading4kids, where there’s a sniff of summer in the air and a refreshing breeze in our book-ship’s sails!  In the month that saw the birth of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie, we have a forever-young selection of brilliant book recommendations to tinkle the bells of any young reader. Read on for more.

‘May’ we Suggest? - Books of the Month

A bookshelf more inviting than a big bucket of blossom this month! Great escapes for tots, toddlers, tiddlers, teens and tweenies! We love: Windfall (12+) by Jennifer E Smith  – witty friendship tale about kindness, excess, adventure and unrequited love admired by our Reader Reviewers ‘Heartwarmingly good!’ – Megan ‘Sweet and sad’ – Jenny.
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Darling Buds! – May’s Debuts of the Month

More fantastic first timers vying to become firm favourites! This month, we love: MEGA DEBUT The Girl in Between (11+) by Sarah Carroll – A deeply moving story of family, homelessness, loneliness and grief and the ghosts that won’t let us go. Haunting and unforgettable. Llama United (7+) Scott Allen – Impossible dreams and hilarious adventures of unlikely football heroes.
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Every Smart Kid’s Smart Kid! – Ruby Redfort Series (9+)

Everyone loves a good spy adventure and as heroines go, 13-year old super sleuth Ruby Redfort is pretty unique. Lauren Child’s loveable eponymous secret agent is a genius code cracker and very adept at finding herself in extreme danger! Latest title, Blink and You Die, is the eye-opening finale to this un-put-down-able series and is out in paperback now. Click here for more.

His Word is Our (James) Bond – Steve Cole’s Young Bond Series (11+)

Before the man became the legend, before the boy became the man. This is the take-the-world by storm series that charts the adventures of the young James Bond. The early days of Ian Fleming’s legendary spy brimming with danger, intrigue and explosive action. Latest title Red Nemesis is a nail-biting and all too personal journey to the brink! Click here for more.

Famous Five at Seventy-Five!

75 years since Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog first found excitement and adventure wherever they went, Enid Blyton’s quintessential series is being relaunched. All 21 books have been given a new cover look and the titles themselves sensitively edited for today’s reader and are just as heart-stopping and impactful as they ever were. We are giving away a set of all 21 in a celebratory competition so click here for more info and your chance to win. High Five!
     

Why Wait? - May Pre-Publication Exclusives

A superior selection of sneak peeks this month includes: Crazy House (YA) by James Patterson – thrilling and thought-provoking mistaken identity tale of crime, punishment and the strong bond of siblings.
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The Plight of Others - Books about Refugees Hard to imagine having to leave everything you know and seek a new home in a foreign land. To lose everything and rebuild. These are the stories of the people who’ve done just that. People just like us. Parents; siblings; friends. They are personal experiences (My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner), communal stories told on a boat (A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis) and collections of stories that highlight Human Rights atrocities (Here I Stand by Amnesty International).  They are the stories that need to be told. Find out more.

Getting our Facts Straight!

Whatever age you are, it’s always great to find out something mind-blowing!  Our factaculous Fascinating Facts category, has had a refresh this month and is jam-packed with even more noggin nourishing nuggets for kids to know. If you have kids that are always asking; “Why?” and “How?” and find yourself stumped for an answer, this category is your new best friend! Find out more.

Boy Zone!

Nope, not the ‘90s Irish – take-home-to-meet-your-mum – boy band. This is about our brilliant Great Books for Boys category, which has been injected with new blood this month. Even more superlative adventures that are perfect for boys of all ages all in one place. And girls will love them too! Click here for more.
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Nursery Crimes! -  ‘Sky Private Eye’ series (5+) by Jane Clarke

We love this clever series for very young readers where baking, detection and fairy tales are all whisked together in this appealing story to make a tasty picture book. Follow the mystery-solving Sky as she is joined by some favourite fairytale and nursery rhyme characters to get to the bottom of some of the nursery world’s most dastardly crimes.

Oh My Goth! – Goth Girl by Chris Riddell

Chris Riddell is Children’s Laureate and a supreme illustrator. He’s the creator of the fabulous Ottoline series and a master of quirky and surreally wonderful story-telling. If you haven’t discovered Goth Girl (7+), you’re in for a treasure box of characterful fun! There are three imaginative, witty dramas in the series and if you read them now, you’ll be ready for the brand new title due out in the autumn! Find out more.

Friends Forever, Enemies Never

If you have teenage children, it can be hard watching them go through all the trials and tribulations that life can hurl at them. Nicola Morgan’s The Teenage Guide to Friends is essential reading for teens and parents alike, tackling the all-important subjects of making and keeping friendships, as well as what to do when they break down (as they do). It’s a truly illuminating read that you will want to dip into over and over again. Get it here Scroll down for our hand-picked selections of May books in the age ranges you have said you would like to be kept up to date with. To change them just Log in to your account. Log in to your account. P.S. Don’t miss the chance to win a family pass to The Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival, worth £40!, that is running 26 June – 2 July in Wiltshire. It’s full of exciting and absorbing activities for schools and families.