Skip to content
Translate page
Change text size
More +
Recommendations

Top 15 Kids Books for May 2021

by Sophie Green

Take a look at our top titles that are brand new to borrow on our catalogue for May 2021.

Fiction

Big beast. Big city. Big trouble. When an Ice Age mammoth finds himself in a modern day city, he's not at all sure what to make of this huge, gleaming forest. Strange birds in the sky, strange beetles on the ground and strange, shouty cavemen. Is he the only mammoth in the world?

From the author of Dogs don’t do ballet

When Frankie McGee insists on borrowing yet another book about tractors, his mum crumbles. She begs him to read a book about something else - cars, planes, cranes, trains - anything! Frankie launches into all of the various, glorious factors that make up the love that he has for all tractors - but will he be able to bring his mum around?

From the illustrator of The Girls

Elvis is a happy baby elephant. But when his curiosity gets the better of him and he leaves the rest of his herd to explore the alluring and dangerous jungle, he becomes very lost indeed. Amongst the undergrowth, he meets a rude gorilla, a weary lion, an impolite hippo and an uncaring crocodile. Will anyone help Elvis find his way out of the jungle and home to his mum?

All Frankie wants is to be fabulous! But, he's literally surrounded by so many fabulous flamingos, so how on earth can he stand out from the crowd? Maybe, just maybe, Frankie's friends will help him learn the most important thing of all: the best way to be fabulous is to be you!

From the team behind Llama Glamarama

One sunny morning, a happy little Hugasaurus waves goodbye to her Pappysaur and sets off into the world on her own for the very first time. When she finds a playground, some new friends welcome her to their games. But it isn't long before the other little dinosaurs start to squabble. Can Hugasaurus bring her new friends back together using the magical power of kindness? The perfect picture book to help children learn to be kind to one another.

A sweet look at kindness and sharing from the team behind The Worrysaurus

This is an epic, fate-fighting adventure like no other. In a re-imagined world, the Empire of Albion is ruled by science. Everyone's destiny is pre-determined by a track of stars on their wrist, and 13-year-old Paisley Fitzwilliam discovers that her fate is to die before her fourteenth year. But when her mother goes missing and is presumed dead; there is nobody left to protect her Dragon Touched brother Dax.

Eagerly awaited debut novel from local author and former Suffolk Librarian.

Ten-year-old Ray Grey lives in the magical kingdom of Celestia, high in the sky! Ray is a trainee Cloud Weatherling and her magic will one day help to control and look after Earth's weather. But first she has to learn how to use her magic properly. One day Ray's life changes forever.

First in a new series from the author-illustrator of Amelia Fang

It could be the mysterious bloodstained man who tries to stop their coach, or the fact no one seems to be around at the brand-new activity centre when Lance and the rest of his class arrive for the Year 6 school trip, but something is definitely not right at Crater Lake! What follows is a fight for survival that sees five pupils band together to save their classmates from an alien fate far worse that death. But whatever happens, they must Never, Ever fall asleep!

Sequel to the spooky adventure, Crater Lake

Alfie has noticed a few things since his family moved to Folding Ford. There's nothing to do in the countryside. He and his sister are the only kids in the whole village who aren't white. But the most interesting one is that the weather is bonkers. One frost-covered branch on one tree in the middle of June? A tiny whirlwind in a bucket in the garden? Only in Folding Ford. Armed with his bike, a notepad and his new best mate Sam, Alfie is going to investigate. His best clue is strange scientist Nathaniel Clemm . the only thing in town weirder than the weather.

Three tiny, ancient beings - Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians of the Wild World - wake from winter hibernation. But when their home is destroyed, they set off on an adventure. Can they find a way to survive in a precious, disappearing world?

This is the debut children’s novel from critically acclaimed local nature writer, Melissa Harrison.

Non-fiction

Flex your fact muscles and test your trivia knowledge with the Encyclopaedia of Unbelievable Facts. Packed with 500 perplexing questions, this book is perfect for family quiz nights and impressing in the playground.

Think you know about dinosaurs? Think again! This is the mind-blowing truth of their prehistoric story, from the ultimate dinosaur professor. 'The Age of the Dinosaurs' is a must-have for any aspiring paleontologists or young dinosaur-enthusiast. Dinosaurs are everywhere: on TV, in books, you can search them on the Internet and see their bones at museums. And you might think you know everything there is to know about dinosaurs; but what if you've got it wrong? Join modern-day dinosaur hunter Dr Steve Brusatte as he takes you on a brilliant prehistoric journey.

A junior edition of the bestseller, the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.

From boxing to boccia, find out just what it takes to become an Olympic and Paralympic star in this hilariously informative guide to the games. For each sport you'll discover why it's great, why it's not so great, what skills and equipment you'll need to start practising and even how to sound like a pro! With bold, energetic illustrations and a text packed with weird, wonderful and wildly hilarious facts, this is a laugh-a-minute, fascinating guide to every Olympic and Paralympic sport.

Ever wanted to talk to a tiger? Or chatter with a cheetah? Or yak with a yak? This book brings together a babble of more than 100 beasties and explores the amazing ways they talk to each other - from fish that fart, to alligators that dunk, to fire worms that flash, you'll discover that wildlife have the strangest ways of sending a message.

Tear up the rule book. Find your own lane. You are only in competition with yourself. Marcus Rashford MBE is recognised worldwide for his journey both on-and-off the pitch - but how did a boy from the South of Manchester become not only an International footballer but also one of the leading activist voices in the UK? In this inspiring, positive, and practical guide, Marcus gives you the tools you need to reach your full potential and will show you that your possibilities really can be endless.

Motivational book for young people from the professional footballer and food poverty campaigner