The Best Children’s and YA Books of May 2019
by the Brightly Editors
School’s (almost) out for summer, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to stock up on those summer reading stacks! From picture books great for whiling away road trips to dynamite middle grade chapter books and YA reads both spellbinding and profound, May’s best new book releases are a total treat for readers of all ages.
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Picture Books
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Can You See Me?
Available from:Part of the Beginner Books series launched by Dr. Seuss in 1957 with The Cat in the Hat, Bob Staake’s Can You See Me? follows a delightful — and quite oversized — lizard blending into its increasingly silly surroundings. Bright artwork elucidates simple, rhyming text in this perfect launching point for new readers.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Dr. Seuss’s I Love Pop!
Available from:Speaking of the infamous Dr. Seuss, this Seussian celebration of dads, grandpas, and father figures is a sweet addition to the home library. With original illustrations from beloved titles including Hop on Pop and Horton Hatches the Egg, dads and kids will have a new storytime favorite.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
How to Be a Grouch
As part of the yearlong celebration of Sesame Street’s fiftieth anniversary, spend some time with the amusingly cantankerous Oscar the Grouch, brought to the page by the puppeteer behind both Oscar and Big Bird. This hilarious how-to guide for grouchy living (set your alarm too early! listen to broken records!) is full of laughs.
(On Sale: 5/7/19) -
My Little Golden Book About the First Moon Landing
Available from:One can never have too many Little Golden Books, especially when it comes to this stellar addition that recounts one of the most exciting days in history: July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two humans to set foot on the Moon. It’s stuffed with facts about the Apollo 11 mission that will fascinate readers of all ages.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
The Sad Little Fact
Available from:Jonah Winter is known for portraying key historical characters and moments in his picture books (see Thurgood, Elvis is King!, and Lillian’s Right to Vote), and The Sad Little Fact follows this tradition, albeit in a more metaphorical way. When the Authorities start locking up facts, calamity ensues, but a few loyal fact finders are determined to set the truth free.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Hair Love
Available from:With Hair Love, former NFL player Matthew A. Cherry delivers a heartfelt ode to the bonds between fathers and daughters, as well as the boundless beauty of natural hair. Zuri loves her wild, curly, unpredictable hair, and Daddy does, too — though he’s not always sure how to style it. But today’s a special occasion, so the two of them will have to figure it out together.
(On Sale: 5/14/19)Also available from: -
Camp Tiger
Available from:The boy at the center of this book loves to go camping with his family at Mountain Pond. But the boy is growing up — he’ll be going into first grade soon! — so it’s time to start embracing the unknown. Nothing is more unknown (or unexpected) than the tiger that’s moved to the woods. A coming-of-age tale by a Pulitzer Finalist author and Caldecott Honor illustrator, it’s a truly enthralling experience.
(On Sale: 5/21/19)Also available from: -
What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive?
Available from:What kind of car might a stegosaurus buy? A pterodactyl? A triceratops? Young dinosaur experts Ava and Mickey help Uncle Otto solve these mysteries when a group of dinos shows up at Otto’s car lot — but then a T. Rex arrives, and the humans are stumped. Kids will love this too-good combo of dinosaurs and vehicles.
(On Sale: 5/28/19)Also available from:
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Middle Grade
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Last Kids on Earth Survival Guide
Available from:For tween readers who’ve devoured every book so far in the Last Kid on Earth series — or are in the market for a totally original, nail-biting saga about a group of friends taking on the monster apocalypse — gift them the Last Kids on Earth Survival Guide, an interactive journal full of creative prompts that invite them into this fictional world.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Magic on the Map #1: Let’s Mooove!
Available from:In the first book of a seriously fun new series, twins Finn and Molly discover a talking RV in their driveway that magically transports them to Colorado for an epic adventure. Each book in this whimsical, ambitious series will take the twins to a different state in the U.S., so now’s the perfect time to board the Magical Camper Express!
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game
Available from:The latest puzzle-filled romp in the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series takes the games from the library to live television, and Kyle Keeley is desperate to be one of the kid contestants. Reminiscent of a modern-day Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but with a whole lot of unpredictable Mr. Lemoncello flair, readers will fly through this wild and wacky read.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Shouting at the Rain
Available from:In this thoughtful coming-of-age story, Delsie and her friend Ronan trace the complex edges of family, friendship, and loneliness. Delsie loves living with her Grammy, but she’s starting to long for a “normal” family, and she’s grieving the loss of a friend who’s outgrown her. Ronan, too, has experienced his share of loss. Cape Cod serves as a beautiful backdrop for an endearing cast of characters.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Theodore Boone: The Accomplice
Available from:The latest installment of John Grisham’s legal series for tween readers finds Theodore Boone distressed about his friend Woody Lambert, who’s arrested after unintentionally being an accomplice to armed robbery. Theo is determined to get his friend out of jail and his record cleared in a smart thriller that’s fully aware of our unforgiving criminal justice system.
(On Sale: 5/14/19)Also available from: -
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Four Jokers
Available from:Third-grader Oliver wants to be a professional magician when he grows up, but there’s one small problem: he’s got serious stage fright. If he’s going to be the big act at a classmate’s birthday party, he needs reinforcements — so he goes to The Great Zoocheeni’s Magic Emporium and winds up with a wise-cracking rabbit named Benny who agrees to help Oliver out.
(On Sale: 5/14/19)Also available from:
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YA
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Aurora Rising
Available from:Tyler Jones’s squad of misfit space cadets isn’t exactly who you’d want handling a galaxy-wide war that’s a million years in the making, but we don’t always get our first picks (as Tyler knows too well). But the squad got themselves into this mess when they rescued Auri, a girl who’s been stuck in cryo-sleep for two decades, and they’re not about to give up on her now.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
Her Royal Highness
Houston-born Millie Quint has a few reasons for applying to a Scottish boarding school, not the least of which is that her BFF/kind-of girlfriend kissed another girl. But it’s tough to eschew drama completely when your new roommate is a totally spoiled and actual Scottish princess — who happens to be crushing right back on Millie.
(On Sale: 5/7/19) -
How It Feels to Float
Available from:With exquisite tenderness, debut novelist Helena Fox offers a moving story about loss, mental illness, and sexual identity through an unforgettable heroine. Biz has a solid support group, including her father, who she speaks to regularly — and who died when she was seven. She feels like she’s barely floating by, unwilling to share her darkest thoughts, but her journey to healing is ultimately a hopeful one.
(On Sale: 5/7/19)Also available from: -
The Things She’s Seen
Part ghost story, part thriller, The Things She’s Seen centers around two Australian Aboriginal girls: one dead, one witness to an unspeakable crime. After her death, Beth Teller keeps communicating with her detective father and leads him to a mystery in a remote Australian town. There he meets Isobel Catching, the witness who speaks only in riddles, and the three unravel a devastating story.
(On Sale: 5/14/19) -
Girl Gone Viral
Seventeen-year-old Opal Hooper is a coding prodigy, but the one thing she can’t code into existence is her dad, who disappeared seven years ago. When the world’s biggest virtual reality company sponsors a contest, Opal is quick to enter. The winner gets to meet the founder, who worked closely with Opal’s dad — and who might know something about that fateful day. Just how far is Opal willing to go?
(On Sale: 5/21/19) -
These Witches Don’t Burn
Available from:Full of high stakes both magical and romantic, Isabel Sterling’s debut novel is sure to be a hit with YA readers. In Salem, Massachusetts, Hannah is careful to keep her powers a secret. She’s an Elemental witch — as is her ex-girlfriend, Veronica. But when a Blood Witch shows up in town, Hannah and Veronica will have to join forces to protect their coven and community.
(On Sale: 5/28/19)Also available from:
