The Best Children’s and YA Books of May
by the Brightly Editors
Hopefully, your local weather is sunny and warm enough that you feel like spring has arrived. But even if you’re still dealing with snow, we have just the thing to get those happy vibes flowing — new books! From exciting picture books by beloved children’s authors to nail-biting thrillers from new voices, these are the most exciting books for children and teens coming your way this month.
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Picture Books
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Elmo’s 101 First Words/ Las primeras 101 palabras de Elmo (Sesame Street)
Available from:Help your baby learn 100 words with everyone’s favorite red monster! Elmo guides tiny readers through words they encounter in everyday life. And the best part is that every word appears in English and Spanish, making it an excellent choice for bilingual families.
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Available from:From the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched series comes a beautiful new picture book about mindfulness and emotions. It encourages children to use their five senses to connect with the world and people around them and embrace joy in every moment.
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Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess
Available from:This upbeat picture book shows young children that needing a grown-up’s help is okay. When little Luvvie tries to cook dinner by herself, her efforts backfire, and she creates an enormous mess. The cheerful illustrations and lighthearted text make it a joy to read.
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Repeat After Me
Available from:This gorgeous picture book from actors Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill is filled with daily affirmations that teach children they are loved, cherished, and worthy. Each page contains encouraging words and short refrains for kids to repeat, such as “I am loved” and “I am deserving.” The colorful illustrations and confidence-boosting text make this book an excellent gift for birthdays, special occasions, or just because.
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A Little Emotional
Available from:Emotions become colorful monsters in this funny and accessible book from the illustrator of the Ordinary People Change the World series. It’s about a little boy who loses his favorite toy and experiences a chain of emotions as a result. Readers see the boy tackle worry, anger, jealousy, and more as he searches for his beloved toy.
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The Crayons Go Back to School
Available from:The Crayons return to the classroom in this adorable new addition to the beloved series. From saying goodbye to summer vacation to choosing an outfit and meeting new friends, the Crayons use their signature humor and wit to share why they’re excited about school.
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NO Is All I Know!
Available from:Oliver loves saying “No,” to everything from baths to bedtime, and he can’t see how much fun he is missing until someone teaches him the word “Yes.” This rib-tickling picture book from legendary children’s book author Chris Grabenstein will have young nay-sayers expanding their vocabulary in no time.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Lo and Behold
Available from:A big move, a new friend, and virtual reality combine in this heartwarming graphic novel from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass. When her dad gets a summer job teaching at a university, 12-year-old Addie thinks a summer of boredom awaits her. But the university program and her new neighbor show Addie the wonders of virtual reality and friendship.
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Menacing Manor
Available from:If your kids love mystery novels with a hefty helping of spookiness and humor, then New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White needs to be on your radar. This is the fourth book in the Sinister Summer series, and young fans will devour this latest installment. It transports readers to a creepy manor owned by Mr. Frank and Dr. Stein and delivers the jump-scares and laugh-out-loud moments kids have come to expect from this series.
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The Botany of Desire Young Readers Edition
Available from:Do you have a young scientist or environmentalist fascinated with plants and food? They’ll love this informative book about how certain plants evolved to serve humans and how we have helped these plants in return. It is an excellent choice for kids interested in STEM, gardening, or climate change.
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Escape from Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1)
Available from:Kids who can’t get enough thrills and chills will love this super-spooky book about a haunted amusement park ride and the three friends who get trapped inside it. This hair-raising story will have kids reading under their covers all night long!
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Penny Draws a Best Friend
Available from:Anxiety and changing friendships collide in this sweet, highly illustrated novel from Sara Shepard, the #1 bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series. 5th grade becomes confusing and challenging for Penny when her best friend ditches her in favor of the mean girls. Penny wonders if she did something wrong and how to make new friends. Watch for the sequel, Penny Draws a School Play, publishing this fall!
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Smartest Kid in the Universe #3: Evil Genius
Available from:This action-packed novel from the author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library combines humor, adventure, and mystery. Someone steals Jake’s magic jellybeans that turn him into a genius. He must figure out who stole the jellybeans and get them back in time to stop a heist. Puzzles, codes, and plenty of adventure make this book an irresistible addition to the series!
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YA
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The Isles of the Gods
Available from:Fantasy lovers have a new book to obsess over! Bestselling author Amie Kaufman crafts a captivating story that blends romance, magic, adventure, and mythology into an unputdownable tale on the high seas. With betrayals and plot twists galore, this suspenseful novel will keep you reading well past your bedtime!
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Liar’s Beach
Available from:This layered summer thriller is a delicious retelling of Agatha Christie’s novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. When an idyllic summer at the beach turns up a dead body, Linden wonders if it is more than an accident. But Linden has secrets, and digging for clues could expose them. So, when his childhood friend shows up, eager to solve the mystery, Linden hopes she’ll succeed while worrying she’ll tell everyone the truth about him.
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Lying in the Deep
Available from:Take to the seas with this bone-chilling YA thriller that will send shivers down your spine! Jilted lovers, a killer on the loose, and bodies piling up make this the perfect book to read if you loved Death on the Nile. The shocking plot twists and suspense will have you racing through the pages.
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You: The Story
Available from:Is there anything better than getting a book about writing from one of your favorite authors? In this writing guide for teens, beloved YA author Ruta Sepetys delves into the ins and outs of her craft. From researching historical events to mining personal experiences for material, Sepetys’s advice is invaluable. This book is a must-have for any emerging writer.
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The Night in Question
Available from:f you loved The Agathas, add the sequel to your reading stack. A girl dies at the annual Sadie Hawkins dance, and one of Alice’s friends becomes the prime suspect. But the castle where she died has a sinister history, and Alice doesn’t trust the police to figure out what happened. She teams up with Iris again to solve this new mystery — and maybe one from the past at the same time.
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You Bet Your Heart
Available from:The next time you’re in the mood for a sweet and charming YA romance with all the feels, pick up a copy of You Bet Your Heart. It’s about two teens trying to win the coveted title of valedictorian, only to fall in love with each other. Good vibes and swoon-worthy kisses await readers inside the pages of this delightful novel!
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