This month welcomes both May flowers and new series additions to add to shelves. Readers can catch up with their favorites in the story of a monster learning to control his anger, a loner wolf at the library, a dystopian reality show, and more.
Picture Books and Early Readers
Bear Feels Sad by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman (McElderry, May 6 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-93657-6). The latest entry in the Bear Books finds Bear feeling lonely while all his friends are busy, until he discovers a private place to enjoy his solace.
Cat on the Run in Hidden Layers! By Aaron Blabey (Scholastic, May 6 $7.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-546-11182-5). Princess Beautiful finds herself in more trouble in the third installment of the Cat on the Run series.
Everything’s Wrong! by Jory John, illus. by Erin Kraan (FSG, May 20 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39214-7). In this standalone companion to Nothing’s Wrong! and Something’s Wrong!, best friends Jeff and Anders attempt to recover from a series of mishaps.
Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer by Kenard Pak (Holt/Godwin, May 6 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-15173-5). A girl journeys through nature, appreciating the transition between spring and summer, in the latest addition to the Changing Seasons series.
Hide and Seek with Herbie by Ms. Rachel, illus. by Monique Dong (Random House, May 6 $12.99; ISBN 979-8-217-02490-2). In the fifth picture book in the Books by Ms. Rachel series, readers follow the YouTube star as she searches for her friend Herbie.
Let’s Motor, adapted by Maggie Testa (Simon Spotlight, May 6 $8.99; ISBN 978-1-665-97123-2). When a hot day proves to be too much for the residents in town, the trucks come to the rescue in the second book of the Mighty Monsterwheelies series.
Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, illus. by Joey Spiotto (Philomel, May 6 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69425-1). Little Luvie is the only one to get in trouble in a two-sided altercation and learns to stand up for herself in the second Little Troublemaker book.
Lone Wolf Goes to the Library by Kiah Thomas, illus. by K-Fai Steele (Holiday House/Porter, May 27 $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8234-5780-9). In the latest installment of the Lone Wolf series, the eponymous canine must return a book to the library before the end of storytime or risked being banned.
Lone Wolf on Vacation by Kiah Thomas, illus. by K-Fai Steele (Holiday House/Porter, May 27 $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8234-5779-3). Lone Wolf attempts to escape for some solitude, but runs into familiar faces in this addition to the Lone Wolf series.
The Monarch by Kirsten Hall, illus. by Isabelle Arsenault (Atheneum, May 13 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94342-0). This companion to The Honeybee showcases the beauty of monarch butterflies and the need to preserve them.
Take a Breath, Big Red Monster! By Ed Emberley (Little, Brown, May 6 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57181-4). Readers help an angry monster calm down by walking it through breathing exercise in the companion to Go Away, Big Green Monster.
You Be Teacher by Karla Clark, illus. by Gabby Zapata (Feiwel and Friends, May 6 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-35884-4). After a teacher has a difficult morning, she attempts to convince her students to take over in the fifth book in the You Be series.
Middle Grade
All Ears by Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster, May 13 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-665-95648-2). In the ninth installment of the FunJungle series, detective Teddy must prove his friend’s innocence and find an escaped elephant.
Anika and the Great Dog Rescue by Sayantani DasGupta (Harper, May 13 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-06-331785-7). Animal lover Anika discovers a stray pup and begins caring for it, but grows concerned when it goes missing in the second installment of the Girl Scouts series.
Caitlin Clark by Dan Wetzel (Holt, May 6 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-38762-2). The newest book in the Epic Athletes series highlights basketball player Caitlin Clark and traches her trajectory from standout college player to WNBA star.
Choose Your Own Adventure Spies: Josephine Baker by Deborah Lerme Goodman, illus. by Vladimir Semionov (Chooseco, May 6 $7.99; ISBN 978-1-954232-00-6). Readers step into the life of entertainer Josephine Baker and make decisions on how to join the Nazi resistance in Paris.
Earhart: The Incredible Flight of a Field Mouse Around the World by Torben Kuhlmann, trans. by David Henry Wilson (NorthSouth, May 13 $21.95; ISBN 978-0-7358-4579-4). A field mouse is determined to go beyond the boundary of her world, just like an aviation hero, in the fifth book of the Mouse Adventures series.
Entirely Emmie by Terri Libenson (HarperCollins/Storytide, May 6 $15.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332097-0). Emmie is finally feeling seen by her new crush, but Joe is beginning to feel out of place. In the ninth Emmie & Friends, the two find themselves stuck together on a camping trip and forge an unexpected friendship.
Epic FACTopia by Rose Davidson, illus. by Andy Smith (Britannica, May 6 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-80466-138-3). Readers can follow a fact-trail that will guide them all over the globe in the eighth addition to the FACTopia! series.
The Grim Adventure by Fern Forgettable as told by Piper CJ (Random House, May 6 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81050-7). In the second installment of the Fern’s School for Wayward Fae series, Rosemary attempts to escape a statue come to life while her school is taken over by mushrooms.
Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang, illus. by Kendall Goode and Alison Acton (First Second, May 27 $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-81634-4; $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-81633-7). In the fifth installment of the Books of Clash series, CJ wants to head to karaoke after a successful mission but must help his father while his friends party.
Meet Me at Sunset by Lee Heart (Simon Spotlight, May 6 $7.99; ISBN 978-1-665-97133-1). In the third book of the Spotlight Sprinkles series, tween Julie contends with a potential new crush and an unexpected guest over the course of a summer.
Soni and the Life Drinkers by Shiko Nguru (Lantana, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-836-29001-8). Soni’s investigation into her own family leads her to uncover ties to a villain in the third book of the Intasimi Warriors series.
Stuck by Kayla Miller (Clarion, May 6 $15.99; ISBN 978-0-06-328565-1). Olivie finds herself stuck in the middle of fighting friends in the fifth Click graphic novel.
Written in the Stars by Lee Heart (Simon Spotlight, May 6 $7.99; ISBN 978-1-665-97136-2). The latest in the Spotlight Sprinkles series follows Quinn, who’s excited to spend the summer getting to know her new crush, until she learns that her rival Kayla likes him too.
Young Adult
Snowglobe 2 by Soyoung Park, trans. by Joungmin Lee Comfort (Delacorte, May 6 $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-80914-3; $14.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-80917-4). In the sequel to Snowglobe, Chobahm is determined to bring down the illusion of the titular reality show, but will require the help of an old friend she once betrayed.
The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera (Quill Tree, May 6 $23.99; ISBN 978-0-06-324085-8). In the third addition to the DeathCast series, heir to the DeathCast empire Alano rescues Paz, and together the boys work together to stay alive as an organization hunts them down.
unOrdinary Volume 3 by uru-chan (HarperAlley, May 6 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-332776-4). the The third graphic novel based on the digital comic platform Webtoon follows Seraphine as she struggles to hide her lack of powers as a rogue group ramps up attacks on students.
