May 2024’s set of recommendations for book clubs features fun rhyming read-alouds, immersive spectacular sequels, accessible middle grade reads, page-turning thrills and burning injustice. May 2024’s picks include titles by Judith Kerr, Angela Woolfe and Mark Chambers, Bethan Clarke, Louise Forshaw, Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton, Ravena Guron, Ros Roberts, Sarah Naughton and Angeline Boulley.
May 2024 book club recommendations
Where’s Mog? by Judith Kerr
Search for Mog in this brand new lift-the-flap book based on Judith Kerr’s timeless Mog stories. Featuring surprises on every page, 0-2 year olds will be immersed in playful adventure. With charming artwork and soft felt flaps, this board book cleverly encourages fine motor skills and tactile exploration, and reading it with your child will encourage early literacy skills. It’s ideal for interactive bedtime reading.
0-2 year-olds | Author’s website
Supersaurus: Total Tricera-Flop! by Angela Woolfe and Mark Chambers
Follow Supersaurus as he tries to save the day against all odds in this hilarious rhyming picture book that combines dinosaurs and superheroes. This action-packed story is perfect for fans of the Supertato series and The Dinosaur That Pooped series. With vibrant illustrations and humour throughout, Supersaurus: Total Tricera-Flop! will be a hit in EYFS and KS1.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Holey Moley by Bethan Clarke
This laugh-out-loud children’s book takes Gus the Goat and Mavis Mole on a madcap rhyming adventure to guess where Mavis lives. Is it a hole? Is it a bowl? Is it … perhaps … a sausage roll? With tantalising expectations and fun inferential guessing on every page, this is the perfect book to read with younger children or read together with an EYFS class. Not only will it get children laughing, but they will also be thinking creatively about language. We think Holey Moley will be a sure-fire hit with 3-6-year-olds.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Bad United: Just for Kicks by Louise Forshaw
Football-mad Hoof the Unicorn desperately wants to feel part of a team but is fed up with being excluded by his peers. But then he discovers Bad United and joins teammates Rex the roarsome dinosaur defender, a goalkeeper with eight legs and a mermaid coach. With themes of inclusivity, sportsmanship, resilience and acceptance, this graphic novel will appeal to less confident readers. Teachers – if your class likes football it behooves you to read this aloud!
6-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Max Magic 3 by Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton
Max Mullers is going on holiday and hopes to avoid the dreaded prison break Crayfish Twins who are bent on revenge and looking for him. Find out if Max and his friends can lie low and escape the Crayfish clutches in this summery seaside-tinged adventure. Perfect for readers aged 7-10, the third instalment of this accessible and pacy series will appeal to magic and problem-solving fans. And with a dyslexia-friendly font and engaging layout, it’s ideal for less confident readers at the top end of KS2.
7-10 year-olds | Author’s website
The Beast of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
In the thrilling sequel, Jude Ripon’s fresh start is interrupted by a daring and dangerous mission to rescue Farrowfell. There’s a sinister beast and raw magic has returned. Can Jude, her sister Morley and the Weston family solve the mystery in time? With family secrets, and themes of injustice, loyalty and friendship this action-packed magical adventure is ideal for children who loved Amari and the Night Brothers, and the first in the series, The Thief of Farrowfell. Highly recommended for KS2.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Knowing the Score by Ros Roberts
This heartfelt middle-grade novel explores family dynamics, secrets and forgiveness in a compelling story. Suitable for UKS2 and LKS3, readers will empathise with Gemma’s struggles to uncover the truth behind her family’s rift while staying with her seemingly perfect uncle Joe. Friendship, financial struggles, and comfort zones are themes that book club members will enjoy getting their teeth into. Highly recommended for its engaging storytelling and relatable themes, Knowing the Score is an ideal summer holiday reading for Y6s and Y7s.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Your Time Is Up by Sarah Naughton
Distinctive, compelling and unique, this gripping real-time thriller follows Zaina’s as she wrestles with concentration, emotion, truth and A Level maths. 14+ year-olds will feel compelled to learn more and more about Zaina’s complex web of secrets and lies which unravel with nail-biting and page-turning suspense. Exploring themes of deception, pressure, and loyalty, Your Time Is Up is also perfect for book club discussions. We think this engaging fast-paced thriller will be a sure-fire KS4 exam season hit.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Perry Firekeeper-Birch fights for justice and faces historical prejudice, rivalries and secrets in this blazing thriller from the world of Firekeeper’s Daughter. Finding a Native American ancestor’s remains in the university archive isn’t how she envisioned her summer internship. And she determined to take ‘Warrior Girl’ back to her homeland. Suitable for 14+ year-olds, this gripping narrative explores resilience, identity and activism. It’s also ideal to spark discussion in book clubs or debating societies about the ethical considerations relating to stolen artefacts, the rights of Indigenous people and taking the law into your own hands. Highly recommended for KS4.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for May 2024
These hashtag days might provide current and relevant talking points for secondary-aged pupils aged 13+ in KS3, KS4 and KS5, especially when linked to related literature.
- Mental health awareness week. The Mental Health Foundation has an excellent set of free resources for teachers and schools.
- #World Baking Day 2024. STEM learning has a set of useful downloads for primary schools.
- International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia #IDAHOT 2024. Stonewall offers a presentation explaining why this day is important and needed throughout the world.
- World Cushion Plumping Day 2024 is schedule for May 5th and celebrates and promotes well-being, mindfulness, self-worth and taking time out to take care of yourself.
- National Vegetarian Week 2024. Vegetarian For Life has a set of fun resources for the classroom.
- Sphincter of Oddi Awareness Day is held on May 8th. Learn more about this fascinating upper gastrointestinal tract muscular valve that’s also known as the hepatopancreatic sphincter, Glisson’s sphincter, or Uxorcula Hercules.
- #RelativesDay 2024. Why not arrange some intergenerational shared reading with picture books or favourite classics?
- #ThankATeacherDay – thank your teachers, especially the ones who recommend great books! There are some great ideas to help show your appreciation here.
- Elmer Day celebrates friendship and inclusivity and is inspired by the classic books by David McKee. Get your school to dress up in colourful clothes on May 25th!
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for May 2024.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest May 2024 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books coming out in summer 2024.
- Our May 2024 books of the day on Twitter. These can also be viewed on uk.Bookshop.org.
- Our guide on how to run a school book club, which covers both primary school book clubs and secondary school book clubs.
Click one of the buttons below to buy all this month’s recommended book club titles, or class sets of any of these books, from Bookshop.org UK or Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
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