May 2025’s set of recommendations for book clubs features fairy tale magic, graphic novel fun, puzzles, mysteries, negative online influences, fantasy, werewolves and a love of libraries and books. May 2025’s picks include titles by Andrew Larsen & Katty Maurey, Sally Gardner, Cat Weldon and Nene Lonergan, Aoife Dooley, Frann Preston-Gannon, Paul Ian Cross, Katie Kear and Cherie Zamazing, Susan Martineau and Vicky Barker, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ravena Guron, Tamsin Winter, and Amie Jordan.
May 2025 book club recommendations
The Man Who Loved Libraries by Andrew Larsen & Katty Maurey
This fascinating picture book for 3+ year olds follows Andrew Carnegie’s journey from a young immigrant in America to one of the world’s wealthiest industrialists. It shows how he later used his fortune to fund over 2,500 public libraries, changing access to books for millions. Alongside the biographical story, a short factual section offers extra detail about his life and role in the Industrial Revolution. It’s a thoughtful introduction to the lasting power of philanthropy. Highly recommended.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Glass Heart by Sally Gardner
Sally Gardner’s The Glass Heart is a dreamy fairy tale about three princesses with hearts made of glass. As they grow up in a kingdom of winding rivers and hidden gardens, life chips away at their delicate hearts – one shatters, one fractures, and one stays intact. It’s a gentle, thoughtful take on how we cope with emotion and change, wrapped in gorgeous storytelling and illustrations. Perfect for 5+ year olds who like their magic with a hint of melancholy.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
Amelia Cheeseheart Investigates: Mummy Mayhem by Cat Weldon and Nene Lonergan
Daring mouse aviator Amelia and her clever spider friend Webster have a mystery on their paws. Objects keep vanishing—only to reappear in the Ancient Egyptian exhibit. Their prime suspect? Cleo, the Cat Mummy. As they navigate the museum’s secrets, Amelia is determined to crack the case. Packed with comic-style illustrations and historical fun, this adventure blends page-turning mystery, fast-paced mischief, and a dash of Ancient Egypt for 5+ year olds. Highly recommended for less enthusiastic readers.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Squid Squad by Aoife Dooley
Meet Ollie the vampire squid and Zing the sea bunny – probably the oddest duo in the town of Nowhere. Alongside hypno-snails and thorny slugs, they tackle disappearing pets, weird sounds, and the mystery of a rogue portal toilet. With four fast-paced stories full of visual gags and deep-sea weirdness, this vibrant graphic novel is a splashy treat. It’s great for less confident 5-8 year olds who love quirky characters, quick laughs, and short, punchy adventures.
5-8 year-olds | Author’s website
Little Lim and the Golden Treasure by Frann Preston-Gannon
Little Lim is on a mission: to win the Young Explorers competition by finding the rarest shell in her rockpool town. With her friend Kai by her side, the search proves tricky until a tale of a golden shell sparks a new idea. Set on a tiny island and packed with fun coastal details, this illustrated adventure for 6+ year olds blends fiction and marine facts, showing that teamwork – and a bit of curiosity – can lead to the best discoveries. Read our full review.
6+ year-olds | Author’s website
SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Katie Kear and Cherie Zamazing
Lilli, Leo and Bea are whisked into a magical board game and transformed into the SuperQuesters. Their mission? Outsmart the sneaky Mortifer before he floods River Crest. Along the way, they crack puzzles using teamwork, science and a dash of coding know-how. With a handy glossary, map, and loads of interactive challenges, it’s a clever mix of story and STEM. A fun pick for 6-9 year olds, KS1 and KS2 readers, it’s also part of the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge.
6-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Real-life Mysteries: Tales of Scary Beasts by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker
Ever wondered what explorers really saw when they claimed to spot sea monsters or giant apes? This book explores six strange sightings and asks readers to play detective. With detailed illustrations and an impetus to think critically, it’s a mix of mystery, fact and imaginative adventure. Written by Susan Martineau and illustrated by Vicky Barker, it’s perfect for curious 8+ year olds who love solving puzzles and questioning the world around them.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
Vivi Conway and the Lost Hero by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
In this exciting finale to the Welsh myth-inspired magical adventure series for 9+ year olds, Dara and friends set out to rescue Vivi Conway, who has vanished and been forgotten by everyone except them. Their search takes them beyond the Unlands, where they must prepare to confront the ancient threat of Arawn. With new allies and their combined powers, the group aims to find Vivi and save their world. The story continues themes of friendship, bravery, and teamwork introduced in the earlier books.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Blockbusters! by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
When Rafa’s Year 6 class visits a local theatre, he somehow ends up mistaken for a child star and swept onto a Hollywood film set – while still trying to find his missing brother. Told in scenes instead of chapters, the story cleverly weaves in movie-making roles through Rafa’s eyes. Set between Birkenhead and LA, this lively middle-grade caper blends family, friendship, and a big case of mistaken identity. Illustrated by Steven Lenton, it’s great for 9-11-year-old individual reading or shared reading. Highly recommended.
9-11 year-olds | Author’s website
The Battle of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
In the thrilling final Farrowfell adventure, Jude Ripon faces the collapse of the Dark Rivers and a city gripped by fear. With the Consortium arresting people without warning, Jude and Moorley set out to find answers – and hope. Their search brings them to Darcius, a boy who knows more than he lets on. Power, resistance, and survival take centre stage in this gripping fight to save Farrowfell from destruction. Highly recommended.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
I Dare You by Tamsin Winter
Two best friends start filming dares to grow their online following. It’s fun at first, until things get out of hand. As the risks ramp up, so do the cracks in their friendship. This sharply paced story digs into the darker side of viral fame, showing how quickly likes can turn into pressure. A pointed look at peer influence and digital choices, it’s a perspicuous read for 12+ year olds that deftly unpicks the blurred lines between real life and life online. Highly recommended.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
All the Lost Souls by Amie Jordan
In this follow-up to All the Hidden Monsters, Sage and Oren head to the Jura Mountains to untangle a brewing clash between witches and werewolves. Their hunt leads to ancient magic, lost souls, and a creeping fog that’s anything but ordinary. With scenes shifting from the French Alps to Downside – Manchester’s secret magical underworld – the story mixes eerie crime, simmering romance, and sharp-edged tension. Sage, a magic-less werewolf, is back – and the stakes are higher than ever.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for May 2025
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. STEM learning has a set of useful downloads for primary schools.
- International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia #IDAHOT. Stonewall offers a presentation explaining why this day is important and needed throughout the world.
- World Cushion Plumping Day is scheduled for May 5th and celebrates and promotes well-being, mindfulness, self-worth and taking time out to take care of yourself.
- National Vegetarian Week has moved to October this year. But if you still want to celebrate it in May, 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.
- Outdoor Classroom Day, well, the first of them – there’s another in November (Brrr!) – takes place this month. Why not have a look at our great set of outdoor classroom reading ideas?
- #RelativesDay. Why not arrange some intergenerational shared reading with picture books or favourite classics?
- 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!
- VE Day is commemorated on May 8th, and the government-backed VE/VJ Day website has created a set of resources for schools and downloadable education packs, including an ‘our shared story‘ initiative.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for May 2025.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest May 2025 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this summer 2025.
- Our May 2025 books of the day on X. These can also be viewed on uk.Bookshop.org.
- Our guide on how to run a school book club 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.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
