May 2026’s set of recommendations for book clubs features seaside holidays, consent, feelings, art, friendship, inclusion, gender expression, school rules, fantasy magic, STEM quests, sport, mythology, dragons, dystopia, family drama, male friendship, murder mystery, cosy romantasy, apocalyptic storms and reality TV survival. May 2026’s picks include titles by Duncan Beedie, Nancy Leschnikoff, Morag Hood, Kim Gregory, Darren Chetty, Sandhya Prabhat, Mariesa Dulak, Rebecca Cobb, Huw Lewis Jones, Zoey Allen, Frenci Sanna, Alexis Deacon, Harriet Muncaster, Paul Ian Cross, Gill Arbuthnott, Lauren Humphrey, Lawrence Alexander, Violeta Noy, Ben Nuttall, Francesco Bedini, Jamie Hammond, Jordan Ifueko, David Solomons, Struan Murray, Kristina Rahim, Nathanael Lessore, Ravena Guron, Sarah Beth Durst, Tig Wallace, and Sujin Witherspoon.
May 2026 book club recommendations
A Holiday for Bear by Duncan Beedie
Tired of the same old forest routine, Bear heads to the beach on Frog’s advice and determinedly gives seaside life a try, with a fun picnic, volleyball and a relaxing float in the water. But then homesickness creeps in. This captivating picture book for pre-schoolers story uses a simple holiday plot to deftly explore change, friendship, and the pull between enjoying somewhere new and missing home. An excellent story for nursery discussion.
0-5 year-olds | Author’s website
Ug Want Hug by Nancy Leschnikoff
Ug wants a hug, but the grumpy toad, the squirting flower and the sabre-toothed tiger all say no. As he stomps through his prehistoric world, the story turns that repeated question into a clear introduction to consent for 2+ year olds. With bold colours and short, expressive text, it works well for shared reading and opens up simple discussion about boundaries, comfort and asking before touching. It’s ideal to read, share and discuss with preschoolers.
2+ year-olds | Author’s website
Seahorse Is Furious by Morag Hood
When Seahorse wakes in a bad mood, he stubs his tail, and only gets angrier as the day goes on. Other sea creatures offer hugs, stories and snacks, but nothing improves his mood. The clever, funny and poignant repetition gives this outstanding picture book for 3+ year olds an addictive read-aloud rhythm, while Morag Hood’s graphic underwater scenes make empathising with Seahorse’s feelings accessible to preschool and EYFS children. It is a useful picture book for talking with young children about bad moods, frustration and what helps. Highly recommended.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
Marcie and Giraffe by Kim Gregory
Marcie is pleased with the portrait she paints of Giraffe, until she sees the one he has painted of her and everything unravels. She tears up her picture and pours raw feelings into scribbly drawings of her brain, stomach, face and shaky legs, which Giraffe then uses as the starting point for his own response. Kim Gregory’s bold colour artwork echoes children’s own paintings, giving this vibrant picture book for 3-6 year olds a highly relatable and accessible introduction to discussing feelings, art and how we compare ourselves to others. Highly recommended.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
I’m going to make a friend by Darren Chetty and Sandhya Prabhat
Starting a new school can feel huge – especially when you’re wondering what it takes to make a friend. This gentle, thoughtful and geuninely useful story for 3-6 year olds follows one child’s hopes, worries, and quiet questions about sharing, boundaries, and what it means to connect. As they build a cardboard companion, their imagination and emotions unfold in parallel, offering a subtle take on identity, play, and early friendship. It’s a lovely, understated reflection on change and finding your people – whoever they may be. Highly recommended for EYFS and KS1. Now out in paperback.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
The Ice-Cream Crocodile by Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb
Elvis wants to perform in the circus, but Sidney the penguin only lets fluffy and feathery animals into the ring. While the scaled animals stay behind the scenes, Elvis keeps practising his ice-cream act, with his family behind him. Told in rhyme, the plot builds towards Elvis’s chance to perform, and the lively circus illustrations give infants plenty to look at, including the delicious ice-cream flavours. It’s a clever yet gentle picture book story for 3-6 year olds to prompt discussion about prejudice and inclusion. Highly recommended.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Go Go Dodo! by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Fred Blunt
Go Go Dodo! is a playful adventure about a clueless dodo wandering through jungle, swamp, and sea – completely unaware that a tiger is quietly tailing him. Animal antics keep things interesting, and the lively mix of words and pictures means readers get to see both sides of the chase. Jones, who’s known for books on explorers and maps, brings plenty of charm and laughts to this cracking read aloud picture book for 3-6 year olds.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Princess Pete by Zoey Allen and Frenci Sanna
Pete likes many things – red trousers, flowery dresses, make-up, mud, books, and imagined worlds with pegacorns and singing hedgehogs. Some days Pete wants to be a prince, some days a princess, and sometimes somewhere in between. This charming, jargon-free picture book story for 3-7 year olds shows how Pete’s family and friends respond with warmth, love and acceptance. Frenci Sanna’s clever illustrations use geometric shapes, trans flag colours and situations children will relate to, including immersive double-page spreads that explore how other people react and invite discussion about empathy.
3-7 year-olds | Author’s website
King School by Alexis Deacon
When a child is made King, the adults deal with the situation by setting up a King School, where the lessons begin with sitting still, keeping quiet and doing what the adults tell him to do. But the child king refuses. Instead, he rewrites the rules, turns the town’s routines upside down, and leads everyone into the Wild. This clever picture book story invites 4+ year olds to think critically about which routines are important, whether blind obedience to rules is a good thing and what really matters in terms of knowledge and learning. Highly recommended.
4+ year-olds | Author’s website
Mirabelle and the Enchanted Sea Globe by Harriet Muncaster
A week at the seaside gives Mirabelle time away with her family, along with one clear rule: no magic. But she breaks it almost at once! When she creates a sea creature for one night, the routine holiday quickly takes a different turn. Set against an exciting coastal backdrop, this instalment in the popular illustrated first chapter book series for 5+ year olds blends family rules, seaside scenes and magical mayhem. Highly recommended.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
Superquesters Mission: Desert Danger by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Katarina Gasko
After finding a message in a bottle, Lilli, Leo and Bea head back to Questland for a desert mission. With Arid the Sand Sprite and Skitter the scarab beetle, they try to stop Professor Vortec using an ancient spell to claim buried treasure. This unceasingly engaging, illustrated, STEM-driven book for 6–9 year olds also includes puzzles, facts, activities, a map and a glossary, with links to Key Stage 1 and 2 learning. Highly recommended.
6-9 year-olds | Author’s website
All in the Mind by Gill Arbuthnott and Lauren Humphrey
Brains are introduced here as the fascinating control centre for movement, thought and personality, with clear and accessible explanations of neurons, synapses and the signals that travel around the body. This engaging book for inquisitive 7+ year olds also looks at different kinds of brain wiring, and at animals that manage without a brain at all. Short sections keep the information exciting, while puzzles in each section let children try out the ideas for themselves. Highly recommended for KS2 libraries.
7+ year-olds | Author’s website
World of Sport by Lawrence Alexander and Violeta Noy
World of Sport by Sandra Lawrence explores over 100 sports from around the globe, detailing their origins, rules, and significance. Covering everything from the first Olympic Games to modern extreme sports, this book is filled with bright illustrations and memorable facts. Ideal for children aged 8-12, it provides a comprehensive look at the diverse world of sports, promoting cultural understanding, physical activity, and inclusivity. It’s ideal for KS2 libraries.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Ben Nuttall’s Footy Factory by Ben Nuttall
Step-by-step sequences take 7-12 year olds from basic freestyle football moves to harder tricks they can practise in the playground or try in a game. Short and engaging sections also show star players using the same skills on match day. It’s ideal for KS2 classroom libraries. Ben Nuttall is a professional football freestyler, a social media record holder, and the main freestyle performer for Adidas and Manchester United. Nigel Baines provides the illustrations.
7-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Rise of the Goblin Queen by Francesco Bedini, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Aldo’s cat is no ordinary pet: Odin is the Norse god trapped in a cat’s body! After returning from his sacrifice against the Shadow Wolves, he and Petra are drawn into a new battle with Hecate, the Goblin Queen, who believes Odin’s power is hidden in Aldo’s newborn brother Verci. Greek and Norse mythology, sorcery, battles and Stefano Tambellini’s iconic black-and-white illustrations give this rollickingly good adventure sequel to My Cat is Called Odin plenty of energy. Perfect for 8+ year olds who enjoy immersive and exciting myths.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
Dragonflare by Jamie Hammond
Intrepid 8+ year old readers are pulled headlong into the Wingrider Trials, where humans and dragons team up to solve puzzles inside a dangerous labyrinth. Flynn, an unlikely competitor, must rely on his dragon partner to stay ahead of rivals and avoid the traps closing in. Progress depends on readers helping to crack puzzles along the way. Illustrated by Jamie Hammond, this innovative, addictive and exciting interactive adventure blends humour, teamwork and action, with bravery and trust at the heart of the plot. Highly recommended for KS2. Read our full review.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko
When 13-year-old Valentine Adesanya follows a text about her missing sister, it leads her first to a boba shop, then into the mysterious and magical Genie Realm. In Gloss Angeles, three corporations control everything, using bottled genies to power a wish-based system. To get closer to the truth, Valentine enters the Genie Game, a contest where magic is banned, and starts following clues that connect the Trio Trust to her sister’s disappearance. In a looks-driven, populist and dystopian version of the world, the inspirational protagonist must fight a world where dreams can be hijacked and exploited. It’s a diverse, thought-provoking and fast-paced thriller for 9+ year olds. Highly recommended.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Ministry of Manners by David Solomons
Under the Ministry of Manners, politeness is law and one wrong word can bring punishment. Alfie survives by keeping his head down, but Margot just will not play along. When she is taken to the Manners Retreat, she tries desperately to survive inside a system built to control speech, while Alfie is drawn towards the rebellious ‘Unsilenced’. Will they succeed in fighting back before the dystopian Ministry moves to crush resistance for good? David Solomons has come up with a distinctive, highly original and fascinating middle-grade novel. The perfect book for UKS2 book clubs, The Ministry of Manners will provoke lots of high-quality critical thinking and discussion in Year 6 classes. Highly recommended.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Dragonborn 2: The Twilight Child by Struan Murray
Alex arrives in Dundarrak, a city where humans and dragons still stand side by side against a long-dormant threat. With Drak Midna stirring and the alliance beginning to fracture, she must master her own dragon abilities and trust that her mother can help keep the city from falling apart. Familiar faces return, new enemies emerge, and this sensational next chapter of the Dragonborn series dramatically raises the stakes for everyone involved. Perfect for adventure fantasy fans in KS2 and KS3.
9-14 year-olds | Author’s website
Max and Ella, Stuck Together by Kristina Rahim
Max is bruised by bullying at secondary school and his confidence in music has taken a hit, which is awkward timing with a charity concert coming up. He starts thinking about meeting Hari, his donor parent. But Ella, Hari’s daughter, is not thrilled, especially with her mum abroad and her best friend moving schools. When Max turns up at Ella’s family weekend anyway, the first meeting lands hard and nothing feels simple afterwards. A poignant, thought-provoking read for 9-12 year olds, and one that’s perfect for book club discussion. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Like a Brother by Nathanael Lessore
Owais thinks summer is sorted until his teacher puts him on an art course and his cousin Abass arrives to stay. Sharing a room is bad enough, but Abass takes the bed, insists the Arsenal poster comes down, and leaves Owais on the floor mattress. With the two Year 9 boys clashing from the start, Nathanael Lessore deftly uses the comedy to dig into family, identity and authentic male friendship dynamics, with clever jokes and puns that work on multiple levels. Like a Brother will appeal to many different audiences, and is an ideal accessible yet edgy read for 11+ year olds in KS3. Highly recommended.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron
When Myra arrives in Greyton after her parents inherit a house and a business, she quickly fixes on one goal at her new school: getting onto the newspaper run by Scarlett. Then Scarlett is found dead in her parents’ restaurant, locked inside the walk-in chiller. Convinced it was murder, Myra starts getting close to Scarlett’s friends to find out what happened, until a boy in the woods points a gun at her and claims he has already found the killer. It’s a mesmerising mystery murder story dripping with suspense and bursting with highly original twists. 12+ year olds in KS3 and KS4 will love it.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
When Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s Vermont bed and breakfast, she’s expecting charm but finds a sagging porch, a garden gone wild, and an older relative who does not want her there. She stays, starts repairing what she can, and begins to realise the guests are not quite what they seem. And when Auntie Zee suddenly disappears, Calisa and the groundskeeper’s son are left desperately trying to keep the inn running in this warm-hearted guilty pleasure novel. The Faraway Inn is the breathing definition of cosy yet addictive teen romantasy, and it’s bound to be a popular read for 12+ year olds this summer.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Storm Bringer by Tig Wallace
Supernatural storms are tearing the world apart, and society is split between magic and science. When Amelio uncovers a power he did not know he had, he is pulled into a dangerous quest to bring rival provinces together. With Paige and Vintane, he faces an apocalyptic storm that could change everything. This powerful and distinctive teen romantasy adventure for 14+ year olds explores survival, divided loyalties and risky choices. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon
When Seyoon enters the reality TV reboot of ‘Forest Feud’ for a massive cash prize, she cannot anticipate how quickly the show will become more than a survival contest. After she forms an alliance with Dean Parker, producers push them into a couple storyline for ratings, even though only one contestant can win. Alternating viewpoints and confessional-style transcripts drive this reality TV drama built on issues of trust, pressure, spin and rivalry. It’s perfect for 14+ year olds to read in one sitting.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for May 2026
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.
- National Share-a-Story Month runs throughout May 2026, with the Federation of Children’s Book Groups using this year’s theme, Once Upon a Storytime, to encourage reading aloud, storytelling and shared book events.
- Local and Community History Month takes place throughout May. The Historical Association includes school resources for primary and secondary pupils, including local history enquiry ideas.
- Mental health awareness week. The Mental Health Foundation has an excellent set of free resources for teachers and schools.
- Deaf Awareness Week runs from 4-10 May 2026. The National Deaf Children’s Society explains signs of childhood deafness and offers resources for families, teachers and schools.
- Dying Matters Awareness Week runs from 4-10 May 2026. Hospice UK has official resources, including library packs, posters and reading suggestions for exploring death, dying and grief sensitively.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Foster Care Fortnight runs from 11-24 May 2026. The Fostering Network has resources for discussing care-experienced children, family structures and the realities of fostering.
- Endangered Species Day falls on Friday 15 May 2026. The Endangered Species Coalition has an educators’ resource centre with class activity ideas and lesson-plan links.
- #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.
- Walk to School Week runs from 18-22 May 2026. Living Streets is encouraging pupils to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride to school, with classroom packs available for schools.
- Dementia Action Week runs from 18-24 May 2026. The Alzheimer’s Society campaign can work well alongside intergenerational reading, memoir, family stories and books exploring memory.
- National Numeracy Day takes place on Wednesday 20 May 2026. National Numeracy is offering free school and community resources under the theme Count on Your Community.
- World Bee Day is marked on 20 May. The FAO’s 2026 theme is Bee together for people and the planet, and the British Council has a World Bee Day lesson plan.
- 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?
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is marked on 21 May. UNESCO’s page can support book club discussion around translation, identity, migration, multilingual classrooms and literature from different cultures.
- #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!
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for May 2026.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest May 2026 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this summer 2026.
- Our May 2026 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.
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