Check out these exciting easy and fiction titles that were published in May.
ELEMENTARY PICTURE BOOKS
7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazer (ill. Ross MacDonald). 9781484717790. 2017. Gr PK-1.
The number six hires the letter Private I to investigate whether or not the number seven really ate nine, as the old joke goes. Wordplay and number puns abound before Private I cracks the case.
And the Robot Went… by Michelle Robinson (ill. by Sergio Ruzzier). 9780544586529. 2017. Gr K-2.
Animal builders, including a Fox, Bear, and a Gnu, team up to assemble a Robot. Each step of the process has its own accompanying sound effect that listeners can repeat until the surprising end of this cumulative tale.
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner (ill. by Jaime Kim). 9780763660710. 2017. Gr PK-3.
Celebrate the changes that come around during summer time, such as people wearing flip-flops, kids playing hide-and-seek outdoors, and ice-cream trucks bringing happiness to neighborhoods.
Ben’s Revolution : Benjamin Russell and the Battle of Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick (ill. by Wendell Minor). 9780399166747. 2017. Gr 2-4.
Twelve-year-old Benjamin Russell of Boston experiences the Revolutionary War from the Boston Tea Party of 1773 through the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman (ill. by Divya Srinivasan). 9780062399618. 2017. Gr 1-4.
A long time ago a princess in a small hot country will not talk, no matter what her teachers do. Can anyone make her want to talk?
Dragons Rule, Princesses Drool by Courtney Pippin-Mathur. 9781481461382. 2017. Gr K-2.
Two extremely dangerous creatures have just invaded Dragon’s territory. Dragon is fierce; will he use his fire breathing or his sharp claws to defeat this scourge of…princesses?
Firefighter Duckies! by Frank W. Dormer. 9781481460903. 2017. Gr PK-1
You might not pick ducks as your first choice when you need are in trouble, but these firefighter duckies are brave and strong, no matter who or what needs to be rescued!
Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming & Lori Nichols. 9780375866487. 2017. Gr PK-2.
When Pig tries to go to bed in her sty, Cow is there. “Go sleep in your own bed!” scolds Pig—and the humor begins. Cow kicks Hen out of his bed; Hen shoos her own interloper out of hers; and on it goes. This would make a great read-aloud and a wonderful bedtime book—and even parents should get a laugh out of it!
Green Green : A Community Gardening Story by Marie & Baldev Lamba (ill. by Sonia Sanchez). 9780374327972. 2017. Gr PK-2.
In the city an abandoned lot squeezed between two buildings becomes a community garden.
Hattie & Hudson by Chris Van Dusen. 9780763665456. 2017. Gr PK-3.
Hattie’s sweet singing draws a sea monster to the surface of the lake she’s paddling across. The two quickly form a friendship, and Hattie is determined to help the locals, who fear the monster, see past his enormously frightening size.
Hop Up! Wriggle Over! by Elizabeth Honey. 9780544790841. 2017. Gr PK-1.
Follow a diverse family of animals from morning until night in this great read-aloud packed with onomatopoeia and fun illustrations.
I Got a New Friend by Karl Newsom Edwards. 9780399557002. 2017. Gr PK-1.
A young girl gets a new puppy and learns what it means to have a dog.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. 9780763678388. 2017. Gr PK-3.
After Jabari completes his swimming lessons and passes his swim test, he’s ready to jump off the diving board—well, very nearly ready. He just needs to work up his courage first.
The Queen’s Handbag by Steve Antony. 9781338032932. 2017. Gr PK-1.
When a thief steals the Queen of England’s handbag, she and her guards are led on a merry chase to and around the landmarks of Great Britain. (Also check out The Queen’s Hat.)
Secrets I Know by Kallie George & Paola Zakimi. 9781101938935. 2017. Gr PK-2.
A young girl spends a day in her yard discovering secrets only she can know.
Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani. 9781419723490. 2017. Gr PK-1.
Watch and count cats of all shapes and sizes as they do all sorts of cat-ty activities—including dozing off on cute furry stacks.
That Neighbor Kid by David Miyares. 9781481449793. 2017. Gr PK-2.
When young boy meets a girl, together they decide to build a tree house.
There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi (ill. by Laurel Molk). 9780763675424. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Sukie, a small dog, i’s afraid of being on the beach where the waves are big and there could be lobsters. After being carried to the sand by her girl Eleanor, Sukie watches fearfully, worrying about all the things that could go wrong. But when her toy monkey floats out to sea, can she overcome her fears?
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires. 9781771387279. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Young Lou is fearless, willing to run, build fortresses, rescue wild animals, and do anything her friends can do—except climb a tree. Lou has to learn to face her fears and find her courage to join her friends on this fun adventure.
Toad on the Road : A Cautionary Tale by Stephen Shaskan. 9780062393470 2017. Gr PK-2.
Squatting in the middle of the road, a toad watches a buzzing fly. When a bear on a bike, a crocodile in a car, and a vole in a van all come down the road, they swerve to avoid him, and then crash. They admonish the little toad to get off the road, but he doesn’t listen until someone special arrives. (Hint: Stephen dedicated this book to his mom.)
Trains Don’t Sleep by Andria Rosenbaum (ill. by Deirdre Gill). 9780544380745. 2017. Gr PK-2.
This tribute to trains blends onomatopoetic text and a sweet bedtime story for young railroad enthusiasts.
ELEMENTARY CHAPTER BOOKS
Crash! (Kid from Planet Z, Book 1) by Nancy Krulik. 9780448490120. 2017. Gr 1-3.
When alien kid Zeke Zander and his family accidentally crash their spaceship on Earth on their way to Planet Z, Zeke must blend in with Earth kids until the ship is fixed. It will be mighty tricky, though, to keep his talking cat, antennae, and power of invisibility secret.
Dog Trouble! by Galia Oz. 9780399550201. 2017. Gr 2-5.
Julie has a new dog, Shakshuka, who is always getting Julie in trouble, but when Shakshuka goes missing, Julie and her friends must use some detective work to find her again.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis. 9781681193434. 2017. Gr 3-6.
After drinking enchanted hot chocolate, a brave and feisty young dragon is transformed into a twelve-year-old human girl with a passion for chocolate.
Georgia Rules by Nanci Turner Steveson. 9780062374578. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Maggie only met her father once when she was just four years old. When he dies, he leaves his 2,000-acre farm in Vermont to her with one rule—she must live there for one year before she can sell it. So Maggie and her mother leave their lives in Georgia behind and try to adjust to their new surroundings.
Gnome-a-geddon by K.A. Holt. 9781481478458. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Buck is a huge fan of a popular fantasy series (think: Harry Potter). But when the author goes missing, and Buck’s little sister, Willy, disappears, Buck realizes the series is not merely fiction. He finds himself racing through a terrifying (and hilarious) world he thought was only make-believe with his best friend, Lizzie. Together, they hunt a mythical weapon in order to save Willy and the author—and the world in the process.
The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff. 9780525514503. 2017. Gr 3-6.
Fifth-grader Winnie writes of turning her treehouse into an embassy after her newly-divorced parents become unreasonable. Things are peaceful until nine of her friends, also with complaints about their families, decide to move in, too.
Keys to the City by Lisa Schroeder. 9780545907385. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Lindy’s homework assignment for the summer is to explore different pursuits to find what she is passionate about. Invited by a neighbor and her grandson to visit New York City, she hopes to find her “true passion” but is afraid that she isn’t good at anything.
Lemons by Melissa Savage. 9781524700126. 2017. Gr 3-6.
Lemonade’s mama told her to make lemonade out of the lemons life sends her way, but when she has to move to California, to live with her grandfather after her mother dies, Lem struggles to find the good in any of it. Then she meets Tobin, who invites her on an adventure to capture Bigfoot on film.
The Lost Legacy (Supernormal Sleuthing Service, Book 1) by Gwenda Bond & Christopher Rowe. 9780062459947. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Stephen’s dad has just gotten a new job in New York City as the head chef in an exclusive hotel. When they arrive, Stephen realizes how exclusive—and monstrous—the “supernormal” clientele at their new home is! He also is shocked to discover that he is part supernormal himself. When he is framed for the theft of a magical artifact, he and his friends search for the missing item—or else he will be punished according to monster law. (You don’t want to know!)
The Magnificent Flying Baron Estate (Bizarre Baron Inventions, Book 1) by Eric Bower. 9781944995133. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Waldo’s parents, both inventors, have turned their home into a flying machine and entered a race across the country. However, they are kidnapped by a notorious villain’s sister who has her own plans for the prize money.
The Moon Platoon (Space Runners, Book 1) by Jeramey Kraatz. 9780062445971. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Benny is excited to be chosen for a scholarship program to Lunar Taj, the first resort on the Moon, with other bright kids. But when they arrive, they find that they have not been told the whole truth about their expedition.
Quicksand Pond by Janet Taylor Lisle. 9781481472227. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Jessie isn’t thrilled to be spending the summer in a small town in Rhode Island with her professor father, her annoying younger brother, and her too-perfect older sister. When she meets a local girl, Terri, out on Quicksand Pond, the two become fast friends. But the lingering effects of a past tragedy hang like a dark cloud over the town. And when another crime is committed, the girls’ friendship is put to the ultimate test.
Roll by Darcy Miller. 9780062461223. 2017. Gr 4-6.
When Ren sees birds plummeting to the ground, he thinks something is wrong, until he finds out that his new neighbor is training these pigeons for a competition. With no friends around, Ren starts learning to train the birds with his neighbor. It won’t be an exciting summer—or will it?
Three Pennies by Melanie Crowder. 9781481471879. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Marin has only known life in the foster care system. Her constant companions have been the Chinese “I Ching,” the “Book of Changes,” and three pennies always in her pocket. Lately, though, she feels like she has found a place she could stay forever—but she still dreams of finding her birth mother and hopes to convince her that they belong together. Then Marin gets unwelcome news.
William Wenton and the Impossible Puzzle by Bobbie Peers. 9781481478250. 2017. Gr 4-6.
William is a genius at solving puzzles, but eight years ago his family picked up stakes from England and moved to Norway. He has no idea why they had to move, why they changed their last name, or why he has to keep his puzzle-solving talent a secret. But when an exhibit called the Impossible Puzzle comes to the local museum, William can’t resist trying to solve it.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk. 9781101994856. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Crow has no memory of her mother. Her life with Osh, the man who found Crow as an infant washed ashore in a small boat near his island home, is all she’s ever known. But when she spots a fire across the sea on a nearby deserted Island, it ignites a flame inside that propels Crow on a journey to discover her roots.
Brave New Girl (Book 1) by Rachel Vincent. 9780399552458. 2017. Gr 7-10.
Dahlia 16 is one of five thousand girls created from the same genome, identical to every one of her “sisters.” However, for some reason, a boy named Trigger 17 says she is beautiful and unique. That, of course, means Trigger is flawed, but if he sees something unique about her that means she is flawed as well, and if anyone finds out, their genetic line will be exterminated.
Bubble by Stewart Foster. 9781481487429. 2017. Gr 5-7.
Eleven-year-old Joe lives in a hospital due to his auto-immune disease, interacting only with his sister, the medical staff, and an American boy with the same illness. He can’t leave his room due to the risk of life-threatening germs, but when a new nurse offers Joe the possibility of going outside, Joe must decide if the adventure is worth the risk.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya. 9781101997239. 2017. Gr 5-8.
Arturo Zamora must save his family’s restaurant before a land developer destroys it. He teams up with the funny, cute new girl, Carmen, to thwart the developer’s plans and help bring the community together.
Finding Mighty by Sheela Chari. 9781419722967. 2017. Gr 6-8.
Two things are missing: Myla’s necklace and Peter’s brother Randall. As the two try to solve the mysteries among the grit, graffiti, and parkour players of New York City, they find their families share a secret history that endanger them all.
The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die by Randall Platt. 9781510708099. 2017. Gr 7-10.
In 1939 Poland, it is dangerous to stand up for anyone, especially the Jews. So Arab, a young Jewish girl, disguises herself as an Aryan boy and leads a street gang, doing everything she needs to stay alive. But her plans go awry when a stranger asks for help.
The Go-Between by Veronica Chambers. 9781101930953. 2017. Gr 7-10.
Every girl envies Camilla in Mexico City; she lives a life of luxury with a father who does voice-overs for American movies and a glamorous mother who acts in telenovela films. When her mother is cast in an American television show, they have to move to Los Angeles and, for the first time, Cammi meets with racism at her posh, private school, where the white students assume she is a poor scholarship student.
The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre (Enchanted) by Gail Carson Levine. 9780062074669. 2017. Gr 5-8.
Princess Peregrine has always striven to be the Lakti people’s ideal woman, to impress her parents, and to become the best warrior she can be, never giving any thought to the castle’s Bamarre servants. One day, just as she is about to join her father in battle, the fairy Halina reveals Perry is actually of Bamarre birth, and challenges her to rise up against the Lakti and free her people from tyranny.
Posted by John David Anderson. 9780062338204. 2017. Gr 5-8.
After cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost, Deedee, Wolf, and Bench decide to start communicating with each other through sticky-notes instead of text messages. It quickly catches on in the rest of the school, but for every nice note there is a mean, bullying one. Then, when new girl Rose sits down at Frost’s lunch table, her presence threatens to unravel Frost’s circle of friends, and the sticky-note war escalates.
Restart by Gordon Korman. 9781338053777. 2017. Gr 5-8.
Chase does not remember falling off the roof; in fact he does not remember anything about himself. When he gets back to middle school, he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids—trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that he was. But can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life?
The Shadow Cipher (York, Book 1) by Laura Ruby. 9780062306937. 2017. Gr 5-8.
In an alternate New York City, three kids race to solve a puzzle that will save their homes from a land developer by finding clues hidden in the buildings of the city.
This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy. 9781101938171. 2017. Gr 5-8.
Sara is not thrilled when her summer plans are upended for a surprise cross-country train trip with her family, and she is embarrassed because one of her moms is writing a tell-all book about the trip. Then she finds herself changing along with the landscape outside the train windows.
The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi. 9781616205645. 2017. Gr 5-7.
Oliver wakes up to find his father missing and his home flooded in the seaside town of Melcombe Regis, England, 1724. With no money, Oliver decides to loot a wrecked ship, which is illegal. After getting caught and escaping from the poorhouse, he discovers his father has gone to London to look for his sister, who is in some kind of trouble.
Washed Ashore by Kerr Thomson. 9780545904209. 2017. Gr 6-8.
After a furious storm, the bodies of a whale and a man washed ashore on an island off the coast of Scotland. Two young teens get caught up in the mystery surrounding these bodies—and in the discovery of another man who also secretly washed ashore that night.
HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
Antisocial by Jillian Blake. 9781101938966. 2017. Gr 9-12.
After students’ phones are hacked at Alexandria Prep, Anna Soler tries to figure out who is releasing secrets and private information.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden. 9781599903194. 2017. Gr 8-12.
Freed from slavery, Mariah and her young brother Zeke join Sherman’s march through Georgia, where Mariah meets a free black named Caleb and dares to imagine the possibility of true love, but hope can come at a cost.
Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson. 9781338068696. 2017. Gr 9-12.
This magical struggle between the forces of light and darkness is a reimagining of Swan Lake (first of a duology).
Dreamfall (Book 1) by Amy Plum. 9780062429872. 2017. Gr 9-12.
When seven teenagers agree to take part in an experimental new procedure to cure their insomnia, their worst nightmares come true. Thrown into a dreamworld, they must fight to defeat their dreams if they ever hope to wake up.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia. 9780062290137. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Eliza has an alternate persona online, LadyConstellation, through her popular webcomic. Her work is a worldwide sensation. But in her daily life, Eliza is awkward, shy, and not exactly popular—In fact, she’s utterly friendless. That is, until Wallace comes into her life. Now she wonders if real-world interactions might be worthwhile after all. But when Eliza’s secret is revealed to the world, her life falls apart.
The Fashion Committee by Susan Juby. 9780451468789. 2017. Gr 9-12.
While trying to win a scholarship to Green Pastures Academy of Art and Applied Design, Charlie and John compete in a fashion competition while trying to keep their personal lives together.
The Flame in the Mist (Book 1) by Renee Ahdieh. 9780399171635. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Mariko is the only daughter of a prominent samurai, which means her only future is marriage. However, on her way to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed for the first time, Mariko’s caravan is attacked by the Black Clan, who were hired to kill her. Escaping and disguising herself as a boy, Mariko infiltrates the Black Clan with the intention of getting revenge, but that may not be in her future.
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig. 9780778330165. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Recently adopted autistic teenager Ginny does everything she can to return to her former life with her birth mom because of a traumatic event in the past. In the process, she discovers that going back is not what she really needs.
Grace and the Fever by Zan Romanoff. 9781524720841. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Grace is still obsessed with the boy band, Fever Dream. When, shortly after graduating high school, Grace meets Jes, the band’s lead singer, she finds herself inside the private lives of the band. And while she juggles her secret fan-girl persona with the cool girl she wants the boys to see, she learns the media portrayal of the band she loves doesn’t necessarily match up with reality.
Grit by Gillian French. 9780062642554. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Darcy has gained the reputation of “town slut,” just because she likes to have a good time with the boys on hot summer nights. In reality, she does it because she needs to get her mind off her secrets, including the secret she shares with her cousin Nell. When someone anonymously nominates Darcy for the Bay Festival Princess, she finds her past secrets coming to light in ways she doesn’t know how to handle.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo. 9780374304041. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Desi Lee is smart, practical, and very successful in school—except in romance. She decides to use the techniques she learned from watching Korean dramas with her father in snagging a perfect boyfriend.
Just a Normal Tuesday by Kim Turrisi. 9781771387934. 2017. Gr 9-12.
After her sister commits suicide, sixteen-year-old Kai loses herself in a world of alcohol and drugs until her parents send her to grief camp where she learns to live and love again.
The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah. 9781338118667. 2017. Gr 7-12.
Michael likes playing with graphic design software. He often gets dragged to his parents’ anti-immigration rallies, where he meets Mina, a beautiful Muslim refugee from Afghanistan. Funny and smart, Mina challenges everything Michael has been taught to believe.
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord. 9781619639584. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Lucy is the daughter of a preacher, so when her mother’s cancer returns, she’s not supposed to lose faith in God—but she does. Lucy agrees to work as a counselor at a nearby camp for troubled kids, and there she finds a diverse group of people who quickly become her friends, and one who becomes something more. But family secrets come to light, shaking Lucy to her core, and testing the limits of her love and faith.
Noteworthy by Riley Redgate. 9781419723735. 2017. Gr 9-12.
When Jordan Sun is rejected from the school musical because of her low singing voice, she disguises herself as a boy to join the elite all-male a cappella group. In the process she learns what it means to be a girl AND a boy in a male-dominated society.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. 9781524714680. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Smart Bronwyn, beautiful Addy, drug-dealer Nate, athlete Cooper, and class outcast Simon—creator of the notorious school gossip app—all walk into Bayview High on a Monday afternoon for detention. The four other students know that Simon plans on publishing juicy gossip about all of them on Tuesday. Before Monday detention ends, Simon is dead, and the others are lying about who killed him.
The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein. 9781484717165. 2017. Gr 7-12.
Julia Beaufort-Stuart wakes up in a hospital not knowing how she was injured, and soon befriends Euan McEwen, the Scottish Traveller boy who found her. Later, when a body is discovered, she experiences the prejudices his family has endured and tries to keep them from being framed for the crime.
The Traitor’s Kiss (Traitor’s Circle, Book 1) by Erin Beaty. 9781250117946. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Sage has a quicksilver tongue and an unruly temper, and she is definitely not a proper lady. That means she will not be married off herself, but is apprenticed to a matchmaker, helping her country wrangle other young ladies into marriages for political alliances. Then Sage meets a handsome soldier, who recruits her to infiltrate and spy on enemy ranks inside a secret political uprising in their own military.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. 9781481478687. 2017. Gr 9-12.
When Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel meet at a Stanford University summer program, Dimple is avoiding her parents’ obsession with “marriage prospects” but Rishi hopes to woo her into accepting arranged marriage with him.
Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith. 9780399559372. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Alice has been pining for her best friend, Teddy, for some time now, and it seems like they are about to start something romantic. But when she buys him a lottery ticket for his eighteenth birthday and his number wins, the money changes both their lives forever—and may ruin any chance they had of becoming more than friends.
