The Waterstones Round Up: May's Best Children's Books

Continuing the stories of the characters from McKay’s acclaimed The Skylarks’ War, The Swallows’ Flight is a compelling and thoughtful depiction of young people from different countries growing up as the world races to war once more.

Bringing together all the adventures of the iconic skeleton detective Skulduggery Pleasant and his protégé Valkyrie, this stunningly illustrated compendium also features with a dark new story, plenty of surprises and an indispensable reference tool for navigating the entire wild cast of characters in the series.

Blessed with an evocative, timeless feel, Tilley’s masterful debut centres on Wick, a boy desperate to escape the oppressive Harklights orphanage, and the miniature protectors of the forest who offer him a tantalising chance of freedom.

Both funny and thought-provoking, this cracking adventure from the author of Kick pitches a girl on the run and her new best friend into a battle against the world’s biggest fizzy drinks firm and their cavalier disregard for the environmental damage their products cause.

The sequel to Agbabi’s acclaimed The Infinite continues the time-travelling adventures of Elle and her fellow leapers as the theft of the Infinity-Glass and a wrongful accusation send our young hero back to the London of the past to solve a crucial mystery.

When his baby sister Shilpa is kidnapped and taken to the sinister Otherland, Rohan and best friend Myra must face a trio of deadly challenges to rescue her in this rollicking fantasy adventure from the author of The Dragon in the Library.

A group of children are stranded on an uninhabited island with a mysterious treasure map in this typically assured and delightfully funny tale from the author of Millions and Framed.

Something weird is happening to the weather in Folding Ford and it is up to Alfie to work out what in this witty, page-turning adventure perfect for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Perfect reading for fans of Starfell and Nevermoor, Avery’s gripping tale is set in a brilliantly realised alternate London where a girl destined to die before her fourteenth birthday must set out on a perilous quest to save her dragon-touched brother.

Inspired by the children’s classic The Little Grey Men, nature writer and novelist Melissa Harrison weaves an enchanting tale of three ancient beings of the wild and their journey through countryside and cityscape in pursuit of a new place to live.

The follow-up to the hugely popular Evernight sees a fresh threat to the Silver Kingdom as Larabelle and Joe must brave unimaginable danger in a desperate attempt to clear Double Eight’s name.

Revolving around the titular boy and his extraordinary life-giving abilities, this eloquently written, multi-layered work from the author of The Middler poses vital questions about time, family and the human lifespan.

Nick and Charlie may officially be boyfriends but that doesn’t mean an end to the drama in this warm-hearted and emotionally generous fourth instalment of Alice Oseman’s phenomenally successful graphic novel series.

A pop music superstar and cultural icon like no other, Billie Eilish peels back the layers of her enigmatic persona in this lavish yet highly intimate volume boasting hundreds of previously unseen photographs.

The author of Am I Normal Yet? and The Places I’ve Cried in Public delivers a smart and sassy high school drama in which the editor of the yearbook serves up some incendiary truths about the school’s mean girls.

Set in an alternate 1950s America where dragons double as farmhands and sinister conspiracies spread like wildfire, Burn is a story of friendship and bravery in a world on the brink of its own destruction.

Tense, sparse and darkly beautiful, Cockcroft’s story of a boy in a caravan at risk from both human and animal predators mingles social commentary with myth and folklore with bewitching results.

Adapting his acclaimed Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man for a younger audience, Acho opens an invaluable dialogue with white and other non-Black people about the nature of systemic racism, white privilege and what can be done to dismantle prejudice.

The gripping second instalment in The Dreamer Trilogy, Mister Impossible sees Ronan, Hennessy and Bryde explore the ever-darker depths of the terrain between dreaming and reality.

The team behind the bestselling All Are Welcome explore the variety of feelings that children will have in the course of an ordinary day with bold illustration, diverse representation and gentle humour.

Penned by a social worker and child therapist, Race Cars is a groundbreaking picture book that addresses white privilege in an accessible and entertaining fashion for preschoolers.

Bursting with the trademark Walliams wit and the iconic illustrations of Tony Ross, The Creature Choir tells the side-splitting story of Warble, a walrus with a big heart and an even bigger voice.

With typically stylish illustrations from Lauren O’Hara, this tale of gently suspicious characters at a coastal resort is a beautifully judged first foray into children’s writing.

From golfing meerkats to a candyfloss-covered albatross, there is more zany rhyming fun from the team behind You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus in this madcap menagerie of transport-taking animals.

Compiled from fifty years of Judith Kerr’s exquisite illustrations, Mog’s Birthday is the final Mog story from the much-missed author and illustrator.

From the creator of Pom Pom and Bad Nana comes the warm-hearted and wryly funny story of Arthur, a boy who discovers that having the Worst Day Ever maybe isn’t quite so bad after all.

Bouncing along on a wave of rhyming text, Donaldson and Ogilvie’s follow-up to The Detective Dog features an adorable pooch who brightens up the children’s ward of her local hospital.

The beloved star of Strictly Come Dancing delivers her debut picture book, packed full of memorable characters, a sweet and endearing story and a fantastic ten-step dance routine to learn and enjoy.

Life literally goes with a bang for Scarlett Fife in this hilarious tale for young readers about keeping control of your temper from the author of Who Let the Gods Out?

Appearing in a riot of colour and zany charm, this new series from the Amelia Fang creator introduces Ray Grey whose transformation into the magical Rainbow heralds some endearingly comic adventures.

More adventures for the daring Kitty and her feline posse as they set out on a nocturnal mission to rescue Marvin the hamster in this beguiling addition to Paula Harrison’s series for younger readers.

Marcus Rashford has proven himself to be a remarkable role model for the nation’s children, and now he delivers an inspirational volume to help develop the game-changers and ethical crusaders of tomorrow.

The funny, touching and crazy poetry of four-year-old Nadim is a revelation and, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations from Yasmeen Ismail and an insightful foreword by Kate Clanchy, make for an endlessly charming collection to treasure forever.

Another brilliantly executed entry in the Little People Big Dreams series, Vegara’s simple text combines with Holmes’s bright and bold illustrations to illuminate the fascinating and inspiring life of supermodel and drag artist RuPaul.

A joyful blend of poetry, illustration and activities, Hopgood’s tour of the unique wonders of the four seasons takes in everything from snowdrops to summer fruit and falling leaves to the blooming of daffodils.

Packed with hilarious yet informative facts and boasting vibrant illustrations throughout, this whirlwind guide to every single Olympic sport is a treasure trove for all youngsters obsessed with the Games.