Kids book club – May

0-4 years

A Bit Lost

Chris Haughton

9781406333831

£6.99

It goes without saying that picture books can stand or fall on the sheer quality of the pictures. In this instance, the illustrations are so hugely appealing, in a bold, colourful retro style, that it can't fail. In truth the story here - in which a little owl has to be helped back to his nest by a helpful but easily confused squirrel - is highly reminiscent of Julia Donaldson's Monkey Puzzle. But then picture books are rarely all that original, and the similarity's no impediment to relishing the sweet humour and genuinely pin-them-on-your-wall gorgeous visuals herein. Irish-born writer/artist Haughton has won this year's Booktrust Best New Illustrator Award for this, and deservedly so.

4-6 years

Press Here

Herve Tullet

9780811879545

£9.99 

This is absolutely guaranteed to stimulate little imaginations. It opens with just a drawing of a yellow button and an invitation for readers to press it and turn the page. Doing so reveals new buttons and new instructions. And on it goes, conjuring up a mad, interactive reading experience from little more than a series of coloured dots. More of a conceptual voyage than an actual story, then, it makes a virtue of simplicity. It may sound too good, and too basic, to be true, but children will adore being taken along on the delightful adventure that unfolds.

6-8 years

Undercover Aliens

Ceci Jenkinson

£5.99

9780571260041 

Though by no means a household name (yet), Welsh author Jenkinson has achieved great success with her series about adventure-prone boy pals Oli Biggles and Skipjack Haynes. According to our resident young reader, this sixth and latest tale is about the pair meeting the mysterious Ringo, ‘a young boy with a flying skateboard, a Hostility Director and a strange cat. But when Oli and Skipjack find out his evil brain-sucking Prime Minister is after them, there will be trouble!’ Jenkinson’s books are rollicking and hilarious, but with spooky moments too – and this is the scariest one yet. Expect all manner of strange, even extra-terrestrial, goings-on. ‘Brilliant!’ (it says here).

9-12 years

Scrivener's Moon

Philip Reeve

9781407121574

£8.99 

Reeve's epic Mortal Engines series, delivering visionary steam-punk thrills for youngsters, came to an end in 2006. He's since revisited the world of the books in a series of prequels, but they've met a very mixed critical reception. This latest installment, though, is a true return to form. It's dark, gritty stuff, mottled through with the elements that won the original books an army of fans. This time our young heroine Fever Crumb is hurled right into the eye of the storm. She's on a quest up the country to locate a mysterious black pyramid which holds ancient secrets. While she's away, the wheeled city of New London is ready to roll and spark off a devastating war. Reeve's gift for rich, inventive, propulsive storytelling is in full effect once again. Fantasy fans of a tender age are likely to be smitten.