The best children's books for May and Carnegie and Greenaway shortlist

Hi again from Lovereading4kids! This month we've got another outstanding collection of kids' books to showcase, helping you choose exciting and mind-expanding stories to help your children love reading. According to our literary calendar, JM Barrie of eternal Peter Pan fame was born in Scotland in May 1860. And just over a hundred years later, Eoin Colfer, author of the incomparable Artemis Fowl books was born in May 1965. You'll find Lovereading4kids is full of literary heroes from every age!

The hottest Young Adult author Patrick Ness

We’re thrilled to have the multi-award winning Patrick Ness as our Author of the Month in May and even more pleased to bring you the hotly anticipated final volume of Patrick’s Chaos Walking Trilogy, Monster of Men. It's a surefire winner.

So, find out more about this literary wunderkind and about the other books in this amazing series The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer – we have free Opening Extract of them all!

Carnegie and Greenaway nominees – the best of the best

The shortlists of the deservedly prestigious Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards 2010 have just been announced, and once again you’ll find all the titles on Lovereading4kids complete with extracts to whet every appetite – there are some definite future-classics in there, including books by Neil Gaiman, Oliver Jeffers and Julie Hearn. You don’t have to rely just on Lovereading4kids for our view because we’ve dropped in the views of the judges too on every title.

A shelf-full of Book of the Month titles

They're gripping, mad, full of adventure and there’s something for the youngest baby to the oldest teenager. Our mega one for the month is in fact a debut called Unhooking the Moon. Read an extract right here now.

Guest editor – the very very silly Philip Ardagh

The fabulously odd Philip Ardagh is author of the Grubtown Tales series – stories from a bizarre and hilarious world born inside Philip's mind, and full of extraordinary characters. But as well as discovering Grubtown, you can find out what inspired Philip to write his brilliant tales – he's picked out a list of his favourite books just for us!

Do please also get your kids to take a look at the just launched Grubtown website – www.visitgrubtown.com - it’s brilliant!

First-time wonders – our Debuts of the Month

	Hellion: The Curse of Snakes Christopher Fowler 14+ A breathtaking teen horror novel about a boy who is sucked into a dangerous Medusa-haunted mystery when walking home from school one day... Download Extract Buy £4.49 Saving £1.50 (25%)		Viola in Reel Life Adriana Trigiani 14+ Viola is sure she's going to hate boarding school, but if she can put down her camera and embrace real life, it might be more incredible than she could ever have imagined... Download Extract Buy £5.24 Saving £1.75 (25%)
	Montacute House Lucy Jago 11+ Witchcraft and ambition fill the pages of this wonderfully atmospheric novel set in 1500s Somerset. Download Extract Buy £8.24 Saving £2.75 (25%)		Boy Zero Wannabe Hero The Petrifying Plot of the Plummeting Pants Peter Millett 7+ A wonderfully entertaining story about Charlie, a troubled superhero who has to step up to save the world’s pants from a super-villain! Download Extract Buy £3.74 Saving £1.25 (25%)
	Unhooking the Moon Gregory Hughes 9+ One absolutely, indisputably MEGA story! This highly recommended title is a beautifully written, utterly original, funny and bittersweet tale about two newly orphaned kids. Download Extract Buy £5.24 Saving £1.75 (25%)		Not Me! Nicola Killen Baby and Toddler: This irresistibly charming picture book about a friendly puppy who makes a mess will delight very young readers. Download Extract Buy £4.49 Saving £1.50 (25%)

Invitation to party with a Puffin

Puffin Books – the children's book part of Penguin Books, has reached the grand old age of 70, and is still turning out the most fantastic kids' stories. There are lots of ways you can join in the Puffin party, but why not start by entering our competition to win exclusive Puffin prizes!

Other celebratory events include an incredible Penguin Book cover design exhibition at the V&A Museum in London, and National Share-a-Story Day (8 May). Plus here on Lovereading4kids we've picked out some of our absolute favourite Puffin titles, still magnificent additions to any child's bookshelf, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where's Spot? and Hairy Maclary.

And you can also buy the brand new short and sweet 'Pocket Money Puffins' – just £2.99 on Lovereading4kids.

Happy Birthday 10th Anniversary Judy Moody! (And Stink!)

It's the 10th anniversary of Megan McDonald's terrific books about the way-cool girl-hero Judy Moody and her kid brother, Stink. If you haven't read them before download some free Opening Extracts and discover them today!

Walker Books turns 30!

Walker Books has been bringing us the most wonderful kids' books for 30 whole years and to celebrate we're having an exclusive competition. Enter here and you could win a limited edition Walker cloth bag stuffed with 30 of their amazing titles – including some signed copies!

Conspiracy 365 – the adventure continues…

This cool concept story carries on at breakneck pace with the fifth episode out now! Launched in January, Conspiracy 365 is a thriller that unfolds over a whole year, with one book published each month. Given the huge interest to date with clear signs that more and more kids are getting hooked, it's not too late to catch up - each book is

Finally, to prove the wide appeal of young adult fiction, Guest Editor over on the main Lovereading.co.uk site is John Boyne, writer of the astounding 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'.

We hope you uncover some real gems here to inspire your kids' to become lifelong reading fanatics. With stories this imaginative and writing and illustration this beautiful, it shouldn't take long! And finally, don’t forget about our gorgeous range of must have picture books in the Picture Book Parade - there are loads of gems not to be missed.