What better way to ring in the new year than with a bunch of terrific fresh reads? We’ve scoured the reviews, and these are the new books for January 2026 we’re most excited to check out.
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January Reading Log
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We Are Teachers
New Fiction Picture Books in January 2026
Amazon
How Many Animals Can Fit in This Book? by Natalia Yaskina
According to Ant, this book is perfectly sized for one tiny animal. But all the other animals seem to disagree! Kids will have a blast counting each new creature that appears in this book that’s sure to become a read-aloud favorite.
10 December Holidays You Never Knew About But May Need to Celebrate
Amazon
The Wildest Thing by Emily Winfield Martin
This new picture book will remind readers of Where the Wild Things Are in all the best ways. When young Eleanor wakes to discover her room full of the forest and the wild things that live there, she joins in the fun, releasing the “wildest thing” of all inside of herself!
This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wood, ill. by Erin K. Robinson
January brings several new books encouraging kids of all ages to embrace their natural hair. This picture book tells a powerful tale of Black hair through history, making little ones proud of the color, textures, and styles of their own hair today.
In our busy daily lives, we don’t often stop to think about what others around the world are doing at the same time. This book makes the case that we really should, helping kids imagine what people of all ages (and animals too!) might be doing in other places right at that moment.Â
Animal lovers will delight in this sweet new read translated from Russian. When it’s first born, all a little cat needs is two ears, two eyes, whiskers, and a tail. What else does it need as it grows up? Everything from milk to warm arms to hold it close—perhaps yours!
Ling & Ting’s Lunar New Year: Two Times Lucky by Grace Lin
Chinese American twins Ling and Ting are back to delight the chapter book crowd, this time with a celebration of Lunar New Year! Kids familiar with the holiday’s traditions will like seeing the twins enjoy them, while those who aren’t will be fascinated to learn all about them.
One little fish meets a series of bigger and bigger fish in this fun new easy reader, each louder and prouder than the next. Then a shark appears on the scene, and all the big fish scatter, leaving the little fish to puff out and prove he’s a big fish after all!
Looking for a fun new decodable book for your newest emergent readers? This one’s sure to be a hit! Starting with a bug, a series of animals board a bus—until the skunk arrives, and only the bug sticks around, joining him for a day at the beach. Short words and simple sentences have rarely been so much fun.
The Letter Setters are a group of pups with simple names like Pat, Bob, and Bub, perfect for kids still sounding out words (decoding) as they read. Join them all for a day at the beach in this new read that celebrates short-vowel words.
Many years after the original visit to Wonderland, Alice’s granddaughter Alyce tumbles in herself. But the world she finds is a very different one—one at war. With the help of a familiar cast of characters, Alyce must set Wonderland right and make it home safely again. This new twist on the classic tale is a real treat for the modern audience, even if they only know Alice from movies.
Sixth grader Maple is running for class president, but her slate is already full with friendships, financial problems at home, and worries about her dyslexia (the book is published in a dyslexic-friendly font). With support from her friend Jack, she focuses her campaign on helping her community after a neighborhood fire. Maple’s journey will encourage kids to embrace their power to make real change.
The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu
When fantasy-loving Denny is transported into the fairy-tale world she created with her drifting best friend, she trades places with Princess Auden, who’s overwhelmed by her own looming responsibilities. As each girl struggles to navigate the other’s life—whether fighting dragons or facing real-world friendships and family hardship—they confront the pressures of growing up.Â
Seventh grader Luna Noon decides to shed her “boring” personality by publishing a school zine with her friend Scott. Soon, she’s part of the popular crowd—but only if she’s willing to leave Scott behind. Just how much of herself is Luna willing to give up in exchange for life as a “cool kid”?
In 1885, violence against Chinese immigrants forces 12-year-old Mei Mei to leave San Francisco for supposedly safer Eureka. Forced into kitchen labor for a wealthy family, she finds solace in a kind cook and a secret friendship that teaches her English. When the town of Eureka expels all Chinese people, Mei Mei returns home with new courage and a deeper understanding of the importance of freedom. (Novel in verse)
You’ve probably never imagined Little Women retold as a murder mystery, but here it is! Set in the modern world, this adaptation follows the March sisters as they attempt to solve the murder of Beth, who was found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day. Everyone suspects everyone else, with even close family members under suspicion, in this twisty thriller.
Josephine, an orphan trained to wield her powerful radiance for the authoritarian House of Industry, is sent to the remote town of Frostbrook, where forbidden friendships and new feelings make her question everything she’s been taught. As disease spreads through the countryside, Josephine must find a way to expose corruption at the House and come to terms with who she truly is.
Eighteen-year-old Pryce Cummings returns to his hometown of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, to investigate the infamous Trojan murders that shook the community five years earlier. As he uncovers new evidence that questions the convicted killer’s guilt, Pryce risks uncovering dangerous secrets for his podcast—and his life.
Sixteen-year-old Naomi arrives in the seemingly quaint town of Sparksburg, Virginia, and quickly uncovers the town’s history as a former “Sundown Town.” As she investigates two recent disappearances and is haunted by a ghostly girl, Naomi must confront both a present-day threat and her own past trauma to find the missing girls.
Many Shakespeare plays have received the modern YA novel treatment, but this may be the first to take on The Winter’s Tale. Use it in the classroom for a side-by-side comparison with the original, or add it to your shelves to encourage students to explore the classic play on their own.
Captain Amazing is on vacation when a major data breach puts the city’s heroes at risk. A mysterious newcomer named Whipley shows up at his home, alarming most of the captain’s sidekicks. As suspicions rise, the sidekicks must determine whether Whipley is truly Shifty’s long-lost brother or a villain out for revenge. This is the second volume in the Sidekicks graphic novel series, so encourage new readers to check out the first. (Grades 3–7)
Wrong Friend by Charise Mericle Harper, ill. by Rory Lucey
Neighbors Casey and Charise have long been best friends, but this year Casey is starting high school while Charise is still several grades younger. Now Charise is on the lookout for a new best friend, but she’s having trouble meeting someone who truly knows how to be a good friend. This graphic novel is really the author’s memoir, with a vintage flair modern kids will enjoy. (Grades 3–7)
Serendipity, a high-achieving teen charmed with lifelong good luck, suddenly finds everything falling apart after a carnival mishap leaves her convinced she’s been cursed. As her wins turn to failures and chaos takes over her carefully managed life, she becomes determined to break the curse—or risk losing everything that once came easily. (Grades 3–7)
Here’s another new graphic memoir, this one about 14-year-old Alyssa, a freshman at a new school where everyone is a stranger. When her parents force her to join the cross-country team, she expects to hate it. But the team turns out to be a source of friendship and fun—and support when her father suddenly falls ill. (Grades 5–9)
Children of the Night by Victoria Setian, ill. by Savanna Ganucheau
Aspiring photojournalist Mina Murray is pulled into the orbit of a charismatic new student, Raf, whose arrival coincides with increasingly sinister events. As classmates fall ill and strange behaviors spread, Mina suspects Raf is hiding a deadly secret and must uncover the truth before disaster strikes in this young adult spin on Dracula. (Grades 9–12)
Would you believe the whole story of the universe is contained in a single frog? By looking back through time all the way to the Big Bang, this book shows how a frog (just like every living thing) is part of a long story that’s still in progress, all in a way kids can understand. (Grades K–2)
Sports lovers, take note! This new history of basketball traces it all the way from its humble beginnings as a ball tossed into a peach basket to today’s fast-paced, highly skilled game. This is a nonfiction book perfect for kids who prefer shooting hoops to turning pages. (Grades 4–8)
How To Have a Thought by Nicholas Day, ill. by Hadley Hooper
Spend some time with Charles Darwin learning how the great man came up with his great ideas. This new nonfiction picture book is both an introduction to the father of evolution and a guide to encouraging kids to come up with great ideas of their own. (Grades Pre-K to grade 3)
Troubled Waters by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. by Bryan Collier
This is a tale told by the Alabama River about its long history—from fossils to more recent artifacts. Learn about the Native Americans who trudged its banks along the Trail of Tears, and enslaved African Americans who hid beneath the waters as they escaped to the north. The stories are difficult to read, but this informational picture book will fascinate readers mature enough to explore them. (Grades 4–8)
Here’s the second book out this month celebrating Black hair in all its glory. It’s full of unexpected and fascinating facts and stories that will educate, enlighten, and empower. (Grades 4–8)
Lovely One (Young Adult Adaptation) by Ketanji Brown Jackson
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s bestselling memoir is now available in a young adult version, perfect for classrooms! It traces her tale from a high school dream of serving on the Supreme Court to the triumph of becoming the first Black woman Justice in 2022. (Grades 8–12)
Don’t forget to grab your free printable January Reading Log!
We Are Teachers
Use this reading log to track books and pages read throughout this wintry month. It’s an easy way to encourage kids to start the new year off right with lots of reading! Just click the button below and follow the link to get your free printable reading log.
Plus, check out Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Books for Kids of All Ages.
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