Books we loved in January 2026

Help tell the story of Jack and the Beanstalk by moving the sliders in this bright, fun board book. Perfect for little hands.

Roscoe doesn’t want new shoes. Can Ivy persuade him to wear the dinosaur shoes? A chunky board book about everyday experiences, from a neurodivergent point of view.

This sweet story about learning to work as a team and being kind to your friends is part of a series exploring different early years themes such as starting school and sharing. 

Help look after Little Kitten by stroking its soft fur in this adorable touchy-feely board book. 

Goldilocs rewrites her story. She’s not a porridge-stealer or a chair-breaker! This twist on a classic fairy tale uses bouncing rhymes and a fresh perspective to create a truly engaging picture book. 

Are you ready to meet some dinosaurs? This book will tell you why they had powerful legs, long necks and sharp teeth. Get ready to join in with some dino actions!

Easton’s stunning picture book about friendship and home has all the cosy feels, complete with beautiful papercraft and a heartwarming message. 

Written for very young readers, this enchanting picture book about the life cycle of a star breaks down the stages of its life into easily understandable chunks. 

Baxter’s View presents a cosy and happy neurodivergent family, a heartfelt story about acceptance and a deep appreciation of the joy of stopping to notice what’s around us. 

Lulu’s family is growing, so it’s time to move to a bigger home. A very calming read for little ones facing moves, new siblings, or any kind of transition.

A lovely, music-themed book about tolerance, diversity and working together highlights urban living, cultural diversity and a brilliant range of different musical instruments in a gorgeously illustrated picture book. 

The Dreamies love to paint amazing dreams for children to enjoy. If they get too scary, a little imagination can save the day. A charming picture book about the power of dreams.

Inspired by the author’s experience of moving to Canada from Guyana, this is a personal and profound story about belonging and how things like food and plants can have an important impact on how we feel at home. 

Learn about medieval history with Blaze the Dragon as he takes you on a tour of his castle in this fascinating search-and-find book. 

Discover the inspiring story of Ulugh Beg, a pioneering scientist from the 15th century, in this powerful, illustrated book.

A compelling story of difficult feelings and how they can dominate a life but also how help and kindness can be found in the most unlikely places. 

A fascinating look at questions that are still unanswered – like why does gravity exist? Why do we have fingerprints? Could time travel become a reality?

When Mia discovers that she can change into animal form, she attends Wild Haven boarding school in the enchanted land of Animagia to hone her animagical skills. This exciting, magical adventure centres around kindness, friendship, and animal welfare. 

Learn about the remarkable life of Louis Braille, who invented the tactile communication system still used by millions today.

Harper is delighted to be offered an apprenticeship at the Grand Wondria Music Hall and Theatre to study the dramatic and magical arts. When she is accused of bringing bad luck to the theatre, she is determined to clear her name, despite the dangers. This epic tale of magic, intrigue and treachery is an enthralling read.

It is 1865 and Humza’s big brother Dani has been missing for two years. Humza and his best friend Ranj make the four-month journey from India to England by ship, determined to find him. A gripping historical tale, set among the treacherous streets of Victorian London. 

Finn just wants to survive Year 7 but faces cringe and embarrassment at every turn. Follow his hilarious year in this brilliantly funny and relatable illustrated diary format book. 

Following an accident, Ed wakes up in a magical realm, where he meets Steff. As they search for a way home, the children encounter deadly butterflies, bloodthirsty wolves and a dragon. Fantasy and reality blurs in this compelling, imaginative adventure.

Join the Diagnosis Detectives on a tour of the human body as they try to find and destroy viruses and bacteria. Brilliantly illustrated and highly informative.

Inspired by Celtic myths and Welsh language stories, this wonderful tale about life, death, the fate of human souls and the courage to embrace your destiny, even if it scares you, is packed with memorable characters. 

In a poisoned world, monsters are seen as the enemy but when a young girl rescues an injured monster, she discovers that not everything she has been taught about them is true. 

This poetic, allegorical tale takes a hard look at the reality of living with a chronically ill sibling and how it affects family dynamics, with both seen and unseen consequences.

A fiendishly challenging whodunnit in which Georgia and her friends must try and solve a murder which no one else believes has taken place. 

When Nadia visits Bangladesh for Ramadan, she joins her journalist aunt to write up a story on the environmental crisis in the area while exploring her own faith and connecting with her heritage.

When Pip and his friends learn about the legend of the missing Children of Lir, they are drawn into a chilling world of witches, spells and ghosts, which puts them all in terrible danger. Inspired by Irish folklore, this enthralling tale is beautifully written. 

Save the planet and live forever. Just upload your personality into a Pleeka, a replica human body which doesn’t consume food or produce waste. But at what cost? This futuristic, dystopian thriller will have readers on the edge of their seats.