Finest New Books in January 2026 for Youngsters and Teenagers

What higher option to ring within the new yr than with a bunch of terrific contemporary reads? We’ve scoured the critiques, and these are the brand new books for January 2026 we’re most excited to take a look at.

New Fiction Image Books in January 2026

How Many Animals Can Slot in This Ebook? by Natalia Yaskina

In line with Ant, this ebook is completely sized for one tiny animal. However all the opposite animals appear to disagree! Youngsters could have a blast counting every new creature that seems on this ebook that’s positive to grow to be a read-aloud favourite.

Purchase it: How Many Animals Can Slot in This Ebook?

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11 Issues I Forgot As a Instructor Over Winter Break

The Wildest Factor by Emily Winfield Martin

This new image ebook will remind readers of The place the Wild Issues Are in all the very best methods. When younger Eleanor wakes to find her room filled with the forest and the wild issues that stay there, she joins within the enjoyable, releasing the “wildest factor” of all within herself!

Purchase it: The Wildest Factor

This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wooden, unwell. by Erin Okay. Robinson

January brings a number of new books encouraging children of all ages to embrace their pure hair. This image ebook tells a robust story of Black hair by historical past, making little ones pleased with the colour, textures, and types of their very own hair right now.

Purchase it: This Hair Belongs

Collectively Proper Now by Olga Fadeeva

In our busy day by day lives, we don’t usually cease to consider what others world wide are doing on the identical time. This ebook makes the case that we actually ought to, serving to children think about what folks of all ages (and animals too!) is likely to be doing elsewhere proper at that second. 

Purchase it: Collectively Proper Now

What a Small Cat Wants by Natalia Shaloshvili

Animal lovers will delight on this candy new learn translated from Russian. When it’s first born, all a bit of cat wants is 2 ears, two eyes, whiskers, and a tail. What else does it want because it grows up? The whole lot from milk to heat arms to carry it shut—maybe yours!

Purchase it: What a Small Cat Wants

New Straightforward Reader / Chapter Books in January 2026

Ling & Ting’s Lunar New 12 months: Two Occasions Fortunate by Grace Lin

Chinese language American twins Ling and Ting are again to please the chapter ebook crowd, this time with a celebration of Lunar New 12 months! Youngsters aware of the vacation’s traditions will like seeing the twins take pleasure in them, whereas those that aren’t shall be fascinated to study all about them.

Purchase it: Ling & Ting’s Lunar New 12 months

I Am a Large Fish! by Susie Lee Jin

One little fish meets a collection of larger and larger fish on this enjoyable new simple reader, every louder and prouder than the subsequent. Then a shark seems on the scene, and all the large fish scatter, leaving the little fish to puff out and show he’s a giant fish in any case!

Purchase it: I Am a Large Fish!

Bug on the Bus by David Catrow

Searching for a enjoyable new decodable ebook on your latest emergent readers? This one’s positive to be a success! Beginning with a bug, a collection of animals board a bus—till the skunk arrives, and solely the bug sticks round, becoming a member of him for a day on the seashore. Quick phrases and easy sentences have not often been a lot enjoyable.

Purchase it: Bug on the Bus

The Letter Setters in: Enjoyable! by Ethan Lengthy

The Letter Setters are a gaggle of pups with easy names like Pat, Bob, and Bub, good for youths nonetheless sounding out phrases (decoding) as they learn. Be part of all of them for a day on the seashore on this new learn that celebrates short-vowel phrases.

Purchase it: The Letters Setters in: Enjoyable!

New Center Grade Fiction Books in January 2026

Alice With a Why by Anna James

A few years after the unique go to to Wonderland, Alice’s granddaughter Alyce tumbles in herself. However the world she finds is a really completely different one—one at warfare. With the assistance of a well-known forged of characters, Alyce should set Wonderland proper and make it house safely once more. This new twist on the traditional story is an actual deal with for the fashionable viewers, even when they solely know Alice from motion pictures.

Purchase it: Alice With a Why

Maple for the Individuals by Kate McGovern

Sixth grader Maple is working for sophistication president, however her slate is already full with friendships, monetary issues at house, and worries about her dyslexia (the ebook is revealed in a dyslexic-friendly font). With help from her pal Jack, she focuses her marketing campaign on serving to her group after a neighborhood fireplace. Maple’s journey will encourage children to embrace their energy to make actual change.

Purchase it: Maple for the Individuals

The Strange and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu

When fantasy-loving Denny is transported into the fairy-tale world she created along with her drifting greatest pal, she trades locations with Princess Auden, who’s overwhelmed by her personal looming tasks. As every lady struggles to navigate the opposite’s life—whether or not preventing dragons or dealing with real-world friendships and household hardship—they confront the pressures of rising up. 

Purchase it: The Strange and Extraordinary Auden Greene

The Moon With out Stars by Chanel Miller

Seventh grader Luna Midday decides to shed her “boring” character by publishing a college zine along with her pal Scott. Quickly, she’s a part of the favored crowd—however provided that she’s keen to go away Scott behind. Simply how a lot of herself is Luna keen to surrender in change for all times as a “cool child”?

Purchase it: The Moon With out Stars

Eureka by Victoria Chang

In 1885, violence towards Chinese language immigrants forces 12-year-old Mei Mei to go away San Francisco for supposedly safer Eureka. Compelled into kitchen labor for a rich household, she finds solace in a sort prepare dinner and a secret friendship that teaches her English. When the city of Eureka expels all Chinese language folks, Mei Mei returns house with new braveness and a deeper understanding of the significance of freedom. (Novel in verse)

Purchase it: Eureka

New Younger Grownup Fiction Books in January 2026

Beth Is Useless by Katie Bernet

You’ve in all probability by no means imagined Little Ladies retold as a homicide thriller, however right here it’s! Set within the trendy world, this adaptation follows the March sisters as they try to resolve the homicide of Beth, who was discovered useless within the woods on New 12 months’s Day. Everybody suspects everybody else, with even shut members of the family beneath suspicion, on this twisty thriller.

Purchase it: Beth Is Useless

A Wild Radiance by Maria Ingrande Mora

Josephine, an orphan skilled to wield her highly effective radiance for the authoritarian Home of Trade, is distributed to the distant city of Frostbrook, the place forbidden friendships and new emotions make her query the whole lot she’s been taught. As illness spreads by the countryside, Josephine should discover a option to expose corruption on the Home and are available to phrases with who she actually is.

Purchase it: A Wild Radiance

I Don’t Want You Properly by Jumata Emill

Eighteen-year-old Pryce Cummings returns to his hometown of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, to research the notorious Trojan murders that shook the group 5 years earlier. As he uncovers new proof that questions the convicted killer’s guilt, Pryce dangers uncovering harmful secrets and techniques for his podcast—and his life.

Purchase it: I Don’t Want You Properly

Sunset Ladies by L.S. Stratton

Sixteen-year-old Naomi arrives within the seemingly quaint city of Sparksburg, Virginia, and rapidly uncovers the city’s historical past as a former “Sunset City.” As she investigates two current disappearances and is haunted by a ghostly lady, Naomi should confront each a present-day risk and her personal previous trauma to search out the lacking ladies.

Purchase it: Sunset Ladies

Winter White by Annie Cardi

Many Shakespeare performs have acquired the fashionable YA novel therapy, however this can be the primary to tackle The Winter’s Story. Use it within the classroom for a side-by-side comparability with the unique, or add it to your cabinets to encourage college students to discover the traditional play on their very own.

Purchase it: Winter White

New Graphic Novels in January 2026

Sidekicks: Thick as Thieves by Dan Santat

Captain Wonderful is on trip when a serious knowledge breach places town’s heroes in danger. A mysterious newcomer named Whipley exhibits up at his house, alarming many of the captain’s sidekicks. As suspicions rise, the sidekicks should decide whether or not Whipley is really Shifty’s long-lost brother or a villain out for revenge. That is the second quantity within the Sidekicks graphic novel collection, so encourage new readers to take a look at the primary. (Grades 3–7)

Purchase it: Sidekicks: Thick as Thieves

Improper Pal by Charise Mericle Harper, unwell. by Rory Lucey

Neighbors Casey and Charise have lengthy been greatest buddies, however this yr Casey is beginning highschool whereas Charise continues to be a number of grades youthful. Now Charise is looking out for a brand new greatest pal, however she’s having hassle assembly somebody who actually is aware of the best way to be a very good pal. This graphic novel is actually the creator’s memoir, with a classic aptitude trendy children will take pleasure in. (Grades 3–7)

Purchase it: Improper Pal

Serendipity by Gabbie Benda

Serendipity, a high-achieving teen charmed with lifelong good luck, abruptly finds the whole lot falling aside after a carnival mishap leaves her satisfied she’s been cursed. As her wins flip to failures and chaos takes over her fastidiously managed life, she turns into decided to interrupt the curse—or threat dropping the whole lot that after got here simply. (Grades 3–7)

Purchase it: Serendipity

Run Dwelling by Alyssa Bermudez

Right here’s one other new graphic memoir, this one about 14-year-old Alyssa, a freshman at a brand new faculty the place everyone seems to be a stranger. When her mother and father drive her to affix the cross-country workforce, she expects to hate it. However the workforce seems to be a supply of friendship and enjoyable—and help when her father abruptly falls unwell.  (Grades 5–9)

Purchase it: Run Dwelling

Kids of the Evening by Victoria Setian, unwell. by Savanna Ganucheau

Aspiring photojournalist Mina Murray is pulled into the orbit of a charismatic new pupil, Raf, whose arrival coincides with more and more sinister occasions. As classmates fall unwell and unusual behaviors unfold, Mina suspects Raf is hiding a lethal secret and should uncover the reality earlier than catastrophe strikes on this younger grownup spin on Dracula. (Grades 9–12)

Purchase it: Kids of the Evening

New Nonfiction for All Ages in January 2026

Frog: A Story of Life on Earth by Isabel Thomas, unwell. by Daniel Egnéus

Would you imagine the entire story of the universe is contained in a single frog? By trying again by time all the best way to the Large Bang, this ebook exhibits how a frog (similar to each dwelling factor) is a part of a protracted story that’s nonetheless in progress, all in a manner children can perceive. (Grades Okay–2)

Purchase it: Frog: A Story of Life on Earth

Basket Ball by Kadir Nelson

Sports activities lovers, take observe! This new historical past of basketball traces all of it the best way from its humble beginnings as a ball tossed right into a peach basket to right now’s fast-paced, extremely expert sport. This can be a nonfiction ebook good for youths preferring capturing hoops to turning pages. (Grades 4–8)

Purchase it: Basket Ball

How To Have a Thought by Nicholas Day, unwell. by Hadley Hooper

Spend a while with Charles Darwin studying how the nice man got here up along with his nice concepts. This new nonfiction image ebook is each an introduction to the daddy of evolution and a information to encouraging children to give you nice concepts of their very own. (Grades Pre-Okay to grade 3)

Purchase it: How To Have a Thought

Troubled Waters by Carole Boston Weatherford, unwell. by Bryan Collier

This can be a story instructed by the Alabama River about its lengthy historical past—from fossils to newer artifacts. Be taught concerning the Native People who trudged its banks alongside the Path of Tears, and enslaved African People who hid beneath the waters as they escaped to the north. The tales are troublesome to learn, however this informational image ebook will fascinate readers mature sufficient to discover them. (Grades 4–8)

Purchase it: Troubled Waters

Fros, Fades, and Braids by Sean Qualls

Right here’s the second ebook out this month celebrating Black hair in all its glory. It’s filled with surprising and interesting info and tales that can educate, enlighten, and empower. (Grades 4–8)

Purchase it: Fros, Fades, and Braids

Pretty One (Younger Grownup Adaptation) by Ketanji Brown Jackson

Supreme Courtroom Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s bestselling memoir is now obtainable in a younger grownup model, good for lecture rooms! It traces her story from a highschool dream of serving on the Supreme Courtroom to the triumph of turning into the primary Black lady Justice in 2022. (Grades 8–12)

Purchase it: Pretty One (Younger Grownup Adaptation)

Don’t neglect to seize your free printable January Studying Log!

Use this studying log to trace books and pages learn all through this wintry month. It’s a straightforward option to encourage children to begin the brand new yr off proper with a number of studying! Simply click on the button beneath and comply with the hyperlink to get your free printable studying log.

What new books are you most excited so as to add to your classroom cabinets in January 2026? Come share your ideas within the We Are Lecturers HELPLINE group on Fb!

Plus, take a look at Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Books for Youngsters of All Ages.