Picture Books
January 2026

Recent Releases
Whooo Is Still Awake?
by Brigette Barrager

As dusk falls over the woods, two little owls wake up and take flight, greeting their nocturnal animal neighbors as they explore. Silhouetted shapes in the illustrations evoke the shadowy nighttime setting of this rhyming bedtime book. Read-alike: Hello, Moon by Julie Downing.
 
The Spectacular Space Loop
by Javi de Castro

Budding graphic novel fans will be fascinated by this tale of astronaut Cosmo, not only because of his zany adventures with robots, aliens, and magicians, but also because the book can be read right side up and upside down. Color-coded speech bubbles will keep readers flying through this perspective-shifting science fiction story. 
 
Paper Chase
by Julia Donaldson; illustrated by Victoria Sandøy

When Ginger's paper airplane collides with James' book under the tallest tree in the forest, it kicks off a friendship full of joyful, imaginative play. This endearing story in verse also depicts how trees become paper, and how natural resources should be used respectfully.
 
Making Art
by Diana Ejaita

Beginning with an invitation -- "let's look around and make some art" -- this paean to creativity encourages children to channel their feelings into dancing, writing, making music, or crafting visual art. Deep colors and big, bold illustrations add plenty of visual verve. Read-alike: The Idea in You, by musician Questlove.
The Language of Birds
by Jon-Erik Lappano; illustrated by Zach Manbeck

Quiet, attentive Mira finds it much easier to communicate with birds than with people. And that’s fine with her. But then she meets new classmate Jad, who has a special affinity for trees, and discovers that human connection might be possible after all. This gentle and lyrical friendship story will appeal to fans of Matthew Burgess' Bird Boy.
A Knot Is Not a Tangle
by Daniel Nayeri; illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Precious time spent with his grandparents becomes even more special for one Iranian boy as his grandmother teaches him the ancient art of Persian rug-making. Intricately detailed watercolor art captures their step-by-step process, including the addition of a purposeful flaw as a defense against perfectionism.
 
Meet the Smushkins
by Claudia Rueda

Big-eyed and endearing, a group of creature-like Smushkins daydream about the perfect house. Each adds to the list of necessities: big windows, an apple tree, easy access to ice cream and library books… Luckily, they all agree about the best quality in a home: that it's full of Smushkins. Kirkus Reviews calls this series opener "aspirational and friendly."
We Always Had Wings
by Jess X. Snow

When Little Snow confesses that she's nervous about flying on a plane to visit relatives in China for Lunar New Year, Mama reminds her that "we belong in the sky." Mama's soothing story about their migrating crane ancestors spills into the illustrations, leading to a sweetly surreal conclusion for the whole family.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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