Albert Lea Public Library: 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.

A Day in the Sun
by Diana Ejaita

Illustrations and simple text depict children in different countries around the world enjoying the universal benefits of the Sun from sunup in Japan to sundown in Madagascar.

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.

Golden Threads
by Suzanne del Rizzo

When a storm sweeps Emi's beloved stuffed fox away from their mountain home, he ends up tattered and alone on a distant shore. A kind old man finds the fox and gives it to his granddaughter, Kiko. As she recovers from an injury of her own, Kiko mends the fox lovingly with golden thread. As the seasons pass, Kiko cares for the fox as her own. But after discovering his origins, she sets out, with her grandfather's help, to bring the fox back to its original home. Once together, Emi and Kiko piece together the fox's journey and find delight in their newly forged connections. Golden Threads is inspired by the Japanese art form of kintsugi, or golden joinery, where broken pottery is repaired with resin painted gold. Kintsugi values repairing, rather than replacing, believing that the cracks give the broken item its story. This book is also a warm celebration of wabi-sabi, the Japanese idea that there is beauty in things that may be incomplete or imperfect.

You Can Sit with Me
by Rachel Tawil Kenyon

You Can Sit with Me is a softhearted picture book that shows how much a day can shift by one person simply reaching out a hand for someone to feel more welcome.

Love from Clifford the Big Red Dog (a Mini Valentine's Day Book)
by Norman Bridwell

No one loves Clifford more than his best friend, Emily Elizabeth! Celebrate the people you love in this sweet book starring the Big Red Dog.Everyone knows that Clifford grew to be so big because of how much Emily Elizabeth loved him when he was a tiny puppy. But just what does she love about Clifford? This adorable story is all about these two best friends' love for each other.Featuring adorable art and simple, rhyming text, this mini hardcover book is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day or any time you want to say I love you.

Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!