January 2026 list by K. Pearson |
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Asterwood
by Jacquelyn Stolos
Ten-year-old Madelyn discovers a magical world behind her home that desperately needs her help and holds the secrets to her own family legacy.
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At the Speed of Gus
by Richard Scrimger
Augustus (Gus) Constantine's brain moves fast, and not necessarily on a straight track. His mind (and mouth) operates at a different speed than everyone else he knows. This might have something to do with the fact that Gus has ADHD. Sometimes it feels like the best thing about him, and sometimes it lands him in a load of trouble. For example, one morning, Gus takes morning announcements wildly off script. Even though he hears nothing but laughter from fellow students at Pendrell Elementary, he's finally pushed Miss Funn (who's anything but) and Principal Gorby (who's getting tired of Gus's endless jokes and unfiltered stream of consciousness) to the limit.
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The Baby-Sitters Club #32: Kristy and the Secret of Susan
by Ann M. Martin
Kristy's newest baby-sitting charge is Susan Felder, who goes away to a special school. Susan isn't like most kids. While she can play the piano and sing beautifully . . . she can't talk to anyone. Susan is autistic. She lives locked inside her own secret world. Kristy thinks it's unfair that Susan has to be sent off to school and is treated differently from everyone else. But Kristy's going to try to change that -- by showing everyone that Susan's a regular kid, too. And then maybe Kristy's new friend can stay in Stoneybrook for good.
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Baby-Sitters Little Sister #18: Karen's Home Run
by Ann M. Martin
It's fun to be a Baby-sitters' Little Sister! Karen plays on the Krushers softball team. One day when the Krushers are in a game, Karen hits a home run! So she starts calling herself Home Run Karen. But that jinxes Karen, and she can't hit at all. She even strikes out. How can Karen march with the Krushers in the big parade when she's nothing but a strikeout queen?
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Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever
by Lana Button
In this illustrated chapter book, Brianna's dreams of finally being the classroom helper are foiled when her class has a substitute teacher.
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Diary of a Pug #14: Pug the Unicorn
by Kyla May
Bella and Bub and friends Jack and Luna are off to Ye Olde Faire, a festival where people dress up like it's olden times. During a day filled with fairies, knights, and a joust, the friends learn about a magical legend: A real unicorn lives in the woods nearby! Is the story true, or is it a tall tale? Bella and Bub are determined to find out. With Jack and Luna's help, they're off on a magical adventure this pug will never forget!
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Diary of a Roblox Pro #10: Soccer Simulator
by Ari Avatar
Ari Avatar is just your average Roblox kid living in a blocky world! Battle monsters and avoid disasters in a Roblox world -- all through the eyes of Ari and his friends. Diary of a Roblox Pro is a must-read for any kid who loves to game! Ari is not excited when he finds out that he's accidentally made it onto the Blockville obby soccer team. He doesn't even know how to play normal soccer, let alone obby soccer! As training starts and the first game looms, Ari thinks of a sneaky way to get ahead in the game. But is it a fair way to play?
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Down Came the Spiders
by Ally Russell
Arachnophobia meets Five Nights at Freddy's in this middle grade horror novel perfect for fans of K.R. Alexander and Mary Downing Hahn.Can you outrun eight legs?Twelve-year-old Andi loves everything about spiders -- they're endlessly fascinating creatures. So when she finds a species she's never seen before at a classmate's Halloween party, she's over the moon. Until the spiders start to behave in unusual and threatening ways, that is.
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Two Tales of Teamwork
-Pet Simulator Illustrated Novel #1
by Tracey West
Join Whiskers the Cat, Ruffles the Dog, and Penny the Unicorn as they try to solve the Riddle of Rainbow Ravine and win the Great Pet Race in this hilarious chapter book filled with tons of laughs, action, and exciting artwork.
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Pets Rule! #8: Beware of the Dino-Snake
by Susan Tan
Ember comes face-to-face with the strangest villain yet: the dino-snake! When an evil turtle and sly snake team up against the pets to take over the Chin family garden, the odds are stacked against them.
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Press Start! #17: The Super Jump Between Worlds!
by Thomas Flintham
Meanie King Viking has kidnapped everyone in Animal Town and sent Super Rabbit Boy to another world! With the help of his new friend, Blocky, Super Rabbit Boy learns how to jump through portals that take him to new worlds. Blocky wants to help Super Rabbit Boy get back home, but he's not as good at being a hero. As they keep jumping,
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The Snowman Code
by Simon Stephenson
In order to stop the endless winter and cure her mother's sadness, ten-year-old Blessing helps a six-hundred-year-old snowman find his long-lost love.
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The Stolen Songbird
by Judith Eagle
When Caro finds a stolen masterpiece in her missing mother's suitcase, she's thrust into a thrilling art-heist caper in 1950s London. When Caro Monday's mother disappears on one of her jaunts across the globe, Caro is forced to stay with her miserable great-aunt all the way across town. To make matters worse, Caro's beloved rabbit, His Nibs, isn't allowed to come with her. Of course, Caro sneaks him into her aunt's strict household anyway. Although Caro's wild behavior exasperates her dour aunt, she never dreamed of the trouble she finds herself in when she discovers a small painting of a thrush hidden in the lining of her suitcase.
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Wildsmith: The Hidden Sea
by Liz Flanagan
Rowan loves life as a wildsmith--communicating and rescuing magical animals! On the heels of another successful rescue, Rowan finds herself far from home. She and Mouse, the Pegasus foal she is protecting, seek refuge on Thornback Island, hiding away from the relentless poachers who will do anything to capture the mystical creature.Though she makes new friends and her days are filled with unexpected adventures on the island, Rowan worries...will she ever find her way home?
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