NORTH KANSAS CITY 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.

Hello Baby, It's Me, Alfie
by Maggie Hutchings

Join Alfie as he waits impatiently for his new sibling to arrive in this charming and funny picture book about the baby growth process -- which includes an illustrated baby growth chart on the back of the book jacket! Alfie has a new sibling on the way, and he can't wait to meet them! Follow Alfie and his enthusiastic narration all the way from six weeks, when his sibling is just a tiny lemon pip, to their highly anticipated welcome to the world at forty weeks when they're a big pumpkin! This funny and informative picture book follows the growth stages of a baby (with helpful fruit and vegetable comparisons!) and teaches how to be a good big sibling to a new baby.

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.

Bored
by Felicita Sala

A very bored girl becomes less so when she starts to imagine all the bored people in the world floating away together to boredom-fueled adventures.

The Poe Cup Race! (Wednesday)
by Christy Webster

Wednesday Addams joins forces with her new roommate to win the Poe Cup in this Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader based on the hit TV series Wednesday! Wednesday is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams' time as a student at Nevermore Academy. But Wednesday Addams also insists on fair play, so she reluctantly joins forces with her far-too-cheerful roommate Enid Sinclair in an effort to win the prestigious Poe Cup and best her cheating rival Bianca Barclay in this Step Into Reading Step 3 leveled reader based on the dark world of the Wednesday TV series.Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

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.

Momo Sees the Sea: A Seuss Studios Book
by Avani Dwivedi

While waiting for his Dadi at the temple, Momo embarks on an imaginative underwater adventure after his ball falls into the water.

Rock and Roll
by Ruby Amy Thompson

Despite their many differences, Rock and Roll share several qualities that make them a perfect pair.

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