Here are some of my favorite picture books that were published in January! Have you read any of these yet? Let me know in the comments!
A pocket full of rocks – Kristin Mahoney
A young child fills their pockets with rocks, even though everyone in the family has a reason not to. But when spring arrives, the rocks are swapped for flower petals. As the seasons change, so do the treasures—each one tucked away in a jar. By the end, everything collected throughout the year comes together in a meaningful way. The illustrations are unique and beautiful, perfectly capturing the whimsical magic of childhood. This is a sweet story about nature’s creativity and would be a great pick for a storytime about collections, seasons, or even rocks!
Mama Hug – Emma Straub
With just a few words per page, this book beautifully captures a mother’s love for her baby—a truly impressive feat. The gentle rhyming text makes it a lovely read-aloud, and its brevity makes it perfect for babies and toddlers. The digital illustrations take center stage, filling each page with warmth and emotion, perfectly showcasing the bond between mama and baby.
To See an Owl – Matthew Cordell
Owl lovers will adore this picture book, featuring stunning watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations. Janie has always dreamed of spotting an owl. She searches high and low, getting advice from her teacher and fellow birder, Mr. Koji, who encourages her to keep looking. With its gentle repetition and engaging storytelling, this book is sweet without being overly text-heavy. A great read with even better illustrations that will keep kids entertained!
The Interpreter – Olivia Abtahi
Cecilia has two big jobs: being a kid and being an interpreter for her parents, who only speak Spanish. She usually loves helping, but lately, it’s exhausting. She just wants to play soccer, paint, and hang out with her friends—but her days are packed with doctor’s appointments and trips to the DMV. The watercolor and pencil crayon illustrations bring the story to life, and the colored speech bubbles cleverly show which language is being spoken. This is a beautifully sweet bilingual story (also available in Spanish) that’s definitely worth a read!
Lily’s Dream
Lily is a fairy who dreams of flying—but she just hasn’t figured out how yet. When she meets a human girl named Willow, she starts to wonder if friendship might be the key to finally taking flight. The digital illustrations are pure magic, sparkling and shining to bring the fairy world to life. This is a sweet story of unconditional friendship and a perfect pick for fairy lovers!
What Can a Mess Make? – Bee Johnson
This beautifully illustrated book demonstrates how messes can be part of the creative process. From meals and snacks to forts and other imaginative creations, the rhyming text makes it a fantastic read-aloud that both children and adults will relate to. It’s a delightful book that you won’t want to miss—highly recommended!
Animal Countdown – Laura Vaccaro Seeger
This is a fantastic numbers book and a fun guessing game! Each spread features a number spelled out, starting with ten and counting down to one. The right page has a small rectangle cut out of the flap, revealing part of the animal along with the numerical version of the number. The large flaps are perfect for little hands, and the see-through feature gives a hint while hiding the full animal—such fun and unique touches! The illustrations are wonderful, and this number-and-animal book truly hits the mark, making it a super fun read-aloud!
Disney Princess – A Special Spring!
The Disney Princesses each enjoy something different about the springtime whether that is the weather or the food. This might not be the best book about spring, but the popular characters enjoying a flowery season is sure to delight young readers.
Becoming a Ballerina – Laura Obuobi
Michaela Mabinty DePrince overcame immense challenges on her journey to becoming a professional ballerina. As a child in an orphanage, she endured abuse due to her vitiligo—a condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment, which stood out against her brown skin. After being adopted and moving to the United States, she began ballet classes, ignoring the teasing and the notion that she didn’t have the “ideal” ballet body. Determined to succeed, she not only became a professional ballerina but also advocated for dancers of color by promoting brown tights and ballet shoes that matched her skin tone. This beautifully illustrated story captures the grace of ballet and serves as an inspiring read for dancers and dreamers alike.
Space for Everyone – Seina Wedlick & Camila Sucre
Zainab is used to a home filled with warmth, where Papa cooks, Mama brews peppermint tea, and family and friends constantly gather around the table. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and neighbors drop by, and there’s always room for more. Their table is the heart of many family traditions, but as they prepare to move, Zainab wonders if those rituals will feel the same in their new home. This heartfelt story beautifully explores the themes of change, family, and community. The bold, Procreate-created illustrations vividly capture the energy of a bustling, loving household, reinforcing the story’s message of togetherness.
