January Top Book Picks
January is usually a quiet release time for children’s books as many publishers want to get their new titles out in time for Christmas, but not this year! We’ve found some gems that your students will love!
Fill your library with the very best books published each month with Book Launch. Every month we create a new collection packed with the latest titles from beloved series and exciting debuts from new authors so your shelves stay current and your readers stay curious.
This is such a beautiful book that delivers a meaningful message to our children: that joy can start small.
Daniel is having a terrible day. From the rain that tumbles down from the dark grey skies to the puddles that soak his shoes. But everything changes when he hears the sweet, delicate sound of music.
I love that Daniel is rewarded for shifting his attitude and becoming more positive by spotting moments of joy all around him. This story is perfect for sharing with Reception and Key Stage 1 classes in story time and assemblies.
Mr Norton’s Hat by Huw Lewin Jones & Corey Egbert
This is a hilarious caper that your children will love hearing read aloud in story time again and again! They’ll soon be joining in and reciting along with you. A great way to spend the afternoon laughing and building vocabulary. The message of kindness and inclusion makes this a perfect story for Reception and Years 1 & 2.
‘One Monday morning, Horace Norton finds that a mouse has made a house in his hat. On Tuesday, there are birds in his bicycle basket… and on Wednesday a squirrel is asleep in his shoe! What will Mr Norton do when, as the week progresses, the animals take over his bathroom, his bead and even HIS BEARD?’
Finn’s Epic Fails by Phil Earle
Finn just wants to survive Year 7, but his life is destined to be a series of epic fails.
‘It’s only Tuesday and his scheming, unicorn-obsessed little sister has already stuck a horn to his head (with superglue) and his properly evil older brother has wedgied him 278 times. And don’t even ask what happened at swimming, in front of the WHOLE CLASS. At least he has best friends Laszlo (a hopeless romantic) and Google (ask her anything) by his side as he attempts to turn failure into victory in his very own book that is definitely not a diary.’
This hilarious new series is sure to be a hit! Filled with mortifying moments, sibling rivalry and total disasters which absolutely guarantee laughter. The drawings and diary style of this book will appeal to lots of your students but with the added bonus of a plot line and vocabulary aimed at 9 - 13 year olds. The fail-o-meter, that all your students will relate to, opening each chapter is a fantastic addition to hook and keep students engaged.
We highly recommend this book for students in Years 5 - 8.
The Dad Trap by Ian Eagleton
Instant enemies William and Florence are horrified to find out their dads are dating each other - and are forced to work together to split them up!
When William and Florence meet on the first day of Year Six, they instantly dislike each other. William is impulsive, endlessly chatty and struggles in school. His home life is safe and predictable - just him and Dad, who adopted him as a solo parent - and that's how William likes it. Florence is sullen, cold, and everything seems to come easily to her. She's moved after her parents' divorce - but she's convinced she won't be staying long because they'll definitely get back together...
But then Florence and William find out that their dads have started seeing each other. Now they must put their differences to one side. Because only if they work together might they stand a chance of splitting up their dads...
Let the sabotage commence!
This is a wonderfully inclusive book featuring characters from so many different backgrounds, all with their own different family situations and challenges. It is a great way to open conversations about kindness, empathy and things not always appearing as they first seem. Highly recommended for students in Years 5 - 8.
Can you save the world by living for ever? Anders uncovers the sinister truth about Pleekas in this gripping dystopian thriller from award-winning author Steve Cole. The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate answer to the climate crisis. They want human beings to transform themselves into Pleekas – perfect artificial replicas.
Pleekas can go on for ever but won’t create waste or use the Earth's resources. Too good to be true? When a chance meeting leads young journalist Anders Jones to the sinister truth, he must risk everything to expose New You – if it’s not already too late…
We are constantly reviewing the fantastic books from Barrington Stoke. This new short novel is particularly suitable for reader in KS3 with a reading age of 8. New You For Ever is a short and accessible story with dystopian themes that will hook KS3 students. It’s a really gripping adventure that examines the pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence in a society recovering from climate disaster.
What IS the sky? Where does it end? Is it really blue? And how high can we fly? This charming flap book appeals to young children's natural sense of curiosity and lets them explore the answers for themselves - from cloud watching to star gazing, peachy sunsets to dazzling Northern Lights, helicopter rides to space travel. Discover the highest thing you can see in the sky, the furthest distance a spacecraft has travelled... and what the sky is really made of.
I am a huge fan of Usborne Very First Questions and Answer books. They address the questions swimming around our little ones heads that we often overlook. This book is a great way to encourage curiosity and wonder in the world around us. A perfect addition to any Reception book corner!
