Welcome to our monthly book recommendations, and it’s our first post for 2026! Depending on where you are in the country, the weather has been pretty grim, so we believe the best thing to do is settle in with some fantastic reads. Here’s the ones that got us through January!
Fiction
Ham, Ed and Chips – Tom Phipps (pub. Tiny Tree Books)
Meet Ham, a cat-like alien who has settled in a large tree stump in the English countryside, and her friends Ed and Chips, who are a blue tit and a small daredevil dog.
In this book – in what we hope will become a fun ongoing series – genius inventor Ham creates a flying sofa to travel to the local shop, but things don’t go according to plan (or as Ed says ‘there’s an oops moment’).
With Chips lost in space, a flying washing machine, disappearing dogs, numerous animals in disguise, and a pampered pug who’s intent on making a doggie paradise, this brilliantly illustrated book will have readers giggling from start to finish!
Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames – Jenny Moore and David Dean / Lilitt Wang (pub. Maverick Arts Publishing)
All the best stories and adventures start with a knock at the door. Even if you haven’t got a door – and Emba Oak hasn’t.
Emba Oak is an unusual girl; for starters, she has scales on her arms and legs, and each night she dreams of dragons and someone or something out for her blood…literally. All she’s got to do is keep herself safe, but when someone kidnaps your guardian and you have to rescue them, you can’t stay hidden away.
This is the first book in a new fantasy adventure series, and it’s a journey of challenges and danger, of daring acts and playful humour, with a rhyme or two, a very nasty villain and a heroine that refuses to give up.
Thank you to Dannie Price for our early copy, keep an eye out for it coming out in March!
Maple Street: Jake in the Middle – Michael Catchpool and Shanarama (pub. Otter-Barry Books)
Meet Jake, who lives with his family on Maple Street, in this new series of short chapter books for early readers.
Each book contains four adventures that Jake has with his family at home or at school, in situations that any child – or adult for that matter! – would recognise. From Jake’s new trainers that his little brother Sam won’t leave alone, to Jake ‘borrowing’ his elder sister Ellie’s fossil for school, each one captures the crazy ups and downs of family life with all its ‘charms’!
Shanarama’s illustrations perfectly bring to life the characters, making the whole book an absolute joy. We’ll be watching out for further stories on Maple Street!
Non-fiction
Celebrate Latin America and the Caribbean – Gabriela Goldin Marcovich and Andrés Landazábal (pub. Walker Books)
In this stunningly stylish whistle-stop tour of the countries and islands that make up this amazingly diverse area of the world, we catch a glimpse of the many cultures, languages and traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Covering ancient and modern history, and taking in topics of the arts, music and science, this is a fantastic introduction to this fascinating region that often seems overlooked by children’s non-fiction. With facts about the people, the geography, the festivals and more, it’s a joyful celebration that makes you want to hop on a plane!
This book is a wonderful addition to the ‘Adventures Around the World’ series that previously brought us Africa, Amazing Africa.
Where’s Dragon in his Castle?: A Search and Find Back In Time – David MacPhail and Mariana Ruiz Johnson (pub. Magic Cat Publishing)
Castles and dragons are a sure winner, and never more so than in this eye-catching non-fiction book with a difference!
Not only will younger readers learn about how castles were built, how they were used, and those that lived in them, but they’ll also get the fun of spotting the occupiers (Lord and Lady, Knights, even the Castle Mouse!), as well as trying to find the Dragon’s treasure on each double page spread.
It’s an exciting way to draw children into the fascinating topic of castles in medieval history, written by a real-life castle steward. And if you can’t find everything, don’t worry – the answers are all in the back!
Big Questions Answered: Can Crabs and Crustaceans Survive Anywhere? – Rosie Rowntree and Valeria Abatzoglu (pub. Hungry Tomato)
Another title in this fantastic science series, which ranges from space and technology to weather and nature, where each cover gives you the scientific term for the study of the topic – in this case ‘carcinology’.
It’s a curious and engaging dive into the underwater world, showing the amazing ways these animals live and adapt. Words that are difficult to pronounce are in italics, and tricky terms are highlighted so they can be found in the glossary. With this and the facts being written in an accessible way, it’s an ideal choice for young natural science enthusiasts.
Together with bold bright illustrations, photos at the back, and a QR code that links to the website that has more facts and free downloadable resources, this book is ideal for home or school.
Picture Books
A Very Happy Ramadan – A.M. Dassu and Abeeha Tariq (pub. Scholastic)
It’s the first day of Ramadan and Rayhan’s family are fasting, so he tries his hardest to join them.
Rayhan soon finds fasting all day is not as easy as it looks, and starts to feel he is the only person who can’t do it. Thankfully, his older brother is there to explain to him that there are other things he can do for Ramadan besides fasting.
With bright, vibrant pictures, including of a delicious looking iftar (the fast-breaking evening meal) spread, this is a wonderful introduction to Ramadan for young children who might want to take part or learn more about this important religious month.
The Family Tree – Yasmine Anane and Mark Beech (pub. Tiny Tree Books)
In this charming story, we follow Lonely Mole as he journeys through the enchanted wood looking for his ‘family tree’ – other moles like him.
Along the way he meets Owl, Squirrel and Rabbit all seeking the same thing, joining him on his travels. But does your family have to be just the same as you?
A gentle, delightful book brimming with endearing characters, that shows families are much more than just looking the same.
With drawings that remind us of Wind in the Willows and Quentin Blake, this book should become a firm favourite!
1066 The Battle of Hastings: A Graphic Novel – Stuart Douch (pub. Button Books)
Stuart Douch does a brilliant job of bringing this 960-year-old battle to life. He sets the scene by giving us the backstory to the later events and a wonderful rogues gallery of the characters involved, allowing you to recognise them at a glance throughout the book.
Starting with Harold’s coronation in January 1066, we follow the betrayals, three battles, William’s harrying of England, and his crowning as King in December of the same year. It’s interspersed with moments called ‘Ask the History Teacher’, which interpret the various actions taken and dispel some long-held myths.
The occasional use of the mother tongues of different groups (with a translation in the footnotes at the bottom of the scenes) gives it an added authenticity, while the drawing style perfectly captures the roughness and brutality of life and warfare in Anglo-Saxon England in a realistic way.
Ideal for children 10 years up, this book is a wonderful introduction to this turbulent period in our nation’s history.
That’s it for January’s recommendations – join us on Threads/Instagram, Bluesky, or Twitter/X, and let us know what you’ve been reading!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
(Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.)
If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
