Children's Staff Picks 1/2026

"Three young rebels build bonds of trust with one another and themselves, which are tested when they find their river dried up and an animal friend injured"-- Provided by publisher.

Precocious eight-year-old Bibsy navigates a relationship with a teacher who thinks she talks too much.

"Looking to host a game night? Think mini! Craft a bitty bowling alley for marble bowling balls. Create a deck of petite playing cards. Then play your games with family and friends. Easy instructions and step photos will help you become a miniature game master. Tiny games are tons of fun!"-- Provided by publisher.

"A family tree assignment troubles a girl with a single mom and no ties with relatives, until she realizes she has a found family in her neighbors"-- Provided by publisher.

"When their teacher mysteriously goes missing in the library and foul play is suspected, a junior detective named Jake, her sidekick Sterling, and school bully Brick team up to solve the mystery of what happened to her"-- Provided by publisher.

"A touching story of the friendship between a young boy and his elderly neighbor, and how that boy helps jog the man's disappearing memory. Caius spends summer mornings on his neighbor's porch, and although Mr. Johnson doesn't remember things as well as he used to, he can always sing the beginning of his favorite song, "Further Along." Caius understands how nourishing music can be, and so he decides to find the rest of Mr. Johnson's song. At the library...

Children explore the world around them and discover different ways to create forts--magical spaces for play, imagination, and belonging.

"Amelia Bedelia's mother loves garage sales so much, she decides to have one herself! But Amelia Bedelia loves her garage and does not want to sell it, so she and her parents decide to call it a yard sale instead. People come from all over the neighborhood to buy Amelia Bedelia and her parents' old things, and one woman even buys the yard!"-- Provided by publisher.