New children's books for January 2024
by Sophie Green
Looking for new books for your little ones? Take a look at our brand new children's fiction and non-fiction books for January 2024.
Find more recommendations for children.
Snail in Space, by Rachel Bright and Nadia Shireen
Gail the snail has always been told not to dream too big or reach too far, but Gail is not your average snail, and she has plans to be the first - SNAIL IN SPACE! Join Gail on her stellar adventure and discover the magic of reaching for the stars and giving it your all.
Meet the Dinosaurs, by Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin
We're off on an exciting journey into the past to meet the amazing dinosaurs that once roamed Earth. Join in with the rhymes and get ready to spot all the friendly (and not so friendly!) dinosaurs, from the huge Brontosaurus and amazing Diplodocus to the speedy Velociraptor and scary T-Rex. Little ones will have an action-packed time (and be back in time for bed!) in this fun and fact-packed picture book.
Runaway Cone, by Morag Hood
Digger, Traffic Light and the cones are all ready to start the roadworks one morning when they notice that something's wrong - Gary is missing! And it's a disaster! They search left and right, high and low, but it's no use. Can they find Gary all by themselves? Or do they need to ask for help? What's going to happen when they find him?
Please!, by Simon Philip and Nathan Reed
You probably know it's good manners to ALWAYS say 'please' when asking for something. But when Bill forgets this very simple rule, the consequences are WACKIER than he could ever have imagined. Get ready for a laugh-out-loud adventure featuring spaceships, jungle tigers, mountain yaks, fairytale castles and a whole host of alien toads.
Are You a Sleepy Monster?, by Guilherme Karsten
Are you all set for SLEEPOVER TIME? Monster has your scary pyjamas ready and UNDER the bed is looking perfectly yucky and monstrous. Wait, what do you mean you sleep ON THE BED? Are you not a monster? ALL monsters sleep under the bed! Can you persuade Monster to sleep on the horribly soft bed with a disgustingly fluffy teddy? This soothing book helps little ones fall asleep.
Borrow Are You a Sleepy Monster? →
Pablo and Splash, by Sheena Dempsey
Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is easily bored and hungry for adventure. Sick to her flippers of the harsh, freezing weather, Splash persuades Pablo to go on a holiday with her. But far from the luxury beach destination that Splash has in mind, the pair end up in a time-travel machine that takes them back to the age of the dinosaurs. Suddenly their icy homeland doesn't seem so dull!
Lobster Cop, by Brian Smith and Chris Giarrusso
A graphic novel series about the crimefighting duo Clawsome, a lobster, and his partner Stariana, a starfish, as they fight such denizens of the deep as the Catfishburglar, Chowderhead, and the Brain Sturgeon. Crime doesn't pay in Caper Cove with Officer Clawsome and his partner, Stariana, on the case. Just ask the notorious Catburglarfish - she'll confirm. But when the beloved bakery Kelpy's Kelpcakes goes missing and rumours begin swirling about shark sightings for the first time in a hundred years, the duo is about to find themselves claw-deep in a mystery for the ages. Will this dynamic duo save the day yet again, or have the citizens of Caper Cove eaten their last kelpcake for good?
Rise of Invisidog, by Stuart Heritage and Vincent Batignole
Do you want to laugh your pants off? Of course you do. In which case - come on into the world of the O.D.D. Squad - a team of (sort of) heroic animal crime-fighters you'll never forget. Though maybe not for the right reasons. Justice City. Rain soaks its streets. Crime soaks it more. The fate of the entire city has been left in the hands (well, paws) of one brave superhero. That's right - dun dun dunnnnnn - Invisidog!
Invisidog hunts for danger wherever he finds it. There is no job too big, and no criminal too tough for the mighty Invisidog. He is the shadows!! And actually, that's kind of the problem. Because Invisidog's amazing superpowers - are kind of rubbish. Turns out being invisible isn't all that helpful when you're trying to rid a city of terrible criminals. They tend to have a habit of ignoring you for one thing. So Invisidog's going to have to think big.
Groosham Grange: the graphic novel, by Anthony Horowitz and Clement Lefevre
When David Elliot is expelled from his boring school, his parents send him to Groosham Grange to knock him into shape. But when he arrives at the gothic castle on remote Skrull Island, he discovers Groosham Grange is an unusual sort of school: from signing the register in blood, to the creepy teachers - pallid Mr Kilgraw, Mrs Pedicure bandaged head to toe, hairy Mr Leloup who disappears every full moon. David teams up with fellow pupils Jeffrey and Jill to plan his escape. But can anyone ever escape Groosham Grange?
Stitch, by Pádraig Kenny
Stitch is not a monster - he's a creation. He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory. And Henry is his next experiment. Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for - and may never be ready for them?
Race to Frostfall Mountain, by Jess French
The island of Ramoa was once luscious and populated with mighty beasts. Now though, it is home to barren and tamed cities, where nature is locked out and trouble is brewing. When Kayla's beloved animal companion, a rare winged pangron, is stolen, she's determined to get him back. But to do so, she'll have to leave her city and journey into the wild and forbidden Beastlands. There, she meets Rustus, an exiled young warrior, and Alethea, a healer desperately seeking a cure for a mysterious disease. As their quests unite them, they'll adventure across the lands they know so little about, leading them to discoveries both great and terrifying. Not least that the beasts they've always been taught to fear might not be so terrifying after all.
Borrow Race to Frostfall Mountain →
How Do Meerkats Order Pizza?, by Brooke Barker
In this uproariously funny and charmingly illustrated book, readers are introduced to incredible animals and the bizarre things human scientists do to understand them. Did you know that crows never forget a face? Or that jaguars have a favourite perfume? Have you ever wondered how to pet a yeti crab? Or whether dogs can tell if you're smiling? And just what is a burrowing bettong? From crafting fake poo to slurping up bugs with a straw, there's nothing these amazing scientists won't do to help us learn more about the animals around us.
Borrow How Do Meerkats Order Pizza? →
Dictionary of Dinosaurs
From aardonyx to zuniceratops, read about where they lived, what they ate and much more. Featuring firm favourites such as the T-rex, ankylosaurus and triceratops, as well as lesser-known beasts like the baryonyx, rugops and shanag, there's no dino left behind in this A-Z. Each entry includes a fact file, scale diagram, Latin name and pronunciation. Best of all, each page is filled with a colourful, eye-popping illustration of the dinosaur, in conjunction with the Natural History Museum in London.