The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of 2026

Which books will the kids in your life fall in love with this year? We hope there will be lots, but to get your reading list started, we invited nine stellar children’s book creators—authors and illustrators of works for kids and teens—to tell us which new books they’re most excited to read and share in 2026. Here are their inspired picks:

Natalia Shaloshvili, What a Small Cat Needs

Translated by Lena Traer
Enchanted Lion, January 27
recommended for ages 3-6

Foreign books always catch my eye, so [publisher] Enchanted Lion is pretty much guaranteed a spot on my most-anticipated list. Of the titles I’m most looking forward to, What a Small Cat Needs, holds the top spot. Shaloshvili’s previous book, Miss Leoparda (2024), was an animal-filled, anti-car fable, straightforward in the telling but utterly and completely charming. What a Small Cat Needs focuses instead on one animal (a small cat), but looks to be even more endearing.  –Jerrold Connors

Richard Ho, You Can Move Mountains: The Artful Life of Painter Bob Ross

Illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Roaring Brook Press, August 25
recommended for ages 3-8

I love a good biography because as someone who makes picture books it’s a great way to get inspiration and recenter your north star on why you do what you do. I’m currently working on a picture book biography of a popular creative figure, so I’m particularly interested to see picture book bios like You Can Move Mountains: The Artful Life of Painter Bob Ross. I vaguely remember seeing Bob Ross’s show on PBS in the ’90s, mostly because the show had a feeling; no music and slow, infrequent edits, the only sounds being his voice and the palette knife and fan brushed against the canvas. What looks so brilliant about this book is how Miyares develops a landscape painting on the right side of the page as you read about Ross’s life on the left. It’s genius, it’s interactive and cinematic, the story deepens as you go on and the painting develops too. I cannot wait to experience this one.  –K-Fai Steele

Jashar Awan, Loops

Simon & Schuster, March 3
recommended for ages 4-8

As my own kids transition into the adventure of higher education, I find myself gravitating toward books they would have enjoyed when they were the littlest of readers—cozy, smartly colored stories that brim with heart and gentle humor. Jashar Awan’s books are exactly those kinds of books. But if you’re not reading them to your kids, Jerrold, what are you doing with them? I’m studying them, absorbing them, and talking about them to anyone who will listen. They’re just that good.  –JC

Nicholas Day, How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin

Illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Neal Porter Books, January 13
recommended for ages 4-8

You might say that this delightfully unique picture book is about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, but it’s just as much about the walks Darwin took while he was working on his ideas: how he traced his stick in the dirt, knocked over rocks one at a time, and, most importantly, let his mind wander. As a writer who often finds my best thoughts along the walking trails near my home, I love this book’s reminder that the art of walking is deeply connected to the arts of problem-solving and creativity.  –Caroline Carlson

Zoey Abbott and August Jeffrey Wagner, How to Draw a Zombie

Illustrated by Zoey Abbott
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, July 7
recommended for ages 4-8

I love books that offer a fun and low-stakes way to get kids inspired to draw, but this one is extra special because Zoey and August are a parent and child duo, and I think August might still be a teenager. I happen to know Zoey, she’s one of the weirder (complimentary) people I’m friends with, and making a book with one of my kids would be an absolute dream! So I’m really excited for this one.  –KS

Noemi Vola, No, No, No

Tra Publishing, March 24
recommended for ages 4-8

I became enamored with Noemi Vola’s art after reading The Day Moon and Earth Had an Argument (written by David Duff). No, No, No seems to be as richly illustrated as her other works and I’m certain I’m going to love it, but it’s the book’s description, “a powerful story about the limits of no and the possibilities of yes,” that has captured my heart.  –JC

Eric Darnell Pritchard, Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams

Illustrated by Shannon Wright
Abrams, January 13
recommended for ages 4-8

As soon as I saw the bright, happy cover of Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams, I was intrigued. I love fashion and don’t think there are enough kids’ books about the industry. Plus, the collage-filled illustrations look like they were pieced together from the exuberance of a sewing room floor. Please take my money. Clothes to Make You Smile is written by fashion expert Eric Darnell Pritchard, and illustrated by Shannon Wright.  –Tracey Baptiste

Mac Barnett, Tom Nancy

Illustrated by X. Fang
Tundra, Fall 2026
recommended for ages 4-8

Tundra Books is putting out some of the best books: they’re beautiful and you can tell the editors just have fantastic taste. I saw a preview of Tom Nancy by Mac Barnett and X. Fang, and it’s so good. It’s one of those rare books where the author and the illustrator really seem to be egging each other on in regards to who can be more funny. The expressions! Dry humor! I could be misremembering but I’m pretty sure there’s a commentary on work and capitalism in it; you’ll have to read it when it comes out to check that.  –KS

Jess Hannigan, The Cow in the Dark at Night

Quill Tree, July 21
recommended for ages 4-8

I’m telling you right now, 2026 is going to be the year of the cow. And the cow book I’m most looking forward to? Jess Hannigan’s The Cow in the Dark at Night. The title is evocative of a Raymond Chandler pulp novel, but there’s a UFO on the cover. Is it a hardboiled thriller? Is it science fiction?  It’s fair to say I have no idea what to expect except that there’s A COW and for now that’s enough for me. (Also, it’s by Jess Hannigan so it’s bound to be incredibly funny).  –JC

Kyle Lukoff, Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class)

Illustrated by Kat Fajardo
Little, Brown Young Readers, March 10
recommended for ages 6-9

Former children’s librarian and two-time National Book Award finalist Kyle Lukoff just gets kids, so it’s no surprise that his installment in the multi-author series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class series is a delightfully funny and heartfelt read. Sebastian is the most charmingly pedantic third grader you’ll ever meet. In this book, his world comes crashing down when beloved librarian Mr. Bloom allows him to check out a special, brand-new library book (with the world’s coolest octopus on the cover!) only to have it damaged soon after he gets it home. Aside from being hilarious, this book is a loving reminder to kids that mistakes happen, and so does forgiveness.  –Kate Messner

Tracey Baptiste, Fia Hosein Finds Her Beat (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class) 

Illustrated by Kat Fajardo
Little, Brown Young Readers, March 10
recommended for ages 6-9

Is there anything Tracey Baptiste can’t write? From her popular MG Jumbies trilogy to her groundbreaking nonfiction African Icons, Baptiste has a pitch-perfect voice for middle grade readers that, turns out, works beautifully for the chapter book crowd, too. Fia Hosein Finds Her Beat (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class) tells the story of third grader Fia, who’s recently immigrated to Peppermint Falls from Trinidad and worries that when her accent begins to fade, she’s losing a part of herself. This poignant story is laugh-out-loud funny, too. Kids who already love the series will eat it up, but it’s also a great introduction to the class, as the books can be read in any order.  –Kate Messner

Lorree Griffin Burns, Extreme Birdwatching: Measuring Change on a Galápagos Island (Discovery Chronicles)

Illustrated by Jamie Green
MIT Kids Press, March 3
recommended for ages 7-10

There aren’t enough science chapter books for curious readers, so this adventurous exploration from writer-scientist Loree Griffin Burns should be an automatic pre-order, a welcome addition to family and classroom bookshelves alike. With charming illustrations by Jamie Green, Extreme Birdwatching tells the incredible story of Rosemary and Peter Grant, who spent decades studying finches on a remote Galapagos Island, following in Charles Darwin’s footsteps and proving that evolution can happen much faster than the famed naturalist ever imagined. (And good news for those who don’t want to wait until March—this is actually the second installment in the kid-friendly Discovery Chronicles chapter book series! The first, One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them, is available now.)  –Kate Messner

Margi Preus, The Shrew Detective: The Case of the Pilfered Pearls (Shrew Detective #1)

Illustrated by Junyi Wu
Amulet, May 19
recommended for ages 8-12

I love middle grade mysteries. I love classic-feeling illustrated novels. And while my experience with charming and charismatic shrews is limited, I’m absolutely ready to fall in love with Minerva Shrew as she tries to solve the mysteries of the universe, starting with finding a missing string of pearls. The Shrew Detective is written by Newbery honoree Margi Preus and illustrated by one of my favorite children’s book artists, Junyi Wu.  –CC

Jasmine Warga, The Unlikely Tale of Chase & Finnegan

Balzer + Bray, March 3
recommended for ages 8-12

I’m normally leery of animal books—fool me twice, shame on me—but cannot wait to read this one. Jasmine Warga dazzles me with the variety of her books. She’s brought a Mars rover to life, written a twisty museum mystery, and penned a gorgeous story in verse about a Syrian girl moving to America. Her newest is about the unlikely friendship that develops between a rescue dog and an orphaned cheetah who are paired together by a zoo.  –James Ponti

Christine Hartman Derr, Raven, Rising

Heartdrum, July 7
recommended for ages 8-12

Raven, Rising is about a girl who faces bullying in her new school but soon realizes she has magical baking powers that might help solve her problems. Having experienced bullying in middle school, it’s still fun for me to imagine new and creative ways to avoid or respond to meanness from classmates. With a side of magic and baking? How could you go wrong?  –Kekla Magoon

Corey Ann Haydu, The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene

Quill Tree Books, January 13
recommended for ages 8-12

I’m always excited to see an inventive and fresh-feeling middle grade fantasy novel come along, especially when it’s from a writer whose work I already admire. Corey Ann Haydu’s new middle grade release is about two girls, both named Auden Greene: “Denny” is coping with family and friendship difficulties in our world, while Princess Auden lives in a magical world threatened by dragons. When the two Audens suddenly switch places, they each have to contend with challenges beyond anything they’ve imagined.  –CC

Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Offside

Illustrated by Mari Costa
Graphix, July 7
recommended for ages 8-12

With the uber-popular Invisible, Christina Diaz Gonzalez was able to create a bilingual graphic novel that could be equally enjoyed by English and Spanish readers. Now, she’s back with Offside, which tells the story of a middle school soccer team as it goes co-ed. Set to launch during the soccer frenzy of this year’s World Cup, it’s sure to have plenty of humor, heart, and hope—all trademarks of Gonzalez’s writing.  –JP

Ciera Burch, Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away

Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 17
recommended for ages 8-12

Olivia Gray struggles with feeling invisible (literally and figuratively) as she tries to fit in among her peers. Twelve-year-old me would have been excited to discover this title which features a character dealing with real-world, relatable middle school issues but also includes fantasy elements. Feeing invisible and trying to make sense of why you’re different from your friends is still sometimes relatable, and I’m sure it will be for young teens, too.  –Kekla Magoon

Laurie Morrison, Where Ella Went

Amulet, April 14
recommended for ages 10-14

I’ve been dying to read Where Ella Went ever since I heard it pitched as Where’d You Go, Bernadette? for a middle school audience. When soccer team captain Ella disappears from the playing field and leaves school altogether, her teammates Sadie and Pug decide to find out what happened to her, uncovering plenty of secrets along the way. Author Laurie Morrison tells this story in letters, journal entries, and other documents, and I can’t wait to see how all the pieces fit together.  –CC

Kate Milford, Rialto

Clarion, April 14
recommended for ages 10 and up

I’m a huge Kate Milford fan, and this book might be my favorite yet. A heartrending fantasy about two sisters set amidst a haunting (seemingly) abandoned amusement park, Rialto is at once intimate and ambitious. I loved every page.  –Jonathan Auxier

Chanel Miller, The Moon Without Stars

Philomel, January 13
recommended for ages 10 and up

Talk about anticipation; I’m so excited to read this book. (Luckily, I only have to wait until the second week of the year.) Chanel Miller is fast becoming a middle grade star. Her debut children’s book, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, won a Newbery Honor. Now she’s focusing her keen eye and charming prose on best friends Luna and Scott, delightful in their awkwardness, as they reach the seventh grade and everything starts to change.  –JP

Philip C. Stead, A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm

Neal Porter Books, April 7
recommended for ages 10 and up

Writer/illustrator Philip Stead is a fixture in the picture book world, and now he’s published his first novel! This book is a little bit Princess Bride, a little bit Phantom Tollbooth, and a little bit something I’ve never seen before. The charming story (illustrated beautifully by Stead) is told out of order, in a playful, witty voice that is dying to be read aloud with someone you love.  –JA

Rebecca Barrow, Doe

Nancy Paulsen Books, June 23
recommended for ages 12 and up

Rebecca Barrow has written a handful of other incredible YA novels, but Doe is her first in verse and it’s my favorite of hers so far. Weird, slippery, and deeply memorable, plus it includes a first person plural point of view, which I’m a total sucker for. Megan Abbott fans in particular should keep an eye out for this one!  –Rory Power

Robert Mgrdich Apelian, Fustuk

Penguin Workshop, January 20
recommended for ages 12 and up

Using a fusion of Armenian and Persian mythology—combined with dreams and cooking!—this imaginative YA graphic novel sounds like the perfect mix of family drama, magic, and diasporic culture. I can’t wait to dive into this debut!  –Michelle Jabès Corpora

June Hur, Behind Five Willows

Feiwel & Friends, May 26
recommended for ages 13-18

I really enjoyed June Hur’s historical mystery The Silence of Bones, so I’m excited to read her upcoming release for young adults, described as an homage to Jane Austen set in historical Korea. With a plot reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, Behind Five Willows explores what happens when a young woman from a poor family and a wealthy, respectable son of a noble decide to challenge government censorship and the strict social hierarchies that shape their lives.  –CC

Byron Graves, Medicine Wheels

Heartdrum, June 2
recommended for ages 13 and up

Medicine Wheels is about an Ojibwe teen who discovers a passion for skateboarding while dealing with grief and family issues. Byron Graves won the Morris Award for his debut novel, Rez Ball, and it’s always exciting to see what’s up next from new voices.  –Kekla Magoon

Maggie Horne, Freddie and Stella Got Hot

Feiwel & Friends, January 27
recommended for ages 14-18

Maggie Horne’s YA debut follows Freddie and Stella as they plot to take down their former best friend by becoming her ultimate cool-girl competition. Horne absolutely nails the voice here; it’s snappy and surprising and genuinely made me laugh out loud. If you liked Do Revenge or wanted Janis and Regina to kiss at the end of Mean Girls, Freddie and Stella is for you.  –RP

S. Hati, Morbid Curiosities

Feiwel & Friends, April 21
recommended for ages 14-18

I love a good mystery thriller, and Morbid Curiosities sounds like it’s got all the ingredients for an amazing read. Secret experiments, unreliable memories, and a murder investigation all in a dark academia setting make for a truly fresh-sounding story that I’m definitely going to pick up the moment it releases!  –MJC

Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, The Spiritualists

Simon & Schuster, June 2
recommended for ages 14 and up

As a tarot reader myself, I can’t get enough of stories about the mystery and magic of the occult. That’s why I’m so excited to read this historical mystery—set in New York City, yes please!—about a gifted psychic who must find her sister’s killer by joining up with a band of mystics to find the culprit and get revenge. I love the mashup of history, mystery, and mysticism in this one!  –MJC