From Candlewick Press Happy New Year! As we enter 2026, Mac Barnett takes on his second year as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Through his platform Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stores We Can Feel, Hear, and See, he strives to highlight the many ways picture books set a crucial foundation for a

🎆 January 2026 Staff Picks Galentine’s gifts, cozy coloring, and Easter books for kids are just a few of the titles on our January staff picks list! Start the year off right with inspirational, giftable, and topical books your customers won’t want to miss. Explore all upcoming titles and January staff picks in the collections linked

It’s the end of the year, and trend forecasters are hard at work predicting what will pop and what will flop in 2026. But with so many opinions, what do those forecasts really mean for your business? We’ve put together our own round up of some of the top themes we’ve spotted in retail sales

By Jaliza Burwell, Charlesbridge The new year is a perfect time for young readers and the adults who champion them to set meaningful intentions. We’re pleased to highlight titles that offer more than entertainment—they spark action, nurture confidence, and encourage curiosity. Below are three powerful categories of books that align naturally with the “New Year,