January 2026’s set of recommendations for book clubs features friendship, feelings, space, AI, fantasy, adventure, escapes, dystopia, contemporary drama and deliciously dark magic. January 2026’s picks include titles by Smriti Halls, Nicola Davies, Ella McLeod, Javi De Castro, Craig Steele, Rowan Foxwood, Sufiya Ahmed, Rebecca Orwin, Emma Green, C. M. Lewis, Steve Cole, Monique Turner, Katie Bernet, Sarah Brill, and Sam Prentice-Jones.
January 2026 book club recommendations
Tyrannosaurus Veg by Smriti Halls and Katherina Manolessou
Reg the T. rex prefers crunchy greens to meat, which earns him plenty of teasing from the other dinosaurs. Feeling out of place, he heads off to find somewhere he truly fits in. When trouble hits, Reg’s strength and healthy habits turn out to be exactly what’s needed, surprising everyone who doubted him. With lively illustrations and a warm, funny tone, this fun-filled food-themed dinosaur picture book for 0-5 year olds celebrates individuality, friendship, and the confidence to try new things.
0-5 year-olds | Author’s website
The Map of Me by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Olga Shtonda
When a young girl moves to a new country, she copes by carefully drawing a map with her mum. They add the people they meet, the places they discover, and all the memories she wants to hold on to. As friends share their own stories, the map grows into something spellbinding that links them all. When her life shifts again, she learns she can adapt and keep shaping her map, using it to make sense of where she has been and where she is going. This highly imaginative, touching and useful picture book is ideal to read and discuss with EYFS classes. Highly recommended.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
Goldilocs by Ella McLeod and Rochelle Falconer
Goldilocks tries out every role she can think of, from Witch to Evil Queen to perfect Princess, but none of them feel quite right. With a bit of encouragement from her friends, she works out that she does not need to match anyone else’s idea of who she should be. Told in catchy rhyme with vibrant, eye-catching illustrations, the story gives young readers a subtle reminder that identity starts with being yourself. It’s a useful modern fairy tale picture book for EYFS classes.
3-5 year-olds | Author’s website
The Spectacular Space Loop by Javi De Castro
When young astronaut Cosmo blasts into space to test a new jet pack, he sets off a string of strange encounters with robots, aliens and even the odd magician. But halfway through, the comic flips upside down, prompting readers to turn the book and see each scene from a fresh angle. The uniquely immersive and child-centred design thrusts 5–7 year olds into the heart of the adventure, inviting them to notice just how much a story changes when you look at it from a different point of view. Outstanding and highly recommended.
5-7 year-olds | Author’s website
From AI to WI-FI: How the Internet Works by Craig Steele, illustrated by Terri Po
Craig Steele breaks down how the internet began, how websites run, and what coding actually does, all in a highly accessible and fascinating way that 9+ year-olds will relate to. He also looks at how people use the web to talk, share ideas, and build businesses, with practical tips on staying safe online. Terri Po’s illustrations help explain more complex ideas, turning big digital concepts into clear and discussion-worthy topics for KS2 classes. Highly recommended.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Magpie Girl by Rowan Foxwood
Lavender Wild has always been different – she can talk to birds and is slowly growing feathers of her own. When her friend Kit’s father vanishes on the firebird’s mountain, Lavender joins him on a perilous rescue mission. Together they face daemons, witches, and old betrayals as they race to stop the firebird’s return. Blending magic, adventure, and the haunting pull of lost wishes, Magpie Girl is a highly engaging, lyrical fantasy tale for 9+ year olds about trust, courage, and finding your true self. Read our full review. Read a free extract.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Escape from the Child Snatchers by Sufiya Ahmed
In 1865, Humza and Ranj leave Bombay as stowaways, hoping to find Humza’s missing brother in London. Their journey soon turns dangerous when they cross paths with a ruthless child snatcher. With the help of Daisy, the innkeeper’s quick-thinking daughter, they race through the city in search of Dani. Inspired by real accounts of Indian children in Victorian England, Escape from the Child Snatchers is a fast-paced, atmospheric tale that brings history vividly to life. Utterly gripping, Escape from the Child Snatchers has the pace, plot, and timeless immersive style that will truly engage children with historical fiction. Read our full review.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Monsters at the End of the World by Rebecca Orwin
In a battered coastal town, Sunny grows up fearing the sea monsters everyone talks about, until she meets Mo, a gentle creature desperate to find his missing brother. Helping him brings hidden truths in her community to the surface, and surviving becomes tougher by the day. As the two push through rising danger, the story leans into shifting perceptions, fragile trust and an unlikely friendship shaped by a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a stunning middle-grade novel that will challenge 9–11 year olds to think deeply. Highly recommended.
9-11 year-olds | Author’s website
The Not-So Great Escape by Emma Green
Hedley Ambrose’s world flips upside down when his best friend Aiden steals an alpaca, kicking off a chaotic road trip across the country. Wrongly accused of being the thief, Hedley stumbles from one disaster to another, accidentally robbing a petrol station, getting lost in haunted woods, and becoming an online hit as the #AlpacaBandit. Along the way, he’s forced to face the messier parts of friendship, grief, and growing up in this sharp, funny, and heartfelt adventure. Highly recommended, it’s great fun for 9–12 year olds. Read our full review.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Quill and the Last Generation by C. M. Lewis
In a world where no children have been born for twelve years, Quill is a rare twelve-year-old. When a shapeshifting raven appears, it draws him into a realm of myth and magic filled with dragons, lost souls, a monstrous hound, and a horse made of water. Some even believe he is the long-awaited hero destined to face the King of Darkness and claim the Light of the World. Steeped in Welsh mythology and folklore, this distinctive fantasy adventure for 9–12-year-olds will be hard to put down. Read our full review.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
New You Forever by Steve Cole, illustrated by Chris King
Set in 2070, the story follows young journalist Anders Jones as he looks into the New You Foundation, an organisation claiming it can fix climate change by replacing people with artificial replicas called Pleekas. The deeper Anders digs, the stranger it gets, and he soon realises the Foundation’s promise of digital immortality comes with serious dangers. Especially suited to less confident 11+ year old readers, this outstanding novella deftly explores technology, identity and the environmental crises shaping Anders’s world. It’s ideal for discussion in KS3.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
Sweet and Sour by Monique Turner
Mikah and his friends start a mukbang channel in a world where AI influencer robots rule the feeds, hoping their very human chaos will set them apart. It works, but the sudden fame quickly eats into Mikah’s health and friendships. As the views climb, so do the pressures, and the shine of online success turns uneasy fast. This YA novel for 12+ year olds digs deep into internet culture, tech-shaped lives and what happens when popularity comes with a price. A stand-out contemporary thriller with a deliciously dark twist.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet
This inventive novel for 12+ year olds reimagines Little Women as a modern murder mystery. On New Year’s Day, Beth March is discovered dead in the woods, and her sisters Meg, Jo, and Amy begin their search for the killer. Friends, neighbours, and even family members fall under suspicion as flashbacks reveal Beth’s own perspective alongside the investigation. Themes of ambition, loyalty, and rivalry are central, placing the March sisters at the heart of a nail-biting, addictive, and fast-paced thriller. It is ideal for YA crime fans in KS4. Read our full review.
12-18 year-olds | Author’s website
Catch by Sarah Brill
Sixteen-year-old Beth already has enough on her plate, from a growth spurt that makes her stand out to basketball, school stress and her sister’s unexpected pregnancy. Then she discovers she can catch people who fall from heights, a strange ability that pulls her into the lives of total strangers. As the rescues mount, Beth has to juggle responsibility, fear and curiosity while working out what this power means for her and the people she cares about. A stunning and memorable YA novel about heroism and the value of life.
13-18 year-olds | Author’s website
Arcana – The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones
Eli Jones stumbles into a hidden world of magic when he joins the Arcana, a secretive circle of witches ruled by the Majors. Working with James, Daphne, Koko and Sonny, he begins to piece together the truth behind a curse linked to their parents’ deaths and the Arcana’s grip on power. As secrets surface and loyalties shift, the friends push back against the Majors and risk everything to break the cycle. This stunning graphic novel will immerse KS4 students in family secrets, surprising bravery and buried truths.
16+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for January 2026
These hashtag days might provide current and relevant talking points for secondary-aged pupils aged 13+ in KS3, KS4 and KS5, especially when linked to related literature.
- January is ‘Veganuary’, highlighting the benefits of being vegan. The Vegan Society has created a useful guide for schools.
- January 2nd is Science Fiction Day. Have a look at our STEM and science fiction themed list for KS2 and KS3 students.
- January 4th is World Braille Day. RNIB offers a great resource pack for schools that covers all age groups.
- On January 8th, the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch project begins. Have a look at the RSPB’s guide for teachers.
- January 23rd is National Handwriting Day.
- January 25th is Burns Night. Scottish Language has created a great set of free activities for learners.
- January 26th is Australia Day. Have a look at our Australian texts list for some inspo.
- January 27th is Holocaust Memorial Day. The Holocaust Memorial Trust has written an extensive range of resources for schools, and author Tom Palmer is offering a range of resources to download from his website.
- January 28th is Data Privacy Day, also known as Data Protection Day, and you’ll be happy to know that, unlike many other book recommendation sites, the School Reading List website does not track users, collect your personal data or use cookies. We prefer cheesecakes. In an ironic twist, the EU’s Data Protection Day website is currently blocking UK users, due to ‘data protection’.
- National Storytelling Week begins on January 30th, and runs into February. Here’s a great guide to running a storytelling club.
- The end of January is the closing date for Scribblebibble’s Flash Fiction writing competition for 7-18-year-olds.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for January 2026.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest January 2026 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this spring 2026.
- Our January 2026 books of the day on X. These can also be viewed on uk.Bookshop.org.
- Our guide on how to run a school book club covers both primary school book clubs and secondary school book clubs.
Click one of the buttons below to buy all this month’s recommended book club titles, or class sets of any of these books, from Bookshop.org UK or Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
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