Children's book reviews: Children’s and YA books that offer free chapter to kickstart 2026

From newborns and new homes to space adventures, reimagined classics and unsettling futures, January’s releases offer a fresh start, writes Ruth Concannon of Children’s Books Ireland

These bright, new books offer readers a fresh chapter on their reading journey.

New year, new books. January is off to a vibrant start with stories of new babies, new homes adventures in new countries, on new planets, with new perspectives on tales well told and even a brand-new AI human or two.

As we turn the page to 2026, we hope these bright, new books offer readers a fresh chapter on their reading journey.

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