Spending more time inside at the start of the year means you might have more time to spend reading some of these excellent books! Luckily, there are quite a few new books being released in January and February. If you like the sound of any of them, maybe you can call up your local bookshop and order a few to support authors and artists during these challenging times!

LOVE MAKES A FAMILY – 7TH JANUARY
‘Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book.’
This beautifully illustrated board book shows lots of different types of families living their daily lives, whether a child has two mums, two dads, one parent, or one of each, the representation in this book could be a great starting point for many important conversations with young children.
At the heart of this book is a belief that the most important thing in family, no matter what form it takes, is the love they share for one another.
LEO AND THE OCTOPUS – 7TH JANUARY
‘The world was too bright for Leo. And too loud. “I must be living on the wrong planet,” Leo thought.’
Leo is struggling to find his place in the world, and no one else seems to understand him. But one day Leo meets Maya, an octopus, and the more Leo learns about Maya, the more he realises he might not be so alone after all!
This is a sensitive and thoughtful story about a young boy with Autism trying to find his place in the world around him.
AGENT ASHA: MISSION SHARK BYTES – 7TH JANUARY
‘Asha Joshi has the perfect excuse not to finish her homework. She’s just been recruited to join the top-secret Children’s Spy Agency. Her first mission: SAVE THE WORLD.’
Asha is an avid coder, and along with her friends Tumble and Drone she’s ready to help save the world from an evil tech company!
What we love most about this book is how readers can get involved with Tech and STEM projects after reading, there are links to follow and puzzles to solve throughout the book.

Darwin’s Dragons – 7th January
‘Syms Covington has landed the job of a lifetime – cabin boy and fiddler on Charles Darwin’s ‘Beagle’. But when he is separated from the crew during a storm, his life takes a truly extraordinary turn.’
When Syms ends up shipwrecked on the Galapagos Islands, he makes a discovery that will change his life, and the world, forever. Does he share his discovery with the world and become rich beyond his wildest dreams? Or should he leave them be, as showing the world will surely lead to the extinction of a legendary species… There’s only one person on the whole island who could help him make such a decision, and he’s too busy writing a book…
Busy Storytime – 21st January
‘Push, pull and slide the tabs as you enjoy Busy Storytime! Pick a book to read, act it out and sail away on an adventure, then share the story with your friends.’ This is the perfect introduction to what could be a lifelong love of reading for little ones! There’s lots to discover and to keep you interested in this vibrant board book, and it’s an excellent pick for World Book Day! (4th March 2021)
Amari and the night brothers – 21st january
