Big Books of the Week

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller (Philomel; SLJ starred review) leads holds this week. 

Other titles in demand include:

Gumshoe: A Graphic Novel by Brenna Thummler (HarperAlley)

Valentine’s Day in the Village by Phyllis Alsdurf, Illustrated by Lisa Hunt (Beaming Bks.)

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen; SLJ starred review) 

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day, Illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Holiday House/Neal Porter)

There Is Usually Not a Hole by Daisy Hirst (Candlewick)

These books and others publishing the week of January 12, 2026 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Six Indie Next picks publish this week:

Picture Books

This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wood, Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson (Astra)

“This Hair Belongs is a lesson in Black history, culture, and excellence. Brown-Wood’s verse pairs beautifully with Robinson’s illustrations to further highlight the significance of individual hairstyles and textures.” —Elena Espinoza, Schuler Books, Grand Rapids, MI

Middle Grade

Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game (American Sports Histories #2) by Kadir Nelson (Little, Brown)

“This is the celebration of basketball that the sport deserves. Nelson's art remains legendary, and the writing is fantastic — conversational, informative, effusive, and inspiring.” —Paul Swydan, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA

Gumshoe: A Graphic Novel by Brenna Thummler (HarperAlley)

“Willa runs away from home and joins the ‘Gumshoe Gang’ to help find Two Gum Tilly, the outlaw mail stealer of Arizona. Will they be able to catch Tilly? Read to find out! Perfect for those who are quiet, struggle to make friends, or girls who need to know that they are wonderful just how they are!” —Abby Greaves, Werner Books, Erie, PA

The Moon Without Stars By Chanel Miller (Philomel ; SLJ starred review) 

“Following the seventh grade year of Luna, this story shows us that middle school is a difficult, exciting, scary, and overall wild ride. The abundance of care shown by exploring difficult topics such as peer pressure, puberty, anxiety, and first crushes is thoughtful and so needed.” —Sierra Hollabaugh, The Bookery Cincy, Cincinnati, OH

Young Adult

Gaslit by Megan Davidhizar (Delacorte)

“From the medical gaslighting she experiences when trying to identify the cause of her debilitating migraines to the cause of the accident that rips her family apart, Ella doesn’t know who or what to trust. Is someone following her? Is there more to the accident that night? I felt so connected to Ella as she questioned her reality and the truth.” —Julie Swearingen, Roundabout Books, Bend, OR

This Is Not a Test: The Definitive Edition with Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers (Bindery Books)

“One of my all time favorite zombie novels. The best post apocalyptic stories feature character depth along with a horrific scenario. This is the best of all of them and has been one of my favorites since it was published.” —Kristian Beverly, Cupboard Maker Books, Enola, PA

Best Sellers

Links for the week: NYT Children’s Middle Grade Hardcover | NYT Children’s Picture Books | NYT Children’s & Young Adult Series | NYT Young Adult Hardcover | USA Today Bestselling Books

The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, illustrated by Cynthia Yuan Cheng (Penguin/Rocky Pond), enters the NYT Children’s Middle Grade Hardcover Best Seller list at no. 1 with the The Court of the Dead by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro (Disney Hyperion) in at no.2 after 15 weeks on the list.

For the Fans! (KPop Demon Hunters): Official Storybook by Angela Song (Golden) joins the NYT Children’s Picture Books list at no.1. Other new additions to the list include Chicka Chicka I Love You by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambualt, illustrated by Julien Chung (S. & S./Little Simon), at no. 4, and Love Finds a Way by Vern Kousky (Roaring Brook) at no. 8.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Illustrated by Jeff Kinney (Abrams/Amulet), continues to reign supreme at the top of the NYT Children’s & Young Adult Series list with 877 on the list. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic) keeps its no. 2 position with 404 weeks on the list.

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter (Simon & Schuster) remains in the no. 1 spot for a second week in a row and 14 weeks on the list followed by If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin (Sourcebooks Fire) retaining the no. 2 position on the NYT Young Adult Hardcover list.

Four children's titles feature on the USA Today Bestselling Books list, last updated on 1/7/2025:

Talons of Power: A Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #9) by Tui T. Sutherland, illustrated by Mike Holmes (Scholastic/Graphix), comes in at No. 1.

Dog Man: Big Jim Believes: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #14) by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic/Graphix) moves to no. 6.

Partypooper (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 20): Volume 20 by Jeff Kinney (Abrams/Amulet) moves to the no. 8 spot.

For the Fans! (Kpop Demon Hunters): Official Storybook by Angela Song (Golden) enters the list at no. 10.

Reviews

‘A Fuse 8 Production’ Reviews The House with Nobody in It by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press): “This book respects very young readers. It respects their capacity to tell a story beyond the one in their hands. The House with Nobody in It is a jumping off point for small brains and imaginations. And because of the level of care and attention that Klassen has poured into this book, THAT, if anything, is why it’s going to succeed. The rare board book that threads the needle between what kids like and what adults like. In other words, this book lives in the sweet spot. Now pick it up and go see why.”

Briefly Noted

Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine announced Beth Is Dead (HarperCollins) as the inaugural book for the Sunnie Reads Book Club, a book club run “by and for Gen-Z readers.”

Mychal Threets, host of Reading Rainbow, gave an exclusive interview to People about his new book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy (Random). 

NYT features the man behind ‘Dog Man’, Dav Pilkey.

Publisher’s Weekly spoke with Kenan Thompson and Bryan Tucker about their new picture book, Unfunny Bunny (Feiwel & Friends), releasing this week, while Kadir Nelson talked about his new book, Basket Ball (Little, Brown Books).

“Pearl’s & Ruby’s” Edith Campbell sat down to interview Sharon G. Flake about her new book, Hattie Mae Begins Again (Knopf).

“Teen Librarian Toolbox” held a Fast Five interview with V.T. Bidania, author of new release A Year Without Home (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen; SLJ Starred). They also did a Fast Five with Roshani Chokshi about her recent release, The Swan’s Daughter (Wednesday Bks.).

"A Fuse 8 Production" debuts the cover and interviews, A Place to Dance authors Eric Rosswood, Richard Lamberty, and illustrator Vincent Chen (Penguin).

The 2026 Pacific Northwest Book Awards were announced, including middle grade graphic novel Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Scholastic/Graphix).

Check Out Over 300 SLJ’s Starred Titles from June 2025 to December 2025.

SLJ Webcasts presents YALSA Non-Fiction Award Finalists in conversation with SLJ on January 15th.

Carolyn Mackler makes a guest post on "Teen Librarian Toolbox" to talk about the Right Back at You Project based on her novel of the same title from Scholastic.

"Good Comics for Kids" exclusively reveals baby Garfield comics coming from BOOM! Studios.

Book Riot spotlights 10 January new releases, including Clothes to Make You Smile by Eric Darnell Pritchard and Shannon Wrightand (Abrams) and I Love My People: A Child’s Celebration of Black Culture by Kim Singleton and Kim Holt (Beaming Books) coming out this week.

Publisher’s Weekly posted their Spring 2026 Children’s Writers to Watch.

Book Riot released their six most anticipated children’s and middle grade books of 2026.

Book Riot released their most anticipated YA books of 2026.

Book Riot most anticipated queer books of 2026, including middle grade graphic novel, Opting Out, from the author of Gender Queer and Heartstopper 6 by Alice Oseman.

People exclusively revealed the cover of ‘Good Mythical Morning’ hosts Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal’s first children’s book, Spaghetti Head & Chicken Fingers.

NYT looks at the history of photographic picture books

"A Fuse 8 Production" posted their 2026 Sibert Award predictions.

"100 Scope Notes" makes their 2026 Caldecott Medal Predictions.

"100 Scope Notes" looks at ALA’s 2026 READ posters.

"Teen Librarian Toolbox" Take 5 features January 2026 YA and middle grade graphic novels including new release this week Gumshoe by Brenna Thummler (HarperCollins).

Book Riot suggests these warm and cozy picture books for winter reads.

"A Fuse 8 Production" put out their annotated Spring/Summer 2026 preview of books from small publishers. 

Authors on Air

NYT shares the most anticipated TV and movie adaptations, including YA novel Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli (Putnam).

Elle Fanning talks about her role in the upcoming adaption of Sunrise on the Reaping exclusively with People.

People has 18 book-to-screen adaptations to watch, including YA novels Finding Her Edge (Putnam) and Sunrise on the Reaping (Scholastic).