January Children’s Books that Spark Magic, Connection & Wonder

January always has a magically slow start. Time feels suspended and the simple joys become brighter as we look to the year ahead while reflecting on the year passed.

The days feel full of cozy glimmers: sipping hot coffee while we sit down for morning circle, chopping bright and earthy vegetables for dinner, and pancake breakfasts on repeat.

Short yet heartwarming adventures through snow-covered landscapes or windy trips to the beach are welcomed home with our favorite cozy blanket, a cup of hot tea with a touch of honey, and our favorite book stack.

For reference, my child is 4 at the time of this writing.

Adventures in Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

Each year for my children’s birthday I gift them special books and write a sweet message in the front. My daughter has loved reading since she was tiny and I knew for her 4th birthday I wanted to gift her something extra special. This set has been a magical introduction to longer stories and series. The tales are heartfelt and relatable, yet adventurous and wonder-filled. The illustrations are full of rich details, you see something new each time you read them. This set will be treasured for years to come!

When the Snow Falls by Linda Booth Sweeney

We loved the short rhymes of this poem and the snowy adventures the two girl’s take with their grandma. My girls love pointing out the activities we do in the winter and one’s they are curious about. It’s a beautifully illustrated seasonal book.

Cozy by Jan Brett

Jan Brett’s illustrations are some of my earliest memories of falling in love with art and design. It has been a joy to share her stories with my girls. This new-to-me story was a fun read in Jan Brett’s traditional storytelling structure while taking us to a dreamy winter wonderland with new creatures and landscapes.

The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions by Anna Llenas

I cannot recommend this book enough! Teaching emotions to our littles and navigating our own as parents can be tough. The Color Monster uses approachable colorful images to capture the reader and places each emotion in a separate jar. This is a book my daughter has asked for again and again! When it is difficult for my daughter to express her feelings, she can reference this book to create a building block for conversation.

In The Red Canoe by Leslie A. Davidson

Growing up, I spent summers at my grandparent’s cabin on the lake. This beautifully illustrated story of a granddaughter and grandfather touched my heart and created space to dream of memory-making with my girls. We read a lot of seasonal books, and we all loved this story to look forward to warm summer adventures.

If I had a Little Dream by Nina Laden

This book touches and connects the beauty of every day. Bringing wonder and gratitude into a child’s eyes with a whimsical illustration style.

If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff

This year, my daughter’s birthday theme was built off of the, If You Give… Book series. I found the missing books in her collection from an online used bookstore and used them for decoration and a special morning surprise. We loved discovering each character more and bringing these beloved characters into her celebration.

Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean E. Pendziwol

I adore this book. This is a lovely story taking you through a winter landscape and dream. It is a book that capture’s a parent’s love for a child, unique illustration, and wonder of the season.

We read stacks of books each day and I truly treasure these moments to snuggle, connect, get lost in the wonder of literature, and create lasting memories. I hope these suggestions bring wonder and magic to you and your child as well!

Our Favorite Shops for Books

You can’t beat the library, but there are always books that we hold dear to our hearts and want to add to our collection.

For used books, I absolutely love shopping at Abe Books online. They have a wonderful selection, great prices, and even sell rare books. I love browsing through their treasures. Until it’s easier to get back into a used book store again - it’s one of my favorite places!

XO, Alena