Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances.

January 16th: Appreciate a Dragon Day!

The Dragon Ark by Curatoria Draconis
All available formats

Join the Dragon Protector on her quest to find the rarest dragon in the world in The Dragon Ark–featuring illustrations by Tomislav Tomic. With dragon numbers in rapid decline, time is running out to ensure the survival of the species. Curatoria Draconis, also known as the Dragon Protector, is on a mission to find the rarest dragon on Earth: the Chinese Celestial Dragon. Aboard the Dragon Ark, you'll travel all over the globe and see some of the most incredible dragons–care for Deep-Sea Dragons off the coast of New Zealand, journey into the Amazon Rainforest to spot plant-loving Parvula Dragons, and trek alongside the Ice Dragons in Antarctica. Journey around the world to seek out secretive and magnificent beasts, to observe and protect them in their natural habitat.

Dragons by Erin Peabody
All available formats

Are giant, fire-breathing dragons real, or just a myth? You decide with this new book in the nonfiction series, Behind the Legend!

Behind the Legend looks at creatures and monsters throughout history and analyzes them through a scientific, myth-busting lens, debating whether or not the sightings and evidence provided are adequate proof of their existence. In Dragons, readers learn about all the sightings and “proof” of them, from stories in history of dragons that terrorized towns, the people who fought them such as St. George and King Arthur, and stories from other cultures, including China, Japan, and Mexico. This book also discusses additional history about the monster, such as how dragons became major figures in popular culture, “modern” dragons, and theories behind their conception in our cultural history. Complete with engaging anecdotes, interesting sidebars, and fantastic illustrations, kids won't want to put this book down!

Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro
All available formats

With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure — the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages. In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it's up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what's wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it's too late?

January 24: National Compliment Day!

You Deserve Everything! by Steph Stilwell
All available formats here

Kids will love this delicious board book, shaped like a bagel, in which parents can affirm their children through their favorite bagel orders! This is the perfect board book to get your child bready to dream big, and that they always are bacon things better!

What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio
All available formats

Being kind means…

Smiling at the new student in class.

Giving someone a compliment.

Celebrating the differences in others.

When the girl in the red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class, her kindness spreads. Kind act by kind act, her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands-and acts on-what it means to be kind. What Does it Mean to Be Kind? is a teacher must-have for the classroom, and for parents in search of kindness and feelings books for children.

You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood by Aimee Reid
All available formats

A heartwarming picture book that celebrates the work of Mister Rogers and carries on his legacy of kindness Mister Rogers is one of the most beloved television personalities, but before he was the man who brought us Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, he was just little Freddie Rogers. Though he was often sick and had trouble making friends as a child, his mom and grandfather encouraged him to ask for help and explore the world. With their support, he learned how to better say what he was feeling and see the beauty around him. As he grew up, he realized he could spread the message of compassion, equality, and kindness through television. You Are My Friend is a gentle homage to Fred Rogers and shows how his simple message still resonates with us today: “There's no person in the world like you and I like you just the way you are.”

January 31st: National Hot Chocolate Day!

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer
All available formats

Most people think summer is the warmest season. This story, however, is brimming with evidence to the contrary–from roaring fires to grilled cheese sandwiches to toasty flannel pajamas. A unique twist on the traditional wintertime picture book, the beautiful visual narrative follows a boy and his family through a day of hot breakfasts, steaming afternoon cocoa, and a festive candlelit party before bed. With its inviting scenes, poetic text,and gorgeous illustrations, Winter Is the Warmest Season celebrates all the wonderful things that make winter the coziest time of the year.

A Thousand White Butterflies by Jessica Betancourt-Perez
All available formats

As if being new to the United States wasn't hard enough, Isabella's first day of school is canceled due to snow!

Isabella has recently arrived from Colombia with her mother and abuela. She misses Papa, who is still in South America. It's her first day of school, her make-new-friends day, but when classes are canceled because of too much snow, Isabella misses warm, green Colombia more than ever. Then Isabella meets Katie and finds out that making friends in the cold is easier than she thought!

The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate by Stephen Krensky
All available formats

Warm up with the enticing history of hot chocolate in this fact-tastic nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series about the history of fun stuff! Did you know that for thousands of years, chocolate was a beverage and not a solid candy? Or that soldiers in the Revolutionary War received a monthly ration of chocolate for drinking? Learn all about the history of America's favorite wintertime treat in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 Ready-to-Read!

A special section at the back of the book includes relevant info on subjects like social studies and science, and there's even a fun quiz so you can test yourself to see what you've learned!

January is…

International Creativity Month! 

A Little Spot of Creativity: A Book of Ideas by Diane Alber
All available formats

This is a story about how to be CREATIVE and “think outside of the box”.

Be a Maker by Katey Howes
All available formats

How many things can you make in a day? A tower, a friend, a change? Rhyme, repetition, and a few seemingly straightforward questions engage young readers in a discussion about the many things we make–and the ways we can make a difference in the world. This simple, layered story celebrates creativity through beautiful rhyming verse and vibrant illustrations with a timely message.

Art in Action: Make a Statement, Change Your World by Matthew Chavez
All available formats

In this DIY guide, Chavez shows young readers how to create their very own art projects with a purpose. Young artists will be inspired to share their own perspectives and make a difference in their own worlds-from their homes to schools to neighborhoods and the whole broader world.

National Skating Month!

A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet by Kurt Browning
All available formats

Four-time World Champion and professional figure skater Kurt Browning replaces his boots and blades with pen and paper in A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet. From holding an edge to laces and hooks, Kurt glides and dances through the alphabet explaining the history, techniques, and memorable moments of the sport. Spirited illustrator Melanie Rose captures the excitement visually with her colorful, playful illustrations.

After-School Sports Club: Let's Go Skating! by Alyson Heller
All available formats

The kids in the After-School Sports Club are going on a field trip to the local rink. Everyone is excited to learn how to skate — except Alyssa, who is not sure she is ready to give it a try. Can the rest of the kids show her how much fun skating can be?

The Great Shelby Holmes and the Coldest Case by Elizabeth Eulberg
All available formats

Being friends with a super sleuth isn't easy, especially when she's nine years old, four feet tall, and full of attitude. But for eleven-year-old John Watson, being friends with Shelby Holmes is just the adventure he's looking for. After Watson's online journal chronicling his and Shelby's case-closing abilities attracts the attention of a newspaper reporter, the pair becomes a small “media sensation” in their Harlem neighborhood. So it's no surprise (at least, to Shelby!) when the article lands them a new client–a figure skating coach whose star athlete, Jordan Nelson, is receiving strange, threatening messages, written entirely in code. There's no one better to crack the cipher than dynamic duo Shelby and Watson! But to gather information, Shelby decides that they'll have to go undercover . . . as an award-winning pair skating team. Can they use the laws of physics and their acting skills to maintain their covers and figure out who's sending Jordan such strange messages before it's too late?

National Hot Tea Month!

Chaiwala! by Priti Birla Maheshwari
All available formats

A sensory celebration of family, food, and culture

When their train makes a 10-minute stop at the station in Jaipur, a young girl and her mother hurry to get in line for a cup of chai. While the girl waits for her mug of milky spiced tea, readers are treated to the sights, sounds, and smells of the Chaiwala's cart. The aroma of ginger, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon sticks swirls in the air. Tea leaves rustle, milk bubbles, and the hot drink is poured back and forth until–clink!–the cups are filled and placed on the stand. With a biscuit and a rusk added to their order, it's time to find a spot to sit and enjoy! Inspired by the author's childhood visits to India, Chaiwala! celebrates the pleasures of taking time for food, family, and tradition–even for a brief moment. Illustrated in lively cut-paper collages and filled with scrumptious sensory details, this book is just like a cup of chai–warm, comforting, and good to the last drop.

Madeline's Tea Party by John Bemelmans Marciano
All available formats

When Madeline hosts a tea party for her friends, naughty Pepito arrives late, behaves badly, and is sent away before the cake arrives.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill
All available formats

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, the beloved and charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives–and eventually her own.

You can also check out last year’s January Is… blog post here!