Happy new year!

2026 is National Year of Reading, and if you’d like to diversify your (and your children’s) reading and explore books from around the world … we’ve got you covered!

At World Kid Lit, we’re here to connect you with the best of contemporary world literature for young people. To kickstart your year of global reading, here’s our list of this year’s translations into English: fiction and non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels, for ages 0 to 18. So far it covers books from 23 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, El Salvador, Finland, France, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Netherlands, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and USA.

This list will be growing in coming weeks so subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media to get updates, reviews and creator interviews! If you know of any titles we’re missing, please send us the details via this Google form. Thank you!

Board books

Josephine by Chloé Alméras, translated from French (France) by Daniel Hahn. Gecko Press

I am here by Hyo-eun Kim, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Aerin Park. Scribble

The Little Red Barn by Kim Crumrine, translated from Italian (Italy) by Antony Shugaar. Gecko Press

Picture books – stories

And Then We Saw the Bag by Emma Adbåge, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by Melissa Bowers. Arctis

Arthur’s Cat by Johan Leynaud, translated from French (France) by Sarah Ardizzone. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Aya Has Never Seen a Bear by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, illustrated by Jiu’er, translated from Chinese (China) by Paul Qiao & Helen Mixter. Aldana Libros

Boozhoo! / Hello! by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere Groundwood Books Bilingual English/Anishinaabemowin Canada

The Bug Hotel by Manu Montaya, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Tim Smith-Laing. Pushkin Children’s Books

Bum Fish written by Pauline Pinson, illustrated by Magali Le Huche, translated from French (France) by Sofia and Tim Smith-Laing. Pushkin Children’s Books

Button Up, Buttercup! written by Ted Forsstrom, illustrated by Asa Lucander, translated from Swedish (Finland) by A.A. Prime. Spinning Wheel Stories

The Children of the Sun: An Inca Legend written by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Juan Palomino, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Lawrence Schimel. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Click! Snap! Picture That! written by Dieter Böge, illustrated by Benjamin Gottwald, translated from German (Switzerland) by David Henry Wilson. NorthSouth Books

The Clock Spa by Jung-min Kwon, translated from Korean (South Korea) Jamie Chang. Yonder

Come Out and Play! by Nina Wehrle, translated from German (Switzerland) by Alisha Niehaus Berger. NorthSouth Books

The Cricket in the Violin by Anna Haifisch, translated from German (Germany) by David Colmer. Do Re Mi Books

Davy: A Garden for Everyone by Brigitte Weninger, translated from German (Switzerland) by Eve Tharlet. NorthSouth Books

Dive written by Volnei Canônica, illustrated by Mariana Massarani, translated from Portuguese (Brazil) by Bruna Dantas Lobato. Tapioca Stories

Endless Afternoons written by Gaël Faye, illustrated by Hippolyte Petitjean, translated from French (France) by Irene Vázquez. Levine Querido. Author is Rwandan-French and grew up in Burundi.

Everything is Music by Miran Park, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Paige Aniyah Morris. Blue Dot Kids Press

Fancy Dogs by Tini Malina, translated from German (Switzerland) by Tammi Reichel. NorthSouth Books

The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger, translated from German (Switzerland) by Tammi Reichel. NorthSouth Books

The Fluffy Futon by Yuichi Kasano, translated from Japanese (Japan) by Cathy Hirano Gecko Press

The Green Otter by Eduardo Halfon, illustrated by María José de Tellería. Available in both Spanish (Guatemala) and English editions from Tapioca Stories. English translator not named.

The House Alberto Martín (NiñoCactus) Celia Sacido, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Jon Brokenbrow. Cuento de Luz

Kiki and Me by Leo Timmers, translated from Dutch (Netherlands) by David Colmer. Gecko

The Mole Construction Company: The Squirrel Family’s Treehouse by Shingo Nagasaki, translated from Japanese (Japan) by Lisa Wilcut. Do Re Mi Books

Little Monk Writes Rain by Hsu-Kung Liu, translated from Chinese (Taiwan) by Rachel Wang Yung-Hsin. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

The Most Wonderful Book in the World by Mireia Olivé Obradors, illustrated by Anastasia Wessex, translated from Catalan and Spanish (Spain) by Angus Yuen-Killick. Red Comet Press

The Most Wonderful Gift in the World written by Mireia Olivé Obradors, illustrated by Olivé Obradors, translated from Catalan and Spanish (Spain) by Angus Yuen-Killick. Red Comet Press

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister by Marcus Pfister, translated from German (Switzerland) by David Henry Wilson. NorthSouth

No Fish In My Dish! written by Ted Forsstrom, illustrated by Asa Lucander, translated from Swedish (Finland) by A.A. Prime. Spinning Wheel Stories

No, No, No by Noemi Vola, translated from Italian (Italy) by Debbie Bibo. Tra Publishing

Odds and Ends by Maija Hurme, translated from Finnish (Finland) by Mia Spangenberg. Enchanted Lion Books

The Octopus by Guojing. Wordless. Amazon Crossing Kids/Two Lions

One Person written by Wee Hae-June, illustrated by Yael Frankel, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Paige Aniyah Morris. Blue Dot Kids Press

The Path of Life written by Cristina Expósito Escalona Luz Marina Baltasar, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Jon Brokenbrow. Cuento de Luz

Red Snake Blue Snake by Olivier Tallec, translated from French (France) by Antony Shugaar. Gecko Press

Same Time, Next Week? by Marlene Droop, translated from German (Switzerland) by Alisha Niehaus Berger. NorthSouth Books

Selma–The Story of a Stellar Spider by Tini Malina, translated from German (Switzerland) by Tammi Reichel. NorthSouth

Shushuya: My Special Dragon Friend written by Bassam Altaji, illustrated by Charlotte Shama, translated from Arabic (Jordan) by Elisabeth Jaquette. Crocodile Books/Interlink

Stop the Ball! by Susanne Strasser, translated from German (Germany) by Melody Shaw. Gecko Press

Supergrannies written by José Carlos Román, illustrated by Mónica Carretero, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Jon Brokenbrow. Cuento de Luz

There’s a Crocodile on This Train! by Amit Trainin, translated from Hebrew (Israel) by Ilana Kurshan. Kalaniot Books

Time to Split written by Daniel Fehr, illustrated by Raphael Kölly, translated from German (Switzerland) by Marshall Yarbrough. NorthSouth

Tomorrow, I’m in Charge! Jörg Mühle, translated from German (Germany) by Melody Shaw. Gecko Press

A Trophy for the Jackal by Jule Wellerdiek, translated from German (Switzerland) by Elisabeth Lauffer. NorthSouth Books

Vampire Girl Conquers the Night written by Betina González, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, translated from Spanish (Argentina) by Antonio Gonzalez Cerna. Levine Querido

The Visit written by Núria Figueras, illustrated by Anna Font, translated from Catalan (Spain) by Lawrence Schimel. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

The Vole Who Looked at the Moon written by Mila Teras, illustrated by Nora Surojegin, translated from Finnish (Finland) by Lola Rogers. Spinning Wheel Stories

The Weather Shop by Thomas Lee, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Deborah Smith. Do Re Mi Books

Welcome, Little Squirrel written by Daniel Cañas, illustrated by Verónica Aranda, translated from Spanish (Spain) by Jon Brokenbrow. Cuento de Luz

A Whale of a Dream by Maïlys Cart-Lamy, translated from French (France) by Ann Marie Boulanger. Orca Book Publishers

What a Small Cat Needs by Natalia Shaloshvili, translated from Russian (Russia) by Lena Traer. Enchanted Lion Books

Poetry

My First Words in Nahuat‌ – poems by Jorge Argueta, illustrated by El Aleph Sánchez, translated by Juan Valentín, Ramírez García and Elizabeth Bell. Groundwood Books, Canada. This is a trilingual book in Nahuat, Spanish and English about life in El Salvador

Poems for Every Season: A Year of Haiku, Sonnets, and More written by Bette Westera, illustrated by Henriette Boerendans, translated from Dutch (Netherlands) by David Colmer. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Time for Haiku: Four Seasons of Poems written by Josep Santaeulàlia, illustrated by Luciano Lozano, translated from Catalan (Spain) by Lawrence Schimel. Red Comet Press

Illustrated non-fiction

Banana Express: the big journey behind one small delivery by Jinho Jung, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Aerin Park. Scribble

Borders: Understanding the Lines that Unite and Separate Us written by Karim Ressouni-Demigneux, illustrated by Karine Maincent, translated from French (France) by Johanna McCalmont. Blue Dot Kids Press

Communication written by Eduard Altarriba and Meli, illustrated by Eduard Altarriba, translated from Catalan (Spain) by Andrew McDougall. Button Books

Down in the Blue Ocean written by Gianumberto Accinelli, illustrated by Giulia Zaffaroni, translated from Italian (Italy) by Nanette McGuinness. Orca Book Publishers

Earth written by Anna Skowrońska, illustrated by Agata Dudek, translated from Polish (Poland) by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Boxer Books

Fabulous Creatures: Legendary Animals from Around the World written by Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Ruby Warnecke, translated from German (Switzerland) by Ana Schmitt Funke. NorthSouth Books

Fire written by Anna Skowrońska, illustrated by Agata Dudek, translated from Polish (Poland) by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Boxer Books

The Mystery of Death: What We Know and Don’t Know written by Soledad Romero Mariño, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa, translated from Catalan (Spain) by Lawrence Schimel

The Superpowers of Insects written by Soledad Romero, illustrated by Sonia Pulido, translated from Catalan (Spain) by Andrew McDougall. Prestel Children’s Books

Who Hid the Stars? How Light Pollution Changes Our World written by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno, illustrated by Valentina Gottardi, translated from Italian (Italy) by Sylvia Notini. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Chapter books

The Boy, The Father and The Bear by Per Gustavsson, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by Eva Apelqvist. Greystone Books

Edith: The Girl Who Was 100 Years Old by Catharina Valckx, translated from French (France) by Antony Shugaar. Gecko Press

Frank the Monster by Mats Strandberg, illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by Julia Marshall. Gecko Press

The Magic Coin written by Daan Remmerts de Vries, illustrated by Marije Tolman, translated from Dutch (Netherlands) by Nancy Forest-Flier. Levine Querido

The Monster and the Clown by Mats Strandberg, illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by Julia Marshall. Gecko Press

The Monster and the Library by Mats Strandberg, illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by Julia Marshall. Gecko Press

A Party for Mousse by Claire Lebourg, translated from French (France) by Sophie Lewis. Transit Children’s Editions

Middle grade graphic novels

Captain Danger and The Time Ghost by Victor Engbers, translated from Dutch (Netherlands) by David Colmer. Pushkin Children’s Books

Elfie’s Spellbook (Books 1 and 2 compiled) by Audrey Alwett and Christophe Arleston, illustrated by Mini Ludvin, translated from French (France) by Anam Zafar. Penguin Random House Children’s

Elfie’s Spellbook (Book 3) by Audrey Alwett and Christophe Arleston, illustrated by Mini Ludvin, translated from French (France) by Anam Zafar. Penguin Random House Children’s

The Giants, Book 3: Bora, Leap, and Kyma written by Lylian, illustrated by Paul Drouin, translated from French (France) by Montana Kane. Graphic Universe

The Giants, Book 4: Celestin and Tyrl written by Lylian, illustrated by Paul Drouin, translated from French (France) by Montana Kane. Graphic Universe

Magda, Intergalactic Chef, Book 3: Beyond the Tournament, written by Nicolas Wouters, illustrated by Mathilde Van Gheluwe, translated from French (France) by Ann Marie Boulanger. Graphic Universe

Mishka by Edward van de Vendel and Anoush Elman, illustrated by Annet Schaap, translated from Dutch (Netherlands) by Nancy Forest-Flier. Levine Querido. Partially set in Afghanistan

Mystery Science Detectives, Book 4: The Case of the Carnival Monster written by Chi-hyeon Ahn, illustrated by Gyung-hyo Kang, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Gloria Ohe. Graphic Universe

Mystery Science Detectives, Book 5: The Case of the River Dragon written by Chi-hyeon Ahn, illustrated by Gyung-hyo Kang, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Gloria Ohe. Graphic Universe

Whose Poo Is This? Book 4: The Secret of Poo Mountain written by Park Song-eui, illustrated by Kim Duck-Young, translated from Korean (South Korea) by Gloria Ohe. Graphic Universe

The Wolf in Underpants Moves On written byWilfrid Lupano, illustrated by Mayana Itoïz, translated from French (France) by Nicolle Tulien. Graphic Universe

Middle grade fiction

Beneath the Mists (Whispering Sea Mysteries Book 2) by Camilla Sten and Viveca Sten, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by A. A. Prime. Amazon Crossing Kids

The Courage to Be Yourself written by Fumitake Koga, illustrated by Narano, translated from Japanese (Japan) by Cat Anderson. Atlantic Books (Allen & Unwin)

Detective Nosegoode Investigates by Marian Orlon, illustrated by Jerzy Flisak, translated from Polish (Poland) by Eliza Marciniak. Pushkin Children’s Books

Do Not Go Out At Night written by François Gravel and Martine Latulippe, translated from French (Canada) by David Warriner. Orca Book Publishers

The Lady of Shadows (Moonwind Mysteries Book 4) by Johan Rundberg, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by A. A. Prime. Amazon Crossing Kids

My Life, The Total Disaster: A Novel by Matt by Francesco Muzzopappa, translated from Italian (Italy) by Jamie Richards. Amazon Crossing Kids

Monsters written by Stéphane Servant, illustrated by Nicolas Zouliamis, translated from French (France) by Sarah Ardizzone. Pushkin Children’s Books

The Ones Who Remain by Johan Rundberg, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by A. A. Prime. Amazon Crossing Kids

Planting Sunshine by Andrée Poulin, illustrated by Enzo, translated from French (Canada) by Andrée Poulin. Groundwood Books

The Secrets Below (The Whispering Sea Mysteries Book 1) by Camilla Sten and Viveca Sten, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by A. A. Prime. Amazon Crossing Kids

Middle grade non-fiction

Jewish Changemakers: Stories of Courage, Creativity and Impact written by Karen Brygger and Anneli Rådestad, illustrated by Joanna Rubin Dranger, translated from Swedish (Sweden) by B.J. Woodstein. Orca Book Publishers

YA Graphic Novels

Hmong: A Graphic History by Vicky Lyfoung, translated from French (France) by Kao-Ly Yang. Graphic Universe

Papa Drew a Thousand Birds: A Memoir written by Maren Amini and Ahmadjan Amini, translated from German (Germany) by Marianne Martens. Levine Querido. Set in Afghanistan

YA Fiction

Asad’s Secret by Najlaa Attaallah, translated from Arabic (Palestine) by Sawad Hussain. Levine Querido

The Necklace of Seven Souls by Hooda Shawa, translated from Arabic (Palestine) by Nour Jaljuli and Sawad Hussain. Restless Books

YA Non-fiction

Janusz Korczak: No to Denying the Rights of Children by Isabelle Collombat, translated from French (France) by Rosie Eyre and Sarah Ardizzone. Seven Stories/Triangle Square

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