The New Orleans Public Library has books for all ages about embracing a new year while being true to yourself, taking care of others, and exploring new ways to bring your hobbies to the next level to help your family make 2026 the best year yet.
Children
Introduce your little one to the practice of breathwork meditation in Peaceful Mind: A Meditation by the Dalai Lama. Through colorful illustrations and simple language, young children will discover breathwork and how to bring calm to their lives as they start a journey of peace and positivity.
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) by Taraji P. Henson & Paul Kellam follows a unique little girl who learns to use her grandma’s advice about kindness to turn a bully into a friend. This colorful book encourages kids to embrace their uniqueness and includes resources for parents dealing with bullying.
Daniela Sosa’s Growing Green: A First Book of Gardening is a great way for your family to jumpstart a healthy new year. Readers will dig into a fun and stylish collection of 16 step-by-step edible gardening projects for young children. From strawberries in galoshes to herbs in recycled tin cans, this easy-to-follow gardening book contains simple and delicious projects for budding young gardeners.
Middle Grade
Volunteering: Donating Your Time for Important Causes by M. M. Eboch outlines the many ways kids can help make the world a better place. With ideas ranging from starting a little free library in their community, making care bags for kids dealing with stressful situations, and volunteering at your local animal shelter, this book is sure to inspire kids to roll up their sleeves and get involved.
The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me is a collection of fresh, accessible poems about mindfulness and related themes from award-winning poet Allan Wolf. Woven throughout are subtle how-tos on meditation, breathwork, visualization, yoga, journaling, and more.
With a touch of magic, graphic novel How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico explores loneliness, mental health, and empathy. The book follows Adara as she struggles with the loss of her mother. When a sympathetic ear arises in an unlikely place, Adara can finally find her words—but can she find the time to listen?
Teens
If you get anxious meeting new people, speaking up in class, or making small talk, you’re not alone. Social Skills for Teens with Anxiety: Make Friends and Do Stuff Without Feeling Weird by Emily Davenport is here to help you understand how anxiety works, and how to let it take a backseat so you can approach social activities with confidence, compassion, and curiosity.
Being a teenager is hard. Add in hormones, breakouts, and dubious TikTok “hacks,” and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In Teen Skincare: The Ultimate No Nonsense Guide, world-renowned skincare expert Caroline Hirons cuts through the noise to deliver the straight-talking, no-nonsense guide every teen—and their parents—have been waiting for.