The emergence of new forms of foreign language textbooks has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges to foreign language teaching, and has also set higher demands for cultivation of critical thinking. The study reviews the diachronic evolution of foreign language textbooks and the development, concepts, and characteristics of new forms of textbooks, and it finds that new forms of textbooks can promote the collaborative development of cognitive skills and affective dispositions within critical thinking in three aspects: learning resources, intelligent environments and teaching models. In response to the shortcomings of traditional English textbooks in cultivating critical thinking, the study proposes that new textbooks should clarify educational goals and focus on value guidance. Teachers need to change their concepts of teaching and improve their digital teaching capabilities, and encourage problem-oriented learning, project-based learning and cooperative group learning so as to improve students’ critical thinking.