The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Animals

Today We’ll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro

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Today We'll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro
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Today We’ll Be Eaten is NOT as scary as it sounds! Two best friends, Ladybug and Dragonfly, get into an unfortunate accident and decide this is the end of the road. However, they end up making unlikely friends and learn that the journey is wayyyy more important than the designation!!

Today We’ll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro, (List Price: $19.99, Rocky Pond Books, 9798217004362, June 2026)

Reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner

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Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner
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A fun retelling of Cinderella featuring a very empowered Axolotl. What’s not to love? Perfect for the rebel little princess in your life. The book is also filled with interesting facts about these magnificent amphibians!

Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner, (List Price: $18.99, Ten Speed Young Readers, 9780593837993, June 2026)

Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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Miles Ahead by Minh Lê

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Miles Ahead by Minh Lê
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This book is so adorable. First, seeing Miles pack for his road trip was absolutely adorable, especially when he packs books instead of clothes… I feel seen! The story is just so sweet and sends a great message when it comes to giving. Highly recommended, especially for baby showers.

Miles Ahead by Minh Lê, (List Price: $18.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593569207, April 2026)

Reviewed by Erika Patoni, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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A Pack of Your Own by Maria Nilsson Thore

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A Pack of Your Own by Maria Nilsson Thore
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This heartfelt story made for kids can easily deeply resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place or alone. It beautifully captures the longing to find a friend, especially when you don’t quite fit into the spaces around you. It’s sweet, comforting, and visually delightful.

A Pack of Your Own by Maria Nilsson Thore, (List Price: $10.99, Pushkin Children’s Books, 9781782695325, March 2026)

Reviewed by Jess, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Wildspeak by Sangma Francis

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Wildspeak by Sangma Francis
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Cora and Ada are excited to embark on a wonderful expedition of the nature surrounding them and make up playful words to describe their amazing experiences. Now it’s up to you, the reader, to see what amazing words you can create!

Wildspeak by Sangma Francis, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 9781464261299, April 2026)

Reviewed by Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA

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The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.)

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The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.)
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I was a few pages into this story, and I knew I would have ended up crying. What a beautiful story based on a real house in Cape Cod that stood in the sand dunes for half a century, then was taken away by a storm. I will keep on dreaming that the little mouse landed on a safe place and was able to still enjoy the house, and they had a lot of fun adventures. A tale of the power of Mother Nature and how fleeting possessions are.

The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.), (List Price: $18.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593407776, May 2026)

Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate

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Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
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Absolute perfection. I am a sucker for a novel in verse, and Katherine Applegate is a master of the genre. She packs so much action, empathy, and emotional depth into those short passages. I’m in awe. And – I’M IN LOVE WITH WOMBAT. This charming story about a stray dog, a displaced boy, a small owl, and a lonely bat is one that will absolutely win you over. It will be a great ‘bridge’ book for kids moving out of early chapter books into more robust novels.

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, (List Price: $19.99, Storytide, 9780063221178, May 2026)

Reviewed by Kate, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky

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Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess

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Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess
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Serafina does NOT like water. She doesn’t like running faucets, bathtubs, or the sea. When the powers that be decide she must take swimming lessons, she refuses to enter the pool. But when a friend is in danger, she leaps into action and, to her shock, finds she actually loves the water. This is a sweet book about looking beyond yourself and helping others.

Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess, (List Price: $18.99, Dial Books, 9780593699638, March 2026)

Reviewed by Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN

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Selma–The Story of a Stellar Spider by Tini Malina

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Selma–The Story of a Stellar Spider by Tini Malina
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I LOVED this book! This book is a perfect reminder that you can do anything you put your mind to! Even being the first spider to make a web in outer space!

Selma–The Story of a Stellar Spider by Tini Malina, (List Price: $19.95, NorthSouth Books, 9780735846067, March 2026)

Reviewed by Sarah, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga

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The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga
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A delightful tale of rescue dog Finnegan and cheetah cub Chase. Finnegan’s new family includes zookeeper Basma. When she needs a friend for the cheetah cub she’s training, Finnegan accompanies her to the zoo, finding friendship in an unlikely place. This is a story of soaring hope and kindness.

The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga, (List Price: $18.99, Balzer + Bray, 9781250387189, March 2026)

Reviewed by Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illus.)

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And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illus.)
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So glad to see a new edition of this classic at such an important time for diverse stories to be told widely.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illus.), (List Price: $19.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9780689878459, June 2005)

Reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina

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Ruthie by Esmé Shapiro

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Ruthie by Esmé Shapiro
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Calling all royal dreamers, explorers, and butterberry pancake lovers! This whimsically illustrated picture book tells a charming tale of friendship and the cozy joys of home. Prince Ruthie leaves their beloved queen behind to explore the kingdom beyond their castle. As journeying into the unknown is not without its dangers, Ruthie soon finds themselves missing the comforts of home and mostly, their loving queen. Ruthie may just have to rely on the help of their loyal subjects (or newfound friends?) to once again return home to their queen. The gentle humor and warmth of the story shine through the softness of Shapiro’s illustrations. Share this delightful story with your favorite friend over a slice of three-year-old cake.

Ruthie by Esmé Shapiro, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9781774885659, March 2026)

Reviewed by Laura, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams

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Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams
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Everything Alicia D. Williams does is gorgeous, and this picture book is no exception. The illustrations are phenomenal, and the message of a young girl’s strength and the power of music and community is exceptional. Loved it!

Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665914222, February 2026)

Reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina

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Bartleby by Matt Phelan

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Bartleby by Matt Phelan
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I love this story. Bartleby marches to his own drum, and his class gives him room to be himself and welcomes him on his own terms when he is ready to show warmth to them in his own way. Compelling and told through conversation, storytelling, and through the color scheme of the pictures to convey feelings, this book is a winner!

Bartleby by Matt Phelan, (List Price: $18.99, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374393557, March 2026)

Reviewed by Kimberly, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall

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If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall
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This book is a celebration of creativity when the narrator imagines what life would be like as a dog. It’s a delightful romp as well as a display of acceptance of other ideas.

If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316581721, September 2025)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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