The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Childrens

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

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Cat Nap by Brian Lies
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Cat Nap is probably the most artistically creative book I have ever seen! Lies did a spectacular job at balancing their respect for the original art and the fun storytelling of Kitten. The amount of effort and dedication that went into recreating these pieces was massive, and adding Kitten while staying true to the original? That’s talent.

Cat Nap by Brian Lies, (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780062671288,September 2025)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden by Jenan Matari

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Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden by Jenan Matari
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This beautiful picture book, inspired by the true story of the author’s grandfather being expelled from Palestine during the Nakba, is a true honoring of Palestinian culture and a celebration of love, belonging, and connection to the land. The gorgeous illustrations and story about discovering who you are through the land made me cry into my coffee. A truly wonderful book that belongs on every child’s shelf!

Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden by Jenan Matari, (List Price: $19.95, Crocodile Books, 9781623716110, September 2025)

Reviewed by Candice Huber, Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Book Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana

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This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott

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This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott
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Choosing a Halloween Costume is a big deal, especially to the little ones. Sometimes this is the biggest decision of their young lives. I loved learning about the why’s. Sparks creativity and decision-making skills.

This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665956024, July 2025)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Ollie In Between by Jess Callans

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Ollie In Between by Jess Callans
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I LOVE this book. I crawled into the head of my younger self and thoroughly enjoyed this take on a young girl named Ollie who isn’t into fashion or boys. She is growing into herself and feels alone in her insecurities (oh, to be a friend to a kid this age and have them listen). This is funny, relatable, and very timely.

Ollie In Between by Jess Callans, (List Price: $17.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250331342, April 2025)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home by Adam Gustavson

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The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home by Adam Gustavson
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There’s something so fun about playing with your friends, I wouldn’t want to go home either! These silly aliens do such a good job at illustrating a kid’s big feelings about going home. So if you have a squirmy, crabby, playtime-loving alien, try reading this book with them.

The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home by Adam Gustavson, (List Price: $17.99, Charlesbridge, 9781623544942, June 2025)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Sato the Rabbit, Morning Light by Yuki Ainoya

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Sato the Rabbit, Morning Light by Yuki Ainoya
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The Sato the Rabbit books are pure dreamy playful magic. Through gorgeous vivid spreads, this book makes me want to wake up early, live in a lighthouse, drink sparkles, and let my imagination dance.

Sato the Rabbit, Morning Light by Yuki Ainoya, (List Price: $17.95, Enchanted Lion, 9781592704392, May 2025)

Reviewed by Julie Jarema, Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina

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Sunday by Marcelo Tolentino

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Sunday by Marcelo Tolentino
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A beautiful story about a child’s imagination. I loved the illustrations and the way this story felt like a classic from my childhood. The subtle attention to generational family members is of of my favorite reminders for young readers.

Sunday by Marcelo Tolentino, (List Price: $18.95, Blue Dot Kids Press, 9798989858811, January 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Your Forest by Jon Klassen

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Your Forest by Jon Klassen
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Everything Jon Klassen writes has me hypnotized (not to mention my 4-year-old). This one has even more eyes in it than usual!

Your Forest by Jon Klassen, (List Price: $8.99, Candlewick, 9781536230833, February 2025)

Reviewed by Doron Klemer, Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

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A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan

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A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan
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An exceptional book for middle grade readers who enjoy games, puzzles, and tournaments! A Game of Noctis follows twelve-year-old Pia Paro through a society where your worth is determined by your player score. As Pia hunts for a way to bring her grandfather back from the Pawn Isles, she gains a greater insight into the ethical dilemmas of her nation’s class-based structure. Fagan does an incredible job at discussing pertinent social issues such as classism, law enforcement, and unionization in a manner that is easily digestible for younger readers. The lucid prose, complex world-building, and well-developed characters make A Game of Noctis a great choice for fans of The Hunger Games who want a recommendation for a similarly passionate reading experience.

A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan, (List Price: $8.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665930208, April 2025)

Reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
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Gorgeous, timely, and moving; each and every page of Dreamers is a masterpiece. The story is my favorite part because it is familiar, and yet, I’ve never seen it so dazzlingly portrayed. It’s a subtle and sweetly told vignette in the life of an immigrant that I think will spur important conversations for little readers.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, (List Price: $18.99, Neal Porter Books, 9780823440559, September 2018)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

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Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
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Every neighborhood needs a girl like Millie in Christy Mandin’s Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden. This adorable book has a fun storyline, an important message to be yourself no matter what they say, as well as, great illustrations. Check out Millie’s unique and yes, somewhat creepy garden, and you just might find yourself starting a trend in your own community!

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin, (List Price: $18.99, Orchard Books, 9781339023274, July 2024)

Reviewed by Barb Rascon, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas

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Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas
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“Make good Choices, Leon” is something Leon hears on the way to school every morning. As much as he tries, Leon knows he sometimes messes up and sometimes is conflicted about just what the best choices are. Sometimes things are just too much, but maybe figuring it all out is Leon’s superpower.

Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas, (List Price: $12.99, Graphix, 9781338744200, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan

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Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan
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Kids raised with pets in the home just instinctively know how to interact with animals. For others, there’s a bit of a learning curve, and this fabulous new book is simple enough for the youngest readers while detailed enough to remind anyone that animals DO talk, if people know how to listen.

Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan, (List Price: $14.99, Nosy Crow, 9798887771021, September 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

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Fowl Play by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
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After the death of her BFF Uncle Will, Chloe inherits his African Gray Parrot (Charlie). But not is all it seems as Charlie starts repeating words like “Call 911” and “Murder.” Chloe convinces herself that Uncle Will has been murdered and begins an investigation. As Chloe and her family uncover clues, the investigation leads them to meeting a cast of unusual suspects, including Boring Boris, George Jones (not the country music singer), and Jaws. Fowl Play will have you quickly turning the pages as the case slowly unravels to reveal the uncomfortable truth about accepting the death of someone you love. A powerful, quirky story of grief, healing, and the magic of laughter. Carpe Diem!

Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, (List Price: $19.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063274037, July 2024)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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We Are Big Time by Hena Khan

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We Are Big Time by Hena Khan
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I love this new middle-grade graphic novel about a girls’ basketball team. The story could easily be that it is a team from an all-Muslim school, but there’s more to it than that. I love how the author has based this on a true story and helped guide the reader through the prejudice and media hype that would surround this story still. It’s nuanced and delicately handled, and I think will resonate with every reader.

We Are Big Time by Hena Khan, (List Price: $13.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593430477, August 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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