The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Concepts

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes

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Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes
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Anyone who has lived in North Carolina in the early months of the year knows this story well. Round these parts, Springtime arrives not in a great shower of blossoming color, but in a small sprinkling of brave little buds, little splashes of color against the brown; a few warm days followed by another month of frightful cold; the Warm Spring Sun peeking timidly through cloud fingers. This book uses simple language and gorgeous drawings to capture the strange push-and-pull of the changing season. Cozy and perfect for reading aloud!

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes, (List Price: $21.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063469259, February 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Playforth

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Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Playforth
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Great non-fiction book for kids that discusses body parts (including private body parts) with their trusted grown-ups in their lives. The author of this book is a pediatrician and understands the struggles some parents may have in being open with this type of information with their young children. Although I agree that this information is important to know at an early age so that children can remain safe when they are not with trusted grown-ups. I love the idea of this book, and I hope that more people read it for themselves and to their children.

Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Playforth, (List Price: $12.99, Callisto Kids, 9798886507355, January 2026)

Reviewed by Kait Boyd, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt

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The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt
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Welcome back, crayons, except… they are gone! Our story begins with an empty crayon box, no wax left in sight, and no sign of where they went—until we start getting letters from our colorful friends and the new adventures they have embarked on. From living out dreams of being a firefighter to becoming a board game piece or even finding your long-lost twin, the crayons have again taken over my heart with the friends they just can’t wait to tell us about. Dare I say best crayons book yet, get ready to obsess over these guys!

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, (List Price: $19.99, Philomel Books, 9780593622360, June 2025)

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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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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In Time by Marina Ruiz

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In Time by Marina Ruiz
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In Time perfectly describes the different ways the passage of time is experienced: From the young — slow and never moving; From the old — fast and never enough. The illustrations will have you looking over each page again and again before turning to the next. By the end, you’ll be reminded what it felt like to view time as a child, but ultimately, you’ll be left with the understanding of why time takes time.

In Time by Marina Ruiz, (List Price: $18.99, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 9780711285200, July 2024)

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

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Summer Is Here by Renée Watson

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Summer Is Here by Renée Watson
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Summer is Here is a beautiful story about a girl’s perfect summer day. Watson’s words are light and feel like sunshine, while Jackson’s beautiful illustrations make you want to experience that summer day as a child again.

Summer Is Here by Renée Watson, (List Price: $18.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547605866, May 2024)

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Today by Gabi Snyder

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Today by Gabi Snyder
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Beautiful illustrations reminding kids (and their families) to appreciate the fleeting moments of perfection life allows in an imperfect world. Pause and make memories – what a gorgeous book for magical read-a-longs.

Today by Gabi Snyder, (List Price: $18.99, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 9781665924856, January 2024)

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

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10 Dogs by Emily Gravett

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10 Dogs by Emily Gravett
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Words almost aren’t needed in this hilarious and wonderfully illustrated book about ten dogs who have their eyes on ten sausages on a table. Will they be able to resist? Of course not! And that is how all the crazy fun starts.

10 Dogs by Emily Gravett, (List Price: $16.99, Boxer Books, 9781914912597, September 2023)

Reviewed by Mary Patterson, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia

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100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle

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100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle
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This book made me laugh out loud, and North Carolina gets a shout out, so I’m sold! A very fun book that combines math and searching pictures to count how many dragons (all named Broccoli) are wearing tutus. Totally adorable! The final few pages alone provide plenty of entertainment. The kind of picture book where you’ll notice something new each time you read it.

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, (List Price: $19.99, Dial Books, 9780525555445, April 2023)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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A Is for Affrilachia by Frank X. Walker, Upfromsumdirt (illus)

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A Is for Affrilachia by Frank X. Walker, Upfromsumdirt (illus)
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I have read many alphabet books, but this one is a revelation. Walker’s novel approach to the time-honored alphabet book creates not only a read-aloud treasure, but a resource for families. Parents can get as much out of this book as their children, so take your time with each letter. Savor each page. Explore the glossary at the end of the book. Reflect on your own gaps in knowledge and why they exist. This book is a jumping off point—the beginning of the conversation but definitely not the end.

A Is for Affrilachia by Frank X. Walker, Upfromsumdirt (illus), (List Price: $19.95, University Press of Kentucky, 9780813196374, January 2023)

Reviewed by Kate Snyder, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky

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My Pet Feet by Josh Funk

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My Pet Feet by Josh Funk, Billy Yong (Illus.)
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An August 2022 Read This Next! Title

Giggle. Tee-hee. Josh Funk and Billy Yong have created a new treasure chock-full of wordsmith fun. Scrabblers, grab a pencil, puzzlers, get your puz-mug on, My Pet Feet is a feat of genius, from our pals Funk & Yong. No doubt, inspired by Letterman, a 1970s PBS educational show called The Electric Company, this book follows a child through the day as the world goes topsy-turvy, letter by letter. Very cool. I have missed this game. Illustrations are top notch. Lots of extra linguistic mysteries and visual treats to unravel. Bravo.

My Pet Feet by Josh Funk, Billy Yong (Illus.), (List Price: $18.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534486003, August 2022)

Reviewed by Jilleen Moore, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

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Cat Dog by Mem Fox & Mark Teague

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Cat Dog
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A delightfully silly picture book highlighting the differences between cats and dogs, Cat Dog follows a cat who is busy chasing a mouse around the house, while the dog…stays asleep all afternoon. A quirky, entertaining book for all cat and dog lovers.

Cat Dog by Mem Fox, (List Price: 17.99, Beach Lane Books, 9781416986881, October 2021)

Reviewed by Jen Minor, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins

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Circle Under Berry
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A square or a frog? orange or an oval? The way things seem really is all about perception. For fans of Brendan Wenzel’s They All Saw A Cat comes this fun new story of perspective that will have young readers laughing and thinking and saying ” Again! AGAIN!”

Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins, (List Price: 15.99, Chronicle Books, 9781797205083, September 2021)

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

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Listen by Gabi Snyder

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Listen
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The message of LISTEN is one for all ages – when all you hear is noise, stop, close your eyes, and listen to everything waiting to be heard. Gabi Snyder’s lesson starts on a busy city street but goes beyond just noisy times to remind us the importance of listening for feelings like our friends’ emotions and how we are feeling inside. Stephanie Graegin’s illustrations are a gentle, perfect accompaniment to the text. This would make the perfect book for a storytime or lesson centered on mindfulness.

Listen by Gabi Snyder, (List Price: 17.99, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 9781534461895, July 2021)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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