The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Folklore

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain by Juan E. Zambrano

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Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain by Juan E. Zambrano
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I loved this story so much! A young boy, Pacheco, is enamored by magic and the witches who have the gift for it on the mountain. But he’s a fisherman’s son, and he’s also a boy – both of which keep him from magic. This all changes when he meets Doris, a rogue witch who does things differently. At its heart, this is all a story about making space for what’s different, of questioning our traditions and way of doing things. I loved it!

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain by Juan E. Zambrano, (List Price: $12.99, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 9781524892180, June 2025)

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

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Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku

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Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku
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A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!!!!The illustration and the color palette immediately drew me in. Cheesy was done in the best way possible. Cute little love story with loads of diverse characters. Representations mentioned: dyslexia, color blindness, stutter, and vitiligo. So happy to see at the end that the story will be continuing. Will definitely be following along with this series!

Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku, (List Price: $24.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593711170, April 2025)

Reviewed by Stephanie StJohn, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp

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Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp
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Two sisters, friendly oddball Beatrice and fiercely unhappy Magnolia, seek something special from the forbidden forest, come face to face with its magic silk-spinning monster, Bog Myrtle, and learn about environmentalism, labor rights, and anti-capitalism along the way, in this creepily-cute and razor-sharp fable that has all the old-school deadly morality of the Brothers Grimm. A challenging (in both content and vocabulary), dark, yet adorable picture book for fans of Jon Klassen’s The Skull.

Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp, (List Price: $19.99, Annick Press, 9781773218922, October 2024)

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

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The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel by Christopher Lincoln

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The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel by Christopher Lincoln
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What if the characters in your books wanted out? Especially the characters in those prized collections that had been cooped up for far too long? I loved seeing these books comes to life as twins Page and Turner try to get back their father’s prized Dracula first edition that gets lose in the NY Public library. Loved the focus on family relationships.

The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel by Christopher Lincoln, (List Price: $13.99, Dial Books, 9780593617663, July 2024)

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

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The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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by Trung Le Nguyen
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This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel deftly weaves traditional fairy tales into the life of a young, gay teen just trying to figure everything out.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, (List Price: $17.99, Random House Graphic, 9781984851598, October 2020)

Reviewed by Shauna Sinyard, Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina

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The Little Red Wolf by Amélie Fléchais

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The Little Red Wolf by Amélie Fléchais
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To me, Little Red Riding Hood has always been the forbearer of modern children’s stories. The warnings of: listen to your adults, not to stray from the path dictated, and not talk to strangers emanate from every version of this story. In this tale, these messages are still here, but are challenged. In the end, our hero is rescued and the evil defeated, themes of misunderstanding being our main take-away.

The Little Red Wolf by Amélie Fléchais, (List Price: $9.99, Oni Press, 9781637152430, October 2023)

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

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The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

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The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha
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This gorgeous and captivating graphic novel is a new take on the Korean legend of the nine-tailed fox. It’s also a story of what it meant to be a woman during the time of the Joseon dynasty, but with plenty of relevance for today’s readers. Robin Ha has created something truly special in this book.

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha, (List Price: $18.99, Balzer + Bray, 9780062685124, February 2024)

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

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The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp

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The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp
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The Wolf Suit is an absolutely charming picture book about anxiety through the eyes of a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp, (List Price: $19.99, Annick Press, 9781773217208, October 2022)

Reviewed by Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Hilda: The Wilderness Stories by Luke Pearson

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Hilda: The Wilderness Stories
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Hilda: The Wildnerness Stories is a fun journey through a vast world rich with magic and Pearson expertly captures the childlike sense of wonder one might experience within in. Since these stories feature less dark tones than those seen in some other Hilda storylines, they make a great light read which allow you to test the waters before you decide to swim.

Hilda: The Wilderness Stories by Luke Pearson, (List Price: $29.99, Flying Eye Books, 9781838740719, November 2021)

Reviewed by Deion Cooper, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina

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Tidesong by Wendy Xu

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Tidesong by Wendy Xu
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A Fall Read This Next! Selection

Xu’s beautiful artwork in combination with such strong storytelling makes for an enchanting graphic novel. Sophie’s struggles with her inner thoughts reflect much of my own as a child, making this read all the more special. I can see this story so clearly in my mind’s eye as a Studio Ghibli film – it provides such similar comfort in small things, the beauty of nature, and how two young people can have such a central impact on each other. This graphic novel is certainly a favorite for this year.

Tidesong by Wendy Xu, (List Price: 12.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780062955791, November 2021)

Reviewed by Grace Quinn from Foggy Pine Books in Boone, NC


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The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld

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Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess
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Count on me to fall in love with a quirky fairy tale any day of the week. But I mean, what in the world cannot be achieved by a girl who becomes a log when she’s asleep, her robot brother, a sweet family of beetles, and a clever witch? I adore this graphic novel-style picture book full of sibling love and weird vibes that manages to feel cozy-classic and totally brand new at once.

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld, (List Price: 18.99, Neal Porter Books, 9780823446988, August 2021)

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

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