The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Juvenile Fiction

A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech

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A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech
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A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech is the perfect book for students, teachers and administrators to read and reread throughout the school year. It serves as a very important reminder that test scores aren’t everything, and that there is SO much more that matters when building up the morale of your school. Great storyline and beautiful illustrations too!

A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063059610,June 2023)

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

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The Yellow Bus by Loren Long

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The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
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Trucks, tractors, yellow buses, they all have jobs to do, and they just might have stories to tell. In the hands of the amazing Loren Long, those stories just might surprise you! Perfect for back-to-school tables and for an anytime read-together, The Yellow Bus might just leave readers wondering just what other vehicles have surprising stories to share.

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long, (List Price: $19.99, Roaring Brook Press, 9781250903136, June 2024)

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

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The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

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The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
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The Queen of Kindergarten had new braids, a sparkly tiara, dresses, and a chariot (well, a pickup truck) to take her to school on the first day. She is caring and kind and brightens every room she enters. The first day will be a breeze for the Queen of Kindergarten! This wonderful little book should be required reading for every new kindergartner!

The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, (List Price: $18.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9780593111420, May 2022)

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

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Recess by Lane Smith

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Recess by Lane Smith
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Another SPECTACULAR entry from Lane Smith, all about our favorite subject, recess! Its colorful imagery and interactive elements make this the perfect back-to-school read for elementary school classrooms.

Recess by Lane Smith, (List Price: $19.99, Harry N. Abrams, 9781419776892, July 2025)

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

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Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo

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Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo
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It’s Sue’s first time at summer camp, and she is so excited! She knows exactly what she wants to do and can’t wait to do it all with her best friend. She soon finds that things don’t always pan out the way we plan, but sometimes that can lead to something better. Miss Camper is a fun, enjoyable read full of adorable illustrations. It is an all-around fun-filled adventure you won’t want to miss!

Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo, (List Price: $24.99, Graphix, 9781338535600, July 2025)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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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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The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall

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The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall
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Gwen MacKinnon has spent much of the eleven short years of her life feeling unwanted, but it only takes two weeks in a small Massachusetts town–plus one unruly dog, an enthusiastic four-year-old, the coolest older cousin, the corniest uncle, some love and attention, and an entire clan of tiny, winged creatures convinced she is destined to be a hero–for Gwen to understand that home isn’t just a word. This new book by Jeanne Birdsall is absolutely worth the wait (tbh I needed the time, I’m still recovering from The Penderwicks in Spring), full of Birdsall’s signature heart and community love, with some very unique world-building for the lore of the Lahdukan. Gwen is a delightful character to join on her journey of fate, discovery, and courage.

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall, (List Price: $20.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780525579052, August 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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I Got You by Derrick Barnes

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I Got You by Derrick Barnes
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Derrick Barnes captures the magical relationship between brothers in a celebration of both big brothers and little brothers. From learning everything you know from your big brother to realizing that as he gets older you might not spend all your time together, >I Got You is the perfect book to read with siblings — or children expecting a new addition to the family, too. A thoughtful, beautiful story.

I Got You by Derrick Barnes, (List Price: $18.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9780593111451, July 2025)

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

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Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus

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Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus
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Grab your beach cruiser and join Blue as they make the daily bakery deliveries around the community. Along the way, they’ll create a little havoc with their untamed magic abilities, but are always there to help clean up the remnants of the spells. Perfect for young witches-to-be who like cooking, helping their community, and want to start their own coven.

Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus, (List Price: $15.99, Random House Books for Young Readers, 9798217025855, August 2025)

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

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Forts by Katie Venit

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Forts by Katie Venit
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I love this celebration of forts, the ones found in nature, to the ones you can build for yourself. Forts are for gathering with friends or being alone in this delightful picture book.

Forts by Katie Venit, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593466155, July 2025)

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

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Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez

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Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez
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Magical and imaginative, this autobiographical picture book follows a young girl’s explorations under the sea as she observes marine life and our critical need for marine conservation. I loved that Mother of Sharks features a Hispanic woman in STEM!

Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez, (List Price: $19.99, Penguin Workshop, 9780593523582, May 2023)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

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Shark Girl by Kate Beaton
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I love a story of a brave and BOLD heroine combined with an ethical look at capitalistic systems we should take a closer look at. Shark Girl is outraged at the way a fishing boat overfishes and hauls up fish they can’t even use. So she makes a plan to get even! Humans are pretty greedy, but maybe not all of them are.

Shark Girl by Kate Beaton, (List Price: $18.99, Roaring Brook Press, 9781250184924, February 2025)

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

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Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
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Julia and the Shark has some of my favorite things: deep dives (pun intended) on Greenland sharks, conservation & environmentalism, and an awesome cat named Noodle who likes to ride on boat figureheads. It also has a beautiful message on mental illness and that its okay to not be okay. The heart-squish was real and my heart ached for Julia as she navigated her mom’s ups-and-downs as well as the local bullies. Courage, cold seas and starry skies, and whales more ancient than trees, this story had me by the heartstrings.

Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, (List Price: $18.99, Union Square Kids, 9781454948681, March 2023)

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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Tyger by SF Said

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Tyger by SF Said
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Tyger is a breathtaking story of courage, creativity, and resistance. SF Said weaves a powerful tale of magic and change, brought to life by Dave McKean’s stunning illustrations. With themes of anticolonialism, anticapitalism, and the power of empathy, this book reminds us that young minds can shape the world, if only we let them.

Tyger by SF Said, (List Price: $18.99, Penguin Workshop, 9780593887240, July 2025)

Reviewed by Hezekiah Olorode, Old Town Books in Alexandria, Virginia

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Shark Summer by Ira Marcks

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Shark Summer by Ira Marcks
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A group of friends set out to create a short film uncovering the truth about the Martha’s Vineyard phantom shark and win the youth film contest, however, they uncover some secrets that are tough to deal with. Suspenseful and heartwarming, with relatable characters, Shark Summer is a winning graphic novel!

Shark Summer by Ira Marcks, (List Price: $12.99, Little, Brown Ink, 9780316461443, May 2021)

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

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