PICTURE BOOKS

Copland by Veronica Mang

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero

Here Come the Aunties by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Aphelandra

Houdini’s Library: How Books Created the World’s Greatest Magician by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mar Delmar

If This Were the World by Stephen Barr, illustrated by AG Ford

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes

Jayden Noticed by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Junko’s Climb by Elyssa Gavin, illustrated by Hifumiyo

Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive by Sandra Wallace, illustrated by Evan Turk

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Giselle Potter

The Monster and Puppet Show by Kate Micucci and Mo Willems

Rare Bird by Elisha Cooper

Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett

Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Sweater by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Teagan White

Twelve Daring Grays: A Whale Migration Adventure by Nora Nickum, illustrated by Elly MacKay

The Vanishing Sea: The Tale of How the Aral Sea Became the Aral Desert by Dinara Mirtalipova

Welcome Uncle Nowruz: A Persian New Year’s Story by Rashin Kheiriyeh

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Karobá: The Case of the Missing Kolo by Àlàbá Ònájìn

Kid Like Me by Norm Feuti

Lion’s Run by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Making Plans for Nigel Binty by Shawn K. Stout

Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander

A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff

TEEN BOOKS

According to Plan by Christen Randall

Call of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen

Few Blue Skies by Carolina Ixta

PostScript by Cory McCarthy

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by AJ Dungo

The January/February Kids Indie Next List has been announced. Here are the books recommended by independent booksellers:

PICTURE BOOKS

Bored by Felicita Sala

Crouton by Kristine A. Lombardi

The Great Bear by Annie Booker

Love Finds a Way by Vern Kousky

Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Julie Benbassat

Plenty of Pancakes by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley

Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story by Sylvia Chen, illustrated by Thai My Phuong

A Stickler Valentine by Lane Smith

This Hair Belongs by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

The Wildest Thing by Emily Winfield Martin

Your Truck by Jon Klassen

MIDDLE GRADE

Alice with a Why by Anna James

Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game by Kadir Nelson

Ella Josephine Resident in Charge by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Sonia ALbert

Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

Gumshoe by Brenna Thummler

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

Saber-Tooth by Robin Gow

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

Serendipity by Gabbie Benda

A Waffle Lot of Love! by Ben Clanton

YOUNG ADULT

An Archive Romance by Ava Reid

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

Gaslit by Megan Davidhizar

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass

The Obsession by Natasha Preston

Persephone’s Curse by Katrina Leno

The Roommate Arrangement by Samantha Markum

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

PICTURE BOOKS

Bored by Felicita Sala

Bug on the Bus by David Catrow

Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura

The Dream Builder’s Blueprint: Dr. King’s Message to Young People by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

How to Hatch: A Gosling’s Guide to Breaking Free by Sara Ackerman, illustrated by Galia Bernstein

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Small-Girl Zora and the Shower of Stories: A Tall Tale Based on the Life and Work of Zora Neale Hurston by Giselle Anatol, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

Troubled Waters: A River’s Journey Toward Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Two Artists, Grandad and Me by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

What a Small Cat Needs by Natalia Shaloshvili

CHILDREN’S

Alice with a Why by Anna James

Eureka by Victoria Chang

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake

Maple for the People by Kate McGovern

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

The Road from Nowhere by Avi

Run Home by Alyssa Bermudez

Saber-Tooth by Robin Gow

Unfairies by Huw Aaron

A Year Without Home by VT Bidania

YA

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown

Fustuk by Robert Mgrdich Apelian

Sundown Girls by LS Stratton

Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

Wild Radiance by Maria Ingrande Mora

PICTURE BOOKS

How We Love by Kati Douglas and Ashley Jefferson

Meet the Smushkins by Claudia Rueda

Shaped by Love: An Ode to Mom Bods by Nikki Powers

The Snow Theater by Ryoji Arai

Whooo Is Still Awake by Brigette Barrager

CHILDREN’S

Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

The Spectacular Space Loop by Javi De Castro

The Stolen Songbird by Judith Eagle, illustrated by Jo Rioux

YA

Persephone’s Curse by Katrina Leno

Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay

There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson

PICTURE BOOKS

And They Walk On by Kevin Maillard, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Balloon by Bruce Handy, illustrated by Julie Kwon

Don’t Eat Eustace by Lian Cho

Moon Song by Michaela Goade

Nunu and the Sea by Isabella Kung

This Is Orange by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Julie Morstad

CHILDREN’S

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart

Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mensinga

Night Chef by Mika Song

Nightmare Jones by Shannon Bramer, illustrated by Cindy Derby

Tear Collector by R. M. Romero

YOUNG ADULT

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

Fall of the Fireflies by Guadalupe García McCall

Five Wolves by Peter McCarty

Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

PICTURE BOOKS

13th Day of Christmas by Adam Rex

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor, illustrated by Natasha Donovan

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

Dear Acorn (Love, Oak): Letter Poems to Friends by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Family Feast by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

The House That Floated by Guojing

A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

The Witch in the Tower by Júlia Sardà

CHILDREN’S

Defanged by HE Edgmon

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares

Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes

Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert

A Little Too Haunted by Justine P. Winans

On Starlit Shores by Bex Glendining

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson

Troubling Tonsils by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz

Wolf Club by James Bird

YA

The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala

Flip by Ngozi Ukazu

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin

Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide by Pablo Leon

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley

Split the Sky by Marie Arnold

The Story of My Anger by Jasminne Mendez

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar

PICTURE BOOKS

Before I Lived Here by Stacy S. Jensen, illustrated by Victo Ngai

CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Fall Is for Beginnings by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar

Five Little Friends by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock

Imogen: The Life and Work of Imogen Cunningham by Elizabeth Partridge, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Menudo Sunday by María Dolores Águila, illustrated by Erika Meza

My Abuela is a Bruja by Mayra Cuevas, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gómez

A Place for Us by James Ransome

Sundust by Zeke Pena

Wanda Hears the Stars by Amy Hansen

CHILDREN’S

Dream On by Shannon Hale

Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta

Goat Magic by Kate Wheeler

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

YOUNG ADULT

Empty Heaven by Freddie Kolsch

My Perfect Family by Khadijah Vanbrakle

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai

Tall Water by SJ Sindu

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Nicole Goux

Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire by Don Martin