Here is a preview of the titles on the January/February 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List flier, arriving at stores in the upcoming Kids’ Box mailing. The January/February title list is also viewable as a collection in Edelweiss.
The tri-fold, four-color flier features the #1 pick for January/February 2026, plus the top 10 titles in each age group (picture book, middle grade, and young adult). All Indie Next List picks are based on recommendations from booksellers at independent bookstores across the country and include a bookseller quote and full bibliographic information.
The deadline for nominating titles for the March/April 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List is January 5.
Find more information about nominating titles here.
Here are the titles appearing on the January/February Kids’ Indie Next List:
#1 Pick: Bored
By Felicita Sala
(Neal Porter Books, 9780823461141, $18.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“What a magical adventure we take with Rita on her boring day! This story is a testament to how creativity comes from boredom. Wonderful illustrations and an engaging, silly story.”
—Karlie Martens, Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Picture Books
Crouton: One Cat's Adoption Tale
By Kristine A. Lombardi
(Random House Books for Young Readers, 9798217029167, $18.99, Jan. 27, Ages: 4-8)
“You can’t help but fall for this adorable cat, Crouton, as she waits expectantly in her crate to be adopted. Told from the cat's perspective, it's delightfully simple yet filled with hope, empathy, and perseverance.”
—Patti Exstein, Three Wishes Bookshop, Alexandria, VA
The Great Bear
By Annie Booker
(Two Hoots, 9781035028672, $18.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“A beautifully illustrated story of nature and conservation in the Arctic with a polar bear determined to keep her habitat in balance.”
—Andrew King, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA
Love Finds a Way
By Vern Kousky
(Roaring Brook Press, 9781250334756, $18.99, Dec. 16, 2025, Ages: 3-6)
“That grouchy Owl had no chance of hiding from love when he got that guard dog, Brutus! I love it and you will, too.”
—Leslie Jennings, Brewster Book Store, Brewster, MA
Mungo on His Own
By Matthew Burgess, Julie Benbassat (Illus.)
(Clarion Books, 9780063216716, $19.99, Jan. 27, Ages: 4-8)
“The illustrations are so cute. I wish I could squeeze little Mungo! What a beautiful story about independence, confidence, and bravery. Such an important message for kids as they grow up and into themselves.”
—Katie Pionk, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
Plenty of Pancakes
By Carrie Finison, Brianne Farley (Illus.)
(G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780593700174, $18.99, Jan. 27, Ages: 3-7)
“Topsy Opossum wants to cook up a special surprise for her friend LouAnn who has been sleeping all winter — pancakes! Topsy’s woodland friends help her make more pancakes and solve the mystery of who's been eating them up. A sweet story of friendship among the most unlikely of friends: a little opossum and a giant bear.”
—Myrna Mibus, Content Bookstore, Northfield, MN
Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story
By Sylvia Chen, Thai My Phuong (Illus.)
(Flamingo Books, 9780593694626, $18.99, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 4-8)
“It isn’t easy being the youngest of three sisters! Never having worn anything but hand-me-downs, Sunny longs to find a way to express herself through fashion, and honor her family's Lunar New Year traditions. Leaning into her creativity, Sunny finds a way for her individuality to shine through.”
—Shay Shortt, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA
A Stickler Valentine (A Stickler Story)
By Lane Smith
(Random House Studio, 9798217025350, $18.99, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 4-8)
“Stickler is excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his friends! He knows the perfect gift is a stick, but when he tries to give them out to his friends, no one seems to want them. Stickler realizes that even though sticks are perfect to him, that doesn't mean they're the perfect gift for his friends.”
—Alice Johansen, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA
This Hair Belongs
By JaNay Brown-Wood, Erin K. Robinson (Illus.)
(Astra Young Readers, 9781662620867, $19.99, Jan. 13, Ages: 4-8)
“This Hair Belongs is a lesson in Black history, culture, and excellence. Brown-Wood’s verse pairs beautifully with Robinson’s illustrations to further highlight the significance of individual hairstyles and textures.”
—Elena Espinoza, Schuler Books, Grand Rapids, MI
The Wildest Thing
By Emily Winfield Martin
(Random House Books for Young Readers, 9798217023981, $19.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 3-7)
“Eleanor loves the wild outdoors. When she invites the wild inside, she spins and leaps like the animals outside. This beautiful picture book inspires imagination.”
—Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
Your Truck (Your Things)
By Jon Klassen
(Candlewick, 9781536248227, $8.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 2-5)
“Beep beep! Make way for Your Truck! Jon Klassen is back again with a new board book in his signature style, letting his art run amok in kids’ imaginations everywhere.”
—Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
Middle Grade
Alice with a Why
By Anna James, Matthew Land (Illus.)
(Flamingo Books, 9780593691991, $18.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 8-12)
“Anna James has written a masterful continuation of Lewis Carroll’s tale. Her style is true to his whimsical form, and yet new and fresh — perfect for today's young readers. A perfect book for parents and children to read together.”
—Ashley Michael, Plenty Downtown Bookshop, Cookeville, TN
Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game (American Sports Histories #2)
By Kadir Nelson
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316209403, $21.99, Jan. 13, Ages: 8-12)
“This is the celebration of basketball that the sport deserves. Nelson's art remains legendary, and the writing is fantastic — conversational, informative, effusive, and inspiring.”
—Paul Swydan, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA
Resident in Charge (Ella Josephine Book #2)
By Nina LaCour, Sònia Albert (Illus.)
(Chronicle Books, 9781797236247, $7.99, Jan. 20, Ages: 7-10)
“I love this new series about a young girl’s adventures in her apartment house, perfect for ages 7–10. What a cast of characters! For fans of Eloise and Harriet the Spy.”
—Sarah Cottrell, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel
By Jewell Parker Rhodes, Setor Fiadzigbey (Illus.)
(Little, Brown Ink, 9780316279673, $13.99, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 8-14)
“One of the most stunning and heartbreaking graphic novels you will ever read! Even more powerful and poetic than the original novel. A must-read for everyone.”
—Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
Gumshoe: A Graphic Novel
By Brenna Thummler
(HarperAlley, 9780063335288, $24.99, Hardcover; 9780063335271, $15.99, Paperback, Jan. 13, Ages: 8-12)
“Willa runs away from home and joins the ‘Gumshoe Gang’ to help find Two Gum Tilly, the outlaw mail stealer of Arizona. Will they be able to catch Tilly? Read to find out! Perfect for those who are quiet, struggle to make friends, or girls who need to know that they are wonderful just how they are!”
—Abby Greaves, Werner Books, Erie, PA
The Moon Without Stars
By Chanel Miller
(Philomel Books, 9780593624555, $17.99, Jan. 13, Ages: 10+)
“Following the seventh grade year of Luna, this story shows us that middle school is a difficult, exciting, scary, and overall wild ride. The abundance of care shown by exploring difficult topics such as peer pressure, puberty, anxiety, and first crushes is thoughtful and so needed.”
—Sierra Hollabaugh, The Bookery Cincy, Cincinnati, OH
Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse
By Robin Gow
(Amulet Books, 9781419777387, $18.99, Jan. 27, Ages: 10-14)
“Digging a giant hole in the yard as a way to process anger and shame is not Jasper’s worst idea, but digging up a manipulative (and vengeful) saber-tooth tiger’s bones doesn’t give Jasper the emotional resolution he so desperately needs. This story works on all levels: literal, magical, emotional. ”
—Betsy Haberl, Booked, Evanston, IL
Secrets of the Broken House
By Taryn Souders
(Sourcebooks Young Readers, 9781464244971, $16.99, Hardcover; 9781728271446, $7.99, Paperback, Jan. 6, Ages: 8-12)
“As always, Souders’ books have great mysteries, characters and lots of heart. I was invested in every one of these characters and I can picture these sleuths working to solve the crime. Souders is always a great choice for our middle schoolers!”
—Tania Galinanes, White Rose Books & More, Kissimmee, FL
Serendipity
By Gabbie Benda
(Holiday House, 9780823457892, $24.99, Hardcover, 9780823462902, $14.99, Paperback, Jan. 27, Ages: 8-12)
“Great story about a girl who is overscheduled and stretched so thin that she no longer finds enjoyment in any of the activities she signed up for. The book offers great lessons about being overscheduled, what it means to be a good friend, about making your own way, about choice, about teamwork and about listening to yourself and your friends, while managing to be FUNNY!”
—Andrea Iriarte, Molly's Bookstore, Melrose, MA
A Waffle Lot of Love! (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #10)
By Ben Clanton
(Tundra Books, 9781774884539, $12.99, Dec. 30, 2025, Ages: 6-9)
“The Narwhal and Jelly books are fan favs, and Ben just keeps coming up with the goods. Great for early readers and getting started with graphic novels.”
—Megan Green, Three Avenues Bookshop, Chicago, IL
Young Adult
An Archive of Romance: A Study in Drowning Novella (Deluxe Illustrated Edition)
By Ava Reid
(HarperCollins, 9780063462229, $21.99, Dec. 9, 2025, Ages: 14+)
"My wish came true, I was able to spend more time in the world of A Study in Drowning. This novella is structured as an 'archive' of Effy's and Preston's love and romance. Ava Reid's writing is beautiful, haunting, atmospheric, and will pull at your heart strings. I highly recommend it."
—Vanita Borwankar, The Ripped Bodice, Culver City, CA
Beth Is Dead
By Katie Bernet
(Sarah Barley Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665988698, $19.99, Jan. 6, Ages: 12+)
“Fantastic update to the classic story of Little Women — with modern sisters searching for Beth's killer (which definitely wasn't natural causes this time around). Great debut, excited to see what Bernet does next.”
—Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company, Salisbury, NC
Gaslit
By Megan Davidhizar
(Delacorte Press, 9780593705711, $19.99, Jan. 13, Ages: 12+)
“From the medical gaslighting she experiences when trying to identify the cause of her debilitating migraines to the cause of the accident that rips her family apart, Ella doesn’t know who or what to trust. Is someone following her? Is there more to the accident that night? I felt so connected to Ella as she questioned her reality and the truth.”
—Julie Swearingen, Roundabout Books, Bend, OR
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay
By Ryan Douglass
(HarperCollins, 9780063312487, $19.99, Jan. 27, Ages: 13+)
“In this Great Gatsby reimagining, Nick Carrington, a young aspiring writer, enrolls at West Egg and fatefully encounters the wealthy and charismatic Jay Gatsby Jr. From there, their relationship twists and turns as truths are revealed about Gatsby and what really happens behind the scenes at West Egg. Expect glitz and glamour mixed with sad realities and prejudices faced by young queer people of color.”
—Thomas Curtin, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
The Obsession
By Natasha Preston
(Delacorte Press, 9798217028009, $14.99, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 12+)
“Holy cow, that can not be how it ends?! I have never been more invested in a story in my life! I need to know what happens next or my heart will forever be in my stomach!”
—Morgan Tyndell, Arts & Letters Bookstore, Granbury, TX
Persephone's Curse
By Katrina Leno
(Wednesday Books, 9781250342904, $21, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 13+)
“I was completely swept up in this New York City-set, Little Women-inspired retelling of Persephone. I adore sister stories, and the Farthing girls are joining the ranks of literary sisters I love. This is a soulful and enchanting read.”
—Sherri Puzey, Zibby's Bookshop, Santa Monica, CA
The Roommate Arrangement
By Samantha Markum
(Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665973076, $20.99, Hardcover; 9781665973083, $12.99, Paperback, Jan. 27, Ages: 14+)
“Samantha Markum blends the very real struggles of imposter syndrome, gifted kid burn out, and overbearing parental expectations with the joys of crushes, finding forever friends, and the little moments where you realize you truly belong. This story deserves to be cherished, just like the characters within it. ”
—Emily Morgan, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
The Swan's Daughter: A Possibly Doomed Love Story
By Roshani Chokshi
(Wednesday Books, 9781250873101, $22, Jan. 6, Ages: 13+)
“A nostalgic, whimsy-filled novel for fans of Eva Ibbotson and Ella Enchanted, Chokshi’s return to YA features an evil sorcerer, a murderous marriage contest, a beautiful veritas swan whose song provokes truth, and a prince in search of love. An absolute delight to read!”
—Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
There's Always Next Year
By Leah Johnson, George M. Johnson
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374391690, $19.99, Dec. 2, 2025, Ages: 14+)
“This cozy book feels like a Hallmark movie for underrepresented teens. Coming of age, self-discovery, first love, redefining one's values and goals, family and human connection in the digital age, big and beautiful personalities — this book has it all!”
—Rebecca Lewis, The Pile Bookstore, Berwyn, IL
This Is Not a Test: The Definitive Edition with Please Remain Calm
By Courtney Summers
(Bindery Books, 9781967967124, $19.95, Jan. 13, Ages: 13+)
“One of my all time favorite zombie novels. The best post apocalyptic stories feature character depth along with a horrific scenario. This is the best of all of them and has been one of my favorites since it was published.”
—Kristian Beverly, Cupboard Maker Books, Enola, PA