Here is a preview of the titles on the September/October 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List flier, arriving at stores in the upcoming Kids’ Box mailing. The September/October title list is also viewable as a collection in Edelweiss.
The tri-fold, four-color flier features the #1 pick for September/October 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 November/December 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List is August 31.
Find more information about nominating titles here.
Here are the titles appearing on the September/October Kids’ Indie Next List:
#1 Pick: Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book
By Sid Sharp
(Annick Press, 9781834021195, $19.99, Sept. 29, Ages: 3-5)
“Midnight Manor is full of funky characters, and unexpected details, ripe for poring over by flickering candlelight and revisiting again and again. Perfect for future goths, bug collectors, night owls, Edward Gorey fans, and kids with a silly streak.”
—Ashley Franklin, First Light Books, Austin, TX
Picture Books
The Beginner's Guide to Being a Wizard
By Keith Negley
(Flamingo Books, 9798217318568, $18.99, Aug. 25, Ages: 4-8)
“The Beginner’s Guide to Being a Wizard is begging for an enthusiastic and committed story time performance! Bring on your funky headgear and sticks (not too pokey!), and don't forget the emergency cheese. An entertaining and pitch-perfect read-aloud!”
—Rebecca Waesch, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Dragon Dog
By Suzanne Lang, Max Lang (Illus.)
(Random House Studio, 9798217223718, $18.99, Sept. 1, Ages: 4-8)
“When a wizard tries to create a dragon with the loyalty of a dog, the spell doesn’t go quite according to plan…out comes Dragon Dog! Where does Dragon Dog truly belong? Funny, clever, and inspiring.”
—Andrew King, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA
If the Moon
By Matthew Burgess, Matthew Forsythe (Illus.)
(Stonefruit Studio, 9781464244049, $19.99, Aug. 4, Ages: 3-7)
“A gentle call towards calming an anxious brain, for adults and children alike. This trip through dreamland asks readers to think in beautifully creative and expansive ways. Burgess and Forsythe show us that the world is a beautiful place to be, if only we notice it and dream it.”
—Mikey LaFave, Rec Room Books, Athens, GA
I Am Murphy and I Am Waiting
By Dan Yaccarino
(Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 9781250424280, $18.99, Aug. 25, Ages: 4-8)
“Murphy has very big feelings about that big yellow thing that took his boy away. Hilarity ensues as Murphy finds all sorts of ways to pass the time until the best reunion ever.”
—Jennifer Carney, Sidetrack Bookshop, Royal Oak, MI
I Will Eat You in the End
By David Duff, Marianna Coppo (Illus.)
(Neal Porter Books, 9780823463930, $19.99, Sept. 15, Ages: 5-9)
“Deeply funny and pleasantly existential, a stellar book about mortality and interdependence for kids and adults alike. Simple, effective art with lots of charm, to boot. I really love this one!”
—August Clarke, Seminary Co-Op Bookstores, Chicago, IL
I Am Not Grumpy!
By Caroline L. Perry, Sydney Hanson (Illus.)
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665984195, $19.99, Aug. 25, Ages: 4-8)
“This is the perfect follow up to I Am Not Happy! The most adorable rain frog is feeling very misunderstood with her ‘resting frog face.’ Her frown does not mean she is grumpy. The best picture book that will be a huge hit this year.”
—Amy Traughber, pages: a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, CA
Mia’s Cheetah
By Amelia Bothe
(Clarion Books, 9780063472662, $19.99, Sept. 29, Ages: 4-8)
“What a wonderful story of imagination with gorgeous illustrations and fabulous perspectives. As my mom used to say, ‘only boring people get bored.’ And Mia, her dad, and her Nana prove themselves to be decidedly NOT boring!”
—Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA
Mr Crump, the Heartless Grump
By Pog, Stéphanie Léon (Illus.), Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Transl.)
(Floris Books, 9781782509523, $18.99, Aug. 18, Ages: 4-7)
“Mr Crump has my heart, grump or not! A fall time Grinch with cozy sweaters and cute costumed kids? Why yes, I do need that. Thanks! Everyone will love the sweet message: kindness is better than candy.”
—Heather Weirich-Roy, Gibson's Bookstore, Concord, NH
Tom Nancy: The Sheep Who Swapped Brains with a Boy
By Mac Barnett, X. Fang (Illus.)
(Tundra Books, 9781774885710, $19.99, Sept. 22, Ages: 4-8)
“Oh boy, oh boy! Mac Barnett understands that there’s nothing worse than being an unpleasant grownup and nothing better than being an animal. X. Fang knows exactly how to make a scheming sheep look like a Bad Kid. Tom Nancy is a brain-swapping parable about the perils of getting what you want.”
—Alex Schaffner, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
The Wishing Well
By Gideon Sterer, Emily Hughes (Illus.)
(Union Square Kids, 9781454963615, $19.99, Sept. 1, Ages: 4-8)
“Beautiful, thoughtful, bittersweet, and even cheeky. Read it once then promptly reread right away. Wishes upon wishes.”
—Lindsey Leavitt, Folklore Bookshop, Midway, UT
Middle Grade
Building 903
By Lois Lowry
(Clarion Books, 9780063515109, $19.99, Sept. 29, Ages: 8-12)
“Lois Lowry makes us aware of the incredible power we hold which so often goes unacknowledged — our imagination and our ability to dream. Lowry’s writing gently guides us to realize that everything with great power starts small — even if it is not simple — in the space of the mind.”
—Sky Koepke, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO
Feeling Like an ADHD Alien: A Graphic Novel
By Pina Varnel
(Rocky Pond Books, 9780593325551, $25.99, Hardcover; 9780593325568, 17.99, Paperback, Sept. 15, Ages: 10+)
“As a late-in-life diagnosed neurodivergent myself, I found this graphic novel deeply relatable. I wish I could give this book to a younger me. This is not just a great book for anyone on the neurodivergent spectrum needing to be seen, but also for those with loved ones with ADHD looking to understand them a bit better.”
—Tara Ludwin, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY
Ghost in the Night
By Tiffany D. Jackson
(Scholastic Press, 9798225017477, $18.99, Aug. 4, Ages: 9-12)
“While seeking solace from her grief over her Grandma's death, Harmony finds herself on a search for a ghost. This thriller is a love letter to Savannah, an examination of African American history, and is full of exciting page-turning action.”
—Jennifer Kraar, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
The Lost Three
By Annie Barrows
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316593908, $17.99, Sept. 29, Ages: 8-12)
“Magic, an orphan who gets rescued from a corrupt adoption by ghosts, a cat-like person, a funny narrator. Four very different people come together to become their own makeshift family. It’s a classic orphan’s tale with a happy ending, but the middle of the story is really funny and fully unexpected. Great for all those who love magic, fantasy, and mystery (also historical fiction?)”
—Andrea Iriarte, Molly's Bookstore, Melrose, MA
The Magic Library of Waterfall Way (Deluxe Limited Edition)
By Julie Abe
(Bloomsbury Children's Books, 9781547618293, $18.99, Aug. 25, Ages: 8-11)
“Lyra is a character that’s easy to love and her quest to save the library and recover the Scholar's crystal had me both enchanted and on the edge of my seat! Her search for a home is guarded yet heartfelt. Part adventure, part fantasy and part found family. Everyone will love this one.”
—Rayna Nielsen, Book Banter Books, New Orleans, LA
Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir
By Pedro Martín
(Dial Books, 9798217002481, $24.99, Hardcover; 9798217002498, $14.99, Paperback, Sept. 1, Ages: 10-14)
“Pedro’s family is once again brought to life on the page, bursting with hilarity and heartbreak. Begrudgingly spending their summers picking strawberries at the sharecrop farm, the kids begin devising plans to leave the fields behind, but not before learning lessons about heritage, sacrifice, and injustice, including the terrors of immigration enforcement.”
—Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society (Deluxe Edition)
By Lindsay Currie
(Sourcebooks Young Readers, 9781464241260, $17.99, Sept. 15, Ages: 9-12)
“Suspenseful, surprising, and with a little something for everyone! This book is a terrific middle grade mystery with an ending I didn't see coming! Fans of Fleur Bradley will love this new one by Lindsay Currie!”
—Meagan Dallner, Books Are Awesome, Parker, CO
Sisters Alone
By Shifa Saltagi Safadi
(G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 9798217111091, $18.99, Sept. 8, Ages: 8-12)
“Safadi hit it out of the park with this middle grade novel in verse centering two Syrian sisters who, in the midst of grieving their mother, must find a way to survive a winter storm alone together. With beautiful and heartfelt poetic language, Safadi engages young readers in exploring important themes of mental health, sisterhood, friendship, and hope.”
—Fatuma Hydara, Tuma's Books, Mount Vernon, NY
Shook
By Julian Randall, Nathan Walker (Illus.)
(Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 9781250882059, $18.99, Aug. 4, Ages: 8-12)
“A great young teen book made to be discovered by sports-loving readers finding themselves in their downtime. Anxiety from peers and parental expectations, the need to play ball, and more all in a short and engaging text for new teen readers.”
—Brein Lopez, Children's Book World, Los Angeles, CA
The Wild Season: The Remarkable True Story of a Rabbit Rescue
By Dashka Slater
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316596275, $18.99, Sept. 8, Ages: 8-12)
“I adore this book! This reads like fiction and kids (and adults) will learn so much while not realizing they are learning. The author does a great job at bringing the information to a kid's level without making the reader feel like they are being talked down to I will recommend this to so many readers of all ages!”
—Jean Bartz, Books on Main, Friendship, WI
Young Adult
Anger Is Only a Shadow
By Elizabeth Acevedo
(Quill Tree Books, 9780062882790, $19.99, Sept. 15, Ages: 14+)
“Elizabeth Acevedo has done it again. A stunning exploration of juvenile incarceration, mental health, and the lengths we’ll go for the people we love. A gripping, heartbreaking story.”
—Amy Andrews, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay: A Novel
By Lex Croucher
(Wednesday Books, 9781250404794, $21, Aug. 11, Ages: 13+)
“Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay is a story of learning to live and love while an often cruel world continues to turn despite how much its main characters need it to stop for a while and give them a break. Heartwarming, fun, and tender. Croucher never fails to deliver beautiful and impactful queer stories.”
—Marlee Salas, Slow Burn Bookshop, Nashville, TN
The Dream Thieves: The Graphic Novel (The Raven Cycle: The Graphic Novels #2)
By Maggie Stiefvater, Sas Milledge (Illus.)
(Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593621226, $25.99, Hardcover; 9780593621233, $17.99, Paperback, Aug. 4, Ages: 14+)
“I love the unique suspense and strange mystery of this series. Sas Milledge’s soft yet rich art style breathes a wonderful life into these characters that has transitioned beautifully into the second book. Let’s keep it going!”
—Ross Ramirez, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, GA
Fire to the Stars
By Morgan J. Watchorn
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593708446, $19.99, Aug. 4, Ages: 12+)
“Watchorn breathes fire (pun intended) into the dragon genre, blending in molten romance, smooth dialogue, and golden plot points. Claire, our main character, is at all times devastatingly magnetic and organically independent. I want to read this one over and over again…”
—Kyla Crist, Napa Bookmine, Napa, CA
Firstborn
By M.J. Hastings
(Stonefruit Studio, 9781464244513, $19.99, Sept. 1, Ages: 16+)
“This book has the same propulsive, addictive reading experience as the stories that defined my teen and young adult years. Firstborn puts an action-packed plot, the intrigue of a political thriller, and a swoon-worthy romance into one incredible adventure. I cannot wait to recommend this one to our older teen readers.”
—Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books, Rogers, AR
Immortal Game
By Allison Saft
(Wednesday Books, 9781250404763, $22, Aug. 4, Ages: 13+)
“One of my favorite authors! A dark and atmospheric setting inspired by Irish mythology paired with a tangible love and respect for the game of chess. Anyone that obsessed over The Queen’s Gambit CANNOT miss this one.”
—Sarah Heilman, Pocket Books Shop, Lancaster, PA
The Secret to Belonging
By Megan E. Freeman
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665988407, $19.99, Sept. 15, Ages: 12+)
“A stunning novel-in-verse about dysfunctional family, finding your people, and freedom. You can truly feel the main character's frustration with how her parents respond to her brother's drug addiction, and the peace her new friends in Norway bring her. The second-person POV was a highly effective writing choice.”
—Kaylene Yandell, White Oak Books, Vancouver, WA
72 Hours of You (Indies Introduce)
By Darianne Schramm
(Disney Hyperion, 9781368116077, $19.99, Sept. 1, Ages: 14+)
“Sydney Hoffman has a problem: she sees clocks that appear over people’s heads 72 hours before they die. And no, she can’t prevent their deaths. She has strict rules about what to do when these clocks appear, and she is determined to keep their existence a secret. But Peter, a sweet, attractive boy in her class, challenges all her safeguards. This page-turner has a pitch-perfect young adult voice, twists upon twists, and a killer, swoony romance.”
—Michael Leali, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, Berkeley, CA
Tom Burne Has Left the Chat (Indies Introduce)
By Seán Farrelly
(Faber & Faber Children's, 9780571388219, 12.95, Sept. 1, Ages: 14+)
“When seventeen-year-old Jamie takes Tom Burne’s phone after his suicide, he becomes deeply invested in Tom’s digital life and tragic death. This profound mystery exploring grief, mental health, identity, and belonging in the age of social media is told with humor and candidness via Jamie’s authentic teen voice. Plus, it transports you to Ireland!”
—Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA
Trust Fall
By Lynn Painter
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9798347100217, 21.99, Sept. 29, Ages: 14+)
“Trust Fall is packed with all the charm, humor, heart, and chemistry that make Painter’s YA romances so addictive. Julia felt refreshingly real (messy, relatable, and easy to root for) and her story had me flying through pages long past bedtime. If you’re looking for a feel-good romance that will leave you smiling, Trust Fall absolutely sticks the landing.”
—Steph Seibert, Story Hollow, Madisonville, TN