Here is a preview of the titles on the May/June 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List flier, arriving at stores in the upcoming Kids’ Box mailing. The May/June title list is also viewable as a collection in Edelweiss.
The tri-fold, four-color flier features the #1 pick for May/June 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 July/August 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List is May 4.
Find more information about nominating titles here.
Here are the titles appearing on the May/June Kids’ Indie Next List:
#1 Pick: The Dino Door
By Josh Funk, Renée Kurilla (Illus.)
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665957830, $19.99, May 5, Ages: 4-8)
“A delightful and whimsical journey! From the rhyming play on all the dino words, to the vibrant colors in the illustrations, it is enjoyable in every way. If only all our time doing chores was as fun as it is in the Dino Door!”
—Joanna Robertson, The Treehouse Reading and Arts Center, New York Mills, NY
Picture Books
The Art of How Dogs Sleep
By Alison Kim
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316580281, $18.99, Apr. 21, Ages: 4-6)
“Dogs are incredible, but dogs sleeping? That's an art form. This book captures the glorious delight that is dogs sleeping. You'll find your dog here, your neighbor’s dog, the dog you've been dreaming of.”
—Megan Howe, Alice, Ever After Books, Buffalo, NY
Dad
By Christian Robinson
(Balzer + Bray, 9781250397041, $19.99, May 12, Ages: 3-6)
“A beautiful reminder that dads make mistakes and aren’t always perfect but they will always love you and be your biggest cheerleader. A stunning gift for both new and experienced dads.”
—Lily Clay, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA
Gunnar the Viking's Great Pizza Adventure
By Diego Vaisberg
(duopress, 9781464233630, $18.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 4-7)
“Gunnar shows that with bravery and creativity you can change the course of your life and shows us all that trying something new isn't always easy, but the results can be rewarding and delicious!”
—Sally Sue Lavigne, The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, SC
Kindergarten Gets Ready
By Naomi Danis, Pete Oswald (Illus.)
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316581134, $18.99, May 26, Ages: 4-6)
“Featuring behind-the-scenes classroom prep, from the selection of front-facing picture books to the counting of classroom chairs, Kindergarten Gets Ready will surely be of comfort to any kindergartener feeling anxious about the unknowns of school.”
—Jessica Devin, Brewster Book Store, Brewster, MA
102
By Matthew Cordell
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316580953, $18.99, Apr. 14, Ages: 6-8)
“102 is an enchanting and ethereal story reminiscent of The Polar Express and Where the Wild Things Are. If you are curating a library of cherished picture books that you want to hand down for generations to come, this is one you do not want to miss.”
—Allie Cesmat, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
The Outermost Mouse
By Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (Illus.)
(Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593407776, $18.99, May 19, Ages: 4-8)
“A few pages into this story, I knew I would end up crying. A beautiful story based on a real house in Cape Cod that stood in the sand dunes for half a century, then was taken away by a storm. A tale of the power of mother nature and how fleeting possessions are.”
—Erika Patoni, Righton Books, St. Simons Island, GA
Robin and the Stick
By E. B. Goodale
(Abrams Books for Young Readers, 9781419780837, $16.99, Apr. 14, Ages: 3-6)
“Absolutely adorable. This simple story is going to be a hit with a lot of kids. The adorable drawings and the simplicity of the prose is so fun, I bet it will inspire a lot of kids to start collecting their sticks. #StickNation”
—Dominique Dizon-Thomas, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
The Underwearwolf
By Gideon Sterer, Charles Santoso (Illus.)
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665955584, $19.99, May 12, Ages: 4-8)
“In an age of morality tales, Sterer unleashes a furry menace of a boy upon his small town. A joyful celebration of childhood mischief, inviting kids to run amok in their imaginations.”
—Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story
By Kate Messner, Brian Biggs (Illus.)
(Clarion Books, 9780063372627, $19.99, Apr. 21, Ages: 4-8)
“A fun way to literally flip the script, this book shows two sides to the same story from beginning to end and back again.”
—Stephanie Staton, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
Wildspeak
By Sangma Francis, Lexi Vangsnes (Illus.)
(Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 9781464261299, $18.99, Apr. 14, Ages: 4-9)
“Featuring gorgeous illustrations and an inventive string of both real and imagined words alike, Wildspeak encourages young people to explore the world joyfully by using their vocabulary to describe what they find. A great choice for a classroom read-aloud!”
—Brynn Artley, Content Bookstore, Northfield, MN
Middle Grade
Found Sound
By Meg Wolitzer, Charlie Panek
(Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9781101994627, $17.99, Apr. 21, Ages: 7-11)
“This book is a lot of fun. Even if you don't think of yourself as someone who would geek out about reverb and anechoic chambers, you might be after reading this book. Hand this to kids who love a sibling story or a puzzle story with plenty of science and facts.”
—Amanda Grell, Pearl's Books, Fayetteville, AR
Griffin Speaker
By Jan M. Flynn, Matt Rockefeller (Illus.)
(Disney Hyperion, 9781368109123, $17.99, May 5, Ages: 8-12)
“Can a lowly Grub with a magical connection to a wild Griffin upend the expectations of society and rise to earn a spot at the elite Griffin Riders Academy? The start of a new fun fantasy series, full of action and adventure and perfect for older elementary school kids.”
—Aerie Brown, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
Last Day Pool Party
By Emma Steinkellner
(Labyrinth Road, 9798217031429, $21.99, Hardcover; 9798217031412, $14.99, Paperback, Apr. 7, Ages: 8-12)
“This graphic novel follows six middle school graduates at a celebratory pool party. They all have concerns — a best friend moving away, dealing with feeling invisible, getting ridiculed on a viral video — and all navigate their issues in the best way they can.”
—Alex Weston, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
The Last Dragon House: A Novel (Indies Introduce)
By Liv Mae Morris
(Amulet Books, 9781419784613, 19.99, May 12, Ages: 8-12)
“The most delightful middle-grade novel! The dragons were fantastic, the kids were daring and kind, the adventure was just the right amount of scary, and the ending has me needing book two ASAP. This is going to be a huge hit with middle-grade readers.”
—Kimberly McCraw, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA
Little Bones (Indies Introduce)
By Sandy Bigna
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665985086, 17.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 8-12)
“A beautiful novel in verse about grief, love, family, friendship. Bones is trying to live through the grief of losing her little brother when one night, she makes a wish and brings a bird skeleton back to life. It's up to Bones and her new friend Tenny to try to put this right.”
—Katrina Bright-Yerges, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm
By Philip C. Stead
(Neal Porter Books, 9780823458097, 18.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 10+)
“I enjoyed this book SO much! Clever, heartwarming, unique and captivating. And funny! I loved the goats — every single one of them. It left me wanting a personal support goat.”
—Patty Norman, Copperfield's Books, Sebastopol, CA
Rialto
By Kate Milford
(Clarion Books, 9781328466914, 19.99, Apr. 14, Ages: 10+)
“A lovely adventure about an abandoned amusement park, a strange forest, sisterhood, and letting go. Whimsical and wonderful. Milford does a great job of representing mental health in a way that's accessible for young readers.”
—Caroline Nuhn, Godmothers, Summerland, CA
A Fishboy Named…Sashimi
By Dan Santat
(Roaring Brook Press, 9781250359995, $19.99, Hardcover; 9781250360007, $8.99, Paperback, Apr. 14, Ages: 6-10)
“This will absolutely be the next pick for the Dog Man reader group! Sashimi is a fish boy with a heart (and gills) full of gold. This story is hilariously engaging and combined with a vibrant art style, it is sure to be loved by young readers everywhere!”
—Cait Tschida, The Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, VT
The Second Life of Snap
By Erin Entrada Kelly
(Greenwillow Books, 9780063485952, 19.99, May 12, Ages: 8-12)
“A short middle grade novel for older Wild Robot fans from a storyteller who writes incredible protagonists. An ultimately hopeful story set in a hardscrabble section of an oppressive society. Note: this is not a gentle story. It is one of survival & questions of what makes us free-willed & human.”
—Leslie Darnell, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
Wombat Waiting
By Katherine Applegate
(Storytide, 9780063221178, 19.99, May 5, Ages: 8-12)
“Written as a novel in verse, this is such an accessible read for the middle grade age! The storyline covers really hard conversations around wildfires, loss of homes/communities, and what comes next after a natural disaster with a beautifully hopeful tone.”
—Kaitlyn Myers, Werner Books, Erie, PA
Young Adult
As I Dream of You
By Jennifer Lee, LeUyen Pham (Illus.)
(First Second, 9781250862037, $27.99, Hardcover; 9781250862044, $19.99, Paperback, May 5, Ages: 14+)
“I came for LeUyen Pham's art and stayed for the utterly heart-wrenching love story that turned my expectations upside down and caused me to read it again immediately after finishing. I dare you not to cry and gasp and wish for more. Stunning.”
—Leah Atlee, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff, AZ
Deathly Fates (Indies Introduce)
By Tesia Tsai
(Wednesday Books, 9781250378927, 20, Apr. 14, Ages: 13+)
“Get in, xianxia girlies — we're dispelling restless spirits, exploring the social consequences of empire and war, and falling in love with sweet, flirty reanimated princes. A spellbinding tale of family, duty, and compassion, and at its beating core is a heartfelt and unflinching relationship with death.”
—Lucky Pents, Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, San Diego, CA
Ellen Poe: The Forgotten Lore
By Diana Peterfreund
(Running Press Kids, 9798894141688, 12.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 13+)
“After moving in with her aunt in her spooky Edgar Allan Poe-themed B&B, Ellen starts having nightmares and visions that lead her to believe that she might be a descendent of the haunted writer.”
—Manda Barker, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
The Escape Game
By Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss
(G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 9798217006120, 22.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 14+)
“A fun and suspense-filled story of a team of teens solving a murder in the midst of an escape room competition. Teamwork, cleverness, brains, and trust will all come into play to determine the winners…and the answer to the mystery.”
—Jenny Stroyeck, The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK
The Gravewood
By Kelly Andrew
(Scholastic Press, 9781546176589, 19.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 13+)
“This is the brand new vampire book you've been waiting for! An aching love story pitted against a sweet hometown romance, I felt just like Shea, pulled in every direction but her own. If you're ready for a new vampire crush, this is what you need.”
—Jamie McCauley, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
Rolls and Rivalry
By Kristy Boyce
(Delacorte Romance, 9780593899229, 13.99, May 5, Ages: 12+)
“Just the right amount of humor, drama, romance, and 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons rule lawyering to be a perfectly nerdy and heartwarming book. TTRPG fans, this one’s for you. Even if you’re not a game geek, you can still appreciate how perfectly Boyce encapsulates the epic highs and lows of high school (D&D club).”
—Chloe Brew, Invitation Bookshop, Gig Harbor, WA
Somadina
By Akwaeke Emezi
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593309100, 12.99, Apr. 14, Ages: 12+)
“Somadina and her twin brother share a profound connection. Their newly-awakened magic shakes up their family, their village, and threatens their existence. Another phenomenal book from Akwaeke Emezi about identity, sacrifice, and ties that don't always bind.”
—Nichole Murphy, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
To Steal a Throne
By Gabi Burton
(Bloomsbury YA, 9781547617272, 20.99, Apr. 7, Ages: 14+)
“For fans of An Ember in the Ashes, Throne of Glass, and Little Thieves, Burton’s series opener features an ambitious young woman working to keep her brother on the throne — if only so she can take it from him. With deadly trials, interesting magic, and an engaging romance, this one’s hard to put down.”
—Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
Until We Meet Again (Indies Introduce)
By Lily Kim Qian
(First Second, 9781250884237, $25.99, Hardcover; 9781250884220, $17.99, Paperback, Apr. 21, Ages: 14+)
“A gorgeous and moving meditation on childhood, mental illness, and finding your roots when you spent your childhood moving from place to place. The language is poetic and spare, the art is beautiful, and the story is unique. A perfect book for any kid who has a parent with mental illness.”
—Fisher Nash, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Young World
By Soman Chainani
(Random House Books for Young Readers, 9780593905180, 21.99, May 5, Ages: 14+)
“Chainani not only managed to accurately capture the state of US and world politics, but also created an engaging story that is all too believable. It's a spot-on commentary about teenage love, political machinations, global warming, and more. If only everyone read this book…”
—Mark Kaufman, Story & Song Bookstore Bistro, Fernandina Beach, FL