Here is a preview of the titles on the November/December 2026 Kids’ Indie Next List flier, arriving at stores in the upcoming Kids’ Box mailing. The November/December title list is also viewable as a collection in Edelweiss.
The tri-fold, four-color flier features the #1 pick for November/December 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 January/February 2027 Kids’ Indie Next List is November 2, 2026.
Find more information about nominating titles here.
Here are the titles appearing on the November/December Kids’ Indie Next List:
#1 Pick: This Is a Door
By Daniel Nayeri
(Stonefruit Studio, 9781464246029, $19.99, Oct. 27, Ages: 8-12)
“This book is a visual wonder! A journey that we can all join in and travel along with a boy, a mouse, and a dog. This Is a Door will forever be a book that leads us all to ourselves, our families, and to friendship.”
—Becky Anderson, Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville, IL
Picture Books
The Bakery Dragon and the Giant Cookie
By Devin Elle Kurtz
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9798217118748, $19.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“Bakery Dragon is back and baking cookies for the holidays! Brave a blasting blizzard with Ember as he bakes and delivers some delicious-looking cookies for his community. Pick this up, grab some tea or cocoa, and revel in the gooey-cookie goodness!”
—Anna Moritz, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
Brain vs. Screen: How Screen Time Affects Our Brains
By Bethany Barton
(Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593693803, $18.99, Nov. 3, Ages: 4-8)
“What a beautiful, engaging and fun way to teach kids about screens and their brains. Such a great book to also help adults learn more about their child’s developing brains! This book is a total dopamine hit for all!”
—Karlie Martens, Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Carrots Make Me Suspicious
By Robin Mitchell Cranfield
(Greystone Kids, 9781778403187, $19.95, Oct. 20, Ages: 3-7)
“In Carrots Make Me Suspicious readers follow along, exploring carrots from the garden to the gourmet with this young bun on curious terms, not demanding ones. A perfect book for kiddos whose opinions about food deserve to be taken seriously.”
—Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, LA
Duel
By Shawn Harris
(Neal Porter Books, 9780823458738, $19.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“Shawn Harris continues to push picture books to new heights of form and function, all while delighting us with the unexpected — in this case, transforming a medieval duel into a modern call to unity.”
—Melissa LaSalle, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA
Fancy Dogs
By Tini Malina, Tammi Reichel (Transl.)
(NorthSouth Books, 9780735846272, $19.95, Oct. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“I loved this adorable book about our fancy, furry friends! For all dog lovers old and young, Fancy Dogs invites you to remember even the fanciest need some time to be silly!”
—Amy Cobb, Loudmouth Books, Indianapolis, IN
Help! I'm Being Eaten by a Bear!
By Neil Sharpson, Dan Santat (Illus.)
(Dial Books, 9780593616703, $19.99, Nov. 3, Ages: 3-7)
“Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat partner up for another hilarious book! Travelers beware: no matter how fabulous your pants are, they won't save you from a bear, especially not in Alaska. But if a bear were to give you fabulous pants, well…that's different!”
—Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, VT
How to Escape a Playdate: The Fun Way
By Rachel Michelle Wilson
(Feiwel & Friends, 9781250910189, Hardcover, $18.99, Oct. 13, Ages: 3-5)
“How to Escape a Playdate is full of humorous getaway ideas and reflections on the awkwardness of human interaction. At its core, it’s a sweet reminder that sometimes you'll find someone to escape with rather than from in the process.”
—Kinsey Foreman, High Five Books, Florence, MA
The Little Stone Buddha
By Grace Lin
(Alvina Ling Books, 9780316478403, Hardcover, $18.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 6-8)
“The Little Stone Buddha tells such a sweet story of a community coming together to create a home. This is the story everyone needs to read right now as we lean on our communities!”
—Rajean Erbar, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
Millie Fleur's Worst Day Ever
By Christy Mandin
(Orchard Books, 9781546160182, Hardcover, $19.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 4-8)
“Christy Mandin does it again in the newest addition to the Millie Fleur Universe! A strong read-aloud with an important lesson: we can't always carry everything by ourselves. We need to rely on the people around us to shoulder some of the load.”
—Lily Clay, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island, WA
The Pizza Brothers
By Lian Cho
(HarperCollins, 9780063321861, Hardcover, $19.99, Oct. 13, Ages: 4-8)
“Fabulous! This delightful book about the importance of collaboration and the challenges of running a small business warms my heart!”
—Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books, Millerton, NY
Middle Grade
Brittle Magic
By Kate O'Shaughnessy
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593650776, $17.99, Oct. 20, Ages: 8-12)
“Brittle Magic is filled with ‘warm, maple syrupy’ deliciousness — a quick read bursting with quirky charm that kept me hooked from the start. I loved Shiloh’s tenacity as she learns to trust her instincts while unraveling family secrets and long-buried grief. A meaningful story about truth and healing.”
—Kristina Swilley, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
Front Desk: The Graphic Novel
By Kelly Yang, Fumio Obata (Illus.)
(Graphix, 9781338856453, Hardcover, $25.99; 9781338856446, Paperback, $14.99, Oct. 20, Ages: 8-12)
“This graphic novel felt like I was reading Front Desk for the very first time. I fell in love all over again with Mia’s boundless courage, enthusiasm and imagination, and the bright beautiful graphics captured her story perfectly!”
—Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
The Horse Dreamer
By Holly Surplice
(Chicken House, 9798225062026, $19.99, Nov. 3, Ages: 8-12)
“A gentle, heartwarming and relatable tale, this stunningly illustrated debut is a horse-lover's dream. Superb imagery — both in text and evocative drawings — make the reader almost feel the soft nuzzle & the beating heart of the horse. You’ll be rooting for Merryn & her family to come to terms with their grief.”
—Maureen Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, CA
Licorice
By Kara LaReau, Kelly Murphy (Illus.)
(Scholastic Press, 9781546185949, Hardcover, $18.99, Oct. 20, Ages: 8-12)
“Dare I say it, I may have liked Licorice even more than Daphne du Maurier's classic which it’s based on. Who doesn't want to read about a kitten? With all the frights craved by middle grade readers without keeping them (or me) up at night.”
—Elizabeth Fusco, Charter Books, Newport, RI
The Moonlit Spiral: A Graphic Novel
By Mike Maihack
(Candlewick, 9781536224481, Hardcover, $24.99; 9781536224504, Paperback, $14.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 8-12)
“Rion (doesn't believe in magic) is about to go on the most magical adventure (seriously) to find a legendary treasure (that may not even be real)! What's life without a little adventure? I know you don't want to hear this, but what if the treasure really was the friends we made along the way?”
—Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
An Octopus Named Houdini
By Zana Fraillon, Corinna Luyken (Illus.)
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9798347114757, $17.99, Nov. 24, Ages: 8-12)
“Houdini is a beautiful story of escape, confinement, and connection told through the ancient wisdom of an octopus. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the playfulness of the characters and the thoughtfulness of the writing.”
—Andrew Preston, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
Starting Now
By Janae Marks
(Quill Tree Books, 9780063427686, $19.99, Oct. 13, Ages: 8-12)
“Janae Marks has such a delicate touch with the problems kids face — this book about a girl navigating the growing chasm between her best friends and the temporary guardianship of her estranged brother is no exception. I loved the relationship between Addy and Julian.”
—Chloe Purton, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
Trunk No. 3: A Story About a Life-Changing Correspondence
By Allie Millington
(Feiwel & Friends, 9781250393579, $18.99, Oct. 20, Ages: 8-12)
“Another charming middle grade story from Allie Millington! We meet two characters, Earl Grey and Cleo, who are both struggling with finding their places. When they discover they have magical trunks that can send notes to one another, it opens up a whole new world for them.”
—Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books, Rome, GA
The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe
By Karen Foxlee, Martina Heiduczek (Illus.)
(Sarah Barley Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9798347114795, Hardcover, $19.99; 9798347114788, Paperback, $9.99, Nov. 10, Ages: 8-12)
“Lavender Wolfe is whisked from her normal life as a pickpocket in training to a magic pirate ship because Big Agatha can smell Lavender’s magic. Lavender must emerge as her full self in this whimsical pirate tale of adventures on the seas.”
—Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
The Year I Stopped Drawing: An Illustrated Novel-in-Verse
By Grant Snider
(Amulet Books, 9781419788383, $18.99, Nov. 10, Ages: 8-12)
“Readers of Incidental Comics will also enjoy this illustrated novel-in-verse, which sensitively explores such topics as (potential) divorce, bullies, the onset of adolescence, and surviving middle school. A novel that any kid — and every adult — would benefit from reading.”
—Keith Glaeske, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
Young Adult
Fallen Beauty
By Astrid Scholte
(Wednesday Books, 9781250394804, $21, Nov. 3, Ages: 13-18)
“Scholte remixes Rapunzel and The Picture of Dorian Gray into a captivating tale of heartbreak and villainy, dark magic and romance.”
—Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA
It's Only Dancing
By Jasmine Guillory
(Scholastic Press, 9781338749434, Paperback, $15.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 12-19)
“Jasmine Guillory makes her YA romance debut with this Dirty Dancing-inspired story. Kat, a former ballerina, is stuck spending an entire month with her family at camp. She meets a handsome dance instructor there and romance ensues.”
—Jenni Hill, Avant Garden, Anoka, MN
The Pools
By E. Lockhart
(Delacorte Press, 9780593904121, $20.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 12+)
“An eerie exploration of what it means to fly free from expectations, assumptions, and everyday pressures. It shows what it takes to step up, give up, or protect the ones you love, along with the courage to let go.”
—Shannon Krug, Serendipity Books, Chelsea, MI
The Queen of the Spirit Woods (Indies Introduce)
By Sharon Choe
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9798347106462, $19.99, Nov. 3, Ages: 14-19)
“This rich fantasy grounded in Korean history has all the good bits — secrets, deadly politics, ghosts, gods, and a healthy dose of handsome noblemen with major parental issues.”
—Angela Whited, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
Radio Free Texas
By Libba Bray
(Scholastic Press, 9781546156543, $21.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 14-19)
“Full of captivating, complex characters, brimming with nostalgia, and backed by a great rock-and-roll soundtrack, Radio Free Texas is sure to appeal to both teens feeling stuck and adults who remember that frustration.”
—Jenn Guare, The Briar Patch, Bangor, ME
Scorpion Deep
By CG Drews
(Feiwel & Friends, 9781250376312, $20.99, Oct. 27, Ages: 13-18)
“This novel was just as moody and dark as the rest of the CG Drews’ books, and I especially loved the sea/cliffside setting. This book felt very cathartic and visceral. I completely devoured it.”
—Nicolina Chamran, The Writer's Block Bookstore, Winter Park, FL
The Sixth Faction Deluxe Limited Edition (A New Divergent Series #1)
By Veronica Roth
(HarperCollins, 9780063462540, Deluxe Edition, $25.99; 9780063462595, Standard Hardcover, $21.99, Oct. 6, Ages: 13-19)
“Tris & Four are back! In this alternate universe re-telling of Divergent, Tris’ Choosing Ceremony goes awry, forcing her to make a different choice. Her new path takes us behind the factionless curtain with new characters and familiar ones, as faction secrets, conspiracies, and corruption are revealed.”
—Chris Schmidt, Main Street Books, St. Charles, MO
What Feeds Below
By Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
(Boozhoo Books/Bindery Books, 9781967967247, Paperback, $17.95, Oct. 6, Ages: 14-17)
“What Feeds Below is a dark miracle of a book. Schlote-Bonne masterfully weaves together fantasy and horror in a way that left me captivated and disturbed (a compliment). She does an amazing job creating characters who feel REAL — which just made the experience all the more chilling.”
—Sarah Sedor-George, Bookish, Modesto, CA
Where We Go at Night (Indies Introduce)
By Ikwo Ntekim
(HarperCollins US, 9781335453853, $19.99, Oct. 27, Ages: 13-19)
“Eerie and atmospheric, this debut young adult fantasy is a pulse-pounding adventure filled with fae, mystery, and thrilling twists. Layered and imaginative, this novel will keep you turning pages late into the night.”
—Michael Leali, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, Berkeley, CA
You're No Better: A Novel (Deluxe Limited Edition)
By Andrew Joseph White
(Peachtree Teen, 9781682638224, $21.99, Oct. 27, Ages: 14+)
“I had a literal nightmare inspired by this book. It's a smart and unrelenting dive into cycles of harm, invasive media, and the long-term consequences of a violent childhood. AJW fans new and old will find much to relish — right before finding a therapist.”
—Milo Michels, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA