May/June 2025 Kids Indie Next List
#1 Pick
The Trouble with Heroes
Kate Messner (Bloomsbury Children's Books)
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“In a moment of grief and anger, Finn makes a big mistake. He starts to heal, grow and gain resilience with the help of nature, cookies, and the best-est dog. A beautiful story that will help middle grade kids work through big feelings.”
— Nancy Baenen, Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI
Picture Books

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“As someone who moved around a lot as a kid, I wish I'd had this sweet and stunningly illustrated story. It captures the ache of change, hand in hand with the infinite possibilities of a new place, with all the magic and color of a rainbow.”
— Tabitha Klein, Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, NH

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“Jess Hannigan’s comedic timing is up there with Looney Tunes and SpongeBob; witty, slapstick, sardonic…simply iconic. As for the story? Well, I choose the bear.”
— Allie Cesmat, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ

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“A stunning picture book about a young boy who must face his fears when he is charged with a very important task: bring home the ox. Though he is small, Ah-Fu is just the right person to find and lead the gentle creature. A touching lesson in self-doubt and courage.”
— Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC

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“Adorable! Despite the simple dialogue from our main character — maybe because of it! — Crow and his neighbors will have kids engaged, excited, and possibly rolling on the floor like any other Cranky, Crabby Crow.”
— Julie Rowan-Zoch, Old Firehouse Books, Fort Collins, CO

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“Not many authors can pull off a balance of educational and absolutely ridiculous, but Neil Sharpson can. Sharpson should write an apology note to every parent who will have to read this to their kids over, and over, and over again.”
— Billie Bloebaum, The Book Nook (OR), Canby, OR

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“So very sweet. I like the cyclical story, starting with an artist and ending with an artist, and it was fun to journey with the book as it was made. The illustrations are gorgeous!”
— Thea Lamarre Anderson, LaLa Books, Lowell, MA

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“Varian Johnson’s picture book debut is a delight! A poignant story about learning how to balance work and play, all young readers (and their grown ups) can benefit from Little Big Man's message.”
— Lorie Barber, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA

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“Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz is a unique take on making mistakes — a funny picture book for reading aloud and one that independent readers will truly enjoy, with bold illustrations and relatable characters in Izzy and her big, loving family.”
— Stephanie Ledyard, Interabang Books, Dallas, TX

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“Gather round y'all, because this cranky old bird is not going to change! He didn't realize that letting a seed go and telling his stories to it would change his life this much. Turns out Otto had some pretty interesting adventures from his past to share, and the little seed was listening.”
— Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC

By Rajani LaRocca, Huy Voun Lee
Christy Ottaviano Books
“Rajani LaRocca has a talent for blending facts with poetry, offering a diverse collection of people and families and the ways they come to citizenship. I hope many readers see themselves in this book, lovingly created by an author and illustrator who are also immigrants.”
— Johanna Albrecht, McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC
Middle Grade

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“This little gem of a book is sprinkled with adventure and delights, and reminders that in the midst of the distractions of our everyday personal struggles, we can still make choices that help change the world around us in powerful, positive ways. Hooray for Bashir!”
— Michelle Souliere, The Green Hand Bookshop, Portland, ME

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“There are few greater pleasures for lovers of realistic fiction than spending time with the friend groups Dusti creates: quirky, genuine, self-effacing, inclusive, and so much fun.”
— Melissa LaSalle, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA

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“Candle Island is one of those stories that stays in your heart. A beautiful book about love, family, and grief that shows the healing power of creativity and nurturing wildness in wild spaces. I loved it!”
— Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers & Storytellers, Greenville, SC

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“This book weaves together how to write a graphic novel and also tells a beautiful story of kids finding themselves and embracing their passions. Kids will LOVE this book as it helps them learn to make their own graphic novels, validates their love of them, and also tells a great story!”
— Jennifer Matthews, Growing Minds Bookstore, Catonsville, MD

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“If you love horses, possums, or quirky kids with true hearts, this book is for you! The kids who ride at Creaky Acres love it. With its wandering grumpy goat, masses of possums, and worn-down buildings, Nora has trouble seeing why. But along with Nora, you will come to love it!”
— Linda Sherman-Nurick, Cellar Door Books, Riverside, CA

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“You’ll never look at goldfish, plants, and spiders the same after this fun story about friendships, a little magic, and a daring plan to save each other and their human family. Charming with great illustrations!”
— Annette Steinmetz, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene, ID

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“This tale, told in appropriately young tones, is full of great advice, tips, and pointers for youth about to enter middle school. From vocabulary exposure to writing advice, the authors have produced a truly remarkable aid for youthful literary development.”
— Steven Brehm, 32nd Avenue Books, Toys and Gifts, Denver, CO

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“The girls at the Midwatch Institute are an essential reminder that we all are stronger than we realize, and that with a little teamwork we can tackle anything. Filled with mystery, adventure, cool gadgets and secret tunnels, this is an absolute delight!”
— Dominic Smith, Underbrush Books, Rogers, AR

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“(Indies Introduce Panelist) Hand this to any kid who’s experienced or will experience puberty, any kid who’s navigating their gender, any who’ve endured shifting friendships, and to any kid who’s so much braver than they realize. That is, hand this to any kid!”
— Tanvi Rastogi, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, IA

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“(Indies Introduce Panelist) Follow young basketball champion Derrick Chan as he spends the summer with his grandmother and journeys to discover a whole new understanding of self. This exploration of family, culture, and identity is unique and powerful. This book is right on time.”
— Jonathan Pope, Prologue Bookshop, Columbus, OH
Young Adult

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“(Indies Introduce Panelist) All the Noise at Once is a captivating read about Aiden, a Black, autistic teen, his love of football, his struggle with identity, and his fight against injustice after a jarring experience with the police. I was cheering Aiden on to the very end.”
— Kalli King, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID

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“When junior class president Audre hires Bash Henry to be her ‘fun-consultant’, she might just have the inspiration she needs for her book. The only problem? They've caught feelings. You’ll love this story about navigating family drama, facing fears, and figuring out who to be.”
— McKenna Moran-Jones, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

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“Blades of Furry has tons of rainbow lighting, heart eyes, and gay yearning, while not shying away from social commentary. The protagonists — figure skating, martial artist animals — learn and grow alongside one another, fighting for life and love against all odds.”
— Olivia Williams, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, MA

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“The fall after her grandmother’s death, an ambitious student is unexpectedly assigned a cooking class in school, helping her reconnect with her Korean heritage. A poignant, heartwarming debut on grief and family expectations.”
— Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

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“Egypt has always had a mysterious hold on me. This book certainly proves to do the same with its intrigue, curses, uprisings, and mysteries. From the first sentence to the last, I was transported to another time and dimension.”
— Judith Lafitte, Octavia Books, New Orleans, LA

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“Folklore, magic, and mystery pair perfectly with this exploration of mental health and the power of choice. In this trilogy conclusion, Vanja reflects on her choices and realizes that she would never have been ready for the future she craves without those choices.”
— Kaitlyn Reed, Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock, IL

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“There are so many things to love about this book: Grace’s focused athleticism and her newly out trans high school experience; her ride-or-die band of rowdy male friends; the honest portrayal of football. One of the Boys is about the things we sacrifice to do what we love, and the things we must sacrifice to survive.”
— Ron Ward, Talking Leaves...Books, Buffalo, NY

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“An astonishingly beautiful story of two teen boys who fall in love in Italy in the ’80s. Incredible illustrations and wonderfully sensitive and caring prose are combined to masterfully create a work of unmatched genius that left me in tears.”
— Reilly Hadden, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT

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“Perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson who also like a splash of the paranormal! I loved the exploration of economic disparity and social hierarchy within the Thrashers, and the constant questioning of motives and reliability.”
— Chris Schmidt, Main Street Books (MO), St. Charles, MO

By Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett, Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett
Candlewick
“(Indies Introduce Panelist) A fantastic and necessary tableau of the impact trans people have had on history, and how trans legacies have been recorded and shared. A perfect addition to any history shelf.”
— Jessica Hahl, Books Inc., San Francisco, CA
More Indie Next Lists
- May 2025 Indie Next List
- April 2025 Indie Next List
- Spring 2025 Reading Group Indie Next List
- March 2025 Indie Next List
- March/April 2025 Kids Indie Next List
- February 2025 Indie Next List
- January 2025 Indie Next List
- Winter 2025 Reading Group Indie Next List
- January/February 2025 Kids Indie Next List
- December 2024 Indie Next List