March/April 2023 Kids Indie Next List
#1 Pick
The Moth Keeper: (A Graphic Novel)
K. O'Neill (Random House Graphic)
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“A beautiful children’s graphic novel full of wonder, magic, warmth, and a touching story about community, responsibility, and burnout. The Moth Keeper is a special book that readers both young and old will find humor and meaning in.”
— Caleb Masters, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
Picture Books

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“Beautiful, adorable pictures and characters tell the story of Evergreen, a little squirrel doing her best to help other woodland creatures, even if they seem a little scary at first. Readers will want to be Evergreen’s BFF and neighbor!”
— Nancy Baenen, Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI

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“Sometimes it takes an upside-down world to see what is most important to all of us. Frazee’s sublime genius is her signature warmth of spirit, line and shading, and most importantly, the warmth of love. Such an exquisite gift for all!”
— Maureen Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, CA

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“The Department of Dreams, The Cave of Untold Stories, The Planetarium of Possibility, these are all divisions of the FBI. Yep — The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. Whoosh down the whoosh-scilator and dive into fun and imagination.”
— Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

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“Every day at Baba’s house, she makes the boy breakfast and walks him to school — the love is there on the page. One day, Baba moves in with the boy and he cares for her in return. A gorgeous ode to love between a grandparent and a grandchild.”
— Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

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“Two powerhouses of children’s literature celebrate what a book can mean to a child. I fell into the illustrations and lyrical descriptions of Alice’s responses to her surroundings. I kept turning the pages to see where I would go next.”
— Clare Doornbos, Mr. Mopps' Books and Toys, Berkeley, CA

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“My stomach growled with every page as I ate up this delectable book! Hiro teaches us that the sky is the limit when it comes to ramen and cooking! This book will help kids grow kitchen confidence and give them a lesson on the history of ramen.”
— Rashauna Marie Tunson, Second Star to the Right Children's Books, Denver, CO

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“Kind, gentle, and oh so true to so many hearts! Sometimes being alone is exactly what we need. Sometimes it’s not. Stead’s illustrations are perfect with Hest’s honest and lyrical text. Can't wait to put this one in as many hands as possible!”
— Joy Preble, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, TX

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“Questions open to interpretation are paired with colorful art in this sly and funny picture book. I can’t wait to read it with the right kids — those who are perennially inquisitive!”
— Robin Stern, Books Inc., San Francisco, CA

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“The illustrations do a phenomenal job of taking the simple, rhythmic text and lifting it to a whole new level. This fanciful story with a bit of kindness sprinkled in will delight old and young alike!”
— Lorie Barber, Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville, IL

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“A wonderful concept book of positivity with the always fabulous illustrations of Peter H. Reynolds. The prose is inspiring and will speak to adults, teens and children of all ages! Loved this book.”
— Debbie Scheller, A Likely Story, Sykesville, MD
Middle Grade

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“A tender story of a trans child navigating grief, friendship, love, and identity. Turning to a cryptid to express his feelings, Noah writes to figure out who he is, how much he misses his friend who passed away, and how to make new friends.”
— Sydne Conant, A Room Of One's Own Bookstore, Madison, WI

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“Growing up a Chinese-American girl in a mostly white neighborhood, I identified so much with Lina’s struggles to see herself in literature. Finally Seen inspires children who have never seen themselves as heroes in books to be heroes themselves.”
— Donna Liu, Kepler's Books, Menlo Park, CA

By Christina Soontornvat, Kevin Hong
Scholastic Press
“Plum wants to stay with her grandparents, taking care of their garden and animals. But when she is called to join the Guardians, she learns more about herself and her strengths. This book is for kids who love adventure, magic, and nature.”
— Alissa Hugel, Folio Books, San Francisco, CA

By Insha Fitzpatrick
Quirk Books
“Fitzpatrick covers everything from the origins of the vampire myth, to historical context, to the vampire in modern culture. Filled with interesting, bite-sized pieces of information, it’s the perfect companion for a middle grader.”
— R. Aimee Chipman, The Bluestocking Bookshop, Holland, MI

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“This graphic novel is based on the true story of Judi Warren, and the 1976 Warsaw High School inaugural girls’ basketball team. Perfect for young athletes, this book will inspire and show how far we have come since Title IX was passed.”
— Kelli McDonald, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO

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“Among the countless books using fantasy to speak to the reality of growing up, this book stands out for its unique plot and magical realism, magical realms and beings, down-to-earth emotions, and universal adolescent experiences.”
— Emily Autenrieth, A Seat at the Table Books, Elk Grove, CA

By Beth Lincoln, Claire Powell
Dutton Books for Young Readers
“The Swifts is no run-of-the-mill story. While the eccentric Swifts defy comparison, they remain relatable and deeply human in a book that is part mystery, part family drama, part coming-of-age comedy, and entirely delightful.”
— Jordan Zwick, The Book Seller, Grass Valley, CA

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“A delightful middle grade eco-mystery that brings two girls from different backgrounds together as they try to stop poachers from stealing turtle eggs. I enjoyed the little bit of magical elements interwoven into this story.”
— Earl Dizon, Green Bean Books, Portland, OR

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“This is now one of my favorite books. I was devastated while reading this wonderfully crafted story. This book will rip your heart out and put it back together perfectly. I highly recommend When Sea Becomes Sky for readers young and old.”
— Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books, New Orleans, LA

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“Tell someone’s story, and they live forever. Even someone you never knew, like a child buried in a bog in Windeby, Germany, in the first century AD. This book gently wraps warm narrative around a cold news story to bring ‘the bog body’ to life.”
— Margaret Walker, Union Avenue Books, Knoxville, TN
Young Adult

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“A relatable, honest exploration of grief, confusion, and second chances, Always the Almost is an empowering celebration of music and love.”
— Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA

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“This is so lovely! A great, inclusive graphic novel! The relationships created by the author are so sweet and wholesome, and this would be such an impactful read for young wlw. I can’t wait to promote this as much as it deserves!”
— Gianna Conidi, Harvey's Tales, Geneva, IL

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“Perfect for horror fans, Delicious Monsters is a fantastically creepy dual narrative with one girl trying to uncover her mother’s past, and another girl investigating a secluded mansion’s high body count. This is an unforgettable read.”
— Carrie Deming, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, NY

By Dan Nott
Random House Graphic
“Dan Nott takes one of the most innocuous subjects, infrastructure, and demonstrates how fascinating and vital it can be. Subtleties, entrenched inequalities, dis-functions, and outmoded processes are laid bare in an interesting way!”
— Justin Colussy-Estes, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

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“Underwood’s writing is impeccable. Her storytelling is vivid and gripping and her characters are incredibly strong. I love a good female empowerment, queer, Greek mythology-inspired book and Underwood knocks this one out of the park.”
— Grace Burke, Little District Books, Washington, DC

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“A book fantasy fans will love. In a world where those favored by the Saints exploit those who aren’t, two former lovers team up to solve a series of inexplicable murders and discover sinister secrets about their city — and about each other.”
— Bridey Morris, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

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“Jaw-clenching gothic and sapphic perfection! As is the case with haunted houses, everything about this book drew me in and kept me rapt until the very last word.”
— Valeria Salas Ibarra, Front Street Books, Alpine, TX

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“This book is vibrant and alive. The teens and the community come alive as they rally save their neighborhood from gentrification and eviction. Rhea and her friends are so vividly drawn, one can’t help but root for the community to rise.”
— Audrey Huang, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA

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“A believable, awkward teen romance starts out as fake love that transforms into the real thing. The reader explores Beijing thru Eliza’s eyes as she gets to know Caz and starts to trust in herself and her feelings. A delightful rom-com!”
— Connie L. Eaton, Three Sisters Books & Gifts, Shelbyville, IN

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“Absolutely devastating in the best possible way. Wildblood will pull you through the jungle, breathless at Blackwood’s turns of phrase and twists of plot.”
— Leah Grover, Scrawl Books, Reston, VA
More Indie Next Lists
- February 2024 Indie Next List
- January 2024 Indie Next List
- Winter 2024 Reading Group Indie Next List
- January/February 2024 Kids Indie Next List
- December 2023 Indie Next List
- November 2023 Indie Next List
- November/December 2023 Kids Indie Next List
- October 2023 Indie Next List
- Fall 2023 Reading Group Indie Next List
- September 2023 Indie Next List