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By Bookshop.org

Explore Great Books for Kids in 2025

 

Indie bookstores across the country have chosen their top kids' picks for January and February. The list includes a charming picture book about food's power to connect people, an inspiring middle-grade graphic novel about living with dyslexia, and a heartwarming celebration of love starring Bigfoot—perfect for Valentine's Day! Start the new year with books that you and the young readers in your life will treasure.

bookcover for Bert, the Bowerbird: The Small Bird with a Big Heart (Co-Edition)

Bert, the Bowerbird: The Small Bird with a Big Heart (Co-Edition)

Julia Donaldson, 

Catherine Rayner 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“With adorable rhymes from Julia Donaldson (author of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom) and gorgeous illustrations by Catherine Rayner, Bert, the Bowerbird is a wonderful tale of bird-based romance and self-acceptance. Don’t settle, Bert!” —Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA

bookcover for Between You and Me

Between You and Me

Rob Sanders, 

Raissa Figueroa 

Book icon

Hardback

$19.99

$18.59

“Moving to a new place can be hard and frightening, but it can also be wondrous and fun like this uplifting picture book about new places, new friends, and new adventures.” —Stephanie Staton, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY

bookcover for Bigfoot's Big Heart

Bigfoot's Big Heart

Sarah Glenn Marsh, 

Ishaa Lobo 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“This is adorable! Bigfoot and all the cryptids around the globe find some unexpected (and very determined) allies in scouting kids worldwide. Here’s a perfect Valentine for all the introverts or shy kids or delightful weirdos!” —Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA

bookcover for Girls on the Rise

Girls on the Rise

Amanda Gorman, 

Loveis Wise 

Book icon

Hardback

$19.99

$18.59

“Superstars Amanda Gorman and Loveis Wise have created a mantra that celebrates girls in all forms for staring down fear, speaking out against injustice, and most importantly, standing up for each other.” —Jennifer Carney, Sidetrack Bookshop, Royal Oak, MI

bookcover for Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship

Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship

Bea Jackson 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“Stunning! A truly beautiful book, full of messages about perseverance, friendship, and appreciating what makes each of us unique. This story will also leave readers itching to build fairy houses of their own.” —Amanda Zarni, Book Ends Winchester, Winchester, MA

bookcover for Soy Sauce!

Soy Sauce!

Laura G. Lee 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“Where would we be without the humble, versatile, workhorse of flavor: soy sauce? This picture book is a joyful ode to this essential element of East Asian food, and provides a fascinating look at how different cultures make soy sauce.” —Audrey Mueller, Linden Tree Children’s Books, Los Altos, CA

bookcover for Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love

Joseph Coelho, 

Various 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“What if you had to condense your adoration into just ten words? I absolutely love this coffee table worthy picture book with ten-word expressions of love. Stunningly illustrated by some of the best, it’s a perfect gift for anyone who makes your heart sing.” —Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

bookcover for To See an Owl

To See an Owl

Matthew Cordell 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“Janie is a young birdwatcher who especially loves owls, but they’re very hard to spot. Fortunately, Janie has a lot of determination and is not giving up! An inspiring story accompanied with gorgeous illustrations, perfect for the nature-lover.” —Andrew King, Ridgecrest Books, Shoreline, WA

bookcover for Toto

Toto

Hyewon Yum 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“I adore Toto — the book as well as the birthmark who bears the name! A lovely story that focuses on learning to embrace what makes you different. Yum’s evocative, warm illustrations and gentle prose deserve a place on your shelf.” —Janet Geddis, Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA

bookcover for Victor, the Wolf with Worries (Co-Edition)

Victor, the Wolf with Worries (Co-Edition)

Catherine Rayner 

Book icon

Hardback

$18.99

$17.66

“An extraordinary picture book. I love how it uses wolves and their behaviors to help children explore and manage emotions. A really great story to show how to be a good friend to someone who needs help managing their feelings.” —Cori Cusker, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff, AZ

bookcover for As You Wish

As You Wish

Nashae Jones 

Book icon

Hardback

$17.99

$16.73

“Birdie’s plans to get a boyfriend as an eighth grader go awry when a mythological West African god Anansi appears and grants a series of wishes. A sweet middle grade romance with a fun twist!” —Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC

bookcover for Chickenpox

Chickenpox

Remy Lai 

Book icon

Paperback

$14.99

$13.94

“This is such a fun graphic novel set in ’90s Indonesia about being a big sister and dealing with the responsibility of being the oldest. The artwork is adorable and I loved the ’90s callbacks with corded phones, Walkmans and LaserDisc movie rentals.” —Stephanie Rivera, Chapter Two…a Bookstore, Lompoc, CA

bookcover for Cinderella and the Beast (Or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)

Cinderella and the Beast (Or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)

Kim Bussing 

Book icon

Hardback

$17.99

$16.73

“A fun mashup of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella that will delight Disney fans and appeal to readers who appreciate a well-told story. Bussing brings some fun updates to these familiar stories, including a fairy godfather and a glass prosthetic.” —Amanda Grell, Pearl’s Books, Fayetteville, AR

bookcover for A Copycat Conundrum (the Misfits)

A Copycat Conundrum (the Misfits)

Lisa Yee, 

Dan Santat 

Book icon

Hardback

$14.99

$13.94

“Olive and the Misfits are back for another mystery, this time involving a million-dollar scavenger hunt/adventure program, an art museum, and missing treasure. A great Agatha Christie style action-adventure mystery!” —Aerie Brown, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

bookcover for Fresh Start: A Graphic Novel

Fresh Start: A Graphic Novel

Gale Galligan 

Book icon

Hardback

$24.99

$23.24

“Another absolute delight from Gale Galligan! This book is sweet, expressive, and deeply vulnerable in the absolute best way. A reminder that being brave enough to make new friends and forgive your old ones (and yourself!) is always worth it.” —Leah Grover, Scrawl Books, Reston, VA

bookcover for Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

Philippa Leathley 

Book icon

Hardback

$19.99

$18.59

“The start of a great new fantasy series! I can’t wait for the sequel!” —Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA

bookcover for Kaya of the Ocean

Kaya of the Ocean

Gloria L. Huang 

Book icon

Hardback

$17.99

$16.73

“An absolutely gorgeous story, shining a light on the very real struggles of growing up and feeling different. With incredibly heartfelt writing and a vivid setting, Kaya’s story can help young people that struggle with anxiety feel seen and heard.” —Jonathan Pope, Prologue Bookshop, Columbus, OH

bookcover for Mixed-Up

Mixed-Up

Kami Garcia, 

Brittney Williams 

Book icon

Hardback

$22.99

$21.38

“One of the best slice-of-life middle grade graphic novels I’ve read since Raina Telgemeier’s Smile. Stella’s problems felt so real as a neurodivergent person; I almost cried multiple times while reading this book. All of the text being in OpenDyslexic font was the cherry on top.” —Joey Santo Domingo, Black Garnet Books, Saint Paul, MN

bookcover for Same Page

Same Page

Elly Swartz 

Book icon

Hardback

$17.99

$16.73

“A timely novel weaving together everything that comes with the middle school years and how to navigate it all. Layered with multiple situations kids face, the main conflict is focused on books being challenged at school and how this affects friendships.” —Shannon Krug, Serendipity Books, Chelsea, MI

bookcover for Will's Race for Home

Will's Race for Home

Jewell Parker Rhodes 

Book icon

Hardback

$17.99

$16.73

“This was so enjoyable! This book highlights a part of history you don’t see very often from a child’s perspective. I loved reading about the Land Rush and the free Black people who participated in it. Lots of action and suspense and honest emotion.” —Izzy Stringham, White River Books, Carbondale, CO