The theme for the early summer May/June Read This Next! Kids list is "Be Yourself!" Choose your own friends, make your own choices, stand up for what you think is right because you can make a difference just by being YOU.

RTNext! Kids Bookseller Resources:
Edelweiss Collection | Flyer | Flyer Graphic (image)

Read is why Southen indie booksellers love these books:

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel
This story really makes you stop and think about what we are born into and how our beliefs are shaped by our exposures, and it makes you consider what YOU would do if one day you woke up in this strange new world.
– Mandy Martin, Novel, Memphis, TN

The Floating World by Axie Oh
What a ride. This book was a full blown adventure with high stakes and dire consequences. I was rooting for our characters from page one. I wanted them to succeed but even more I wanted them to find the happiness they deserved.
– Mekhala Villegas-Rogers, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, FL

Into the Rapids by Ann Braden
Into the Rapids will activate your adventurous side as Addy puts her outdoor survival skills to the test as she prepares for Survival Camp. Follow along as Addy realizes that it’s OK to stand on your own, but it’s never wrong to ask for help when you need it.
– Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, GA

J vs. K by Kwame Alexander, Jerry Craft, Jerry Craft (Illus.)
J and K’s pretend jabbing will leave you on the floor laughing. I know kids will love reading this because they will feel like they personally know these guys and they are on the inside joke.
– Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (Illus.)
From living out dreams of being a firefighter to becoming a board game piece or even finding your long-lost twin, the crayons have again taken over my heart with the friends they just can’t wait to tell us about.
– Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA

The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy, Boris Kulikov (Illus.)
A true story that will inspire children and adults alike, this book serves as a reminder that every one of us can make a difference, and no act of kindness is ever too small.
– Amanda Grell, Pearl’s Books, Fayetteville, AR

Current Read This Next! books and what SIBA booksellers have to say about them can always be found at The Southern Bookseller Review