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For three years, LAist has turned to local booksellers and librarians for their favorite picture book recommendations.
This year, we wanted to curate recommendations for a wider swath of young readers (though we stand by the assertion that picture books are an all-ages experience).
These picture book, graphic novel, middle-grade and young adult (YA) picks take us to Taiwanese mountaintops and Pasadena farmers markets, introduce us to disobedient ghosts and pirate captains and remind us of the many types of relationships that make life meaningful — and occasionally challenging.
“When you have more stories, you see a wider rainbow of all the colors of what the world has to offer,” says Once Upon A Time bookstore manager Jessica Palacios.
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Each book on this list was written or illustrated by a Southern California-based creator and published in 2025.
Find these books
Consider shopping in person at one of the many local children's bookstores in the L.A. area. (We include a list of some of our favorites at the end of this gift guide.)
For your convenience, throughout this guide we link to BookShop.org, which supports independent bookstores.
And, finally, although this is a gift guide, you can also find many of these books at your local library — for free!
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Since it's the thought that counts, we put a lot of thought into the LAist gift guide for 2025. The gifts will be well received too, of course.
Picture books
For children ages 3 through 8 — though again, you'll enjoy them too!
Aggie and the Ghost
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Courtesy Simon & Schuster
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Paula Wiseman Books
)
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Aggie’s new house is haunted by a rambunctious, cheese-eating, sock-stealing specter. Their conflict’s crescendo is an epic game of tic-tac-toe that ends up leaving Aggie uncertain of whether she really wants to be alone.
L.A. author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe’s style — also featured on animated shows Adventure Time and The Midnight Gospel — is cozy, whimsical and slightly unsettling.
Nearly Exactly Almost Like Me
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Courtesy Atheneum
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Caitlyn Dlouhy Books / Simon & Schuster
)
When a playground bully questions the relationship between two brothers, the book’s protagonist reminds him that the bonds that connect us aren’t always visible on the surface. The blended family’s story of adoption is told in the background of the brothers’ dialogue with Pearl AuYeung’s illustrations.
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“When you read it, have your tissue box ready,” says LA County Library children’s fiction selector Grisel Oquendo.
She noticed that AuYeung included at least one dragonfly on every page, and I smiled at the younger brother’s unspoken love for sharks seen in his selection of shirt, helmet and stuffie.
Nainai’s Mountain
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Courtesy Neal Porter Books
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Holiday House
)
The vibrant illustrations of Taiwan’s cities and countryside caught the eye of Once Upon A Time Bookstore’s Palacios. The story of a young girl’s first trip to Taiwan with her family is inspired in part by L.A.-based author Livia Blackburne’s yearly childhood visits.
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“The way that the young girl is curious but also hesitant — she shows such a range of emotions,” Palacios says. You can see "she wants to connect with her grandma ... and connect with the place.”
The Fib: An Allegorical Tale About the Consequences of Lying
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Courtesy Gloo Books
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Pepe does not have anything cool to share for show-and-tell, until his imagination transforms a piece of lint into a wide-eyed, horned creature with bat wings and bear claws.
His special pet is cute but also terrorizes the school. Los Angeles Public Library Children's Librarian Caitlin Quinn says teachers and families can use the story to spark conversations about integrity and accountability. Questions to ask include: What’s happening to the Fib here? How do you think Pepe feels? or How does the Fib’s size and color reflect what’s going on in the story?
L.A. writer Pedro Iniguez manages to turn the timeworn admonishment that “lying is bad” into a story about how one little fib can unleash a monster onto the people around us. Or as Quinn puts it, "Telling the truth helps to keep our monsters small."
Yumi and Monster
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Courtesy Union Square Kids / Hachette Book Group
)
Yumi’s body feels slower and weaker than before, but with the help of a pink cane, she adventures out into the world.
On the surface, this story is about a girl and a towering, horned creature on a walk through snowy woods. But what I thought about as I read is how we learn to live with life’s unwelcome experiences.
Yumi’s journey draws from L.A. author and illustrator Kam Redlawsk’s experience living with a rare genetic disorder that has reduced her mobility over time. This is the industrial designer and disability advocate’s first book.
Bobbety
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Courtesy Bobbety
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The eponymous stars of the quarterly magazine are smiling colorful blobs created by Santa Clarita graphic designer Meeta Panesar.
“A Bobbety embraces life with wonder and curiosity, loves to learn and wants to share the joy with others,” Panesar says. “They also love a good snack.”
That’s why every issue has a section on food, in addition to fun facts, games and creative prompts tied to a central theme. The target audience is 5- to 10-year-olds, but Panesar said younger readers enjoy the bright colors.
You can buy a single issue ($20) or, for a gift that keeps on giving, a year’s subscription of four issues ($70).
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Middle-grade books
For children between 8 and 12. We've also included some graphic novels, which are illustrated but still tell complex stories and help develop visual literacy skills.
Candace, the Universe, and Everything
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Courtesy G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
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Penguin Young Readers
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When Candace opens her locker on the first day of eighth grade, a bird flies out.
“That is admittedly very strange,” says Once Upon A Time Bookstore’s Palacios. “But what's even more strange is that this bird has emerged from a wormhole.”
The portal connects Candace to a professor and a quantum physicist — women who become her friends and mentors.
Palacios says L.A. author Sherri L. Smith has created a story that is both science fiction and fantasy with themes of race, history and climate change.
Halfway to Somewhere
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Courtesy Random House Graphic
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Middle school is hard enough, but then Ave’s family moves from Mexicali to Kansas, their parents divorce and their brother Ramón decides he’d rather go by Ray and immediately makes a new best friend.
“ The illustrations in this one really stood out to me as emphasizing the kind of alienation that our protagonist Ave is experiencing,” says Los Angeles Public Library children’s librarian Maddy Gillette.
Burbank author and comic book artist Jose Pimienta also uses font color in a novel way to show Ave and their family switch back and forth between English and Spanish as they adjust to their new home.
Mixed-Up
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Courtesy First Second
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Macmillan
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Stella’s excitement about fifth grade starts to fade when a stack of thick, indecipherable textbooks lands on her desk. Suddenly, it feels like reading stands between Stella and everything — science, social studies, math and even her favorite franchise, Witchlins. But things start to change after she learns there are tools to help her navigate dyslexia.
L.A. illustrator Brittney Williams’ palette helps the story feel playful and fun, even when taking on the nuances of neurodiversity.
“Some of our young readers turn to graphic novels, partially because they're struggling with reading,” says Gillette of LAPL. “And this book really gives a window into that experience.”
Scarlet Morning
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Courtesy Quill Tree Books
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HarperCollins
)
The story begins when orphans Viola and Wilmur accept an invitation from a captain and (former) pirate to set sail in search of a mysterious missing book.
L.A. creator ND Stevenson, who’s also behind the graphic novel series Nimona and Lumberjanes, wrote the first draft of the middle-grade book as a teenager. You can see, hear, touch and even smell Viola and Wilmur’s adventure through Stevenson’s writing, and his luminous illustrations sprinkled throughout may lure in more reluctant readers.
Gillette, the Los Angeles librarian, compares the book to adventure classics like Treasure Island. “But I think it also has some really excellent relationship building,” Gillette says.
YA books
Typically best for readers 12 and up, these books often tackle more mature themes and the stickiness of adolescence.
Dan in Green Gables
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Courtesy Penguin Workshop
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This graphic novel reimagines the 1908 classic about an orphaned girl sent to live in the Canadian countryside as a story about a queer teenager trying to find his place in rural Tennessee.
“The really good thing about doing this — not just telling the original story, but switching it just a little bit — it grabs kids where they're at, and then it makes them want to know what more is there in this story?” says Once Upon A Time’s Palacios.
L.A. author Rex Ogle (pseudonym Rey Terciero) writes that he found hope in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s original book during a tumultuous period of his own childhood.
The Education of Kia Greer
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Courtesy Knopf Books for Young Readers
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This is a messy coming-of-age story dressed in the glittery gown of a guilty pleasure. L.A. writer Alanna Bennett’s debut YA novel finds Kia, 17, trying to figure out how her dreams for the future align (or don’t) with her family’s reality show stardom.
It’s really fun to experience the region through the eyes of L.A. teenagers — from illicit drives through the Santa Monica Mountains to late-night diner dates.
Hangry Hearts
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Courtesy Wednesday Books
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Macmillan
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Julie's family dim sum stand and Randall’s family Korean food stand draw the longest lines at Pasadena’s farmers market, but their rivalry is about more than customers.
Hangry Hearts is a twist on the classic tale of childhood best friends turned enemies, then secret crushes and then ... no spoilers!
L.A. author Jennifer Chen also weaves in themes of immigration, LGBTQ+ identity and the power of intergenerational relationships. And if you get hungry reading, you can follow in Julie and Randall’s footsteps and visit Monterey Park’s Huge Tree Pastry for Taiwanese breakfast.
New releases from past LAist favorites
Some of the creators featured in our 2022, 2023 and 2024 round-ups also had new books out this year!
- For more sweetly spooky adventures: Hola. ¡Adiós!, by Rhode Montijo.
- For anyone who’s ever had to explain why their family is a little different: Shoes Off, Please, by Helena Ku Rhee.
- For an L.A. science lesson: Trapped in the Tar Pit, illustrated by Alexander Vidal.
- For a riotous read-aloud: Don't Trust Fish, illustrated by Dan Santat.
Some of our favorite places to shop for children's books
Book Alley
A sprawling used book store with a sizable children’s selection. There are also some new books, and you can check their inventory online, but the magic is in wandering the aisles and picking up whatever catches your eye.
- Address: 1252 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
Children’s Book World
A longstanding and vast West L.A. outpost for children’s books.
- Address: 10580 1/2 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A.
Gallery Nucleus
There’s an eclectic shelf of books and gifts for kids at this art gallery that often highlights pop culture and also carries prints from children’s illustrators, including Matthew Forsythe from this year’s list.
- Address: 210 E. Main St., Alhambra
LA Librería
The organization specializes in Spanish-language books for kids and also hosts workshops and other events to share the diversity of Spanish-speaking cultures.
- Address: 4572 1/2 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, Mid-City
Malik Books
This bookstore’s two locations focus on African American books and gifts, including for children.
- Address: 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 245, Crenshaw; and Westfield Culver City Mall, 6000 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 2470, Culver City
MiJa Books
A local online bookseller focused on multicultural children’s books. Watch the website for appearances at school book fairs and pop-up events.
- From Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, MiJa Books will have a pop-up store at the Lakewood Mall.
- Address: 500 Lakewood Center Mall, Space 90, Lakewood
Octavia’s Bookshelf
This Pasadena bookstore is named for one of the city’s most famous authors, Octavia Butler, and carries titles mainly from authors of color.
- Address: 1353 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena
Once Upon A Time Bookstore
The nation's oldest continuously running children’s book purveyor. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot Pippi, the now-famous shop cat.
- Address: 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose
- Holiday events: The shop has a creative take on several key shopping days, including Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cider Monday. Each includes discounts and in-store treats.
Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural and Bookstore
The shop focuses on Xicanx, Latinx and Indigenous stories. The multi-use space also hosts arts workshops and other community gatherings.
- Address: 12677 Glenoaks Blvd., Sylmar
Vroman’s Bookstore
Find the children’s section on the second floor of Southern California’s oldest independent bookstore. There’s also a nice selection of games and puzzles.
- Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
LAist reviewed dozens of books to make this list and got recommendations from several kind folks. Thanks to Once Upon A Time Bookstore manager Jessica Palacios, MiJa Books owner Stephanie Moran Reed, LA County Library children’s fiction selector Grisel Oquendo, Leland R. Weaver Library children’s librarian Stephanie Lien and several staff of the Los Angeles Public Library, including Joanna Fabicon, Maddy Gillette and Caitlin Quinn.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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