With autumn approaching, it’s a great time to slow down, put your feet up, and enjoy a great read. What are chilly fall days meant for if not that? It’s still warm here in Nashville, but September weather has a way of turning, so stock up on some good books now!

Tobi enjoys the park. There are so many families to meet, but one is his favorite in this sweet picture book filled with dogs and their families.

If ever I find myself haunted I hope it’s by the sweet ghost in this book. Aggie is excited to live on her own until she realizes her house is haunted by a mischievous ghost. When she tries to set some rules, our little ghost can’t seem to listen. A delightful story about rules and sharing and what it means to compromise.

Also loved by Jake & Rae Ann!

In this beautifully illustrated woodland picture book, best friends squirrel and bird teach you not to believe everything you read!

Evie wants a cool pet, not a “plain old cat.” When her cat Sasha finds a snake in the backyard, Evie’s boring pet problems are over. Or are they? Evie takes her new pet Slithers to show-and-tell and catches the snake trying to escape. This is a cute story about loving what’s in front of you and letting things go that aren’t meant to be yours.

A wonderful story about taking time to slow down and appreciate the little things in our busy lives. The story and illustrations are equally beautiful. A perfect read for grandparents and grandkids alike.

This rhyming picture book feels like a journey through the big wide world. Beautiful illustrations paired with charming text make for the perfect readaloud.

Eating the same things is boring, so when Taco Knight shows up it’s new and exciting, but if every night is Taco Knight…I loved this book because it reminded my mom about variety so I have gotten to try some new things. Cheese makes a great treat!

Autumnal and (as the title states) only slightly spooky! Fox and Mole’s friendship is tested through their opposing ideals and the possible existence of a scuttling monster!

Come enjoy a creep-a-licious Halloween dinner at The Rotten Core restaurant! The ghoulish guests receive their favorite meals: moldy brie a la maggot; pickled parasites on papyrus; thinly-sliced bat wings with rotten radishes! Perfect illustrations highlight this icky menu, and a surprise honored guest steals the show!

The intended audience for this book is kiddos who are learning about emotional regulation. But picture books are for everyone, including this thirty-four-year-old bookseller who’s just trying to make it through the year 2025.

Boulder wants to see Cactus’s flowers bloom up close, but how can a boulder move? This simple story about acts of kindness touched my heart. Most of the action is told through images, so it’s a great discussion starter with little ones!

What fun to be in 6th grade on a university campus! Well, not so much at first if it was their parents’ idea and they didn’t know each other. As they learn to think creatively and start to enjoy the loose structure it is pleasing to see them bond together and grow.

The shindig is coming! But is it a party or a monster? The animals of the forest find out in the quirky tale full of chaos, snacks, and one dictionary.

The kids are at it again to help their grandfather solve a 60 year old mystery from when he was a teen. He and his father had delivered hardware to a Miami hotel during Hurricane Cleo in 1964. A vault full of jewels had been stolen and the thief never found.

A dragon queendom and a human queendom live under a tentative truce after their last war left both leaders dead. When the next dragon queen has to take on human form to maintain the truce, she and the human princess discover a bloody war plot and must work through their disdain (and growing feelings) to keep the peace.

Angeline Bouley returns to the world of Firekeeper’s Daughter with the story of Lucy, an Ojibwe girl who has been bruised by the foster system and is running from some secrets she’d rather keep hidden. An emotional story about belonging, identity, and trust, Sisters in the Wind kept my heart in my throat long after I turned the last page.

Also loved by Katie!

Fifty years after its publication, this heartfelt story of friendship and immortality is just as timeless as the Tuck family itself. This is a book that will stay with you forever.

Also loved by Sarah and Ester!

The September 2025 Sprout Book Club selection is If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall. Two children pretend to be dogs as the oldest directs their playtime from tail wagging to stick fetching. When the younger one decides to quack like a duck, playtime joyfully continues in this delightful book. BONUS: Illustrations feature Sparky, the original Parnassus shop dog.

Early praise for the book:

“Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.” – Kirkus

The September 2025 Spark Book Club selection is The Experiment by Rebecca Stead. Nathan and his parents are “Visitors” from another planet. They don’t call themselves aliens. When Nathan grows a tail, they are recalled to the Wagon, where his parents were raised on their journey to Earth. Soon Nathan realizes something on the Wagon is very wrong in this sci-fi mystery.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Compelling and page-turning.” – Kirkus

The September 2025 ParnassusNext selection is Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley. Lucy is an 18 year-old on the run from the foster care system. A stranger approaches her with an offer. He helps Native American teens find their families and wants to reunite her with hers. When a bomb goes off in the diner where she works, she’s sure someone is targeting her. This is an explosive story about seeking vindication from a past that won’t let go.

Early praise for the novel:

“A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller elements.” – Kirkus, starred review