For our Film & Literature issue, we asked independent bookstores across Louisiana and Mississippi to send us their lists of local bestsellers—all written by authors from the Gulf South. Here were the top five contenders for tiny readers.
Our Method
The following lists are aggregations of regional booksellers' top sales lists. Each book has been published in 2025 to local acclaim. Our rankings were informed by 1) where the books fell in each respective list 2) whether book titles appeared on multiple lists, and (3) the local critical reception and impact of each book. Booksellers who contributed to our data crunch include: Baldwin and Co. Books and The Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans, The Conundrum in St. Francisville, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs and Lafayette, Lemuria Books in Jackson, and TBR Books in Baton Rouge.
[Find our adult bestsellers for 2025, here.]
The Country Roads Children's Bestseller List
1. Scrim on the Run!
by Madi Hannan
Fiction/Action and Adventure
Inspired by the true story of Scrim the dog, this book tells the tale of a beloved New Orleans pup known for his playful antics in his trek across the city.
2. Astronaut Hayley's Brave Adventure
by Hayley Arceneaux
Fiction/Inspirational
Drawn from the author’s real-life experiences, Hayley’s journey from a little girl facing a challenging illness to a brave astronaut will inspire little ones everywhere to reach for the stars.
3. Gus & Glory
by Sarah Guillory
Fiction/Mystery
This accessible whodunit follows twelve-year-old Gloria St. Romain—known as Glory—and a bloodhound named Gus as they try to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.
4. Fais Do-Do
by Shannon Kelley Atwater
Fiction/Bedtime Story
In this charmingly illustrated children’s book, readers can tap their toes in time to a Cajun fais do-do dance party.
5. Beignet Bunny
by Alexandra Davis
Fiction/Beginner Readers
Beignet Bunny is convinced he's a sugar-covered treat as he hops through New Orleans in search of a friend.
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