Recs if you like Madeline...

books featured in the cozy video game “tiny bookshop”

Here you’ll find a multitude of children’s books featured in the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail, which, if you’re unfamiliar, heavily features a children’s bookstore called The Shop Around the Corner. Nothing brings me joy quite like children’s literature and 90s nostalgia, so I have painstakingly studied the shelves featured in the film to bring this list to life. I hope that at least one book here unlocks a nostalgic memory for you, or at least conjures a smile of recognition.

Classic novels for your (inner) child, with some modern staples in the mix. For reading yourself, reading aloud to little ones, and for those learning to read. Suggestions welcome, as always!

titles named after the main character of the novel.

I learned to read between 1995 (birth) and 2000, and these are the books that taught me how. As some of my peers raise their kids, I find us all returning to the first titles we remember reading to share with them and ignite their passion, and I think that's beautiful tbh.

P.S. My mom helped me make this list. 🫶🏼

perfect for bedtime or otherwise, timeless stories, gorgeous illustrations

Name generators my beloveds. Just a list made by someone whose D&D characters were mostly christened with the help of RNG. The one and only criterion: Title is a first/given name (or nickname too)! Some are verified by the book actually containing a character with that name.

The ultimate bookish read!

Instead of dancing in Target for inner child work, maybe let's start with reading kids books from our youth- and kids books that remind us of our youth.

pov: you’re nine years old and unboxing your mother’s old, dusty books and vintage toys, which will soon become a core memory of your girlhood. ༺❀♡❀༻ coming-of-age feminine stories that are old-fashioned, wondrous and romantic.

children’s books that personally bring out all the nostalgic (& sad) feelings😭✨

a mix of classics from a variety of stages, to be enjoyed at all ages

Books that are mentioned in this specific book

A list of books you can recommend to customers in the game "Tiny Bookshop". I know there are other lists dedicated to this, but my intent here is to keep this list updated as much as I can (List created on September 2026, still updating)

Middle grade/YA books about academics

This is every reference +every book mentioned in Book Lovers by Emily Henry, let me know if I missed any.

I don't have kids. Its a high possibility I will never have them, but will end up being the random aunt-uncle who lives overseas and sees my future nieces and nephews once every five years. But if I end up deciding to adopt a child or two with my partner, these are the books I'd want in their room to read to them.

defining childhood books that my mother read to me or encouraged me to read (which still hold up into adulthood). aka: the reasons I am the way I am