Welcome to the Bank Street Children's Book Committee's (CBC) Searchable Best Books List, a tool designed to help educators, families, librarians, and others access developmentally appropriate and engaging books for young readers (ages birth - 18).
Our online Searchable Best Books List draws from the committee's annual Best Children's Books of the Year-beginning with the list of books published in 2000-with each featuring more than 600 high-quality titles for young readers.
To share feedback about the tool, please feel free to email bookcom@bankstreet.edu. To learn more about the CBC, visit https://www.bankstreet.edu/cbc/.
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La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust series)
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: Chris Wormell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Teenagers Malcolm and Alice rescue baby Lyra from the dangers of a flood and the forces of evil in this prequel to The Golden Compass. Dramatic foreboding illustrations.
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: Chris Wormell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Teenagers Malcolm and Alice rescue baby Lyra from the dangers of a flood and the forces of evil in this prequel to The Golden Compass. Dramatic foreboding illustrations.
Locked Up for Freedom
by Heather E. Schwartz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Over 30 black girls persevere through horrible conditions in a Georgia Civil War-era stockade after participating in 1963 Civil Rights marches. Back matter. Black-and-white photographs.
by Heather E. Schwartz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Over 30 black girls persevere through horrible conditions in a Georgia Civil War-era stockade after participating in 1963 Civil Rights marches. Back matter. Black-and-white photographs.
Making Bombs for Hitler
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Lida, an ethnic Ukranian, is captured with her sister to assist the Nazis in the war effort and faces hardships in a brutal work camp.
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Lida, an ethnic Ukranian, is captured with her sister to assist the Nazis in the war effort and faces hardships in a brutal work camp.
Meet Cindy Sherman
by Jan Greenberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
ARC - Color photographs follow the career of a New York City woman who combines photography with a passion for the unusual. Back matter.
by Jan Greenberg
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
ARC - Color photographs follow the career of a New York City woman who combines photography with a passion for the unusual. Back matter.
No More No Name
by Tim Tingle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Though Bobby's father stops drinking and his basketball team starts winning, life is still full of complications.
by Tim Tingle
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Though Bobby's father stops drinking and his basketball team starts winning, life is still full of complications.
Now or Never!
by Ray Anthony Shepard
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
The narratives of two enlistees form the backdrop to a detailed look at the United States' first all-black regiment during the Civil War. Archival photographs. Backmatter.
by Ray Anthony Shepard
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
The narratives of two enlistees form the backdrop to a detailed look at the United States' first all-black regiment during the Civil War. Archival photographs. Backmatter.
One Last Word
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Fresh contemporary poems to be read along side classic works from premier artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Beautifully illustrated by various artists. Back matter. Index.
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Fresh contemporary poems to be read along side classic works from premier artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Beautifully illustrated by various artists. Back matter. Index.
One Shadow on the Wall
by Leah Henderson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Mor, an 11-year-old boy in a Senegalese village, must care for his younger sisters when both parents die, struggling with a local gang and daily hardships.
by Leah Henderson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Mor, an 11-year-old boy in a Senegalese village, must care for his younger sisters when both parents die, struggling with a local gang and daily hardships.
Piecing Me Together
by Renée Watson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
When Jade is nominated by her predominantly white private high school to join a mentoring program for black girls, she seeks support on her own terms.
by Renée Watson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
When Jade is nominated by her predominantly white private high school to join a mentoring program for black girls, she seeks support on her own terms.
Poison
by Sarah Albee
Illustrator: Karl Newsom Edwards
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
This fascinating history of deadly substances throughout the ages informs and entertains while providing historical insight. Cartoons and photo reproductions enrich the text. Extensive back matter.
by Sarah Albee
Illustrator: Karl Newsom Edwards
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
This fascinating history of deadly substances throughout the ages informs and entertains while providing historical insight. Cartoons and photo reproductions enrich the text. Extensive back matter.
Pretty
by Justin Sayre
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Coping with the challenges of growing up and an alcoholic mother, Sophie, a light-skinned Brooklyn black girl, works to develop her unique talents and beauty.
by Justin Sayre
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Coping with the challenges of growing up and an alcoholic mother, Sophie, a light-skinned Brooklyn black girl, works to develop her unique talents and beauty.
Protected
by Claire Zorn
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
ARC - The death of 15-year-old Hannah's older sister, Katie, threatens to destroy her and her family.
by Claire Zorn
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
ARC - The death of 15-year-old Hannah's older sister, Katie, threatens to destroy her and her family.
Racial Profiling
by Alison Marie Behnke
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Explore historical and contemporary perspectives in racial literacy, including prejudice and privilege, the criminal justice system, counter-terrorism, and Islamophobia. Concludes with calls for change.
by Alison Marie Behnke
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Explore historical and contemporary perspectives in racial literacy, including prejudice and privilege, the criminal justice system, counter-terrorism, and Islamophobia. Concludes with calls for change.
Refugee
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Young people and their families leave their countries and risk their lives to seek their freedom in 1939, 1994, and 2015. Powerful and timely.
by Alan Gratz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Young people and their families leave their countries and risk their lives to seek their freedom in 1939, 1994, and 2015. Powerful and timely.
Restart
by Gordon Korman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
When a roof-to-ground fall leads to a concussion and amnesia, Chase must reinvent himself from sports-star and bully to ”nerdy” filmmaker and generous friend.
by Gordon Korman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
When a roof-to-ground fall leads to a concussion and amnesia, Chase must reinvent himself from sports-star and bully to ”nerdy” filmmaker and generous friend.
Robert Frost (Poetry for Kids series)
edited by Jay Parini
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
By defining words, this accessible collection of odes to the natural world by America's famous poet summarizes each poem and includes simple evocative illustrations.
edited by Jay Parini
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
By defining words, this accessible collection of odes to the natural world by America's famous poet summarizes each poem and includes simple evocative illustrations.
Roll
by Darcy Miller
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Reluctantly training for cross-country tryouts, Ren starts to feel passion for another type of competition after meeting his new neighbor Sutton and her racing Birmingham Roller Pigeons.
by Darcy Miller
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Reluctantly training for cross-country tryouts, Ren starts to feel passion for another type of competition after meeting his new neighbor Sutton and her racing Birmingham Roller Pigeons.
Saints and Misfits
by S. K. Ali
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Janna, 15, tries to make sense of her life after being sexually assaulted by her best friend's cousin, a well-respected boy at her mosque.
by S. K. Ali
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Janna, 15, tries to make sense of her life after being sexually assaulted by her best friend's cousin, a well-respected boy at her mosque.
Satellite
by Nick Lake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Three children are born in a space station. What happens when they are returned to earth and experience gravity for the first time?
by Nick Lake
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Three children are born in a space station. What happens when they are returned to earth and experience gravity for the first time?
See You in the Cosmos
by Jack Cheng
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Attending a rocket festival to launch his own entry leads to many adventures for eleven-year-old Alex and to a surprising discovery about his dead father.
by Jack Cheng
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Attending a rocket festival to launch his own entry leads to many adventures for eleven-year-old Alex and to a surprising discovery about his dead father.
Seven Wonders of the Solar System (Smithsonian series)
by David A. Aguilar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Explore seven extraordinary celestial wonders from the Olympus Mons on Mars to mysterious Planet 9. Photographs and gorgeous paintings. Back matter.
by David A. Aguilar
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Explore seven extraordinary celestial wonders from the Olympus Mons on Mars to mysterious Planet 9. Photographs and gorgeous paintings. Back matter.
Slider
by Pete Hautman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Being the middle sibling between an A+ college sister and an autistic brother is challenging, but David hopes for fame and fortune in a competitive pizza-eating contest.
by Pete Hautman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Being the middle sibling between an A+ college sister and an autistic brother is challenging, but David hopes for fame and fortune in a competitive pizza-eating contest.
Sparrow
by Sarah Moon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Eighth grade Brooklynite Sparrow has no friends. Instead she finds solace in hatching birds until the death of her beloved librarian leads her to seek therapy.
by Sarah Moon
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Eighth grade Brooklynite Sparrow has no friends. Instead she finds solace in hatching birds until the death of her beloved librarian leads her to seek therapy.
Speaking Our Truth
by Monique Gray Smith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Smith, of mixed-heritage herself, describes the experiences of Indigenous children forced to attend residential schools and seeks to involve readers in active reconciliation efforts. Bibliography, glossary, index.
by Monique Gray Smith
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Smith, of mixed-heritage herself, describes the experiences of Indigenous children forced to attend residential schools and seeks to involve readers in active reconciliation efforts. Bibliography, glossary, index.
Speed of Life
by Carol Weston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Grieving her mother's death, Sofia, 14, emails columnist “Dear Kate” anonymously for advice and then discovers that her father is dating Kate.
by Carol Weston
Ages: 12+
Published: 2017
Grieving her mother's death, Sofia, 14, emails columnist “Dear Kate” anonymously for advice and then discovers that her father is dating Kate.