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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Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science
Bill Nye & Gregory Mone
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
An accessible overview of a multitude of areas, including the human body and climate change, draws upon the expertise of working scientists. Full color graphic and photographic images, extensive sources.
Bill Nye & Gregory Mone
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
An accessible overview of a multitude of areas, including the human body and climate change, draws upon the expertise of working scientists. Full color graphic and photographic images, extensive sources.
Blackbird Girls, The
Anne Blankman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
An unlikely friendship forms when a young girl and her nemesis are thrown together after the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.
Anne Blankman
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
An unlikely friendship forms when a young girl and her nemesis are thrown together after the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.
Black Brother, Black Brother
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Two biracial brothers in prep school present differently racially, resulting in very different treatment; the one who lives as Black is bullied, but eventually finds empowerment in fencing.
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Two biracial brothers in prep school present differently racially, resulting in very different treatment; the one who lives as Black is bullied, but eventually finds empowerment in fencing.
Blood Sport
Tash McAdam
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
A foster transexual child mourning the death of his sister finds some consolation in the boxing ring.
Tash McAdam
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
A foster transexual child mourning the death of his sister finds some consolation in the boxing ring.
Bloom
Kenneth Oppel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
As the earth is covered with possibly carnivorous plants, three unusual young people discover their ability to confront the invasion. First of a trilogy.
Kenneth Oppel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
As the earth is covered with possibly carnivorous plants, three unusual young people discover their ability to confront the invasion. First of a trilogy.
Bowl Full of Peace, A: A True Story
Caren Stelson
Illustrator: Akira Kusaka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Japan's WWII brings devastation and suffering to Sachiko's family, but grandmother's bowl, found intact amidst the wreckage, evokes treasured memories and hope for future peace. Warm digital illustrations.
Caren Stelson
Illustrator: Akira Kusaka
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Japan's WWII brings devastation and suffering to Sachiko's family, but grandmother's bowl, found intact amidst the wreckage, evokes treasured memories and hope for future peace. Warm digital illustrations.
Brave, The
James Bird
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Finally meeting his mother and encountering his Ojibwe heritage, Collin, 13, experiences love, spirituality and the strength to address his debilitating OCD.
James Bird
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Finally meeting his mother and encountering his Ojibwe heritage, Collin, 13, experiences love, spirituality and the strength to address his debilitating OCD.
Brother's Keeper
Julie Lee
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After war erupts, twelve-year-old Sora flees south from North Korea with her brother. Author's note, family photographs, Korean glossary.
Julie Lee
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After war erupts, twelve-year-old Sora flees south from North Korea with her brother. Author's note, family photographs, Korean glossary.
Canyon's Edge, The
Dusti Bowling
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After a flash flood carries away her father, Nora finds herself alone in an isolated southwestern canyon. A harrowing tale of survival, bravery, and healing.
Dusti Bowling
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After a flash flood carries away her father, Nora finds herself alone in an isolated southwestern canyon. A harrowing tale of survival, bravery, and healing.
Catherine's War
Julia Billet
Illustrator: Claire Fauvel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
To survive in France in 1942, Jewish Rachel becomes Catherine and moves around the country photographing everything she sees. Subtle ink and watercolor panels.
Julia Billet
Illustrator: Claire Fauvel
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
To survive in France in 1942, Jewish Rachel becomes Catherine and moves around the country photographing everything she sees. Subtle ink and watercolor panels.
Ceiling Made of Eggshells, A
Gail Carson Levine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Proud to be her grandfather's companion as he works to keep Jews safe from persecution in 15-century Spain, Loma still longs to realize her own dreams.
Gail Carson Levine
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Proud to be her grandfather's companion as he works to keep Jews safe from persecution in 15-century Spain, Loma still longs to realize her own dreams.
Chance: Escape from the Holocaust
Uri Shulevitz
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Deeply evocative drawings by a renowned artist intensifies this memoir of a Polish Jewish boy, whose family escaped the Nazis only to face harrowing experiences in the Soviet Union. Afterword.
Uri Shulevitz
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Deeply evocative drawings by a renowned artist intensifies this memoir of a Polish Jewish boy, whose family escaped the Nazis only to face harrowing experiences in the Soviet Union. Afterword.
Chirp
Kate Messner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After being sexually harassed by her gymnastics coach in Boston, Mia, 12, moves to Vermont where she gains confidence and solves a mystery at her grandmother's cricket farm.
Kate Messner
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
After being sexually harassed by her gymnastics coach in Boston, Mia, 12, moves to Vermont where she gains confidence and solves a mystery at her grandmother's cricket farm.
Class Act (New Kid series)
Jerry Craft
Illustrator: Jerry Craft
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Friends Jordan, Drew, and Liam spend eighth grade learning to understand each other's different economic circumstances as their school tries to become more woke. Colorful graphic panels.
Jerry Craft
Illustrator: Jerry Craft
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Friends Jordan, Drew, and Liam spend eighth grade learning to understand each other's different economic circumstances as their school tries to become more woke. Colorful graphic panels.
Closer to Nowhere
Ellen Hopkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
When troubled 12-year-old Cal comes to live with his aunt's family, he and his cousin, Hannah, share the impact. Verse with alternate voices.
Ellen Hopkins
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
When troubled 12-year-old Cal comes to live with his aunt's family, he and his cousin, Hannah, share the impact. Verse with alternate voices.
Condor Comeback (Scientists in the Field series)
Sy Montgomery
Illustrator: Tianne Strombeck
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
The heroic efforts to save the critically endangered California condor from extinction are depicted with captivating photographs. Extensive back matter.
Sy Montgomery
Illustrator: Tianne Strombeck
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
The heroic efforts to save the critically endangered California condor from extinction are depicted with captivating photographs. Extensive back matter.
Conspiracy: Nixon, Watergate, and Democracy's Defenders
Pearson P. O'Connell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Combined efforts of journalists, prosecutors, the judicial system, and Congress forced Richard Nixon to resign his presidency. A clear account of the Constitution triumphing.
Pearson P. O'Connell
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Combined efforts of journalists, prosecutors, the judicial system, and Congress forced Richard Nixon to resign his presidency. A clear account of the Constitution triumphing.
Crossing the Farak River
Michelle Aung Thin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Hasina, her brother, and cousin must survive on their own after anti-Rohingya forces in Myanmar destroy their home and they are separated from their parents. Back matter.
Michelle Aung Thin
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Hasina, her brother, and cousin must survive on their own after anti-Rohingya forces in Myanmar destroy their home and they are separated from their parents. Back matter.
Cub
Cynthia L. Copeland
Illustrator: Cynthia L. Copeland; color by Ronda Pattison
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
In the 1970s, seventh-grader Cindy encounters bullies, crushes, and friendship challenges while following her dreams to be a newspaper reporter. Colorful graphic panels.
Cynthia L. Copeland
Illustrator: Cynthia L. Copeland; color by Ronda Pattison
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
In the 1970s, seventh-grader Cindy encounters bullies, crushes, and friendship challenges while following her dreams to be a newspaper reporter. Colorful graphic panels.
Displaced
Dean Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Hadi peddles gum on a Beirut street to help his poor Syrian refugee family survive. One day, he makes a bad decision that endangers his family.
Dean Hughes
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Hadi peddles gum on a Beirut street to help his poor Syrian refugee family survive. One day, he makes a bad decision that endangers his family.
Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini
Betsy Uhrig
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
The aunt of reluctant reader Alex, 12, persuades him to improve her first novel with hilarious results as he and his friends film plot elements in search of verisimilitude.
Betsy Uhrig
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
The aunt of reluctant reader Alex, 12, persuades him to improve her first novel with hilarious results as he and his friends film plot elements in search of verisimilitude.
Dress Coded
Carrie Firestone
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Molly leads a protest against her unfair middle school dress code, while coming to terms with changing friendships, family problems, and the stresses of being 13.
Carrie Firestone
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Molly leads a protest against her unfair middle school dress code, while coming to terms with changing friendships, family problems, and the stresses of being 13.
Earth Day and the Environmental Movement: Standing Up for Earth
Christy Peterson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
A history and celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day that, in 1970, brought together different environmental groups. Bibliography.
Christy Peterson
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
A history and celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day that, in 1970, brought together different environmental groups. Bibliography.
Echo Mountain
Lauren Wolk
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Ellie, 12, develops new friendships in the Maine woods while helping her father recover from an accident during the 1930s' Great Depression. Lyrical prose about an idyllic natural world.
Lauren Wolk
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
Ellie, 12, develops new friendships in the Maine woods while helping her father recover from an accident during the 1930s' Great Depression. Lyrical prose about an idyllic natural world.
Efrén Divided
by Ernesto Cisneros
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
When his undocumented mother is deported, seventh grader Efrén takes on new responsibilities, caring for his younger siblings and going to Mexico to assist with bringing his mom back.
by Ernesto Cisneros
Ages: 12+
Published: 2020
When his undocumented mother is deported, seventh grader Efrén takes on new responsibilities, caring for his younger siblings and going to Mexico to assist with bringing his mom back.