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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Abuelita's Gift: A Día de Muertos Story
Mariana Rios Ramirez
Illustrator: Sara Palacios
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Julieta finds her own special way to bond forever with her dead grandmother at her family's Día de Muertos celebration. Mixed-media art. Spanish glossary. Back matter.
Mariana Rios Ramirez
Illustrator: Sara Palacios
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Julieta finds her own special way to bond forever with her dead grandmother at her family's Día de Muertos celebration. Mixed-media art. Spanish glossary. Back matter.
Anishinaabe Christmas, An
Wab Kinew
Illustrator: Erin Hill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
On a wintry car ride from the city to the Rez, a child learns that home is both where you live and where you come from. Intimate illustrations. Anishinaabe glossary.
Wab Kinew
Illustrator: Erin Hill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
On a wintry car ride from the city to the Rez, a child learns that home is both where you live and where you come from. Intimate illustrations. Anishinaabe glossary.
Anxious
Luciana De Luca
Illustrator: Natalí Barbani
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A girl learns to process her worried feelings through gentle care and deep breathing. Expressive illustrations with faded colors. Extensive resources on childhood anxiety.
Luciana De Luca
Illustrator: Natalí Barbani
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A girl learns to process her worried feelings through gentle care and deep breathing. Expressive illustrations with faded colors. Extensive resources on childhood anxiety.
Avocado Magic
Taltal Levi
Illustrator: Taltal Levi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
As Ellie waits to get bigger, she nurtures an avocado seed, and they grow together through the years. Warm, muted illustrations. Avocado planting instructions in back matter.
Taltal Levi
Illustrator: Taltal Levi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
As Ellie waits to get bigger, she nurtures an avocado seed, and they grow together through the years. Warm, muted illustrations. Avocado planting instructions in back matter.
Baby's Firsts
Flowerpot Press (created by)
Illustrator: Flowerpot Press (created by)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Diverse children are featured in this photographic chronicle of the milestones occurring in the initial 12 months of life.
Flowerpot Press (created by)
Illustrator: Flowerpot Press (created by)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Diverse children are featured in this photographic chronicle of the milestones occurring in the initial 12 months of life.
Bao's Doll
Bo Lu
Illustrator: Bo Lu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Misunderstood by her mother, a Taiwanese girl attempts to steal a beautiful doll. Digital art with powerful contrasting colors emphasizes the journey from emotional distance to healing connection.
Bo Lu
Illustrator: Bo Lu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Misunderstood by her mother, a Taiwanese girl attempts to steal a beautiful doll. Digital art with powerful contrasting colors emphasizes the journey from emotional distance to healing connection.
Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish, A
Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrator: Brandon James Scott
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A little fish traveling upstream eludes capture by a goofy, bumbling bear. Engaging, comical digital illustrations.
Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrator: Brandon James Scott
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A little fish traveling upstream eludes capture by a goofy, bumbling bear. Engaging, comical digital illustrations.
Bed! Bed! Bed! (Baby Step series)
Douglas Florian
Illustrator: Christiane Engel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
From putting away their toys to listening to lullabies, children get ready to go to sleep. Gently soothing rhymes. Colorful, bold, digital illustrations.
Douglas Florian
Illustrator: Christiane Engel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
From putting away their toys to listening to lullabies, children get ready to go to sleep. Gently soothing rhymes. Colorful, bold, digital illustrations.
Being Home
Traci Sorell
Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A Cherokee girl and her mother move from the city back to their ancestral lands to be closer to their community. Rich, expressive mixed-media illustrations. Cherokee glossary.
Traci Sorell
Illustrator: Michaela Goade
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A Cherokee girl and her mother move from the city back to their ancestral lands to be closer to their community. Rich, expressive mixed-media illustrations. Cherokee glossary.
Below the Ice
Michäel Escoffier
Illustrator: Ella Charbon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
In the Arctic, a little fish and her would-be captor fight for control, with the help of some friends. Humorous blue and white illustrations with touches of color.
Michäel Escoffier
Illustrator: Ella Charbon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
In the Arctic, a little fish and her would-be captor fight for control, with the help of some friends. Humorous blue and white illustrations with touches of color.
Best Friend for Bear, A
Petr Horáček
Illustrator: Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Lonely black bear and lonely brown bear both want a best friend and decide to look for one together, with surprising results. Mixed-media illustrations.
Petr Horáček
Illustrator: Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Lonely black bear and lonely brown bear both want a best friend and decide to look for one together, with surprising results. Mixed-media illustrations.
Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
Amy Hest
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
It's time to fish, but Big Bear remembers one important task after another before setting out for the lake. Gentle, bucolic illustrations in watercolor and pencil.
Amy Hest
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
It's time to fish, but Big Bear remembers one important task after another before setting out for the lake. Gentle, bucolic illustrations in watercolor and pencil.
Big Gorilla: A Book of Opposites
Anthony Browne
Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Different primates' sizes, bodies, and facial expressions depict opposites. Finely detailed, eye-catching watercolor and gouache illustrations.
Anthony Browne
Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Different primates' sizes, bodies, and facial expressions depict opposites. Finely detailed, eye-catching watercolor and gouache illustrations.
Bookie & Cookie
Blanca Gómez
Illustrator: Blanca Gómez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two little friends who live on opposite pages of a book learn to compromise. Cheery digital art with paper collage.
Blanca Gómez
Illustrator: Blanca Gómez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two little friends who live on opposite pages of a book learn to compromise. Cheery digital art with paper collage.
Boy and the Elephant, The
Freya Blackwood
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A lonely boy protects the imaginary elephant behind his house when the trees that form the elephant's body are marked for removal. Wordless. Pencil and oil painting illustrations.
Freya Blackwood
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A lonely boy protects the imaginary elephant behind his house when the trees that form the elephant's body are marked for removal. Wordless. Pencil and oil painting illustrations.
Boy on Fire, The
Sarthak Sinha
Illustrator: Sarthak Sinha
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A boy who spends his life literally burning with anger finds a kindred spirit in a star descended from the night sky. Vivid, powerful art.
Sarthak Sinha
Illustrator: Sarthak Sinha
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A boy who spends his life literally burning with anger finds a kindred spirit in a star descended from the night sky. Vivid, powerful art.
Bros
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Reggie Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A celebration of the friendship among several young Black boys as they spend a joyful day exploring their neighborhood. Sparse, rhyming text. Bold digital illustrations.
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Reggie Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A celebration of the friendship among several young Black boys as they spend a joyful day exploring their neighborhood. Sparse, rhyming text. Bold digital illustrations.
Built to Last
Minh Lê
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two boys collaborate on ever bigger construction projects, experiencing failure and success along the way. Reality and fantasy blend in bright colored pencil and watercolor art.
Minh Lê
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two boys collaborate on ever bigger construction projects, experiencing failure and success along the way. Reality and fantasy blend in bright colored pencil and watercolor art.
Bunny Should Be Sleeping
Amy Hest
Illustrator: Renata Liwska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
When Dad forgets to check on him at bedtime, Bunny leaves his bed to bring Dad water, a cookie, and their favorite story. Soft digital illustrations.
Amy Hest
Illustrator: Renata Liwska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
When Dad forgets to check on him at bedtime, Bunny leaves his bed to bring Dad water, a cookie, and their favorite story. Soft digital illustrations.
Bye Land, Bye Sea
René Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo
Illustrator: Rodolfo Montalvo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Dramatic mixed-media illustrations show the dual perspectives of an English-speaking girl lost at sea and a shipwrecked Spanish-speaking boy, who must learn to communicate and survive together. Told in Spanish and English.
René Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo
Illustrator: Rodolfo Montalvo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Dramatic mixed-media illustrations show the dual perspectives of an English-speaking girl lost at sea and a shipwrecked Spanish-speaking boy, who must learn to communicate and survive together. Told in Spanish and English.
Can I Sit in the Middle?
Susanne Strasser
Illustrator: Susanne Strasser
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Reading will commence once everyone is ready! A fun look at how hard it is to settle down before story time. Delightful acrylic illustrations.
Susanne Strasser
Illustrator: Susanne Strasser
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Reading will commence once everyone is ready! A fun look at how hard it is to settle down before story time. Delightful acrylic illustrations.
Cat and Bird (So Can We! series)
Jo Empson
Illustrator: Jo Empson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two friends show each other their talents, and then collaborate to share a skill with a new friend. Delightful mixed-media illustrations.
Jo Empson
Illustrator: Jo Empson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Two friends show each other their talents, and then collaborate to share a skill with a new friend. Delightful mixed-media illustrations.
Comet & Star: A Story of Cosmic Friendship
Lee Juck
Illustrator: Lee Jinhee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Through brief encounters once every 76 years, two celestial bodies become friends. Bright, gentle illustrations. Author's note provides information about Halley's Comet.
Lee Juck
Illustrator: Lee Jinhee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Through brief encounters once every 76 years, two celestial bodies become friends. Bright, gentle illustrations. Author's note provides information about Halley's Comet.
Counting Winter
Nancy White Carlstrom
Illustrator: Claudia McGehee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Count the creatures that live in a snow-covered forest. Free verse. Scratchboard and watercolor illustrations.
Nancy White Carlstrom
Illustrator: Claudia McGehee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
Count the creatures that live in a snow-covered forest. Free verse. Scratchboard and watercolor illustrations.
Country Baby
Laurie Elmquist
Illustrator: Ellen Rooney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A toddler and mother enjoy a wonderful day on the farm. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.
Laurie Elmquist
Illustrator: Ellen Rooney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2024
A toddler and mother enjoy a wonderful day on the farm. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.