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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
Marta!: Big and Small
Jen Arena
Illustrator: Angela Dominguez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Clever little Marta compares herself to a variety of animals, outwitting a snake along the way. Bold graphic art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Jen Arena
Illustrator: Angela Dominguez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Clever little Marta compares herself to a variety of animals, outwitting a snake along the way. Bold graphic art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Milo Walking
James Howe
Illustrator: Sakika Kikuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Every day Milo and his mom go walking and have adventures. What will they discover today? Subtle mixed-media illustrations.
James Howe
Illustrator: Sakika Kikuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Every day Milo and his mom go walking and have adventures. What will they discover today? Subtle mixed-media illustrations.
Mine!
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A number of animals covet a lone apple hanging at the “tip-tippy top" of a tree. When it falls, chaos ensues. Imaginative rhyme. Bold relief prints.
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A number of animals covet a lone apple hanging at the “tip-tippy top" of a tree. When it falls, chaos ensues. Imaginative rhyme. Bold relief prints.
Monster-Scared
Bettina Birkjær
Illustrator: Zarah Juul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Overcome bedtime fears with a child who ultimately braves the scary attic. Pen and ink art.
Bettina Birkjær
Illustrator: Zarah Juul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Overcome bedtime fears with a child who ultimately braves the scary attic. Pen and ink art.
Mouse & Giraffe
Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Mouse and Giraffe don't seem to agree on anything. Can they learn to take each other's perspective? Bright, cartoon-style art in gouache, ink, and pencil.
Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Mouse and Giraffe don't seem to agree on anything. Can they learn to take each other's perspective? Bright, cartoon-style art in gouache, ink, and pencil.
My Dad Is a Tree
Jon Agee
Illustrator: Jon Agee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Madeleine's father reluctantly joins her play, pretending to be a tree, he has no idea of the consequences, which include becoming an animal habitat! Wry colorful collage-style illustrations.
Jon Agee
Illustrator: Jon Agee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Madeleine's father reluctantly joins her play, pretending to be a tree, he has no idea of the consequences, which include becoming an animal habitat! Wry colorful collage-style illustrations.
My Dad Loves Me and I Love My Dad
Sara Miller
Illustrator: Flavio Remontti
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Children narrate all the ways their fathers show their love for them. Exuberant, colorful illustrations depict diverse families.
Sara Miller
Illustrator: Flavio Remontti
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Children narrate all the ways their fathers show their love for them. Exuberant, colorful illustrations depict diverse families.
My Dog and I
Luca Tortolini
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl is devastated when the unusual dog she finds, a wonderful playmate, goes missing. Then she finds a cat . . . and another surprise. Soft jewel-toned watercolors.
Luca Tortolini
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl is devastated when the unusual dog she finds, a wonderful playmate, goes missing. Then she finds a cat . . . and another surprise. Soft jewel-toned watercolors.
My Dog Just Speaks Spanish
Andrea Cáceres
Illustrator: Andrea Cáceres
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Aurora's dog responds only to Spanish, but their words and love are clearly understood in their new country. Digital illustrations.
Andrea Cáceres
Illustrator: Andrea Cáceres
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Aurora's dog responds only to Spanish, but their words and love are clearly understood in their new country. Digital illustrations.
Nell Plants a Tree
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Dual time lines follow a young Black girl planting a seed and her grandchildren playing under the fully grown tree. Poetic text and warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Dual time lines follow a young Black girl planting a seed and her grandchildren playing under the fully grown tree. Poetic text and warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Nesting Dolls
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Anyiaka, the youngest in her Gullah Geechee family, compares herself and her darker skin tone to that of her beautiful big sister and other relatives. Engaging illustrations.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Anyiaka, the youngest in her Gullah Geechee family, compares herself and her darker skin tone to that of her beautiful big sister and other relatives. Engaging illustrations.
Night Frolic, The
Julie Berry
Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Animal spirit guides whisk children away on a marvelous journey through the nighttime world. Swirling graphite and digital illustrations.
Julie Berry
Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Animal spirit guides whisk children away on a marvelous journey through the nighttime world. Swirling graphite and digital illustrations.
Night in the City
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
What happens in the city when kids are sleeping? Lots of people are just waking up and going to work to do a variety of important jobs. Colorful illustrations.
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
What happens in the city when kids are sleeping? Lots of people are just waking up and going to work to do a variety of important jobs. Colorful illustrations.
Night Owl Night
Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrator: Maribel Lechuga
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Venturing out at night with her scientist mother to study saw-whet owls, Sova, a brown-skinned child, learns to watch and wait along the way. Mixed-media art. Back matter.
Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrator: Maribel Lechuga
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Venturing out at night with her scientist mother to study saw-whet owls, Sova, a brown-skinned child, learns to watch and wait along the way. Mixed-media art. Back matter.
Not a Monster
Claudia Guadalupe Martínez
Illustrator: Laura González
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Explore the life cycle and environmental challenges of the endangered axolotl and learn its Aztec origin story. Told in a mix of Spanish and English. Watercolor art. Author's note.
Claudia Guadalupe Martínez
Illustrator: Laura González
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Explore the life cycle and environmental challenges of the endangered axolotl and learn its Aztec origin story. Told in a mix of Spanish and English. Watercolor art. Author's note.
Ofrenda for Perro, An
Judith Valdés B.
Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Benito's parents help him deal with his beloved dog's death by including offerings for Perro on their Día de los Muertos altar. Warm, colorful illustrations.
Judith Valdés B.
Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Benito's parents help him deal with his beloved dog's death by including offerings for Perro on their Día de los Muertos altar. Warm, colorful illustrations.
Oh, Olive!
Lian Cho
Illustrator: Lian Cho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Greyscale illustrations represent the limited imaginations of adults in Olive Chen's world. When other children embrace the freedom and excitement of her art, Olive's unique paintings enliven their humdrum world with color.
Lian Cho
Illustrator: Lian Cho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Greyscale illustrations represent the limited imaginations of adults in Olive Chen's world. When other children embrace the freedom and excitement of her art, Olive's unique paintings enliven their humdrum world with color.
Oh, Panda
Cindy Derby
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a sympathetic narrator, Panda tries to climb an icy slope in search of a beautiful red butterfly. Hazy mixed-media illustrations.
Cindy Derby
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a sympathetic narrator, Panda tries to climb an icy slope in search of a beautiful red butterfly. Hazy mixed-media illustrations.
Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration
Natalie Daise
Illustrator: Natalie Daise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A father shares rich childhood memories with his son as the two prepare a special family dinner. Vibrant symbol-filled mixed-media art. Recipes, Gullah glossary, cultural/historical notes.
Natalie Daise
Illustrator: Natalie Daise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A father shares rich childhood memories with his son as the two prepare a special family dinner. Vibrant symbol-filled mixed-media art. Recipes, Gullah glossary, cultural/historical notes.
One
Ruth Forman
Illustrator: Katura Gaines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
One by one by one, Black girls form a soccer team. Cheerful, vibrant illustrations.
Ruth Forman
Illustrator: Katura Gaines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
One by one by one, Black girls form a soccer team. Cheerful, vibrant illustrations.
One More Jar of Jam
Michelle Sumovich
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl and her multiracial family experience joy and sorrow through the life, death, and rebirth of a mulberry tree. Second-person narration paired with lively ink, watercolor, and gouache art.
Michelle Sumovich
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl and her multiracial family experience joy and sorrow through the life, death, and rebirth of a mulberry tree. Second-person narration paired with lively ink, watercolor, and gouache art.
Otto the Ornament
Troy Cummings
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Egotistical Otto falls from the top of a spectacular tree, giving him a sense of humility and appreciation for being part of a family. Word play. Festive illustrations.
Troy Cummings
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Egotistical Otto falls from the top of a spectacular tree, giving him a sense of humility and appreciation for being part of a family. Word play. Festive illustrations.
Papa's Home
David Soman
Illustrator: David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A bear cub worries about being cared for by his aunt when his dad goes to work, but Papa and Aunt Jessie provide love and assurance. Gentle watercolor art.
David Soman
Illustrator: David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A bear cub worries about being cared for by his aunt when his dad goes to work, but Papa and Aunt Jessie provide love and assurance. Gentle watercolor art.
Pass the Baby
Susanna Reich
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pull up a chair and join a family's joyful feast as they bounce their baby around. Detailed soft mixed-media art.
Susanna Reich
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pull up a chair and join a family's joyful feast as they bounce their baby around. Detailed soft mixed-media art.
Peaceful Me
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrator: Rahele Jomepour Bell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A Black child shares many strategies for staying calm in a variety of situations. Mixed-media art carries the mood.
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrator: Rahele Jomepour Bell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A Black child shares many strategies for staying calm in a variety of situations. Mixed-media art carries the mood.