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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Lily Leads the Way
Margi Preus
Illustrator: Matt Myers
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A tiny boat in the Great Lakes harbor saves the day when the tall ships come to town. Bold oil paint art. Back matter about bridges.
Margi Preus
Illustrator: Matt Myers
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A tiny boat in the Great Lakes harbor saves the day when the tall ships come to town. Bold oil paint art. Back matter about bridges.
Line in the Sand, The
Thao Lam
Illustrator: Thao Lam
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Monsters cavort together in the sand until they discover a line drawn in it, sparking a boundary war. Chaos ensues, obliterating the line. Now what? Bold geometrical illustrations. Wordless.
Thao Lam
Illustrator: Thao Lam
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Monsters cavort together in the sand until they discover a line drawn in it, sparking a boundary war. Chaos ensues, obliterating the line. Now what? Bold geometrical illustrations. Wordless.
Little Bat Up All Day
Brian Lies
Illustrator: Brian Lies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rusty the Squirrel and Little Bat may have different sleep schedules, but they develop a way to keep their friendship going. Realistic mixed-media illustrations.
Brian Lies
Illustrator: Brian Lies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rusty the Squirrel and Little Bat may have different sleep schedules, but they develop a way to keep their friendship going. Realistic mixed-media illustrations.
Little Houses
Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Laura Dronzek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A girl goes out with her grandparents to the beach to collect shells and wonders about the creatures who once lived in them. Dreamy acrylic illustrations.
Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Laura Dronzek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A girl goes out with her grandparents to the beach to collect shells and wonders about the creatures who once lived in them. Dreamy acrylic illustrations.
Little Santa's Workshop
Lala Watkins
Illustrator: Lala Watkins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Little Santa's getting ready for Christmas. He and his elves are building toys, checking lists, and making treats for his visit on Christmas Eve. Inviting graphics.
Lala Watkins
Illustrator: Lala Watkins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Little Santa's getting ready for Christmas. He and his elves are building toys, checking lists, and making treats for his visit on Christmas Eve. Inviting graphics.
Long Ride Home, The
Stephanie Graegin
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It's hard when a best friend moves far away. Digitally created muted color illustrations evoke nostalgia.
Stephanie Graegin
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It's hard when a best friend moves far away. Digitally created muted color illustrations evoke nostalgia.
Look and Listen: Who's in the Garden, Meadow, Brook?
Dianne White
Illustrator: Amy Schimler-Safford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The beauty of the natural world is conveyed through rhyming text and striking collage artwork, using a simple question and answer format. Back matter extends the information.
Dianne White
Illustrator: Amy Schimler-Safford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The beauty of the natural world is conveyed through rhyming text and striking collage artwork, using a simple question and answer format. Back matter extends the information.
Love Is All Around (Brown Baby Parade series)
Nikki Shannon Smith
Illustrator: Ronique Ellis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A big sister notices all the ways that love is part of her day. Mixed-media illustrations
Nikki Shannon Smith
Illustrator: Ronique Ellis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A big sister notices all the ways that love is part of her day. Mixed-media illustrations
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle
Nina LaCour
Illustrator: Kaylani Juanita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Mommy leaves on a business trip. The separation is very hard, despite much love and support from all the grown-ups. Vibrant, detailed mixed-media illustrations.
Nina LaCour
Illustrator: Kaylani Juanita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Mommy leaves on a business trip. The separation is very hard, despite much love and support from all the grown-ups. Vibrant, detailed mixed-media illustrations.
Me and My Mama
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Ashleigh Corrin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Black children of various skin tones and physical appearances reflect on the love they have for their mothers. Colorful illustrations.
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Ashleigh Corrin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Black children of various skin tones and physical appearances reflect on the love they have for their mothers. Colorful illustrations.
Me and the Family Tree
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Ashleigh Corrin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A young Black girl discovers the ways in which she is part of her family, even though she is unique. Lively, colorful illustrations accompany the lyrical rhyming text.
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Ashleigh Corrin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A young Black girl discovers the ways in which she is part of her family, even though she is unique. Lively, colorful illustrations accompany the lyrical rhyming text.
Millions of Maxes
Meg Wolitzer
Illustrator: Micah Player
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Max discovers he is not the one and only Max —a great name he is happy to share. Warm, engaging illustrations of the various Maxes.
Meg Wolitzer
Illustrator: Micah Player
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Max discovers he is not the one and only Max —a great name he is happy to share. Warm, engaging illustrations of the various Maxes.
Most Important Thing, The
Antonella Abbatiello
Illustrator: Antonella Abbatiello
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Animals all think their special characteristics are the most important, but find that such traits are absurd when superimposed on other animals. Large fold-out colored pages celebrate diversity.
Antonella Abbatiello
Illustrator: Antonella Abbatiello
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Animals all think their special characteristics are the most important, but find that such traits are absurd when superimposed on other animals. Large fold-out colored pages celebrate diversity.
Mother Goose Goes to India
Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrator: Wazza Pink
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Fifteen classic European rhymes are reimagined with Hindi words, such as London Bridge becoming Tunga Bridge. Vibrant artwork captures the sights and sounds of modern India.
Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrator: Wazza Pink
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Fifteen classic European rhymes are reimagined with Hindi words, such as London Bridge becoming Tunga Bridge. Vibrant artwork captures the sights and sounds of modern India.
Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back, The
Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Mouse takes his magical ever-expanding house to places where animals, big and small, require food and shelter, and makes them all welcome. Mixed-media illustrations with double-page spreads and center foldouts.
Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Mouse takes his magical ever-expanding house to places where animals, big and small, require food and shelter, and makes them all welcome. Mixed-media illustrations with double-page spreads and center foldouts.
Mushroom Lullaby
Kenneth Kraegel
Illustrator: Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming text and warm ink and watercolor illustrations invite readers to consider the mushroom as a cozy habitat for small creatures.
Kenneth Kraegel
Illustrator: Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming text and warm ink and watercolor illustrations invite readers to consider the mushroom as a cozy habitat for small creatures.
My Day in the Park
Marta Orzel
Illustrator: Marta Orzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Readers are invited to explore all the things that Sam discovers when taking a walk through a park. Colorful illustrations depict 14 destinations.
Marta Orzel
Illustrator: Marta Orzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Readers are invited to explore all the things that Sam discovers when taking a walk through a park. Colorful illustrations depict 14 destinations.
My Feelings
Jeffrey Turner
Illustrator: Jeffrey Turner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A prickly porcupine introduces emotions such as anger, shyness, disappointment, and excitement, each in simple, relatable text with expressive, evocative and colorful double-page spreads.
Jeffrey Turner
Illustrator: Jeffrey Turner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A prickly porcupine introduces emotions such as anger, shyness, disappointment, and excitement, each in simple, relatable text with expressive, evocative and colorful double-page spreads.
Namaste Is a Greeting
Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Simple lyrical text and animated, richly colored illustrations introduce the many meanings of namaste--peace, joy and more.
Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Simple lyrical text and animated, richly colored illustrations introduce the many meanings of namaste--peace, joy and more.
Nigel and the Moon
Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It is difficult being the only Black child in class, but loving parents and an empathetic teacher help Nigel find his voice. Appealing gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It is difficult being the only Black child in class, but loving parents and an empathetic teacher help Nigel find his voice. Appealing gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Odd Birds: Meet Nature's Weirdest Flock
Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Dramatic, strikingly bright pictures and simple text present eight very strange birds. Detailed back matter explains the reasons for their odd features.
Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Dramatic, strikingly bright pictures and simple text present eight very strange birds. Detailed back matter explains the reasons for their odd features.
Old Friends
Margaret Aitken
Illustrator: Lenny Wen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Missing activities once shared with her grandmother, Marjorie creatively finds kindred spirits at a senior center. Engaging digital art.
Margaret Aitken
Illustrator: Lenny Wen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Missing activities once shared with her grandmother, Marjorie creatively finds kindred spirits at a senior center. Engaging digital art.
Old Wood Boat
Nikki McClure
Illustrator: Nikki McClure
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A family lovingly restores a deserted wood boat which leads them to adventures. Digital illustrations resemble woodcuts. Glossary of nautical terms.
Nikki McClure
Illustrator: Nikki McClure
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A family lovingly restores a deserted wood boat which leads them to adventures. Digital illustrations resemble woodcuts. Glossary of nautical terms.
Olu and Greta
Diana Ejaita
Illustrator: Diana Ejaita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Two cousins, one from Nigeria, the other from Italy, can only meet virtually but have a rich, companionable friendship. Dramatic illustrations on black backgrounds.
Diana Ejaita
Illustrator: Diana Ejaita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Two cousins, one from Nigeria, the other from Italy, can only meet virtually but have a rich, companionable friendship. Dramatic illustrations on black backgrounds.
On a Gold Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures
Buffy Silverman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Explore changes and treasures in nature as summer turns to fall. Full-color photographs are paired perfectly with poetry. Back matter.
Buffy Silverman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Explore changes and treasures in nature as summer turns to fall. Full-color photographs are paired perfectly with poetry. Back matter.