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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We Love Fishing
Ariel Bernstein
Illustrator: Marc Rosenthal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Squirrel is not as enamored of the fishing trip as his buddies, but, despite his attitude and actions, their friendship endures. Humorous colorful pencil/digital illustrations.
Ariel Bernstein
Illustrator: Marc Rosenthal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Squirrel is not as enamored of the fishing trip as his buddies, but, despite his attitude and actions, their friendship endures. Humorous colorful pencil/digital illustrations.
What If Wilhelmina: A Story of Imagination Run Wild
Joseph Belisle
Illustrator: Joseph Belisle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Anxious after her cat is missing, a girl fantasizes about her beloved pet's possible fates. Sporadic text and cartoonish humorous illustrations capture family involvement.
Joseph Belisle
Illustrator: Joseph Belisle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Anxious after her cat is missing, a girl fantasizes about her beloved pet's possible fates. Sporadic text and cartoonish humorous illustrations capture family involvement.
When We Say Black Lives Matter
Maxine Beneba Clarke
Illustrator: Maxine Beneba Clarke
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Warmth, strength, and hope stand side by side with anger as Black parents help their young child understand the significance of the movement. Pastels evoke stained glass imagery.
Maxine Beneba Clarke
Illustrator: Maxine Beneba Clarke
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Warmth, strength, and hope stand side by side with anger as Black parents help their young child understand the significance of the movement. Pastels evoke stained glass imagery.
Whole Hole Story, The
Vivian McInerny
Illustrator: Ken Lamug
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A little girl goes around the world and back again when she falls through a hole in her pocket. Colorful, humorous illustrations.
Vivian McInerny
Illustrator: Ken Lamug
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A little girl goes around the world and back again when she falls through a hole in her pocket. Colorful, humorous illustrations.
Wonder Walkers
Micha Archer
Illustrator: Micha Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Exquisite evocative collage textured and patterned paper capture two children imaginatively pondering the structure and function of the natural world they encounter. (22)
Micha Archer
Illustrator: Micha Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Exquisite evocative collage textured and patterned paper capture two children imaginatively pondering the structure and function of the natural world they encounter. (22)
Woodland Dance!
Sandra Boynton
Illustrator: Sandra Boynton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
On special nights of the year, forest creatures meet for an important soiree. Rhyming text and earth-toned illustrations.
Sandra Boynton
Illustrator: Sandra Boynton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
On special nights of the year, forest creatures meet for an important soiree. Rhyming text and earth-toned illustrations.
Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken, The
Jennifer Frank
Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
The oldest daughter wants the family portrait to be perfect, but will dressing up to hide their worminess do the trick? Amusing, mixed-media illustrations. (25)
Jennifer Frank
Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
The oldest daughter wants the family portrait to be perfect, but will dressing up to hide their worminess do the trick? Amusing, mixed-media illustrations. (25)
yes & no
Elisha Cooper
Illustrator: Elisha Cooper
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A day in the life of two very different companions: an exuberant puppy and a cool cat. Spare, imagined dialog; expressive ink and watercolor illustrations.
Elisha Cooper
Illustrator: Elisha Cooper
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A day in the life of two very different companions: an exuberant puppy and a cool cat. Spare, imagined dialog; expressive ink and watercolor illustrations.
Zee Grows a Tree
Elizabeth Rusch
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Zee nurtures and grows with a tree that was planted on the day she was born. Information about trees weaves through the story. Mixed media illustrations, back matter.
Elizabeth Rusch
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Zee nurtures and grows with a tree that was planted on the day she was born. Information about trees weaves through the story. Mixed media illustrations, back matter.
13 Stories About Harris
Amy Schwartz
Illustrator: Amy Schwartz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Short playful vignettes are paired with simple line illustrations to capture moments in a toddler's urban childhood. Perfect for emergent readers and toddlers.
Amy Schwartz
Illustrator: Amy Schwartz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Short playful vignettes are paired with simple line illustrations to capture moments in a toddler's urban childhood. Perfect for emergent readers and toddlers.
ABC Animals
Christopher Evans
Illustrator: Christopher Evans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
An arresting ABC showcases a variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and more. Artistic finely textured, digital woodcuts.
Christopher Evans
Illustrator: Christopher Evans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
An arresting ABC showcases a variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and more. Artistic finely textured, digital woodcuts.
ABC WHAT CAN I BE?: You can be anything YOU want to be, from A to Z (ABC for Me series)
Jessie Ford
Illustrator: Jessie Ford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A diverse group of children are introduced to both traditional and non-traditional jobs, alphabetically arranged, from "astronaut "to “zookeeper." Animated, colorful illustrations with minimal text.
Jessie Ford
Illustrator: Jessie Ford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A diverse group of children are introduced to both traditional and non-traditional jobs, alphabetically arranged, from "astronaut "to “zookeeper." Animated, colorful illustrations with minimal text.
All Along the River
Magnus Weightman
Illustrator: Magnus Weightman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Detailed illustrations and picture clues abound in the search-and-find adventure. Join Bunny and her brothers in a journey to recover her beloved Little Duck.
Magnus Weightman
Illustrator: Magnus Weightman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Detailed illustrations and picture clues abound in the search-and-find adventure. Join Bunny and her brothers in a journey to recover her beloved Little Duck.
Almost Time
Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Young Ethan must be patient as he waits for the sap to run and for his loose tooth to fall. Expressive digitally colored illustrations.
Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Young Ethan must be patient as he waits for the sap to run and for his loose tooth to fall. Expressive digitally colored illustrations.
Animal Families: Forest
Jane Ormes
Illustrator: Jane Ormes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Bright colors, sturdy flaps, and simple text introduce readers to four different animal families in this visually striking interactive board book with screen printed illustrations.
Jane Ormes
Illustrator: Jane Ormes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Bright colors, sturdy flaps, and simple text introduce readers to four different animal families in this visually striking interactive board book with screen printed illustrations.
Animal Families: Safari
Jane Ormes
Illustrator: Jane Ormes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Bright colors, sturdy flaps, and simple text introduce readers to four different animal families in this visually striking interactive board book with screen printed illustrations.
Jane Ormes
Illustrator: Jane Ormes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Bright colors, sturdy flaps, and simple text introduce readers to four different animal families in this visually striking interactive board book with screen printed illustrations.
Animal Olympics: Creatures Great and Small Competing in Incredible, Impressive, and Extraordinary Events!
Carron Brown
Illustrator: Katy Tanis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
The surprising animal winners competing in twelve Olympic games are introduced with accompanying facts, encased in boxes, with animated color illustrations. Humorous end papers. Back matter.
Carron Brown
Illustrator: Katy Tanis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
The surprising animal winners competing in twelve Olympic games are introduced with accompanying facts, encased in boxes, with animated color illustrations. Humorous end papers. Back matter.
At the Pond
Geraldo Valério
Illustrator: Geraldo Valério
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this wordless book, a child befriends a swan. As he leashes the swan, the sky turns black. Only when he frees the swan, the pastel colors return.
Geraldo Valério
Illustrator: Geraldo Valério
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this wordless book, a child befriends a swan. As he leashes the swan, the sky turns black. Only when he frees the swan, the pastel colors return.
Bear and the Moon, The
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
After befriending a stray balloon, a gentle bear experiences the joy of companionship, the heartache of loss, and the relief of forgiveness. Expressive mixed-media illustrations.
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
After befriending a stray balloon, a gentle bear experiences the joy of companionship, the heartache of loss, and the relief of forgiveness. Expressive mixed-media illustrations.
Bear and the Moon, The
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Catia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A dreamlike tale unfolds as a bear finds a balloon, plays with it, is saddened when it bursts and then finds solace in the moon. Evocative illustrations create a gentle mood.
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Catia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A dreamlike tale unfolds as a bear finds a balloon, plays with it, is saddened when it bursts and then finds solace in the moon. Evocative illustrations create a gentle mood.
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures
Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A young child and her menagerie of wild creatures get ready for bed. Colorful mixed media illustrations.
Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A young child and her menagerie of wild creatures get ready for bed. Colorful mixed media illustrations.
Beehive
Jorey Hurley
Illustrator: Jorey Hurley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Using only one word on each two-page spread, the author follows the life cycle of a bee busy making honey. Soft pastel illustrations. Back matter.
Jorey Hurley
Illustrator: Jorey Hurley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Using only one word on each two-page spread, the author follows the life cycle of a bee busy making honey. Soft pastel illustrations. Back matter.
Bird Hugs
Ged Adamson
Illustrator: Ged Adamson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
What if your body can't do the one thing you'd imagined it had been built for? Embrace your differences! Amusing watercolor and pencil illustrations.
Ged Adamson
Illustrator: Ged Adamson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
What if your body can't do the one thing you'd imagined it had been built for? Embrace your differences! Amusing watercolor and pencil illustrations.
Bo the Brave
Bethan Woollvin
Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A griffin, a kraken, and a dragon help a young girl while disproving the prejudices of her monster-hunting brothers. Limited-palette gouache illustrations.
Bethan Woollvin
Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A griffin, a kraken, and a dragon help a young girl while disproving the prejudices of her monster-hunting brothers. Limited-palette gouache illustrations.
Brian Wildsmith's Animal Gallery
Brian Wildsmith
Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
See animals in their habitats and learn their collective names from a renowned illustrator. Watercolors, chalk, colored pencil, and gouache in this reissued 1967 artistic treasure.
Brian Wildsmith
Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
See animals in their habitats and learn their collective names from a renowned illustrator. Watercolors, chalk, colored pencil, and gouache in this reissued 1967 artistic treasure.