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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BrindleFox
John Sandford
Illustrator: John Sandford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
An unlikely connection forms between a surly fox with a tree growing from his back and a cheeky heron playing in the branches. Bright, energetic oil paintings.
John Sandford
Illustrator: John Sandford
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
An unlikely connection forms between a surly fox with a tree growing from his back and a cheeky heron playing in the branches. Bright, energetic oil paintings.
Bunny & Tree
Balint Zsako
Illustrator: Balint Zsako
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Hand-painted scenes tell the heartwarming, wordless story of a rabbit separated from its friends, and the shape-shifting tree that becomes a loyal companion. The drama unfolds in nine acts.
Balint Zsako
Illustrator: Balint Zsako
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Hand-painted scenes tell the heartwarming, wordless story of a rabbit separated from its friends, and the shape-shifting tree that becomes a loyal companion. The drama unfolds in nine acts.
Cape
Kevin Johnson
Illustrator: Kitt Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Cloaked in a cape given to him by his dad, a young brown-skinned boy finds strength and resilience on the day of his father's funeral. Immersive digital art.
Kevin Johnson
Illustrator: Kitt Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Cloaked in a cape given to him by his dad, a young brown-skinned boy finds strength and resilience on the day of his father's funeral. Immersive digital art.
Catside Up, Catside Down: A Book of Prepositions
Anna Hrachovec
Illustrator: Anna Hrachovec
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Quirky cat behaviors help introduce prepositions to young readers. Each photographed, colorful knitted kitty is positioned to express its relation to another object.
Anna Hrachovec
Illustrator: Anna Hrachovec
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Quirky cat behaviors help introduce prepositions to young readers. Each photographed, colorful knitted kitty is positioned to express its relation to another object.
Chloe's Lunar New Year
Lily LaMotte
Illustrator: Kitt Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl can't wait to celebrate the holiday with her family, carrying out old traditions and helping to prepare a feast. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Lily LaMotte
Illustrator: Kitt Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl can't wait to celebrate the holiday with her family, carrying out old traditions and helping to prepare a feast. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Cicada Symphony
Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lively rhyming text and fun facts invite readers to explore these raucous insects. Colorful digital art. Back matter.
Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lively rhyming text and fun facts invite readers to explore these raucous insects. Colorful digital art. Back matter.
Concrete Garden, The
Bob Graham
Illustrator: Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To celebrate the arrival of spring, a diverse group of neighborhood kids get together and create a colorful chalk garden outside their building. Exuberant watercolor and ink illustrations.
Bob Graham
Illustrator: Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To celebrate the arrival of spring, a diverse group of neighborhood kids get together and create a colorful chalk garden outside their building. Exuberant watercolor and ink illustrations.
Daddy & Me, Side by Side
Pierce Freelon
Illustrator: Nadia Fisher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
On a camping trip, a brown-skinned father and son's experiences hiking, fishing, and meditating in nature evoke memories of the boy's beloved grandfather. Lush, emotive illustrations.
Pierce Freelon
Illustrator: Nadia Fisher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
On a camping trip, a brown-skinned father and son's experiences hiking, fishing, and meditating in nature evoke memories of the boy's beloved grandfather. Lush, emotive illustrations.
Dear Stray
Kirsten Hubbard
Illustrator: Susan Gal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Diary entries reveal how a young girl and her adopted stray kitten learn to connect and trust each other. Animated, digitally assembled watercolor and ink illustrations.
Kirsten Hubbard
Illustrator: Susan Gal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Diary entries reveal how a young girl and her adopted stray kitten learn to connect and trust each other. Animated, digitally assembled watercolor and ink illustrations.
Delicious Story, A
Barney Saltzberg
Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Little Mouse wants a story, but Big Mouse has eaten it. Cartoon-style illustrations on white background follow sparse conversational text, leading to a surprise ending.
Barney Saltzberg
Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Little Mouse wants a story, but Big Mouse has eaten it. Cartoon-style illustrations on white background follow sparse conversational text, leading to a surprise ending.
Día de Muertos Números: A Day of the Dead Counting Book
Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Family members add items, on successive pages, to an altar to honor a departed loved one. Bold, stylized images evoke Mesoamerican art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Family members add items, on successive pages, to an altar to honor a departed loved one. Bold, stylized images evoke Mesoamerican art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Digger and the Butterfly, The
Joseph Kuefler
Illustrator: Joseph Kuefler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Trucks discover a caterpillar in their work area and slow down to feed it. Digger then patiently supports his new friend's metamorphosis. Colorful artwork.
Joseph Kuefler
Illustrator: Joseph Kuefler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Trucks discover a caterpillar in their work area and slow down to feed it. Digger then patiently supports his new friend's metamorphosis. Colorful artwork.
Dim Sum, Here We Come!
Maple Lam
Illustrator: Maple Lam
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl loves going to the dim sum restaurant every Sunday, eating and sharing lots of delicious dishes with her extended family. Bright watercolor and color pencil illustrations.
Maple Lam
Illustrator: Maple Lam
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl loves going to the dim sum restaurant every Sunday, eating and sharing lots of delicious dishes with her extended family. Bright watercolor and color pencil illustrations.
Disagreement
Nani Brunini
Illustrator: Nani Brunini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A dispute between two people builds to a mighty neighborhood quarrel, but a lone person shows a way toward possible reconciliation and collaboration. Wordless. Sweeping mixed-media illustrations.
Nani Brunini
Illustrator: Nani Brunini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A dispute between two people builds to a mighty neighborhood quarrel, but a lone person shows a way toward possible reconciliation and collaboration. Wordless. Sweeping mixed-media illustrations.
Doris
Sarah Jacoby
Illustrator: Sarah Jacoby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A performing show horse leaves the safety of home to explore the world beyond and discovers a kindred spirit. Expressive watercolor and digital illustrations.
Sarah Jacoby
Illustrator: Sarah Jacoby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A performing show horse leaves the safety of home to explore the world beyond and discovers a kindred spirit. Expressive watercolor and digital illustrations.
Do You Remember?
Sydney Smith
Illustrator: Sydney Smith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In a series of snapshot memories, a boy and his mother in their new home recall the peace and turmoil of their lives. Warm, hazy paintings.
Sydney Smith
Illustrator: Sydney Smith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In a series of snapshot memories, a boy and his mother in their new home recall the peace and turmoil of their lives. Warm, hazy paintings.
Eat Your Superpowers!: How Colorful Foods Keep You Healthy and Strong
Toni Buzzeo
Illustrator: Serge Bloch
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Twenty-five nutritious foods are organized by color, each introduced by a simple sentence, providing information about the health benefits of each. Humorous line drawings, clear photographs.
Toni Buzzeo
Illustrator: Serge Bloch
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Twenty-five nutritious foods are organized by color, each introduced by a simple sentence, providing information about the health benefits of each. Humorous line drawings, clear photographs.
Elbert in the Air
Monica Wesolowska
Illustrator: Jerome Pumphrey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Elbert can float, but as everyone else tries to keep him on the ground, his mother unfalteringly encourages him to be himself. Digitally created vintage-style art.
Monica Wesolowska
Illustrator: Jerome Pumphrey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Elbert can float, but as everyone else tries to keep him on the ground, his mother unfalteringly encourages him to be himself. Digitally created vintage-style art.
Elena Rides
Juana Medina
Illustrator: Juana Medina
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a bird friend, an elephant, frustrated by many attempts to ride a two-wheeler, finally succeeds. Simple rhymed couplets. Bold digital illustrations.
Juana Medina
Illustrator: Juana Medina
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a bird friend, an elephant, frustrated by many attempts to ride a two-wheeler, finally succeeds. Simple rhymed couplets. Bold digital illustrations.
Everybody Has a Body
Molli Jackson Ehlert
Illustrator: Lorian Tu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Examples of differences in appearances are linked by what they have in common: we all have bodies. Expressive drawings of bodies engaged in many activities.
Molli Jackson Ehlert
Illustrator: Lorian Tu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Examples of differences in appearances are linked by what they have in common: we all have bodies. Expressive drawings of bodies engaged in many activities.
Finding Papa
Angela Pham Krans
Illustrator: Thi Bui
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Years after Mai's father leaves Vietnam for a better life in America, she and her mother make the dangerous journey to join him. Muted pastel illustrations. Back matter.
Angela Pham Krans
Illustrator: Thi Bui
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Years after Mai's father leaves Vietnam for a better life in America, she and her mother make the dangerous journey to join him. Muted pastel illustrations. Back matter.
Fix and Stitch
Barbara Nass
Illustrator: Liza Woodruff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Squirrel tries to prepare for the coming winter, but he is constantly interrupted by friends who need help. Will he be ready in time? Expressive color illustrations.
Barbara Nass
Illustrator: Liza Woodruff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Squirrel tries to prepare for the coming winter, but he is constantly interrupted by friends who need help. Will he be ready in time? Expressive color illustrations.
Forever Our Home
Tonya Simpson
Illustrator: Carla Joseph
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Enter the prairie with this gentle lullaby honoring the land and First Nations people of North America. Vibrant acrylic art with close-ups of wildlife and expansive landscape imagery. Also available in Plains Cree and English.
Tonya Simpson
Illustrator: Carla Joseph
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Enter the prairie with this gentle lullaby honoring the land and First Nations people of North America. Vibrant acrylic art with close-ups of wildlife and expansive landscape imagery. Also available in Plains Cree and English.
Full Moon Pups
Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Chuck Groenink
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A litter of wolves born under a full moon learn the ways of the world in their first month of life. Glowing mixed-media art. Engaging back matter.
Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Chuck Groenink
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A litter of wolves born under a full moon learn the ways of the world in their first month of life. Glowing mixed-media art. Engaging back matter.
Giraffe Is Too Tall for This Book
DK Ryland
Illustrator: DK Ryland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Can you help the cramped animals fit in this interactive topsy-turvy book? Fun for everyone! Bright cartoon-style digital art.
DK Ryland
Illustrator: DK Ryland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Can you help the cramped animals fit in this interactive topsy-turvy book? Fun for everyone! Bright cartoon-style digital art.