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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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: 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.
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.
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.
Brick by Brick
Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Illustrator: Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A loving Latino father and son work toward a dream of owning their "always" home in America. Creative collage-based digital paintings.
Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Illustrator: Heidi Woodward Sheffield
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A loving Latino father and son work toward a dream of owning their "always" home in America. Creative collage-based digital paintings.
Bug Dipping, Bug Sipping (Ready -To-Read series)
Marilyn Singer
Illustrator: Lucy Semple
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A simple, rhyming, easy-to-read introduction to bugs and their habits. Colorful digital art and bug facts for the curious reader.
Marilyn Singer
Illustrator: Lucy Semple
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A simple, rhyming, easy-to-read introduction to bugs and their habits. Colorful digital art and bug facts for the curious reader.
Button Book, The
Sally Nicholls
Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this interactive book, animals press different buttons to explore shapes, colors, and actions. Humorous splashes of colors match the buttons. Mixed-media illustrations.
Sally Nicholls
Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this interactive book, animals press different buttons to explore shapes, colors, and actions. Humorous splashes of colors match the buttons. Mixed-media illustrations.
Bye, Penguin!
Seou Lee
Illustrator: Seou Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Stranded, Penguin travels the world on a shrinking ice floe, only to return on a surfboard. Wordless. Digital illustrations show world sights like the Statue of Liberty.
Seou Lee
Illustrator: Seou Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Stranded, Penguin travels the world on a shrinking ice floe, only to return on a surfboard. Wordless. Digital illustrations show world sights like the Statue of Liberty.
Cannonball Coralie and the Lion
Grace Easton
Illustrator: Grace Easton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
When Coralie is dismissed by a cruel ring master, her bravery and dignity motivate her lion friend and others to follow. Quirky engaging digital illustrations.
Grace Easton
Illustrator: Grace Easton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
When Coralie is dismissed by a cruel ring master, her bravery and dignity motivate her lion friend and others to follow. Quirky engaging digital illustrations.
Catch That Chicken
Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Spare, alliterative text joins bold mixed-media illustrations in this joyful tale of a resourceful Nigerian girl in her quest to catch chickens.
Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Spare, alliterative text joins bold mixed-media illustrations in this joyful tale of a resourceful Nigerian girl in her quest to catch chickens.
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family
Nelly Buchet
Illustrator: Andrea Zuill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this nearly wordless story, two people move in together very happily. But will their pets get along too? Humorous energetic digital ink illustrations.
Nelly Buchet
Illustrator: Andrea Zuill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
In this nearly wordless story, two people move in together very happily. But will their pets get along too? Humorous energetic digital ink illustrations.
Cave Dada
Brandon Reese
Illustrator: Brandon Reese
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
When Cave Baby demands the perfect bedtime book, Cave Dada looks for the perfect stone tablet. Hilarious color pencil, gouache, and Photoshop illustrations.
Brandon Reese
Illustrator: Brandon Reese
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
When Cave Baby demands the perfect bedtime book, Cave Dada looks for the perfect stone tablet. Hilarious color pencil, gouache, and Photoshop illustrations.
Christmas Is Joy
Emma Dodd
Illustrator: Emma Dodd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A little reindeer discovers the true meaning of Christmas - joy, love, family, and peace. Gentle expressive digital illustrations on double-page spreads.
Emma Dodd
Illustrator: Emma Dodd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
A little reindeer discovers the true meaning of Christmas - joy, love, family, and peace. Gentle expressive digital illustrations on double-page spreads.
Cookie Boo
Ruth Paul
Illustrator: Ruth Paul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Vibrant digital illustrations and shiny cover enhance this rhyming tale of cookies escaping the cookie tin for an adventurous Halloween night. Entertaining, attractive read-aloud.
Ruth Paul
Illustrator: Ruth Paul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Vibrant digital illustrations and shiny cover enhance this rhyming tale of cookies escaping the cookie tin for an adventurous Halloween night. Entertaining, attractive read-aloud.
Cozy
Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Exquisitely detailed watercolor illustrations immerse us in this gentle tale of Arctic tundra animals sheltering from a storm within a wooly musk ox's coat.
Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2020
Exquisitely detailed watercolor illustrations immerse us in this gentle tale of Arctic tundra animals sheltering from a storm within a wooly musk ox's coat.