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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Baby Day
by Jane Godwin
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Gently colored illustrations depict a variety of situations and emotions of a diverse group of children as they attend a first birthday party.
by Jane Godwin
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Gently colored illustrations depict a variety of situations and emotions of a diverse group of children as they attend a first birthday party.
Baby Dream/Soñando con bebé
by Sunny Scribens
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Soothing verses to lull an infant to sleep. Bilingual in English and Spanish. Black-and-white photographs.
by Sunny Scribens
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Soothing verses to lull an infant to sleep. Bilingual in English and Spanish. Black-and-white photographs.
Ball & Balloon
by Rob Sanders
Illustrator: Helen Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Colorful, spare illustrations accompany this poignant tale of two objects, each envious of the other, only to discover their worth when a child comes along.
by Rob Sanders
Illustrator: Helen Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Colorful, spare illustrations accompany this poignant tale of two objects, each envious of the other, only to discover their worth when a child comes along.
Bear Is Awake!
written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Bear wakes up too early ad seeks help from a little girl. After some mishaps she helps bear back to sleep. Fun-filled gouache illustrations.
written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Bear wakes up too early ad seeks help from a little girl. After some mishaps she helps bear back to sleep. Fun-filled gouache illustrations.
Beep Beep Piip Piip
written and illustrated by Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Bright pictures and playful sounds take a family on a car ride to Grandma's house. Durable die-cut pages and acrylic collage illustrations.
written and illustrated by Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Bright pictures and playful sounds take a family on a car ride to Grandma's house. Durable die-cut pages and acrylic collage illustrations.
B Is for Baby
by Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
B is for Baby and everything else encountered when Brother bicycles her to visit Baba. Vivid acrylics of Baby's experiences in a small African village.
by Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
B is for Baby and everything else encountered when Brother bicycles her to visit Baba. Vivid acrylics of Baby's experiences in a small African village.
Bloom Boom!
written and photographed by April Pulley Sayre
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Brilliant full-color photographs and concise verse depict blooming plants and small animals in a variety of springtime flowering landscapes. Extensive informational back matter.
written and photographed by April Pulley Sayre
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Brilliant full-color photographs and concise verse depict blooming plants and small animals in a variety of springtime flowering landscapes. Extensive informational back matter.
Bruno, the Standing Cat
by Nadine Robert
Illustrator: Jean Jullien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The new cat on Peter's doorstep proves to be surprisingly human, with a silly sense of humor and an abundance of love. Bold outlined, energetic illustrations.
by Nadine Robert
Illustrator: Jean Jullien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The new cat on Peter's doorstep proves to be surprisingly human, with a silly sense of humor and an abundance of love. Bold outlined, energetic illustrations.
Bunny in the Middle
by Anika A. Denise
Illustrator: Christopher Denise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The joys and challenge of being a middle bunny in the family are vivified by soft color digitally enhanced pencil illustrations.
by Anika A. Denise
Illustrator: Christopher Denise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The joys and challenge of being a middle bunny in the family are vivified by soft color digitally enhanced pencil illustrations.
Burrowing Bunnies
by Cynthia Lord
Illustrator: Hazel Mitchell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Discover how to successfully foster rabbits so that they thrive, learn to trust humans, and be adopted. Spot illustrations complement full-color illustrations.
by Cynthia Lord
Illustrator: Hazel Mitchell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Discover how to successfully foster rabbits so that they thrive, learn to trust humans, and be adopted. Spot illustrations complement full-color illustrations.
By the Light of the Moon
written and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A little frog, singing alone, asks others to add their voices. Not until the littlest voice joins in is the sound complete. Large, colorful digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A little frog, singing alone, asks others to add their voices. Not until the littlest voice joins in is the sound complete. Large, colorful digital illustrations.
Can I Keep It?
written and illustrated by Lisa Jobe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Encouraging empathy, a young boy's mother helps him seek the “better” pet for their home. Brilliantly inventive watercolor and collage illustrations.
written and illustrated by Lisa Jobe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Encouraging empathy, a young boy's mother helps him seek the “better” pet for their home. Brilliantly inventive watercolor and collage illustrations.
Caterpillar and Bean
by Martin Jenkins
Illustrator: Hannah Tolson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The stages of growth of both a bean and a caterpillar are clearly explained. Colorful mixed-media illustrations enhance the text.
by Martin Jenkins
Illustrator: Hannah Tolson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The stages of growth of both a bean and a caterpillar are clearly explained. Colorful mixed-media illustrations enhance the text.
Circle
by Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Evocative watercolor and graphite illustrations highlight three friends who experience adventure, fear, anger, and forgiveness.
by Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Evocative watercolor and graphite illustrations highlight three friends who experience adventure, fear, anger, and forgiveness.
Daddy-Sitting
written and illustrated by Eve Coy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The daughter of a stay-at-home dad describes how she helps him get through the day. Engaging watercolor and colored pencil illustrations add to the humor.
written and illustrated by Eve Coy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The daughter of a stay-at-home dad describes how she helps him get through the day. Engaging watercolor and colored pencil illustrations add to the humor.
Daniel's Good Day
written and illustrated by Micha Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Daniel questions what makes a good day in his diverse neighborhood and discovers what makes his. Engaging repetitive text and colorful oil and collage illustrations.
written and illustrated by Micha Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Daniel questions what makes a good day in his diverse neighborhood and discovers what makes his. Engaging repetitive text and colorful oil and collage illustrations.
Días y días/Days and Days
by Ginger Foglesong Guy
Illustrator: René King Moreno
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lively detailed pastels illustrate seasonal activities and vocabulary. Diverse children are pictured.
by Ginger Foglesong Guy
Illustrator: René King Moreno
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lively detailed pastels illustrate seasonal activities and vocabulary. Diverse children are pictured.
Double Bass Blues
by Andrea J. Loney
Illustrator: Rudy Gutierrez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A talented school musician, Nic, bravely journeys to the city to play with his grandfather's jazz group. Colorful acrylic illustrations convey joy and motion. Onomatopoeia.
by Andrea J. Loney
Illustrator: Rudy Gutierrez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A talented school musician, Nic, bravely journeys to the city to play with his grandfather's jazz group. Colorful acrylic illustrations convey joy and motion. Onomatopoeia.
Dragon Night
written and illustrated by J. R. Krause
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Georgie is afraid of the dark until one night a dragon, fleeing a knight, takes him on an adventure. Pen and ink drawings, colored digitally.
written and illustrated by J. R. Krause
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Georgie is afraid of the dark until one night a dragon, fleeing a knight, takes him on an adventure. Pen and ink drawings, colored digitally.
Duck!
by Meg McKinlay
Illustrator: Nathaniel Eckstrom
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Frantically, Duck screams “Duck!” to the farmyard animals who each explain what they are and scold him for screaming his name. Full page mixed media illustrations.
by Meg McKinlay
Illustrator: Nathaniel Eckstrom
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Frantically, Duck screams “Duck!” to the farmyard animals who each explain what they are and scold him for screaming his name. Full page mixed media illustrations.
Explorers
written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
On a museum visit, an “escaped” flying toy brings two diverse families together. Whimsical mixed-media illustrations tell this nearly wordless story.
written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
On a museum visit, an “escaped” flying toy brings two diverse families together. Whimsical mixed-media illustrations tell this nearly wordless story.
Field Trip to the Moon
written and illustrated by John Hare
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
F&G - In this wordless book, one curious astronaut, accidentally left behind, befriends moon creatures using the power of crayon. Rich, humorous illustrations encourage imaginative dialogue.
written and illustrated by John Hare
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
F&G - In this wordless book, one curious astronaut, accidentally left behind, befriends moon creatures using the power of crayon. Rich, humorous illustrations encourage imaginative dialogue.
Firefighters' Handbook
written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
This comprehensive guide for aspiring firefighters is packed with humor. Cartoon illustrations, labeled diagrams, and simple explanations of the profession. Back matter includes photographs and interviews.
written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
This comprehensive guide for aspiring firefighters is packed with humor. Cartoon illustrations, labeled diagrams, and simple explanations of the profession. Back matter includes photographs and interviews.
Flubby Is Not a Good Pet! (Flubby series)
written and illustrated by J. E. Morris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
list with Flubby Will Not Play With That Captivating colorful cartoon illustrations accompany spare, repetitive text to tell the humorous adventures of a child's pet cat.
written and illustrated by J. E. Morris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
list with Flubby Will Not Play With That Captivating colorful cartoon illustrations accompany spare, repetitive text to tell the humorous adventures of a child's pet cat.
Flubby Will Not Play with That
written and illustrated by J. E. Morris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
list with Flubby Is Not a Good Pet
written and illustrated by J. E. Morris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
list with Flubby Is Not a Good Pet