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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Kol Hakavod
by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh
Illustrator: Sarah-Jayne Mercer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Good deeds done when no one is looking are praised by the Hebrew phrase. Rhyming text and endearing colorful watercolor illustrations.
by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh
Illustrator: Sarah-Jayne Mercer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Good deeds done when no one is looking are praised by the Hebrew phrase. Rhyming text and endearing colorful watercolor illustrations.
Lawrence in the Fall
by Matthew Farina
Illustrator: Doug Salati
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lawrence needs to bring something he collects for “show-and-tell,” but he doesn't collect anything. What will he do? Lush, muted color illustrations.
by Matthew Farina
Illustrator: Doug Salati
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lawrence needs to bring something he collects for “show-and-tell,” but he doesn't collect anything. What will he do? Lush, muted color illustrations.
Let Me Sleep, Sheep!
by Meg McKinlay
Illustrator: Leila Rudge
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Amos must build a fence for the sheep suddenly crowding his room to jump over. Amusing deadpan text and unusual mixed-media illustrations in a pale palette.
by Meg McKinlay
Illustrator: Leila Rudge
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Amos must build a fence for the sheep suddenly crowding his room to jump over. Amusing deadpan text and unusual mixed-media illustrations in a pale palette.
Let's Have a Dog Party!
illustrated by Mikela Prevost
Illustrator: Mikela Prevost
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Frank prefers a nap in the sun to all the noisy festivities his friends provide but does love the cake! Humorous watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and collage illustrations.
illustrated by Mikela Prevost
Illustrator: Mikela Prevost
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Frank prefers a nap in the sun to all the noisy festivities his friends provide but does love the cake! Humorous watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and collage illustrations.
Little Fish and Mommy
written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Little fish explores the ocean environment with mommy. Appealing gouache illustrations and hand lettering.
written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Little fish explores the ocean environment with mommy. Appealing gouache illustrations and hand lettering.
Little Juniper Makes It Big
written and illustrated by Aidan Cassie
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Juniper finds everything at her house too big, but after a visit to a small friend's home, it becomes just right--almost. Humorous, expressive illustrations.
written and illustrated by Aidan Cassie
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Juniper finds everything at her house too big, but after a visit to a small friend's home, it becomes just right--almost. Humorous, expressive illustrations.
Little Mole's Wish
by Sang-Keun Kim
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A lonely child befriends a snowball which he fashions into a bear. How can he keep his friend? Colored pencil pastel and pen illustrations.
by Sang-Keun Kim
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A lonely child befriends a snowball which he fashions into a bear. How can he keep his friend? Colored pencil pastel and pen illustrations.
Little Taco Truck
by Tanya Valentine
Illustrator: Jorge Martin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Little Taco Truck is suddenly forced to share the street with other food trucks. A real life dilemma told simply and sympathetically. Appealing digital illustrations.
by Tanya Valentine
Illustrator: Jorge Martin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Little Taco Truck is suddenly forced to share the street with other food trucks. A real life dilemma told simply and sympathetically. Appealing digital illustrations.
Lizzy McTizzy and the Busy Dizzy Day
by Sarah Weeks
Illustrator: Lee Wildish
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lizzy needs to find her matching blue shoe before she can attend the birthday party . . . or does she? Cheerful and bright digital illustrations.
by Sarah Weeks
Illustrator: Lee Wildish
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lizzy needs to find her matching blue shoe before she can attend the birthday party . . . or does she? Cheerful and bright digital illustrations.
Lola Goes to School
by Anna McQuinn
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lola prepares for and attends her first day of preschool. Gentle full-page drawings of each activity.
by Anna McQuinn
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Lola prepares for and attends her first day of preschool. Gentle full-page drawings of each activity.
Mommy Sayang (Pixar Animation Studios Artist Showcase series)
written and illustrated by Rosana Sullivan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Aleeya's mother promises to always be there for her. When she gets sick, Aleeya must deal with the changes. Softly colored digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Rosana Sullivan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Aleeya's mother promises to always be there for her. When she gets sick, Aleeya must deal with the changes. Softly colored digital illustrations.
My Big Bad Monster
written and illustrated by A. N. Kang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A young girl deals with an internal scolding voice that reinforces her feelings of self-doubt. Bright colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by A. N. Kang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A young girl deals with an internal scolding voice that reinforces her feelings of self-doubt. Bright colorful illustrations.
My Forest Is Green
by Darren Lebeuf
Illustrator: Ashley Barron
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Playful, layered collage illustrations detail one boy's experience exploring in the woods.
by Darren Lebeuf
Illustrator: Ashley Barron
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Playful, layered collage illustrations detail one boy's experience exploring in the woods.
My Heart
written and illustrated by Corinna Luyken
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
With minimal color palette and lyrical text, children are empowered to examine the many emotional states of their heart as well as to deal with them,
written and illustrated by Corinna Luyken
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
With minimal color palette and lyrical text, children are empowered to examine the many emotional states of their heart as well as to deal with them,
My Mommy Medicine
by Edwidge Danticat
Illustrator: Shannon Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A little girl and her mother share games, treats, hugs, and bedtime stories in a quiet celebration of love. Digital illustrations portray an African American family.
by Edwidge Danticat
Illustrator: Shannon Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A little girl and her mother share games, treats, hugs, and bedtime stories in a quiet celebration of love. Digital illustrations portray an African American family.
Night Train
by Annie Cronin Romano
Illustrator: Ileana Soon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Rhythmic words, repeated sounds, and retro digital illustrations evoke a sense of the nighttime journeys of trains in days gone by.
by Annie Cronin Romano
Illustrator: Ileana Soon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Rhythmic words, repeated sounds, and retro digital illustrations evoke a sense of the nighttime journeys of trains in days gone by.
Nine Months
by Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Realistic gouache and watercolor illustrations of the growing fetus pair with rhyming text to celebrate a family preparing to welcome a baby.
by Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Realistic gouache and watercolor illustrations of the growing fetus pair with rhyming text to celebrate a family preparing to welcome a baby.
Oh, Bear
by Melissa Nelson Greenberg
Illustrator: Ruth Hengeveld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
When bird rescues Bear's new yellow kite from a tree, Bear discovers that his loss leads to an even more satisfying experience. Simple pastel illustrations.
by Melissa Nelson Greenberg
Illustrator: Ruth Hengeveld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
When bird rescues Bear's new yellow kite from a tree, Bear discovers that his loss leads to an even more satisfying experience. Simple pastel illustrations.
One Dark Bird
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Vivid hand-drawn and digital art accompany this engaging rhymed counting book about starlings as they swoop over a diverse neighborhood.
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Vivid hand-drawn and digital art accompany this engaging rhymed counting book about starlings as they swoop over a diverse neighborhood.
One Fox
written and illustrated by Kate Read
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Count along and find out what happens when a hungry fox unexpectedly arrives at a henhouse. Striking mixed media illustrations with textured collage and painting.
written and illustrated by Kate Read
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Count along and find out what happens when a hungry fox unexpectedly arrives at a henhouse. Striking mixed media illustrations with textured collage and painting.
One Is a Piñata
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Illustrator: John Parra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Engaging verses and lively, colorful illustrations highlighting Mexican American culture teach children how to count in both English and Spanish.
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Illustrator: John Parra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Engaging verses and lively, colorful illustrations highlighting Mexican American culture teach children how to count in both English and Spanish.
One Yellow Ribbon
written and illustrated by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A wordless board book follows the journey of one yellow ribbon as it trasforms into other objects. Detailed paper collage artwork.
written and illustrated by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
A wordless board book follows the journey of one yellow ribbon as it trasforms into other objects. Detailed paper collage artwork.
Our Favorite Day
written and illustrated by Joowon Oh
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The loving and creative relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild is depicted in colorful cut paper illustrations.
written and illustrated by Joowon Oh
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
The loving and creative relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild is depicted in colorful cut paper illustrations.
Paper Mice
by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Illustrator: Phoebe Wahl
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Two paper rodents, created by a clip and a snip, set out to explore the night. Lyrical text and layered mixed-media illustrations.
by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Illustrator: Phoebe Wahl
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2019
Two paper rodents, created by a clip and a snip, set out to explore the night. Lyrical text and layered mixed-media illustrations.