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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Blue Ethel
written and illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A large cat is very content until she accidentally turns herself blue. She then learns about true friendship. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A large cat is very content until she accidentally turns herself blue. She then learns about true friendship. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
Boo!/Bu!
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
It's Halloween! Get ready in Spanish and English. Heavily outlined and vibrant acrylic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
It's Halloween! Get ready in Spanish and English. Heavily outlined and vibrant acrylic illustrations.
Bulldozer Helps Out
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Bulldozer finally gets his big chance to help out at a construction site with surprising but lovable results. Bold, expressive relief block print illustrations.
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Bulldozer finally gets his big chance to help out at a construction site with surprising but lovable results. Bold, expressive relief block print illustrations.
Charlotte and the Rock
by Stephen W. Martin
Illustrator: Samantha Cotterill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Charlotte wants a pet and receives one for her birthday - a pet rock. Can it love her back? Humorous pen-and-ink art.
by Stephen W. Martin
Illustrator: Samantha Cotterill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Charlotte wants a pet and receives one for her birthday - a pet rock. Can it love her back? Humorous pen-and-ink art.
Circle, Triangle, Elephant!
by Kenji Oikawa
Illustrator: Mayuko Takeuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Other objects - lemons, boats, and elephants - will surprise young viewers observing the shapes in this clever, appealing board book. Bold, colorful illustrations.
by Kenji Oikawa
Illustrator: Mayuko Takeuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Other objects - lemons, boats, and elephants - will surprise young viewers observing the shapes in this clever, appealing board book. Bold, colorful illustrations.
City Moon
by Rachael Cole
Illustrator: Blanca Gómez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A mother and her son take a quiet walk before bedtime and search for the moon. Keenly observed illustrations enhance the text..
by Rachael Cole
Illustrator: Blanca Gómez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A mother and her son take a quiet walk before bedtime and search for the moon. Keenly observed illustrations enhance the text..
Colette's Lost Pet
written and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
As her eager new neighbors help her search for an invented parakeet, Colette spins a grandiose tale. Graphic cartoonish black-and-white yellow-splashed illustrations over speech bubbles.
written and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
As her eager new neighbors help her search for an invented parakeet, Colette spins a grandiose tale. Graphic cartoonish black-and-white yellow-splashed illustrations over speech bubbles.
Colores de la Vida (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art in English and Spanish series)
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Oaxacan artists
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
list with ABeCedarios Illustrated with wooden and ceramic sculptures, these bilingual board books will delight English and Spanish readers alike.
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Oaxacan artists
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
list with ABeCedarios Illustrated with wooden and ceramic sculptures, these bilingual board books will delight English and Spanish readers alike.
Count Me In!
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Oaxacan artists
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
list with ABeCedarios Illustrated with wooden and ceramic sculptures, these bilingual board books will delight English and Spanish readers alike.
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Oaxacan artists
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
list with ABeCedarios Illustrated with wooden and ceramic sculptures, these bilingual board books will delight English and Spanish readers alike.
Creepy Pair of Underwear!
by Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Jasper Rabbit comes home from the store with a most unusual and scary pair of underwear. Illustrated in ghoulish, glowing green against a grayish, blackish background.
by Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Jasper Rabbit comes home from the store with a most unusual and scary pair of underwear. Illustrated in ghoulish, glowing green against a grayish, blackish background.
Daddy Honk Honk!
written and illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A fox may not know much about babies but, with help from his friends, he learns how to be a daddy. Mixed media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A fox may not know much about babies but, with help from his friends, he learns how to be a daddy. Mixed media illustrations.
Dream
written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A parent gorilla lovingly envisions what the future may hold for a newborn baby gorilla. Gentle watercolors.
written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A parent gorilla lovingly envisions what the future may hold for a newborn baby gorilla. Gentle watercolors.
Egg
written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Of four eggs, three crack open and out come three baby birds. But what's in the fourth egg? Soft pastel, ink, and watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Of four eggs, three crack open and out come three baby birds. But what's in the fourth egg? Soft pastel, ink, and watercolor illustrations.
Everybunny Dance
written and illustrated by Ellie Sandall
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Lilting rhymes will inspire young listeners to join this lively dance of friendship. Energetic, humorous full-color illustrations.
written and illustrated by Ellie Sandall
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Lilting rhymes will inspire young listeners to join this lively dance of friendship. Energetic, humorous full-color illustrations.
Feathers and Hair
by Jennifer Ward
Illustrator: Jing Jing Tsong
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Dynamic colors and richly textured illustrations of various animal body coverings are woven seamlessly with a simple rhyming text. End notes label each animal with accompanying facts.
by Jennifer Ward
Illustrator: Jing Jing Tsong
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Dynamic colors and richly textured illustrations of various animal body coverings are woven seamlessly with a simple rhyming text. End notes label each animal with accompanying facts.
Frankie
written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Pencil and digitally colored illustrations capture the humorous “sibling rivalry” between two dogs.
written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Pencil and digitally colored illustrations capture the humorous “sibling rivalry” between two dogs.
Free the Lines
written and illustrated by Clayton Junior
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Captivating lines tell a wordless story of a cat who fishes and sails and cleverly saves the day.
written and illustrated by Clayton Junior
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Captivating lines tell a wordless story of a cat who fishes and sails and cleverly saves the day.
Go Sleep in Your Own Bed
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Lori Nichols
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Repetitive refrains and playful verbs dramatize the chaos of farm animal bed-poaching in contrast to their mistress's cozy bed time. Twilight palette illustrations evoke night-time.
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Lori Nichols
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Repetitive refrains and playful verbs dramatize the chaos of farm animal bed-poaching in contrast to their mistress's cozy bed time. Twilight palette illustrations evoke night-time.
Grandma's Tiny House
by JaNay Brown-Wood
Illustrator: Priscilla Burris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Lively bold illustrations depict Grandma's tiny, tiny house that is big enough for dinner with numerous friends, family, and love!
by JaNay Brown-Wood
Illustrator: Priscilla Burris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Lively bold illustrations depict Grandma's tiny, tiny house that is big enough for dinner with numerous friends, family, and love!
Green Pants
written and illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Jameson wants to be in the wedding, but he must dress formally, not in his green pants. What will he do? Watercolor and pencil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Jameson wants to be in the wedding, but he must dress formally, not in his green pants. What will he do? Watercolor and pencil illustrations.
Hand Over Hand
by Alma Fullerton
Illustrator: Renneé Benoit
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
In a small Filipino village, Nina persuades her grandfather that she is as capable of fishing as the boys. Realistic watercolors.
by Alma Fullerton
Illustrator: Renneé Benoit
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
In a small Filipino village, Nina persuades her grandfather that she is as capable of fishing as the boys. Realistic watercolors.
Have You Seen My Lunch Box?
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Search for things to get ready for school, cleverly hidden in ink drawings with collage paper. The colorful labeled list tells the things you need to find.
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Search for things to get ready for school, cleverly hidden in ink drawings with collage paper. The colorful labeled list tells the things you need to find.
Hector the Collector
by Emily Beeny
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
After teasing Hector about his acorn collection, his classmates learn about the many kinds of collections in the world. Pencil, watercolor and ink illustrations.
by Emily Beeny
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
After teasing Hector about his acorn collection, his classmates learn about the many kinds of collections in the world. Pencil, watercolor and ink illustrations.
Home in the Rain
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A long road trip home leaves Francie and her mom time to contemplate names for her new baby sister. Poetic text and light watercolors.
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A long road trip home leaves Francie and her mom time to contemplate names for her new baby sister. Poetic text and light watercolors.
How to Be a Bigger Bunny
by Florence Minor
Illustrator: Wendell Minor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When Tickles is left behind by her older siblings, she discovers that her devotion to reading leads her to their rescue. Warm, reassuring illustrations in watercolor and gouache.
by Florence Minor
Illustrator: Wendell Minor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When Tickles is left behind by her older siblings, she discovers that her devotion to reading leads her to their rescue. Warm, reassuring illustrations in watercolor and gouache.