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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Let's Go! (I Like to Read Comics series)
Michael Emberley
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Five persistent, adorable creatures find a wild way to a party. Digital, vibrant cartoon-style art provides much to share with beginning readers.
Michael Emberley
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Five persistent, adorable creatures find a wild way to a party. Digital, vibrant cartoon-style art provides much to share with beginning readers.
Lia & Luís: Puzzled! (Storytelling Math series}
Ana Crespo
Illustrator: Giovana Medeiros
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Brazilian American twins learn some new spatial skills when their Vovó (grandma) sends them a jigsaw puzzle with a secret message. Bold, colorful digital illustrations. Back matter.
Ana Crespo
Illustrator: Giovana Medeiros
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Brazilian American twins learn some new spatial skills when their Vovó (grandma) sends them a jigsaw puzzle with a secret message. Bold, colorful digital illustrations. Back matter.
Light Inside, The
Dan Misdea
Illustrator: Dan Misdea
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A nearly wordless picture book/graphic novel hybrid with an eerie grey palette depicts a young creature facing his nightmares on a quest for a lost toy. Both spooky and comforting, it is an evocative tale of bravery, kindness, and light.
Dan Misdea
Illustrator: Dan Misdea
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A nearly wordless picture book/graphic novel hybrid with an eerie grey palette depicts a young creature facing his nightmares on a quest for a lost toy. Both spooky and comforting, it is an evocative tale of bravery, kindness, and light.
Little Black Lives Matter
Khodi Dill
Illustrator: Chelsea Charles
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In rhyming text, 15 great Black lives come alive in memorable quotes. Empowering message encourages young children to find their inner heroes. Richly colored illustrations.
Khodi Dill
Illustrator: Chelsea Charles
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In rhyming text, 15 great Black lives come alive in memorable quotes. Empowering message encourages young children to find their inner heroes. Richly colored illustrations.
Little Land
Diana Sudyka
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Over millions of years, a single piece of land undergoes change, including destructive pollution and welcome green renewal. Dynamic gouache and digital illustrations. Back matter.
Diana Sudyka
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Over millions of years, a single piece of land undergoes change, including destructive pollution and welcome green renewal. Dynamic gouache and digital illustrations. Back matter.
Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll
Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Illustrator: Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young African American phenom created an entirely new musical genre, for which she did not initially get any credit. Lyrical text. Engaging collage art. Back matter.
Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Illustrator: Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young African American phenom created an entirely new musical genre, for which she did not initially get any credit. Lyrical text. Engaging collage art. Back matter.
Lola's Heart
Alexandra Boiger
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A woman, a wolf, and a giant red bird rescue a mysterious butterfly on an odyssey through a landscape of wonders. Vivid, expressive pencil illustrations.
Alexandra Boiger
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A woman, a wolf, and a giant red bird rescue a mysterious butterfly on an odyssey through a landscape of wonders. Vivid, expressive pencil illustrations.
Lola's Nana-Bibi Comes to Visit
Anna McQuinn
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
The excitement of Lola's Tanzanian grandmother's visit, and the fun they share with Lola's mother, are captured in warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Anna McQuinn
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
The excitement of Lola's Tanzanian grandmother's visit, and the fun they share with Lola's mother, are captured in warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Lolo's Sari-Sari Store
Sophia N. Lee
Illustrator: Christine Almeda
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young Filipina girl brings her grandfather's lessons with her when she joins her mother in the United States and starts building her new community. Expressive digital illustrations.
Sophia N. Lee
Illustrator: Christine Almeda
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young Filipina girl brings her grandfather's lessons with her when she joins her mother in the United States and starts building her new community. Expressive digital illustrations.
Lost Mitten, The (I Like to Read Comics series)
Jannie Ho
Illustrator: Jannie Ho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Rabbit and Mouse find a lost mitten, they have quite an adventure searching for the rightful owner. Bold, expressive illustrations.
Jannie Ho
Illustrator: Jannie Ho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Rabbit and Mouse find a lost mitten, they have quite an adventure searching for the rightful owner. Bold, expressive illustrations.
Making of Butterflies, The
Zora Neal Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi
Illustrator: Kah Yangni
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In this African American folktale, the Creator, bored with his new earth, creates flowers. When they become lonely, He creates “flutter-bys,” little pieces cut out of everything. Bright collage illustrations.
Zora Neal Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi
Illustrator: Kah Yangni
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In this African American folktale, the Creator, bored with his new earth, creates flowers. When they become lonely, He creates “flutter-bys,” little pieces cut out of everything. Bright collage illustrations.
Marta!: Big and Small
Jen Arena
Illustrator: Angela Dominguez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Clever little Marta compares herself to a variety of animals, outwitting a snake along the way. Bold graphic art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Jen Arena
Illustrator: Angela Dominguez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Clever little Marta compares herself to a variety of animals, outwitting a snake along the way. Bold graphic art. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Milo Walking
James Howe
Illustrator: Sakika Kikuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Every day Milo and his mom go walking and have adventures. What will they discover today? Subtle mixed-media illustrations.
James Howe
Illustrator: Sakika Kikuchi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Every day Milo and his mom go walking and have adventures. What will they discover today? Subtle mixed-media illustrations.
Mine!
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A number of animals covet a lone apple hanging at the “tip-tippy top" of a tree. When it falls, chaos ensues. Imaginative rhyme. Bold relief prints.
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A number of animals covet a lone apple hanging at the “tip-tippy top" of a tree. When it falls, chaos ensues. Imaginative rhyme. Bold relief prints.
Monster-Scared
Bettina Birkjær
Illustrator: Zarah Juul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Overcome bedtime fears with a child who ultimately braves the scary attic. Pen and ink art.
Bettina Birkjær
Illustrator: Zarah Juul
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Overcome bedtime fears with a child who ultimately braves the scary attic. Pen and ink art.
Mouse & Giraffe
Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Mouse and Giraffe don't seem to agree on anything. Can they learn to take each other's perspective? Bright, cartoon-style art in gouache, ink, and pencil.
Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Mouse and Giraffe don't seem to agree on anything. Can they learn to take each other's perspective? Bright, cartoon-style art in gouache, ink, and pencil.
My Dad Is a Tree
Jon Agee
Illustrator: Jon Agee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Madeleine's father reluctantly joins her play, pretending to be a tree, he has no idea of the consequences, which include becoming an animal habitat! Wry colorful collage-style illustrations.
Jon Agee
Illustrator: Jon Agee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Madeleine's father reluctantly joins her play, pretending to be a tree, he has no idea of the consequences, which include becoming an animal habitat! Wry colorful collage-style illustrations.
My Dad Loves Me and I Love My Dad
Sara Miller
Illustrator: Flavio Remontti
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Children narrate all the ways their fathers show their love for them. Exuberant, colorful illustrations depict diverse families.
Sara Miller
Illustrator: Flavio Remontti
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Children narrate all the ways their fathers show their love for them. Exuberant, colorful illustrations depict diverse families.
My Dog and I
Luca Tortolini
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl is devastated when the unusual dog she finds, a wonderful playmate, goes missing. Then she finds a cat . . . and another surprise. Soft jewel-toned watercolors.
Luca Tortolini
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl is devastated when the unusual dog she finds, a wonderful playmate, goes missing. Then she finds a cat . . . and another surprise. Soft jewel-toned watercolors.
My Dog Just Speaks Spanish
Andrea Cáceres
Illustrator: Andrea Cáceres
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Aurora's dog responds only to Spanish, but their words and love are clearly understood in their new country. Digital illustrations.
Andrea Cáceres
Illustrator: Andrea Cáceres
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Aurora's dog responds only to Spanish, but their words and love are clearly understood in their new country. Digital illustrations.
Nell Plants a Tree
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Dual time lines follow a young Black girl planting a seed and her grandchildren playing under the fully grown tree. Poetic text and warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Dual time lines follow a young Black girl planting a seed and her grandchildren playing under the fully grown tree. Poetic text and warm, mixed-media illustrations.
Nesting Dolls
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Anyiaka, the youngest in her Gullah Geechee family, compares herself and her darker skin tone to that of her beautiful big sister and other relatives. Engaging illustrations.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Anyiaka, the youngest in her Gullah Geechee family, compares herself and her darker skin tone to that of her beautiful big sister and other relatives. Engaging illustrations.
Night Frolic, The
Julie Berry
Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Animal spirit guides whisk children away on a marvelous journey through the nighttime world. Swirling graphite and digital illustrations.
Julie Berry
Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Animal spirit guides whisk children away on a marvelous journey through the nighttime world. Swirling graphite and digital illustrations.
Night in the City
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
What happens in the city when kids are sleeping? Lots of people are just waking up and going to work to do a variety of important jobs. Colorful illustrations.
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
What happens in the city when kids are sleeping? Lots of people are just waking up and going to work to do a variety of important jobs. Colorful illustrations.
Night Owl Night
Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrator: Maribel Lechuga
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Venturing out at night with her scientist mother to study saw-whet owls, Sova, a brown-skinned child, learns to watch and wait along the way. Mixed-media art. Back matter.
Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrator: Maribel Lechuga
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Venturing out at night with her scientist mother to study saw-whet owls, Sova, a brown-skinned child, learns to watch and wait along the way. Mixed-media art. Back matter.