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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Happy in Our Skin
by Fran Manushkin
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Rhymes celebrate the uniqueness of our skin color and how perfect it is. Detailed pen-and-ink digitally assembled illustrations depict diverse families.
by Fran Manushkin
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Rhymes celebrate the uniqueness of our skin color and how perfect it is. Detailed pen-and-ink digitally assembled illustrations depict diverse families.
Have You Seen My Monster?
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can you spot a girl's furry monster as she searches for him at a county fair? Black pen-and-ink illustrations with splashes of color.
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can you spot a girl's furry monster as she searches for him at a county fair? Black pen-and-ink illustrations with splashes of color.
Here in the Garden
written and illustrated by Briony Stewart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A child misses his friend and remembers all the things they did together and how much fun it was. Gentle, soft illustrations.
written and illustrated by Briony Stewart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A child misses his friend and remembers all the things they did together and how much fun it was. Gentle, soft illustrations.
Hi!
written and illustrated by Ethan Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A variety of animals greet each other, concluding with a child saying “Hi!” and his mother saying “Good-bye” to the reader. Bright, simple digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Ethan Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A variety of animals greet each other, concluding with a child saying “Hi!” and his mother saying “Good-bye” to the reader. Bright, simple digital illustrations.
Hide and Seek Harry
written and illustrated by Kenny Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Harry the hippo loves to play hide and seek, but he's too big. Still, there's fun to be had! Bright, colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by Kenny Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Harry the hippo loves to play hide and seek, but he's too big. Still, there's fun to be had! Bright, colorful illustrations.
Hoot! Hoot!
written and illustrated by Sebastien Braun
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Behind the sturdy flaps are a host of night time animals to spot, name, and mimic. Rich tempura illustrations.
written and illustrated by Sebastien Braun
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Behind the sturdy flaps are a host of night time animals to spot, name, and mimic. Rich tempura illustrations.
Hoot Owl
by Sean Taylor
Illustrator: Jean Jullien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A hungry owl is on the prowl and his wide eyes feign innocence, show determination, and register surprise. Inventive disguises are humorously illustrated.
by Sean Taylor
Illustrator: Jean Jullien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A hungry owl is on the prowl and his wide eyes feign innocence, show determination, and register surprise. Inventive disguises are humorously illustrated.
Hop! Hop!
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An excited toddler prepares for Easter by painting eggs, making bunny ears, and generally enjoying the holiday. Boldy outlined and colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An excited toddler prepares for Easter by painting eggs, making bunny ears, and generally enjoying the holiday. Boldy outlined and colorful illustrations.
How the Sun Got to Coco's House
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A girl sleeps while the sun follows the dawns throughout the world traveling to spend the day with her. Lyrical text and soft watercolors.
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A girl sleeps while the sun follows the dawns throughout the world traveling to spend the day with her. Lyrical text and soft watercolors.
How to Catch a Mouse
written and illustrated by Philippa Leathers
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An overly confident cat soon realizes how best to catch a mouse. Humorous watercolors add details.
written and illustrated by Philippa Leathers
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An overly confident cat soon realizes how best to catch a mouse. Humorous watercolors add details.
Hurry Home, Hedgehog!
written and illustrated by Belle Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Hedgehog races to get home before a storm which provides many opportunities for onomatopoeia: Crack! Barroom! Chinese characters appear alongside English translation. Simple gouache illustrations.
written and illustrated by Belle Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Hedgehog races to get home before a storm which provides many opportunities for onomatopoeia: Crack! Barroom! Chinese characters appear alongside English translation. Simple gouache illustrations.
I Love Snow!
by Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Purple Wong
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
New snow is fun to play in but sometimes too much or melting snow just isn't fun anymore. Colorful wintry illustrations.
by Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Purple Wong
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
New snow is fun to play in but sometimes too much or melting snow just isn't fun anymore. Colorful wintry illustrations.
I'm Cool!
by Kate McMullan
Illustrator: Jim McMullan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
The snow-eating, slush-slurping, triple-tank Zamboni machine refuses to rush its work to resurface the ice for the hockey game. Large-scale, brightly colored watercolor and gouache illustrations.
by Kate McMullan
Illustrator: Jim McMullan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
The snow-eating, slush-slurping, triple-tank Zamboni machine refuses to rush its work to resurface the ice for the hockey game. Large-scale, brightly colored watercolor and gouache illustrations.
In, Over and On! (The Farm)
written and illustrated by Ethan Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Farm animals delightfully illustrate concepts such as in/out, over/under, and on/off. Humorous digitally-colored illustrations with flaps to lift.
written and illustrated by Ethan Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Farm animals delightfully illustrate concepts such as in/out, over/under, and on/off. Humorous digitally-colored illustrations with flaps to lift.
In the Canyon
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A girl and her family hike the long, hot, magnificent trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Rhymed text and linoleum block illustrations.
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A girl and her family hike the long, hot, magnificent trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Rhymed text and linoleum block illustrations.
Is Mommy?
by Victoria Chang
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Is Mommy mean or nice? Playful reactions to questions challenge her perfection. Will love win out? Humorous, colorful tempera on Manila paper.
by Victoria Chang
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Is Mommy mean or nice? Playful reactions to questions challenge her perfection. Will love win out? Humorous, colorful tempera on Manila paper.
It's Raining Bats & Frogs
by Rebecca Colby
Illustrator: Steven Henry
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can the Halloween Parade be saved despite young Delia's imperfect incantations? Humorous watercolors and catchy spells.
by Rebecca Colby
Illustrator: Steven Henry
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can the Halloween Parade be saved despite young Delia's imperfect incantations? Humorous watercolors and catchy spells.
I Used to Be Afraid
written and illustrated by Laura Vacarro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What seems scary at first can become magical! Simple collage and bright acrylic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Laura Vacarro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What seems scary at first can become magical! Simple collage and bright acrylic illustrations.
Last Stop on Market Street
by Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A grandmother gently guides her complaining grandson to see the beauty in his environment of urban poverty. Bright bold illustrations.
by Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A grandmother gently guides her complaining grandson to see the beauty in his environment of urban poverty. Bright bold illustrations.
Leo, a ghost story
by Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Not every question is answered about what is real or imagined, but important things like friendship do not go unseen. Mood blue illustrations.
by Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Not every question is answered about what is real or imagined, but important things like friendship do not go unseen. Mood blue illustrations.
Little Miss, Big Sis
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Engaging line drawings match the simple rhymed text of a sister's developing love for her newborn sibling.
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Engaging line drawings match the simple rhymed text of a sister's developing love for her newborn sibling.
Little Tree
written and illustrated by Loren Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
F&G A young tree struggles with the cycles of life. What would he be without his leaves? Sumptuous acrylic, ink, and pencil illustrations
written and illustrated by Loren Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
F&G A young tree struggles with the cycles of life. What would he be without his leaves? Sumptuous acrylic, ink, and pencil illustrations
Lost. Found.
by Marsha Diane Arnold
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
When bear loses his red scarf, it is found, played with and lost by various forest animals, until it falls apart. Can they remake it? Humorous watercolors.
by Marsha Diane Arnold
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
When bear loses his red scarf, it is found, played with and lost by various forest animals, until it falls apart. Can they remake it? Humorous watercolors.
Maple & Willow Apart
written and illustrated by Lori Nichols
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
When big sister Maple goes to big-girl school, Willow is lonely and a bit jealous. Then she “makes” a new friend. Gentle, digitally colored pencil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Lori Nichols
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
When big sister Maple goes to big-girl school, Willow is lonely and a bit jealous. Then she “makes” a new friend. Gentle, digitally colored pencil illustrations.
Max and Marla
written and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A boy and his pet owl make true Olympian efforts to go sledding and finally succeed--sort of. Delicate watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A boy and his pet owl make true Olympian efforts to go sledding and finally succeed--sort of. Delicate watercolor illustrations.