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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Wake Up!
by Helen Frost
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Exceptional photographs and rhyming text illustrate the awakening of the world of nature in the spring. Back matter explains the photo content.
by Helen Frost
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Exceptional photographs and rhyming text illustrate the awakening of the world of nature in the spring. Back matter explains the photo content.
Warthog
by Birdie Black
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A warthog goes on a counting adventure. Pull-down flaps lead to surprises. Lively,mixed-media illustrations.
by Birdie Black
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A warthog goes on a counting adventure. Pull-down flaps lead to surprises. Lively,mixed-media illustrations.
What Are You Waiting For?
by Scott Menchin
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Written in question and answer format, a curious badger tries to solve the riddle his rabbit friend poses throughout the day. Sketchy-style pencil and pastel illustrations.
by Scott Menchin
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Written in question and answer format, a curious badger tries to solve the riddle his rabbit friend poses throughout the day. Sketchy-style pencil and pastel illustrations.
What George Forgot
by Kathy Wolff
Illustrator: Richard Byrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
George is getting ready for school but what hasn't he done? Amusing appealing pencil illustrations.
by Kathy Wolff
Illustrator: Richard Byrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
George is getting ready for school but what hasn't he done? Amusing appealing pencil illustrations.
When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles
by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When a young girl's elephant has the sniffles she must do everything to take care of him and make sure he doesn't sneeze. Amusing colorful illustrations
by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When a young girl's elephant has the sniffles she must do everything to take care of him and make sure he doesn't sneeze. Amusing colorful illustrations
When Your Lion Needs a Bath
by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When a young boy's smelly lion needs a bath, the boy must try to trick him into getting in the tub. Amusing colorful illustratiions.
by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrator: Daniel Wiseman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
When a young boy's smelly lion needs a bath, the boy must try to trick him into getting in the tub. Amusing colorful illustratiions.
Where, Oh Where Is Baby Bear?
written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
While his Mama searches for food, baby bear hides. How will the adventure end? Hand water-colored linoleum block illustrations.
written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
While his Mama searches for food, baby bear hides. How will the adventure end? Hand water-colored linoleum block illustrations.
Who Am I?
by Steve Jenkins
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Clues specific to different animals will have readers guessing the identity of a diverse collection of common creatures. Accurate drawing and informative back matter.
by Steve Jenkins
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Clues specific to different animals will have readers guessing the identity of a diverse collection of common creatures. Accurate drawing and informative back matter.
Whose Moon Is That?
written and illustrated by Kim Krans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
The curious cat's question, “Whose moon is that?” results in many claims of ownership until the moon sets the record straight. Lovely moon illustrations.
written and illustrated by Kim Krans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
The curious cat's question, “Whose moon is that?” results in many claims of ownership until the moon sets the record straight. Lovely moon illustrations.
Whose Poop Is That?
by Darrin Lunde
Illustrator: Kelsey Oseid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Guess which animal has left a “gift” behind! Amazing digitally-colored pen-and-ink illustrations.
by Darrin Lunde
Illustrator: Kelsey Oseid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Guess which animal has left a “gift” behind! Amazing digitally-colored pen-and-ink illustrations.
Windows
by Julia Denos
Illustrator: E. B. Goodale
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Walking his dog in the evening, a young boy notices windows light up and watches the many activities of his neighbors. Detailed ink, watercolor, and digital collage illustrations.
by Julia Denos
Illustrator: E. B. Goodale
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Walking his dog in the evening, a young boy notices windows light up and watches the many activities of his neighbors. Detailed ink, watercolor, and digital collage illustrations.
Winter Dance
by Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Richard Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Winter is coming and young fox seeks information from different forest creatures about what to do. Soft wintery illustrations.
by Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Richard Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Winter is coming and young fox seeks information from different forest creatures about what to do. Soft wintery illustrations.
Yaffa and Fatima
adapted by Fawzia Gilani-Williams
Illustrator: Chiara Fedele
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Although they dress and pray differently, neighbors Yaffa and Fatima share an understanding of what it means to be friends. Line drawings with soft colors.
adapted by Fawzia Gilani-Williams
Illustrator: Chiara Fedele
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Although they dress and pray differently, neighbors Yaffa and Fatima share an understanding of what it means to be friends. Line drawings with soft colors.
Yoga Bunny
written and illustrated by Brian Russo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Bunny performs yoga throughout the day, demonstrating to his friends all the reasons to join him and ending with “ommmm.” Watercolors, colored pencil, and digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Brian Russo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
Bunny performs yoga throughout the day, demonstrating to his friends all the reasons to join him and ending with “ommmm.” Watercolors, colored pencil, and digital illustrations.
You Hold Me Up
by `Monique Gray Smith
Illustrator: Danielle Daniel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A celebration of all the ways people help, affirm, and support each other. Simple but effective gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations.
by `Monique Gray Smith
Illustrator: Danielle Daniel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
A celebration of all the ways people help, affirm, and support each other. Simple but effective gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations.
Zebra on the Go
by Jill Nogales
Illustrator: Lorraine Rocha
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
The lion turns angry when the zebra steps on his toe, and a hilarious circus chase is on. Lively, rhythmic text with vibrant watercolor and gouache illustrations.
by Jill Nogales
Illustrator: Lorraine Rocha
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2017
The lion turns angry when the zebra steps on his toe, and a hilarious circus chase is on. Lively, rhythmic text with vibrant watercolor and gouache illustrations.
Aberdeen
written and illustrated by Stacey Previn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Aberdeen is a young mouse who follows a wandering balloon leading to many unexpected adventures. Watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Stacey Previn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Aberdeen is a young mouse who follows a wandering balloon leading to many unexpected adventures. Watercolor illustrations.
All We Know
by Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A mother connects her love for her child to other instinctive behaviors in animals and the natural world. Gentle rhyming text. Glowing multimedia illustrations.
by Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A mother connects her love for her child to other instinctive behaviors in animals and the natural world. Gentle rhyming text. Glowing multimedia illustrations.
Animal Talk
by Cynthia Weill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
This colorful bilingual book presents animal sounds in two languages. Photographs of brilliantly colored wood carvings created by Mexican artisans.
by Cynthia Weill
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
This colorful bilingual book presents animal sounds in two languages. Photographs of brilliantly colored wood carvings created by Mexican artisans.
Be a Friend
written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Dennis communicates only in mime and other children ignore him, but one day someone catches his imaginary ball. Simple pencil and digitally colored art.
written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Dennis communicates only in mime and other children ignore him, but one day someone catches his imaginary ball. Simple pencil and digitally colored art.
Bear & Hare, Where's Bear
written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Two good friends take turns playing hide-and-seek in a humorous story illustrated in crayon, pencil, and watercolor.
written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Two good friends take turns playing hide-and-seek in a humorous story illustrated in crayon, pencil, and watercolor.
Bella's Fall Coat
by Lynn Plourde
Illustrator: Susan Gal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Bella has such fun in her favorite coat enjoying the Fall season outside, but Gram sees a need for change. Fall colors are prominent in lively, cheerful illustrations.
by Lynn Plourde
Illustrator: Susan Gal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Bella has such fun in her favorite coat enjoying the Fall season outside, but Gram sees a need for change. Fall colors are prominent in lively, cheerful illustrations.
Blocks
written and illustrated by Irene Dickson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A boy and a girl learn to share their blue and red building blocks, but then a boy's arrival with green blocks creates complications. Simple, bold illustrations.
written and illustrated by Irene Dickson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A boy and a girl learn to share their blue and red building blocks, but then a boy's arrival with green blocks creates complications. Simple, bold illustrations.
Blue & Bertie
written and illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A gentle story of friendship explores the world of Bertie the giraffe and his new friend, a blue giraffe. Simple appealing pencil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A gentle story of friendship explores the world of Bertie the giraffe and his new friend, a blue giraffe. Simple appealing pencil illustrations.
Bob and Flo Play Hide-and-Seek
written and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Penguins Bob, Flo, and Sam figure out how to play together. Colorful pastels.
written and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Penguins Bob, Flo, and Sam figure out how to play together. Colorful pastels.