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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When Spring Comes
by Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Laura Dronzek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
How will we know when winter is finally over? Colorful acrylic illustrations and gentle rhythmic text explain what to look for.
by Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Laura Dronzek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
How will we know when winter is finally over? Colorful acrylic illustrations and gentle rhythmic text explain what to look for.
Where's the Elephant?
written and illustrated by Barroux
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
An elephant, a parrot, and a snake blend with a full forest, but the city encroaches. An almost wordless book with colorful acrylic, collage, and pencil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Barroux
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
An elephant, a parrot, and a snake blend with a full forest, but the city encroaches. An almost wordless book with colorful acrylic, collage, and pencil illustrations.
Whoops!
by Suzi Moore
Illustrator: Russell Ayto
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
What happens when an old lady with magical powers casts a spell to help three animals make their appropriate noises? Mayhem! Hilarious mixed-media illustrations with rhymed text.
by Suzi Moore
Illustrator: Russell Ayto
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
What happens when an old lady with magical powers casts a spell to help three animals make their appropriate noises? Mayhem! Hilarious mixed-media illustrations with rhymed text.
Who Wants a Tortoise?
by Dave Keane
Illustrator: K. G. Campbell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A tortoise for a pet instead of a dog? Well maybe.... Colorful watercolor-and-pencil illustrations.
by Dave Keane
Illustrator: K. G. Campbell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A tortoise for a pet instead of a dog? Well maybe.... Colorful watercolor-and-pencil illustrations.
Who What Where?
written and illustrated by Olivier Tallec
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Searching for the smallest detail by studying the pencil and acrylic paint illustrations of comical characters is the core of this seek and find book.
written and illustrated by Olivier Tallec
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Searching for the smallest detail by studying the pencil and acrylic paint illustrations of comical characters is the core of this seek and find book.
Worm Loves Worm
by J. J. Austrian
Illustrator: Mike Curato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Worm and worm are in love and plan to get married. But does it matter which worm will be the bride and which will be the groom? Whimsical pencil and photoshopped illustrations.
by J. J. Austrian
Illustrator: Mike Curato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Worm and worm are in love and plan to get married. But does it matter which worm will be the bride and which will be the groom? Whimsical pencil and photoshopped illustrations.
Would You Rather Be a Princess or a Dragon?
written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Should you behave like a princess or a dragon? Snappy rhymes and bold illustrations can help you decide which to choose.
written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
Should you behave like a princess or a dragon? Snappy rhymes and bold illustrations can help you decide which to choose.
Yellow Time
written and illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A diverse group of children notice changes in nature in this celebration of fall when the world turns yellow. Soft watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
A diverse group of children notice changes in nature in this celebration of fall when the world turns yellow. Soft watercolor illustrations.
Yummy Yucky/¡Ñam! ¡Puaj!
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
From apple pie to mud pie, some things are delicious and some taste awful! Bilingual. Boldly outlined tempera illustrations.
written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2016
From apple pie to mud pie, some things are delicious and some taste awful! Bilingual. Boldly outlined tempera illustrations.
15 Things Not to Do with a Baby
by Margaret McAllister
Illustrator: Holly Sterling
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A silly but helpful list of things an older sibling should not do with their new baby sibling. Colorful, joyful illustrations.
by Margaret McAllister
Illustrator: Holly Sterling
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A silly but helpful list of things an older sibling should not do with their new baby sibling. Colorful, joyful illustrations.
A Bird Is a Bird
written and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What makes a bird a bird? It takes special common attributes. Rendered in watercolor and colored pencil.
written and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What makes a bird a bird? It takes special common attributes. Rendered in watercolor and colored pencil.
A Crow of His Own
by Megan Dowd Lambert
Illustrator: David Hyde Costello
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Will the motherly goose be able to help the scrawny new roster succeed in learning his job and save him from farmyard embarrassment? Expressive watercolors.
by Megan Dowd Lambert
Illustrator: David Hyde Costello
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Will the motherly goose be able to help the scrawny new roster succeed in learning his job and save him from farmyard embarrassment? Expressive watercolors.
All for a Dime!
written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Mole, Bear, and Skunk each have a busy selling day at the market. Gently humorous mixed-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Mole, Bear, and Skunk each have a busy selling day at the market. Gently humorous mixed-media illustrations.
Ally-Saurus & the First Day of School
written and illustrated by Richard Torrey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can a dinosaur-loving girl make friends at school? Playful multi-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Richard Torrey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Can a dinosaur-loving girl make friends at school? Playful multi-media illustrations.
A Surprise for Tiny Mouse
written and illustrated by Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Tiny mouse loves all kinds of weather except the rain. Then rain brings a wonderful surprise. Richly textures collage and die cut illustrations.
written and illustrated by Petr Horáček
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Tiny mouse loves all kinds of weather except the rain. Then rain brings a wonderful surprise. Richly textures collage and die cut illustrations.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Black sheep shares his wool with a girl who knits for her nursery rhyme friends. Cumulative, brightly colored illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Black sheep shares his wool with a girl who knits for her nursery rhyme friends. Cumulative, brightly colored illustrations.
Bea in The Nutcracker
written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An adorable toddler and her ballet class don their costumes and perform a famous ballet. Animated pencil, ink and oil paint illustrations.
written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
An adorable toddler and her ballet class don their costumes and perform a famous ballet. Animated pencil, ink and oil paint illustrations.
Bear and Bunny
by Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
While wandering in the woods, two best friends find their perfect pet. Pastel mixed-media illustrations.
by Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
While wandering in the woods, two best friends find their perfect pet. Pastel mixed-media illustrations.
Bear and Duck
written and illustrated by Katy Hudson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Bear asks Duck to teach him how to be a duck but discovers that he's better at being a bear. Gently humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Katy Hudson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Bear asks Duck to teach him how to be a duck but discovers that he's better at being a bear. Gently humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations.
Bear & Hare Go Fishing
written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
The charming adventure of two friends told in sparse text and warm and clever drawings.
written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
The charming adventure of two friends told in sparse text and warm and clever drawings.
Beastly Babies
by Ellen Jackson
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Baby animals can be mischievous, playing or imitating their moms. But no matter what, moms always love them. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.
by Ellen Jackson
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Baby animals can be mischievous, playing or imitating their moms. But no matter what, moms always love them. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.
Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep!
by Todd Tarpley
Illustrator: John Rocco
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A boy's robots are reluctant to go to sleep until the perfect solution is found. Clever rhymes; delightful pencil, watercolor and digital art.
by Todd Tarpley
Illustrator: John Rocco
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
A boy's robots are reluctant to go to sleep until the perfect solution is found. Clever rhymes; delightful pencil, watercolor and digital art.
Bob and Flo
written and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Flo finds a friend on the first day of pre-k, but loses her lunch pail. Or did she? Whimsical illustratioins.
written and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Flo finds a friend on the first day of pre-k, but loses her lunch pail. Or did she? Whimsical illustratioins.
Bulldozer's Big Day
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What will Bulldozer do when he thinks his friends are not responding to his special day? Striking block prints.
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
What will Bulldozer do when he thinks his friends are not responding to his special day? Striking block prints.
Click, Clack, Peep!
by Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Farmer Brown and his animals welcome Baby Duck--until nighttime when she won't go to sleep. Lovely watercolors and lots of “peeps.”
by Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2015
Farmer Brown and his animals welcome Baby Duck--until nighttime when she won't go to sleep. Lovely watercolors and lots of “peeps.”