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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
Pat-a-Cake
by Mary Brigid Barrett
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
List with All Fall Down
by Mary Brigid Barrett
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
List with All Fall Down
Peggy
written and illustrated by Anna Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When a gust of wind drops her in a big city, Peggy, a hen, has an adventure and makes some new friends. Ink and photo collage illustrations.
written and illustrated by Anna Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When a gust of wind drops her in a big city, Peggy, a hen, has an adventure and makes some new friends. Ink and photo collage illustrations.
Pig and Small
by Alex Latimer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Despite the differences in their sizes, friends Pig and Bug find many things they can do together. Digitally enhanced colored pencil drawings.
by Alex Latimer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Despite the differences in their sizes, friends Pig and Bug find many things they can do together. Digitally enhanced colored pencil drawings.
Ping Wants To Play
written and illustrated by Adam Gudeon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Pong comes to the rescue when his friend Ping needs help. Energetic, digitally colored illustrations.
written and illustrated by Adam Gudeon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Pong comes to the rescue when his friend Ping needs help. Energetic, digitally colored illustrations.
Planes Go
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Bold, double-paged illustrations depict the sounds made by different types of planes as they take off.
written and illustrated by Steve Light
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Bold, double-paged illustrations depict the sounds made by different types of planes as they take off.
Plants Feed Me
written and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Learn how plants grow and about the many parts of plants that we can eat. Simple language and gouache illustrations.
written and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Learn how plants grow and about the many parts of plants that we can eat. Simple language and gouache illustrations.
Poor Doreen
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
On a trip to visit her second cousin twice removed, a fish is totally unaware of the dangers that she encounters. Comic evocative text and watercolor illustrations.
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
On a trip to visit her second cousin twice removed, a fish is totally unaware of the dangers that she encounters. Comic evocative text and watercolor illustrations.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
In this clever rewrite, rowers meet animals on their trip down the river to home. Each chorus invites participation. Bright, whimsical acrylic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
In this clever rewrite, rowers meet animals on their trip down the river to home. Each chorus invites participation. Bright, whimsical acrylic illustrations.
Shapes
written and illustrated by Sophie Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
see COLORS by the same author
written and illustrated by Sophie Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
see COLORS by the same author
Some Bugs
by Angela DiTerlizzi
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Rhyming verses explore busy bugs and insects that hop, glide, swim, or hide. Colorful collages illustrate a busy backyard world.
by Angela DiTerlizzi
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Rhyming verses explore busy bugs and insects that hop, glide, swim, or hide. Colorful collages illustrate a busy backyard world.
Stanley's Garage
written and illustrated by Williambee (William Bee)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
list with Stanley the Builder
written and illustrated by Williambee (William Bee)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
list with Stanley the Builder
Stanley the Builder
written and illustrated by Williambee (William Bee)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Watch as Stanley, the hamster, helps his driver friends and builds a house for Myrtle. Bold, colorful digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Williambee (William Bee)
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Watch as Stanley, the hamster, helps his driver friends and builds a house for Myrtle. Bold, colorful digital illustrations.
Swamp Chomp
by Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrator: Paul Meisel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Vibrant, detailed double-page spread illustrations with simple action-verb text introduce young readers to the life and food chain of a swamp. Endnotes.
by Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrator: Paul Meisel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Vibrant, detailed double-page spread illustrations with simple action-verb text introduce young readers to the life and food chain of a swamp. Endnotes.
Swim, Duck, Swim
by Susan Lurie
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Little duckling is afraid to swim, but encouraged by his parents and others, he works up the courage to jump into the water. Bold, color photographs.
by Susan Lurie
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Little duckling is afraid to swim, but encouraged by his parents and others, he works up the courage to jump into the water. Bold, color photographs.
Tap Tap Boom Boom
by Elizabeth Bluemle
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Words that evoke the sounds of rain and thunder capture the excitement of a rainstorm in the city. Evocative collage, gouache, and pencil illustrations.
by Elizabeth Bluemle
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Words that evoke the sounds of rain and thunder capture the excitement of a rainstorm in the city. Evocative collage, gouache, and pencil illustrations.
The Little Bear Book
written and illustrated by Anthony Browne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A little bear with a pencil distracts fierce looking predators by drawing what they need. Colorful watercolor and ink illustrations.
written and illustrated by Anthony Browne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A little bear with a pencil distracts fierce looking predators by drawing what they need. Colorful watercolor and ink illustrations.
The Midnight Library
written and illustrated by Kazuno Kohara
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
In this library, open only at night, a little librarian knows how to please all the animals who enter. Yellow and blue art outlined in black.
written and illustrated by Kazuno Kohara
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
In this library, open only at night, a little librarian knows how to please all the animals who enter. Yellow and blue art outlined in black.
The Orchestra Pit
written and illustrated by Johanna Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When snake wanders into the wrong pit by mistake, he encounters the instruments in an orchestra, to the consternation of the young musicians. Mixed-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Johanna Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When snake wanders into the wrong pit by mistake, he encounters the instruments in an orchestra, to the consternation of the young musicians. Mixed-media illustrations.
The Pigeon Needs a Bath!
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Pigeon insists, “I don't really need a bath.... I took one last month!” Hilarity ensues, but Pigeon emerges squeaky-clean. Cartoonish, dynamic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Pigeon insists, “I don't really need a bath.... I took one last month!” Hilarity ensues, but Pigeon emerges squeaky-clean. Cartoonish, dynamic illustrations.
The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School
by Deborah Diesen
Illustrator: Dan Hanna
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A rhythmic tale of a little fish on his first day at school follows him as he finds a wonderful teacher and realizes he can learn. Humorous illustrations.
by Deborah Diesen
Illustrator: Dan Hanna
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A rhythmic tale of a little fish on his first day at school follows him as he finds a wonderful teacher and realizes he can learn. Humorous illustrations.
The Storm Whale
written and illustrated by Benji Davies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A lonely boy's rescue of a beached whale helps to strengthen the boy's relationship with his father. Comforting illustrations.
written and illustrated by Benji Davies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A lonely boy's rescue of a beached whale helps to strengthen the boy's relationship with his father. Comforting illustrations.
The Way to the Zoo
written and illustrated by John Burningham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When Sylvie finds a door in her room leading to the zoo, animals come to spend the night with humorous results. Droll pen, pencil, pastel, and watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by John Burningham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When Sylvie finds a door in her room leading to the zoo, animals come to spend the night with humorous results. Droll pen, pencil, pastel, and watercolor illustrations.
Three Bears in a Boat
written and illustrated by David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
After breaking their mother's prize seashell, three bear cubs set out on the high seas to replace it, with resulting arguments and reconciliation. Detailed watercolors.
written and illustrated by David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
After breaking their mother's prize seashell, three bear cubs set out on the high seas to replace it, with resulting arguments and reconciliation. Detailed watercolors.
Tugboat
written and illustrated by Michael Garland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Graphite and digital illustrations and simple text tell the story of tugboats. A picture glossary helps to explain terms.
written and illustrated by Michael Garland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Graphite and digital illustrations and simple text tell the story of tugboats. A picture glossary helps to explain terms.
Underpants Dance
by Marlena Zapf
Illustrator: Lynne Avril
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Lily loves to dance and show her frilly underpants, much to the chagrin of her older sister. Engaging gouache illustrations.
by Marlena Zapf
Illustrator: Lynne Avril
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Lily loves to dance and show her frilly underpants, much to the chagrin of her older sister. Engaging gouache illustrations.