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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Not a Monster
Claudia Guadalupe Martínez
Illustrator: Laura González
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Explore the life cycle and environmental challenges of the endangered axolotl and learn its Aztec origin story. Told in a mix of Spanish and English. Watercolor art. Author's note.
Claudia Guadalupe Martínez
Illustrator: Laura González
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Explore the life cycle and environmental challenges of the endangered axolotl and learn its Aztec origin story. Told in a mix of Spanish and English. Watercolor art. Author's note.
Ofrenda for Perro, An
Judith Valdés B.
Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Benito's parents help him deal with his beloved dog's death by including offerings for Perro on their Día de los Muertos altar. Warm, colorful illustrations.
Judith Valdés B.
Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Benito's parents help him deal with his beloved dog's death by including offerings for Perro on their Día de los Muertos altar. Warm, colorful illustrations.
Oh, Olive!
Lian Cho
Illustrator: Lian Cho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Greyscale illustrations represent the limited imaginations of adults in Olive Chen's world. When other children embrace the freedom and excitement of her art, Olive's unique paintings enliven their humdrum world with color.
Lian Cho
Illustrator: Lian Cho
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Greyscale illustrations represent the limited imaginations of adults in Olive Chen's world. When other children embrace the freedom and excitement of her art, Olive's unique paintings enliven their humdrum world with color.
Oh, Panda
Cindy Derby
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a sympathetic narrator, Panda tries to climb an icy slope in search of a beautiful red butterfly. Hazy mixed-media illustrations.
Cindy Derby
Illustrator: Cindy Derby
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
With encouragement from a sympathetic narrator, Panda tries to climb an icy slope in search of a beautiful red butterfly. Hazy mixed-media illustrations.
Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration
Natalie Daise
Illustrator: Natalie Daise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A father shares rich childhood memories with his son as the two prepare a special family dinner. Vibrant symbol-filled mixed-media art. Recipes, Gullah glossary, cultural/historical notes.
Natalie Daise
Illustrator: Natalie Daise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A father shares rich childhood memories with his son as the two prepare a special family dinner. Vibrant symbol-filled mixed-media art. Recipes, Gullah glossary, cultural/historical notes.
One
Ruth Forman
Illustrator: Katura Gaines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
One by one by one, Black girls form a soccer team. Cheerful, vibrant illustrations.
Ruth Forman
Illustrator: Katura Gaines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
One by one by one, Black girls form a soccer team. Cheerful, vibrant illustrations.
One More Jar of Jam
Michelle Sumovich
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl and her multiracial family experience joy and sorrow through the life, death, and rebirth of a mulberry tree. Second-person narration paired with lively ink, watercolor, and gouache art.
Michelle Sumovich
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young girl and her multiracial family experience joy and sorrow through the life, death, and rebirth of a mulberry tree. Second-person narration paired with lively ink, watercolor, and gouache art.
Otto the Ornament
Troy Cummings
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Egotistical Otto falls from the top of a spectacular tree, giving him a sense of humility and appreciation for being part of a family. Word play. Festive illustrations.
Troy Cummings
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Egotistical Otto falls from the top of a spectacular tree, giving him a sense of humility and appreciation for being part of a family. Word play. Festive illustrations.
Papa's Home
David Soman
Illustrator: David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A bear cub worries about being cared for by his aunt when his dad goes to work, but Papa and Aunt Jessie provide love and assurance. Gentle watercolor art.
David Soman
Illustrator: David Soman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A bear cub worries about being cared for by his aunt when his dad goes to work, but Papa and Aunt Jessie provide love and assurance. Gentle watercolor art.
Pass the Baby
Susanna Reich
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pull up a chair and join a family's joyful feast as they bounce their baby around. Detailed soft mixed-media art.
Susanna Reich
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pull up a chair and join a family's joyful feast as they bounce their baby around. Detailed soft mixed-media art.
Peaceful Me
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrator: Rahele Jomepour Bell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A Black child shares many strategies for staying calm in a variety of situations. Mixed-media art carries the mood.
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrator: Rahele Jomepour Bell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A Black child shares many strategies for staying calm in a variety of situations. Mixed-media art carries the mood.
Peek-A-Boo Haiku (A Lift-the-Flap Book series)
Danna Smith
Illustrator: Teagan White
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Journey through the seasons with woodland creatures and haikus. Engaging digital art.
Danna Smith
Illustrator: Teagan White
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Journey through the seasons with woodland creatures and haikus. Engaging digital art.
Penny & Pip
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
On a class field trip to the natural history museum, Penny, a brown-skinned child, meets Pip, a newly hatched dinosaur, and a beautiful friendship ensues. Imaginative pencil and digitally colored illustrations.
Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
On a class field trip to the natural history museum, Penny, a brown-skinned child, meets Pip, a newly hatched dinosaur, and a beautiful friendship ensues. Imaginative pencil and digitally colored illustrations.
Perfect Presents!
Anke Kuhl
Illustrator: Anke Kuhl
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Sometimes finding the right gift can be unexpectedly challenging. Humorous illustrations with perfectly matched spare text.
Anke Kuhl
Illustrator: Anke Kuhl
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Sometimes finding the right gift can be unexpectedly challenging. Humorous illustrations with perfectly matched spare text.
Puddle Song
Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Monique Felix
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A puddle invites young friends to explore its delights. Poetic text and delicate detailed illustrations.
Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Monique Felix
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A puddle invites young friends to explore its delights. Poetic text and delicate detailed illustrations.
Quiet Time with My Seeya
Dinalie Dabarera
Illustrator: Dinalie Dabarera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl and her grandfather cross their language divide by joyfully sharing special activities together. Colored pencil art draws readers in.
Dinalie Dabarera
Illustrator: Dinalie Dabarera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl and her grandfather cross their language divide by joyfully sharing special activities together. Colored pencil art draws readers in.
Reading Time!: A Tummy Time First Words Book for Babies
Mama Makes Books
Illustrator: Mama Makes Books
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Simple concepts and bright colors engage infants' eyes. In verse. A foldout book with mirror.
Mama Makes Books
Illustrator: Mama Makes Books
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Simple concepts and bright colors engage infants' eyes. In verse. A foldout book with mirror.
Real Story, The
Sergio Ruzzier
Illustrator: Sergio Ruzzier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Cat finds the cookie jar broken and all the cookies gone, he asks Mouse what happened. Mouse comes up with some tall tales. Mixed-media illustrations.
Sergio Ruzzier
Illustrator: Sergio Ruzzier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Cat finds the cookie jar broken and all the cookies gone, he asks Mouse what happened. Mouse comes up with some tall tales. Mixed-media illustrations.
Red Tin Box, The
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Evan Turk
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Accompanied by her granddaughter, a Black grandmother retrieves a time capsule she buried as a child and shares a lifetime of special memories. Luminous, painterly art.
Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Evan Turk
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Accompanied by her granddaughter, a Black grandmother retrieves a time capsule she buried as a child and shares a lifetime of special memories. Luminous, painterly art.
Rosie Runs
Marika Maijala
Illustrator: Marika Maijala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Rosie, a race track dog, makes an adventurous escape to freedom. Childlike crayon art.
Marika Maijala
Illustrator: Marika Maijala
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Rosie, a race track dog, makes an adventurous escape to freedom. Childlike crayon art.
Shape of You, The
Mượn Thị Văn
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In gentle flowing language, a mother tells a child about the shapes in their lives, from the concrete to intangible things, like learning and warmth. Exquisite dimensional collage art.
Mượn Thị Văn
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In gentle flowing language, a mother tells a child about the shapes in their lives, from the concrete to intangible things, like learning and warmth. Exquisite dimensional collage art.
Simon and the Better Bone
Corey R. Tabor
Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Trying to retrieve his bone from another dog, Simon never realizes he's seeing his own reflection. Happily he finds sharing is the key to friendship. Mixed-media art.
Corey R. Tabor
Illustrator: Corey R. Tabor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Trying to retrieve his bone from another dog, Simon never realizes he's seeing his own reflection. Happily he finds sharing is the key to friendship. Mixed-media art.
Slowly Slowly
Toni Yuly
Illustrator: Toni Yuly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
As life changes all around them, a boy and his dog uncover wonders in their own backyard. Gentle mixed-media illustrations add much to discover.
Toni Yuly
Illustrator: Toni Yuly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
As life changes all around them, a boy and his dog uncover wonders in their own backyard. Gentle mixed-media illustrations add much to discover.
Sneak! (Slide-and-See series)
Beatriz Giménez de Ory
Illustrator: Paloma Valdivia
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Guess the camouflaged animals from their descriptions. Slide-and-see pages. Colorful folk-art-like illustrations.
Beatriz Giménez de Ory
Illustrator: Paloma Valdivia
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Guess the camouflaged animals from their descriptions. Slide-and-see pages. Colorful folk-art-like illustrations.
Sometimes I Cry
Jess Townes
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Soothing, lyrical text and expressive, realistic illustrations provide assurance that tears are a normal part of both the happy and sad events in our lives.
Jess Townes
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Soothing, lyrical text and expressive, realistic illustrations provide assurance that tears are a normal part of both the happy and sad events in our lives.