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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A Pet for Fly Guy
written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Can Fly Guy and Buzz find the perfect pet for Fly Guy? Bold, colorful, digitally created illustrations.
written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Can Fly Guy and Buzz find the perfect pet for Fly Guy? Bold, colorful, digitally created illustrations.
Baby Animal Farm
written and illustrated by Karen Blair
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Five very cute toddlers follow animals and hear their sounds. Simple watercolors.
written and illustrated by Karen Blair
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Five very cute toddlers follow animals and hear their sounds. Simple watercolors.
Backseat A-B-See
written and illustrated by Maria van Lieshout
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
An alphabet book for children who travel the highways and biways. Digital renderings of common road signs.
written and illustrated by Maria van Lieshout
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
An alphabet book for children who travel the highways and biways. Digital renderings of common road signs.
Bears in the Bath
by Shirley Parenteau
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Will Big Brown Bear outsmart four resistant grimy bears when luring them into the bathtub? Rhyming text with vivid action verbs. Soft, animated, acrylic illustrations.
by Shirley Parenteau
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Will Big Brown Bear outsmart four resistant grimy bears when luring them into the bathtub? Rhyming text with vivid action verbs. Soft, animated, acrylic illustrations.
Big Rig
by Jamie A. Swenson
Illustrator: Ned Young
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Frankie, the semitruck, invites the reader to come with him and learn how he works. Bright, colorful illustrations.
by Jamie A. Swenson
Illustrator: Ned Young
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Frankie, the semitruck, invites the reader to come with him and learn how he works. Bright, colorful illustrations.
Build, Dogs, Build
written and illustrated by James Horvath
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Lively and humorous text and pictures detail the work of construction dogs as they demolish an old building and raise a skyscraper.
written and illustrated by James Horvath
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Lively and humorous text and pictures detail the work of construction dogs as they demolish an old building and raise a skyscraper.
By Day, By Night
by Amy Gibson
Illustrator: Meilo So
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Wander through the day with the world's children as they perform every day routines. Lively pencil and watercolor vignettes. Benefit for the Global Orphan Project.
by Amy Gibson
Illustrator: Meilo So
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Wander through the day with the world's children as they perform every day routines. Lively pencil and watercolor vignettes. Benefit for the Global Orphan Project.
Can You See Me?
written and illustrated by Ted Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Animals are hard to spot in the Costa Rican rain forest, but one creature stands out--a red poison dart frog. Beautifully illustrated in shimmering pencil and watercolor.
written and illustrated by Ted Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Animals are hard to spot in the Costa Rican rain forest, but one creature stands out--a red poison dart frog. Beautifully illustrated in shimmering pencil and watercolor.
Cat & Dog
written and illustrated by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When a stray cat gets separated from her kittens, a stray dog cares for them until she returns. Nuanced with lyrical illustrations.
written and illustrated by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
When a stray cat gets separated from her kittens, a stray dog cares for them until she returns. Nuanced with lyrical illustrations.
Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep
written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A young panda has difficulty sleeping. Simple rhythmic text with charcoal illustrations. An engaging read-aloud.
written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A young panda has difficulty sleeping. Simple rhythmic text with charcoal illustrations. An engaging read-aloud.
Chu's First Day of School
by Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A nervous panda faces the first day of school hoping to be liked. Oil and mixed-media illustrations.
by Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A nervous panda faces the first day of school hoping to be liked. Oil and mixed-media illustrations.
Colors
written and illustrated by Sophie Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Counting, tracing, and other activities make identifying colors and shapes interesting. Bold, colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by Sophie Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Counting, tracing, and other activities make identifying colors and shapes interesting. Bold, colorful illustrations.
Colors versus Shapes
written and illustrated by Mike Boldt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
At a contest to determine which is better, a surprising thing happens. Bold, colorful digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Mike Boldt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
At a contest to determine which is better, a surprising thing happens. Bold, colorful digital illustrations.
Construction
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A rhythmic text and colorful ink illustrations depict the construction of a new library.
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A rhythmic text and colorful ink illustrations depict the construction of a new library.
Creature Baby Animals
by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Realistic photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . .)
by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Realistic photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . .)
Creature Colors
written and illustrated by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Expressive photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . .)
written and illustrated by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Expressive photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . .)
Creature Sounds
written and photographed by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Expressive photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . . alphabetize)
written and photographed by Andrew Zuckerman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Expressive photos, creative text, and generous use of white space brings this collection of concept books alive. (Duplicated under Creature . . . alphabetize)
Daytime Nightime
written and illustrated by William Low
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Do grasshoppers, rabbits, frogs, and fireflies appear by day or by night? Vibrant, full-page color illustrations.
written and illustrated by William Low
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Do grasshoppers, rabbits, frogs, and fireflies appear by day or by night? Vibrant, full-page color illustrations.
Demolition
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A poetic format describes the sounds and movements of a building's razing. Dramatic pigmented-ink drawings.
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A poetic format describes the sounds and movements of a building's razing. Dramatic pigmented-ink drawings.
Dog and Bear: Tricks and Treats
written and illustrated by Laura Vacarro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Whether finding costumes or trick or treating, this duo encounters challenges in this three-chapter hilarious romp. Bold, expressive illustrations.
written and illustrated by Laura Vacarro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Whether finding costumes or trick or treating, this duo encounters challenges in this three-chapter hilarious romp. Bold, expressive illustrations.
Doug Unplugs On the Farm
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
What happens when Doug, a city robot, becomes unplugged and experiences farm life? Brush-and-ink and computer-generated illustrations.
written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
What happens when Doug, a city robot, becomes unplugged and experiences farm life? Brush-and-ink and computer-generated illustrations.
Duck & Goose Go to the Beach
written and illustrated by Tad Hills
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Duck takes reluctant Goose on an adventure to the beach, but when they get there, it is Goose who leads the way. Expressive, humorous oil paintings.
written and illustrated by Tad Hills
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Duck takes reluctant Goose on an adventure to the beach, but when they get there, it is Goose who leads the way. Expressive, humorous oil paintings.
Early Bird
written and illustrated by Toni Yuly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A bird sets out on an early morning journey and encounters a breakfast surprise. Simple language that emphasizes action, with bright, pen-and-ink and digital media.
written and illustrated by Toni Yuly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
A bird sets out on an early morning journey and encounters a breakfast surprise. Simple language that emphasizes action, with bright, pen-and-ink and digital media.
Extraordinary Jane
written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Jane, the dog, wishes she had a special talent equal to the rest of her circus-performer family. Will the ringmaster recognize it? Colorful acrylic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Jane, the dog, wishes she had a special talent equal to the rest of her circus-performer family. Will the ringmaster recognize it? Colorful acrylic illustrations.
Flashlight
written and illustrated by Lizi Boyd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Wonders of the dark unfold as a boy lights up various plants and animals and then becomes the subject of the beams himself. A wordless book illuminated by a black background which highlights gray-blue figures.
written and illustrated by Lizi Boyd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2014
Wonders of the dark unfold as a boy lights up various plants and animals and then becomes the subject of the beams himself. A wordless book illuminated by a black background which highlights gray-blue figures.