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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Red Wagon
by Renata Liwska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When Lucy gets a new red wagon, she has imaginary adventures on her way to and from the market for her mom. Lovely soft illustrations.
by Renata Liwska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When Lucy gets a new red wagon, she has imaginary adventures on her way to and from the market for her mom. Lovely soft illustrations.
Robot, Go Bot!
by Dana Meachen Rau
Illustrator: Wook Jin Jung
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Simple words, in comic-style balloons, tell the engaging story of a bossy girl and her robot. Colorful illustrations.
by Dana Meachen Rau
Illustrator: Wook Jin Jung
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Simple words, in comic-style balloons, tell the engaging story of a bossy girl and her robot. Colorful illustrations.
Round Is a Tortilla
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Illustrator: John Parra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Rhyming text and bright, colorful paintings describe a variety of shapes found in everyday things. Spanish words are defined in the glossary.
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Illustrator: John Parra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Rhyming text and bright, colorful paintings describe a variety of shapes found in everyday things. Spanish words are defined in the glossary.
Señor Pancho Had A Rancho
by René Colato Laínez
Illustrator: Elwood Smith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Old MacDonald and Senor Pancho both have a lot of noisy farm animals in this festive, bilingual sing a long. Lively ink and watercolor illustrations. Pronunciation guide included.
by René Colato Laínez
Illustrator: Elwood Smith
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Old MacDonald and Senor Pancho both have a lot of noisy farm animals in this festive, bilingual sing a long. Lively ink and watercolor illustrations. Pronunciation guide included.
Spring Blossoms
by Carole Gerber
Illustrator: Leslie Evans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Two children stroll through a pack of flowering trees. Includes additional information on the life cycle of trees. Linoleum block print, watercolor, collage and digital illustrations.
by Carole Gerber
Illustrator: Leslie Evans
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Two children stroll through a pack of flowering trees. Includes additional information on the life cycle of trees. Linoleum block print, watercolor, collage and digital illustrations.
Steam Train, Dream Train
by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Various animals load each train car with important and funny items. Dreamy night illustrations in oil wax pastels make this a fine bedtime story.
by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Various animals load each train car with important and funny items. Dreamy night illustrations in oil wax pastels make this a fine bedtime story.
Stick!
written and illustrated by Andy Pritchett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Puppy has a nice stick but no one wants to play with him, until.... Has puppy found a friend? Whimsical pencil and digitally colored illustrations.
written and illustrated by Andy Pritchett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Puppy has a nice stick but no one wants to play with him, until.... Has puppy found a friend? Whimsical pencil and digitally colored illustrations.
Tea Rex
written and illustrated by Molly Idle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A tea party primer featuring a most unusual guest offers charm and surprises. Bold compositions in richly colored prismacolor pencil.
written and illustrated by Molly Idle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A tea party primer featuring a most unusual guest offers charm and surprises. Bold compositions in richly colored prismacolor pencil.
The Children Who Loved Books
written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A family that loves reading discovers that they don't need to own books in order to love them. Enhanced with whimsical, colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A family that loves reading discovers that they don't need to own books in order to love them. Enhanced with whimsical, colorful illustrations.
The Dark
by Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Simple, yet elegant line drawings with splashes of light capture a child's fear of the dark.
by Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Simple, yet elegant line drawings with splashes of light capture a child's fear of the dark.
The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten
by Maureen Fergus
Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When she tags along with her daughter, Mom learns that kindergarten is hard work, but worth it. Colorful cartoon art.
by Maureen Fergus
Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When she tags along with her daughter, Mom learns that kindergarten is hard work, but worth it. Colorful cartoon art.
The Lamb and the Butterfly
by Arnold Sundgaard
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A protected lamb and an independent butterfly discuss their different ways of living. Bold acrylic paintings and paper collages.
by Arnold Sundgaard
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A protected lamb and an independent butterfly discuss their different ways of living. Bold acrylic paintings and paper collages.
The Purim Superhero
by Elisabeth Kushner
Illustrator: Mike Byrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Everyone in Hebrew School wants to be a superhero for Purim. Can Nate find a costume that expresses who he is? Colorful illustrations.
by Elisabeth Kushner
Illustrator: Mike Byrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Everyone in Hebrew School wants to be a superhero for Purim. Can Nate find a costume that expresses who he is? Colorful illustrations.
There, There
by Sam McBratney
Illustrator: Ivan Bates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Hansie Bear knows just what to do when his dad gets a thorn in his foot. Gentle mixed-medial illustrations.
by Sam McBratney
Illustrator: Ivan Bates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Hansie Bear knows just what to do when his dad gets a thorn in his foot. Gentle mixed-medial illustrations.
The Silver Moon
by Jack Prelutsky
Illustrator: Jui Ishida
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Lilting rhythmic poems for babies and toddlers at bedtime feature connections to the animal world as they sleep. Bright, colorful acrylics.
by Jack Prelutsky
Illustrator: Jui Ishida
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Lilting rhythmic poems for babies and toddlers at bedtime feature connections to the animal world as they sleep. Bright, colorful acrylics.
The Story of Fish & Snail
written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When Fish finds a new story, will Snail have the courage to follow him through it or is this the end of their friendship? Enchanting illustrations in soft pastel hues
written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
When Fish finds a new story, will Snail have the courage to follow him through it or is this the end of their friendship? Enchanting illustrations in soft pastel hues
The Things I Can Do
written and illustrated by Jeff Mack
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Child-like collages coupled with bravado accomplishments related in rhyme will engage readers and encourage independence.
written and illustrated by Jeff Mack
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Child-like collages coupled with bravado accomplishments related in rhyme will engage readers and encourage independence.
The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf
written and illustrated by Mark Teague
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A refreshing take on a time honored tale. Humorous oil paintings.
written and illustrated by Mark Teague
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A refreshing take on a time honored tale. Humorous oil paintings.
The Very Big Carrot
written and illustrated by Satoe Tone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Six imaginative rabbits consider what they might do with the carrot they have dug up. Colorful illustrations.
written and illustrated by Satoe Tone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Six imaginative rabbits consider what they might do with the carrot they have dug up. Colorful illustrations.
This Little Hamster
written and illustrated by Kass Reich
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
simple rhymes and engaging digitally colored drawings introduce colors.
written and illustrated by Kass Reich
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
simple rhymes and engaging digitally colored drawings introduce colors.
This Monster Cannot Wait!
written and illustrated by Bethany Barton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Only a week more of school, and Stewart can't wait for the family camping trip. Can the monster speed up time? Colorful ink on paper illustrations.
written and illustrated by Bethany Barton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Only a week more of school, and Stewart can't wait for the family camping trip. Can the monster speed up time? Colorful ink on paper illustrations.
Thumpy Feet
written and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Chant along as frisky cat eats (“lucky lick”), plays and naps (”snoozy snooze”). Lively watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Chant along as frisky cat eats (“lucky lick”), plays and naps (”snoozy snooze”). Lively watercolor illustrations.
Time-Out For Sophie
written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Sophie wants to be good and helpful, but Sophie's impulses lead to a time-out. Humorous text and illustrations.
written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Sophie wants to be good and helpful, but Sophie's impulses lead to a time-out. Humorous text and illustrations.
Trixie Ten
written and illustrated by Sarah Massini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Trixie, the tenth sister in a noisy collection of siblings, craves silence. When she finds it, she is not so sure it's the perfection she expected. Colorful, inventive, mixed-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Sarah Massini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Trixie, the tenth sister in a noisy collection of siblings, craves silence. When she finds it, she is not so sure it's the perfection she expected. Colorful, inventive, mixed-media illustrations.
Truck Stop
by Anne Rockwell
Illustrator: Melissa Iwai
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A young boy helps welcome truck drivers to his family's diner before he goes off to school. Colorful and digitally-manipulated collage illustrations.
by Anne Rockwell
Illustrator: Melissa Iwai
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A young boy helps welcome truck drivers to his family's diner before he goes off to school. Colorful and digitally-manipulated collage illustrations.