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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Animal 1 2 3
written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Have fun counting animals of all sizes, shapes, and colors and lifting the number flap. Amusing, lively illustrations.
written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Have fun counting animals of all sizes, shapes, and colors and lifting the number flap. Amusing, lively illustrations.
Animal Spots and Stripes
written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Which animals are striped? Which are spotted? Discover the answers in the bold, playful illustrations of a menagerie of animals.
written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Which animals are striped? Which are spotted? Discover the answers in the bold, playful illustrations of a menagerie of animals.
Baby Be Kind
written and illustrated by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A vibrantly illustrated board book with gentle behavioral recommendations that can make the world a happy place for toddlers.
written and illustrated by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A vibrantly illustrated board book with gentle behavioral recommendations that can make the world a happy place for toddlers.
Bea at Ballet
written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Bea and her friends love learning about ballet and dancing. Simple, clear multimedia illustrations.
written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Bea and her friends love learning about ballet and dancing. Simple, clear multimedia illustrations.
Bear in Love
by Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Who is leaving all those yummy gifts in front of his cave? Bear tries hard to find out. Gentle mixed-media drawings.
by Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Who is leaving all those yummy gifts in front of his cave? Bear tries hard to find out. Gentle mixed-media drawings.
Bears in Beds
by Shirley Parenteau
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Five sleepy bears fill cozy beds until a nighttime noise scares them. What can big brown bear do? Warm acrylic illustrations,
by Shirley Parenteau
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Five sleepy bears fill cozy beds until a nighttime noise scares them. What can big brown bear do? Warm acrylic illustrations,
Ben Loves Bear
written and illustrated by David McPhail
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Follow their adventures as a boy and his bear share their day. Expressive, animated illustrations accompany easy-to-read text.
written and illustrated by David McPhail
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Follow their adventures as a boy and his bear share their day. Expressive, animated illustrations accompany easy-to-read text.
Bow-Wow Wiggle Waggle
written and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Sounds are the words as a boy's dog chases a cat instead of his ball. Simple watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Sounds are the words as a boy's dog chases a cat instead of his ball. Simple watercolor illustrations.
Charley's First Night
by Amy Hest
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The brand-new puppy doesn't want to sleep alone. Can Henry make him comfortable in his new home? Soft pencil and watercolor illustrations.
by Amy Hest
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The brand-new puppy doesn't want to sleep alone. Can Henry make him comfortable in his new home? Soft pencil and watercolor illustrations.
Christmastime
written and illustrated by Alison Jay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Learn about Christmas and enjoy a treasure hunt for songs of the season. Soft oil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Alison Jay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Learn about Christmas and enjoy a treasure hunt for songs of the season. Soft oil illustrations.
Christmas Wombat
by Jackie French
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The wombat usually scratches, sleeps and cuts grass, but a windfall of carrots disturbs his usual routine. Humorous acrylic illustrations.
by Jackie French
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The wombat usually scratches, sleeps and cuts grass, but a windfall of carrots disturbs his usual routine. Humorous acrylic illustrations.
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
by Kathryn Heling
Illustrator: Andy Robert Davies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Who wears a uniform and cap? Who wears blue overalls? And more! Rhymed text and colorful animated illustrations.
by Kathryn Heling
Illustrator: Andy Robert Davies
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Who wears a uniform and cap? Who wears blue overalls? And more! Rhymed text and colorful animated illustrations.
Cold Snap
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A week of very cold weather in a small town brings out the best in everyone. What a relief when it's over! Lively gouache on watercolor paper illustrations.
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A week of very cold weather in a small town brings out the best in everyone. What a relief when it's over! Lively gouache on watercolor paper illustrations.
Demolition
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The sounds and movements of a building's demolition are told in poetic form. Dramatic pigmented-ink illustrations.
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The sounds and movements of a building's demolition are told in poetic form. Dramatic pigmented-ink illustrations.
Dinosaur Thunder
by Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
All his family's reassurances do not comfort frightened Brannon until big brother Chad comes up with the explanation of dinosaur thunder. Simple, but evocative full-color prints.
by Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
All his family's reassurances do not comfort frightened Brannon until big brother Chad comes up with the explanation of dinosaur thunder. Simple, but evocative full-color prints.
Dog Loves Drawing
written and illustrated by Louise Yates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Drawing in his new sketchbook, Dog enters a world of adventures and friends. Whimsical pencil and watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Louise Yates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Drawing in his new sketchbook, Dog enters a world of adventures and friends. Whimsical pencil and watercolor illustrations.
Dolphin Baby!
by Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Brita Granström
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Soft acrylic illustrations accompany the pppffff and shreeeep of a mother-baby dolphin pair. Includes advice about saving dolphins in the wild.
by Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Brita Granström
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Soft acrylic illustrations accompany the pppffff and shreeeep of a mother-baby dolphin pair. Includes advice about saving dolphins in the wild.
Drummer Boy of John John
by Mark Greenwood
Illustrator: Frané Lessac
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Young Trinidadian Winston pings and poms and boom bams on metal containers of different sizes and shapes, creating tunes and developing the steel drum. Colorful gouache paintings.
by Mark Greenwood
Illustrator: Frané Lessac
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Young Trinidadian Winston pings and poms and boom bams on metal containers of different sizes and shapes, creating tunes and developing the steel drum. Colorful gouache paintings.
Duck Sock Hop
by Jane Kohuth
Illustrator: Jane Porter
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
What could be more fun than dancing in cool, colorful socks? Rhymed text and bright mixed media illustrations.
by Jane Kohuth
Illustrator: Jane Porter
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
What could be more fun than dancing in cool, colorful socks? Rhymed text and bright mixed media illustrations.
Five Little Monkeys Jump In the Bath
written and illustrated by Eileen Christelow
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Lively illustrations and amusing word play make this board book an ideal read-aloud.
written and illustrated by Eileen Christelow
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Lively illustrations and amusing word play make this board book an ideal read-aloud.
Fly, Chick, Fly!
by Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Father and mother owl raise three chicks. Soft pastel illustrations link the chicks' growth to their natural surroundings.
by Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Father and mother owl raise three chicks. Soft pastel illustrations link the chicks' growth to their natural surroundings.
Friends
written and illustrated by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Knowing his goldfish friend is unhappy, a cat figures out how to show him the world. Vibrant watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Knowing his goldfish friend is unhappy, a cat figures out how to show him the world. Vibrant watercolor illustrations.
Frog and Fly
written and illustrated by Jeff Mack
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Will the fly outwit the frog in this humorous, six-part story? Bold illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jeff Mack
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Will the fly outwit the frog in this humorous, six-part story? Bold illustrations.
Get Dressed!
written and illustrated by Seymour Chwast
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
How do you dress to sing, hide or make believe? Easy-to-read text with simple watercolors in a fold-out format.
written and illustrated by Seymour Chwast
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
How do you dress to sing, hide or make believe? Easy-to-read text with simple watercolors in a fold-out format.
Green
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The many facets of a single color are explored with minimal text in this cleverly designed and nuanced book. Oil paintings and cut-outs.
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The many facets of a single color are explored with minimal text in this cleverly designed and nuanced book. Oil paintings and cut-outs.