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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Open Very Carefully
by Nick Bromley
Illustrator: Nicola OByrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A hungry crocodile “invades” a copy of The Ugly Duckling and begins to gobble up the words. Getting rid of him is not easy. Colorful, humorous mixed-media illustrations.
by Nick Bromley
Illustrator: Nicola OByrne
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A hungry crocodile “invades” a copy of The Ugly Duckling and begins to gobble up the words. Getting rid of him is not easy. Colorful, humorous mixed-media illustrations.
Over in a River, Flowing Out to the Sea
by Marianne Berkes
Illustrator: Jill Dubin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Ten United States rivers and the animals that inhabit them are described in the rhythm of the classic “Over the Meadow.” Soft collage illustrations.
by Marianne Berkes
Illustrator: Jill Dubin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Ten United States rivers and the animals that inhabit them are described in the rhythm of the classic “Over the Meadow.” Soft collage illustrations.
Patch
written and illustrated by David Slonim
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A young boy describes three amusing adventures with his beloved dog. Cheerful color illustrationms.
written and illustrated by David Slonim
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A young boy describes three amusing adventures with his beloved dog. Cheerful color illustrationms.
Peanut & Fifi Have a Ball
by Randall de Sève
Illustrator: Paul Schmid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Fifi cannot entice Peanut to share her special toy, but her imaginative ideas spark an extraordinary adventure for both siblings. Stylish retro illustrations in sherbet colors.
by Randall de Sève
Illustrator: Paul Schmid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Fifi cannot entice Peanut to share her special toy, but her imaginative ideas spark an extraordinary adventure for both siblings. Stylish retro illustrations in sherbet colors.
Peck, Peck, Peck
written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A woodpecker's daddy teaches him how to peck a tree. Humorous rhymes document this day along with cheerful gouache illustrations with cutouts.
written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A woodpecker's daddy teaches him how to peck a tree. Humorous rhymes document this day along with cheerful gouache illustrations with cutouts.
Peep and Ducky
by David Martin
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Two pre-schoolers have fun in the park, playing on the slide, in the sandbox, and enjoying snacks. A rollicking read aloud with energetic colorful art work.
by David Martin
Illustrator: David Walker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Two pre-schoolers have fun in the park, playing on the slide, in the sandbox, and enjoying snacks. A rollicking read aloud with energetic colorful art work.
Penguin on Vacation
written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Colorful black-lined illustrations depict the joy of going somewhere new and making new friends.
written and illustrated by Salina Yoon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Colorful black-lined illustrations depict the joy of going somewhere new and making new friends.
Please, Papa
by Kate Banks
Illustrator: Gabi Swiatkowska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Little Alice learns the value of the word “please.” Detailed yet simple color illustrations.
by Kate Banks
Illustrator: Gabi Swiatkowska
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Little Alice learns the value of the word “please.” Detailed yet simple color illustrations.
Polar Bear Morning
by Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: Stephen Savage
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Bold, energetic art help tell a simple tale of friendship between two polar bear cubs.
by Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: Stephen Savage
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Bold, energetic art help tell a simple tale of friendship between two polar bear cubs.
Quick Duck!
written and illustrated by Mary Murphy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Duck waddles out, under, around, down, through, and over to catch up with mother and siblings. Bold, eye-catching ink and watercolor illustrations.
written and illustrated by Mary Murphy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Duck waddles out, under, around, down, through, and over to catch up with mother and siblings. Bold, eye-catching ink and watercolor illustrations.
Rabbit and the Not-So-Big-Bad Wolf
by Michael Escoffier
Illustrator: Kris Di Giacomo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Humorous mixed media drawings capture this imaginative tale of a scared rabbit, which may inspire readers to draw their own creations.
by Michael Escoffier
Illustrator: Kris Di Giacomo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Humorous mixed media drawings capture this imaginative tale of a scared rabbit, which may inspire readers to draw their own creations.
Rain!
by Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A happy young boy changes a grumpy old man's mood on a rainy day. Gentle paint and collage illustrations.
by Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
A happy young boy changes a grumpy old man's mood on a rainy day. Gentle paint and collage illustrations.
Rainbow Stew
written and illustrated by Cathryn Falwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
The gray rainy day doesn't prevent the children from picking Grandpa's colorful vegetables--and cooking and eating them. Multimedia collage illustrations.
written and illustrated by Cathryn Falwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
The gray rainy day doesn't prevent the children from picking Grandpa's colorful vegetables--and cooking and eating them. Multimedia collage illustrations.
Ready and Waiting for You
by Judi Moreillon
Illustrator: Catherine Stock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Everyone in the school welcomes new students on the first day. Rhyming text and cheerful, brightly colored illustrations.
by Judi Moreillon
Illustrator: Catherine Stock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2013
Everyone in the school welcomes new students on the first day. Rhyming text and cheerful, brightly colored illustrations.
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.