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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Trucks
written and illustrated by Debbie Powell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Touch and feel the bright and shiny machines which help build a new house. Digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Debbie Powell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Touch and feel the bright and shiny machines which help build a new house. Digital illustrations.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Baby animals and a grown-up they love watch the stars twinkle, sparkle, flicker, shimmer, and glisten. A repetitive goodnight read with full page illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Baby animals and a grown-up they love watch the stars twinkle, sparkle, flicker, shimmer, and glisten. A repetitive goodnight read with full page illustrations.
Utterly Lovely One
written and illustrated by Mary Murphy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Everyone is special in his or her own unique way. Soft, detailed illustrations of many different animals.
written and illustrated by Mary Murphy
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Everyone is special in his or her own unique way. Soft, detailed illustrations of many different animals.
What Can a Crane Pick Up?
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
In rhyming test and humorous illustrations all the surprising things this amazing machine can pick up are shown.
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
In rhyming test and humorous illustrations all the surprising things this amazing machine can pick up are shown.
What Little Boys Are Made Of
written and illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Shiny and colorful illustrations waltz us through the adventurous fantasy life of a young boy.
written and illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Shiny and colorful illustrations waltz us through the adventurous fantasy life of a young boy.
What We Wear
by Maya Ajmera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Children from around the world show off the clothing they wear for play, school, sports, and celebrations. Stunning photographs of the children.
by Maya Ajmera
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Children from around the world show off the clothing they wear for play, school, sports, and celebrations. Stunning photographs of the children.
When Dads Don't Grow up
by Marjorie Blain Parker
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
What fun it is to have a father who is the perfect playmate--still a kid at heart! Humorous animated illustrations.
by Marjorie Blain Parker
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
What fun it is to have a father who is the perfect playmate--still a kid at heart! Humorous animated illustrations.
Whoa, Baby, Whoa!
by Grace Nichols
Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
People tell baby to stop before he gets hurt, until he finally does something that amazes everyone. Watercolor illustrations.
by Grace Nichols
Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
People tell baby to stop before he gets hurt, until he finally does something that amazes everyone. Watercolor illustrations.
Who Am I?
by Gervase Phinn
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
When a strange little creature hatches, he has no idea what he is. Colorful, animated watercolors.
by Gervase Phinn
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
When a strange little creature hatches, he has no idea what he is. Colorful, animated watercolors.
Who Has This Tail?
by Laura Hulbert
Illustrator: Erik Brooks
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
This question-answer book is based on the partial illustration of an animal, such as a beaver or a rattlesnake, and how it uses its tail. Bright, bold watercolors.
by Laura Hulbert
Illustrator: Erik Brooks
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
This question-answer book is based on the partial illustration of an animal, such as a beaver or a rattlesnake, and how it uses its tail. Bright, bold watercolors.
Whose Toes Are Those?
by Sally Symes
Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Simple rhymes, bold, clear art, and a lift-the-flap format invite youngsters to guess which animal.
by Sally Symes
Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Simple rhymes, bold, clear art, and a lift-the-flap format invite youngsters to guess which animal.
Wild About You!
by Judy Sierra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The pandas and tree kangaroos are sad that they don't have new babies to take care of, but an abandoned egg and a stray kitten change that. Bright, energetic mixed-media illustrations.
by Judy Sierra
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
The pandas and tree kangaroos are sad that they don't have new babies to take care of, but an abandoned egg and a stray kitten change that. Bright, energetic mixed-media illustrations.
You Choose
by Pippa Goodhart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A whole range of thematically arranged scenarios, accompanied by bold, colorful illustrations, stimulate imagination and invite discussion.
by Pippa Goodhart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
A whole range of thematically arranged scenarios, accompanied by bold, colorful illustrations, stimulate imagination and invite discussion.
Z is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Sometimes it's just too hard to wait your turn--even if moving means scrambling the alphabet! Cartoon-like illustrations with wonderfully humorous details.
by Kelly Bingham
Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Sometimes it's just too hard to wait your turn--even if moving means scrambling the alphabet! Cartoon-like illustrations with wonderfully humorous details.
Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!
by Margaret Mayo
Illustrator: Alex Ayliffe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Vibrant cut-paper collages bring concepts of outer space exploration into focus for young readers.
by Margaret Mayo
Illustrator: Alex Ayliffe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Vibrant cut-paper collages bring concepts of outer space exploration into focus for young readers.
Zorro Gets an Outfit
written and illustrated by Carter Goodrich
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Pug Zorro's feeelings about his new, embarrassing outfit are vividly conveyed in simple text and expressive watercolors.
written and illustrated by Carter Goodrich
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2012
Pug Zorro's feeelings about his new, embarrassing outfit are vividly conveyed in simple text and expressive watercolors.
A Ball for Daisy
conceived and illustrated by Chris Raschka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
What's a dog to do when his favorite toy is destroyed? Bold line drawings capture the anguish and humor in this wordless book.
conceived and illustrated by Chris Raschka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
What's a dog to do when his favorite toy is destroyed? Bold line drawings capture the anguish and humor in this wordless book.
A Cat Like That
written and illustrated by Wendy Wahman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A cat's-eye view of the perfect friend is presented in a simple text and humorous striking digital illustrations.
written and illustrated by Wendy Wahman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A cat's-eye view of the perfect friend is presented in a simple text and humorous striking digital illustrations.
A Christmas Goodnight
by Nola Buck
Illustrator: Sarah Jane Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A soothing bedtime book teaches toddlers about the Nativity story. Simple illustrations in vivid colors.
by Nola Buck
Illustrator: Sarah Jane Wright
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A soothing bedtime book teaches toddlers about the Nativity story. Simple illustrations in vivid colors.
A Is For Autumn
written and photographed by Robert Maass
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
In an ABC book, strong seasonal concepts are supported by vibrant photographs of autumn.
written and photographed by Robert Maass
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
In an ABC book, strong seasonal concepts are supported by vibrant photographs of autumn.
A Little Bitty Man
by Halfdan Rasmussen
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
These original translations of nursery rhymes and nonsense verses are accompanied by delightful acrylic and charcoal-pencil illustrations.
by Halfdan Rasmussen
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
These original translations of nursery rhymes and nonsense verses are accompanied by delightful acrylic and charcoal-pencil illustrations.
A New Year's Reunion
by Yu Li-Qiong
Illustrator: Zhu Chen-Liang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
Maomao's father works far away and only comes home for New Year's, but they find a way to stay connected all year long. Illustrations portray their emotional bond.
by Yu Li-Qiong
Illustrator: Zhu Chen-Liang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
Maomao's father works far away and only comes home for New Year's, but they find a way to stay connected all year long. Illustrations portray their emotional bond.
Animal Baths
written and illustrated by Bob Barner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A spirited, rhyming text and vibrantly colored collage art highlight various animals' bathing habits and connect them playfully to a child's bath time.
written and illustrated by Bob Barner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A spirited, rhyming text and vibrantly colored collage art highlight various animals' bathing habits and connect them playfully to a child's bath time.
A Pet for Petunia
written and ill. by Paul Schmid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
Petunia learns the hard way why skunks don't make good pets. Pencil and watercolor illustrations.
written and ill. by Paul Schmid
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
Petunia learns the hard way why skunks don't make good pets. Pencil and watercolor illustrations.
Around One Log
by Anthony D. Fredericks
Illustrator: Jennifer DiRubbio
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A giant oak is felled by lightning and gradually becomes home to a variety of woodland creatures.
by Anthony D. Fredericks
Illustrator: Jennifer DiRubbio
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2011
A giant oak is felled by lightning and gradually becomes home to a variety of woodland creatures.