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/.

How to Perform a Search and Save a List

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Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat
ill. by Annie Kubler
Illustrator: Annie Kubler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
See “Hop a Little, Jump a Little!”

Say Hello!
written and ill. by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
As she wends her way out to visit her grandma, Carmelita greets her neighbors in their own languages. Cut paper and expressive oil paintings.

Seven Hungry Babies
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Mama Bird exhausts herself finding food for her newly hatched hungry babies. Rhythmic text and humorous gouache and watercolor illustrations.

Sleepy ABC
by Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Karen Katz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Twenty-six ways to say goodnight are portrayed in rhymed verse and cheerful, colorful illustrations.

Spartacus the Spider
written and ill. by Etienne Delessert
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
In Spartacus destined for greatness or will his floppy webs fail to catch anything? Colorful close-up and large-view perspectives.

Stanley's Little Sister
by Linda Bailey
Illustrator: Bill Slavin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
There's a new pet in the house - a cat! Stanley, a big, lovable dog, tries hard to get along with her, but it isn't easy. Humorous acrylic illustrations.

Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp!
by Margaret Mayo
Illustrator: Alex Ayliffe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Onomatopoeic and rhythmic text offers descriptions and brief information about a variety of dinosaurs. Vivid, cut-paper collages.

Sweet Dreams Lullaby
written and ill. by Betsy Snyder
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
As bedtime approaches, a mother rabbit invites her baby to “dream of comforts all around.” Dream-like illustrations.

Swim! Swim!
written and ill. by James Proimos
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
A lonely fish risks it all to make friends. Comic book style, ink, and Photoshop illustrations add to the funny adventure.

The Best Family in the World
by Susana Lopez
Illustrator: Ulises Wensell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Carlota imagines what her new adoptive family will be like. Translated from Spanish. Cheerful, compelling illustrations.

The Fathers are Coming Home
by Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Stephen Savage
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Engaging, graphic-like linocuts accompany a simple text that celebrates fathers--animal, insect, and human.

The Gobble Gobble Moooooo Tractor Book
written and ill. by Jez Alborough
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Sheep and friends take over Farmer Dougal's tractor while he sleeps. Will all the boisterous fun wake the farmer up? Bright, colorful illustrations.

The Perfect Gift
written and ill. by Mary Newell DePalma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
On her way to Grandma's, Little Lori drops her gift in the river and an adventure ensues. Clever acrylic illustrations.

The Princess and Her Panther
by Wendy Orr
Illustrator: Lauren Stringer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Two sisters camping in their backyard conquer their fears as they act out their fantasies. Colorful illustrations. Read-aloud.

The Red Scarf
written and ill. by Anne Villeneuve
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Crayon illustrations convey the almost wordless story of Turpin, a white mole cabbie whose gray day becomes an adventure as he chases the mysterious owner of a lost, red scarf.

There's Going to Be a Baby
by John Burningham
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
A brother imagines, via Sunday comic panels, the disruptive antics the new sibling will bring as we view his mother preparing for the new family configuration.

The Sea of Sleep
by Warren Hanson
Illustrator: Jim LaMarche
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
A lilting poetic journey into the sea of sleep accompanies illustrations of otters on the same journey.

The Thingamabob
written and ill. by Il Sung Na
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
What use is a thingamabob? The elephant can't fly with it or sail in it, but it does keep everyone dry when the rain starts to fall.

The Village Garage
written and ill. by G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
An amazing and fact-filled exploration of how one village's crew keeps the town in good repair. Engaging gouache and acrylic illustrations.

The Yellow Tutu
by Kirsten Bramsen
Illustrator: Carin Bramsen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
A spunky little girl discovers her individuality and a new friendship by taking a tutu far beyond its regular purpose. Whimsical pastel-like paintings.

Three Little Kittens
written and ill. by Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Expressive, wonderfully detailed illustrations bring new life to these classic nursery rhymes.

Time for Bed, Baby Ted
by Debra Sartell
Illustrator: Kay Chorao
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Playful language as patient dad coaxes Ted to bed. Watercolor and gouache illustrations match the mood.

Time to Sleep Sheep the Sheep!
written and ill. by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Bedtime is a happy event in Cat the Cat's animal world, but there's one holdout. Colorful, humorous illustrations.

Tiny Little Fly
by Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Kevin Waldron
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
A great big elephant, a great big hippo, and a great big tiger are no match for this daring, tiny fly. Pencil and gouache illustrations.

Tubby
written and ill. by Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2010
Squish, squash - the fun involved in getting clean is humorously illustrated in this board book.