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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Oh, What a Beautiful Day!
by Jeanne Modesitt
Illustrator: Robin Spowart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
On a beautiful morning, a girl walks through the countryside, her graceful movements attuned to the rhyming text. Soft colored pencil illustrations.
by Jeanne Modesitt
Illustrator: Robin Spowart
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
On a beautiful morning, a girl walks through the countryside, her graceful movements attuned to the rhyming text. Soft colored pencil illustrations.
Only a Witch Can Fly
by Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Muted Halloween-colored prints evoke the mysterious night when a child flies, encouraged by those who love her.
by Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Muted Halloween-colored prints evoke the mysterious night when a child flies, encouraged by those who love her.
Opuestos
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Quirino and Mártin Santiago
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Unique, vividly colored hand-carved animals playfully teach opposites in English and Spanish.
by Cynthia Weill
Illustrator: Quirino and Mártin Santiago
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Unique, vividly colored hand-carved animals playfully teach opposites in English and Spanish.
Otis
written and ill. by Loren Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Otis, the friendly little tractor, is replaced by a big modern tractor, but only Otis can save the calf stuck in the mud pond. Gouache and pencil illustrations.
written and ill. by Loren Long
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Otis, the friendly little tractor, is replaced by a big modern tractor, but only Otis can save the calf stuck in the mud pond. Gouache and pencil illustrations.
Peep
written and ill. by Maria Van Lieshout
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A reluctant chick steps out in the world. Simple, amusing watercolors.
written and ill. by Maria Van Lieshout
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A reluctant chick steps out in the world. Simple, amusing watercolors.
Piglet and Granny
by Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Piglet's long wait for ingenious Granny is punctuated by energetic antics and humorous watercolor illustrations.
by Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Piglet's long wait for ingenious Granny is punctuated by energetic antics and humorous watercolor illustrations.
Pouch!
written and ill. by David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A joey takes his first hops from his mama's pouch, gaining confidence each time.
written and ill. by David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A joey takes his first hops from his mama's pouch, gaining confidence each time.
Puffling
by Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Puffling, a baby puffin, depends on his parents until he is ready to leave the nest on his own. Simple, textured illustrations.
by Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Puffling, a baby puffin, depends on his parents until he is ready to leave the nest on his own. Simple, textured illustrations.
Puppy Love
by Gillian Shields
Illustrator: Elizabeth Harbour
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Two dogs from opposite sides of the tracks find each other and fall in love. Rhymed couplets and soft watercolor illustrations.
by Gillian Shields
Illustrator: Elizabeth Harbour
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Two dogs from opposite sides of the tracks find each other and fall in love. Rhymed couplets and soft watercolor illustrations.
Put It On the List!
written and ill. by Kristen Darbyshire
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A family finds a way to meet the challenge of remembering what they need when they shop. Simple, expressive full-color illustrations add to the sly humor.
written and ill. by Kristen Darbyshire
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A family finds a way to meet the challenge of remembering what they need when they shop. Simple, expressive full-color illustrations add to the sly humor.
Puzzlehead
written and ill. by James Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Five shapes set off to play, but cannot find one thing all can do together. Colorful, digitized illustrations.
written and ill. by James Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Five shapes set off to play, but cannot find one thing all can do together. Colorful, digitized illustrations.
Ready for Anything!
written and ill. by Keiko Kasza
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Can a cheerful duck and a morose raccoon enjoy a picnic together? Animated gouache illustrations.
written and ill. by Keiko Kasza
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Can a cheerful duck and a morose raccoon enjoy a picnic together? Animated gouache illustrations.
Rhyming Dust Bunnies
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Why doesn't Bob “rhyme all the time” like the other dust bunnies? Colorful, cartoon-like illustrations add to the fun.
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Why doesn't Bob “rhyme all the time” like the other dust bunnies? Colorful, cartoon-like illustrations add to the fun.
Riki's Birdhouse
written and ill. by Monica Wellington
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Riki builds a birdhouse and watches the comings and goings of birds throughout the year. Colorful multimedia illustrations.
written and ill. by Monica Wellington
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Riki builds a birdhouse and watches the comings and goings of birds throughout the year. Colorful multimedia illustrations.
Shades of People
by Shelley Rotner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Delightful photographs of active children of many nationalities explore the different shades of human skin.
by Shelley Rotner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Delightful photographs of active children of many nationalities explore the different shades of human skin.
Simms Taback's City Animals
written and ill. by Simms Taback
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Large, colorful city animals are concealed under flaps with clues for little ones to guess. Board book.
written and ill. by Simms Taback
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Large, colorful city animals are concealed under flaps with clues for little ones to guess. Board book.
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep!
by Maureen Wright
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
When winter arrives, Big Bear misunderstands its call and fights sleepiness as he follows exhausting directions through the cold and dark. Snowy illustrations.
by Maureen Wright
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
When winter arrives, Big Bear misunderstands its call and fights sleepiness as he follows exhausting directions through the cold and dark. Snowy illustrations.
Snow
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Lauren Stringer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A lyrical celebration of the many ways we enjoy different types of snow is accompanied by soft acrylic ilustrations.
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Lauren Stringer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A lyrical celebration of the many ways we enjoy different types of snow is accompanied by soft acrylic ilustrations.
Spells
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Using a shredded spell book, Frog has his work cut out for him when he tries to turn a prince into a frog . Multi-media illustrations.
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Using a shredded spell book, Frog has his work cut out for him when he tries to turn a prince into a frog . Multi-media illustrations.
Surprise Soup
by Mary Ann Rodman
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Kevie, his big brother, and Dad make a special meal to welcome home Momma and the new baby. Gently humorous illustrations.
by Mary Ann Rodman
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Kevie, his big brother, and Dad make a special meal to welcome home Momma and the new baby. Gently humorous illustrations.
Ten Days and Nine Nights
written and ill. by Yumi Heo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
An older sister waits for her new baby, adopted from Korea. Child-like images in collage, oil, and pencil.
written and ill. by Yumi Heo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
An older sister waits for her new baby, adopted from Korea. Child-like images in collage, oil, and pencil.
The Jungle Grapevine
written and ill. by Alex Beard
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A cycle of panic among the various jungle animals is caused by misheard words. Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations.
written and ill. by Alex Beard
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A cycle of panic among the various jungle animals is caused by misheard words. Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations.
The Lion and the Mouse
written and ill. by Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Sumptuous illustrations in watercolor and pencil bring this nearly wordless Aesop's fable to life in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya.
written and ill. by Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Sumptuous illustrations in watercolor and pencil bring this nearly wordless Aesop's fable to life in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya.
The Little Bit Scary People
by Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A young girl observes that first impressions can sometimes be misleading. Expressive illustrations.
by Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A young girl observes that first impressions can sometimes be misleading. Expressive illustrations.
The Little Dump Truck
by Margery Cuyler
Illustrator: Bob Kolar
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Follow the dump truck as it goes through its work day. Simple rhymes and bright detailed illustrations.
by Margery Cuyler
Illustrator: Bob Kolar
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Follow the dump truck as it goes through its work day. Simple rhymes and bright detailed illustrations.