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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The Littlest Dinosaur's Big Adventure
written and ill. by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
After a day of exciting adventures and with courage in his heart, the littlest dinosaur overcomes his fear of the dark. Gentle watercolor and ink illustrations.
written and ill. by Michael Foreman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
After a day of exciting adventures and with courage in his heart, the littlest dinosaur overcomes his fear of the dark. Gentle watercolor and ink illustrations.
The Mitten
retold by Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A lost mitten warms up a group of woodland animals in this retelling of an old story. Mixed-media illustrations.
retold by Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A lost mitten warms up a group of woodland animals in this retelling of an old story. Mixed-media illustrations.
The Night Before Christmas
retold and ill. by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Set in Africa, the famous poem is retold with exuberant cut-paper illustrations.
retold and ill. by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Set in Africa, the famous poem is retold with exuberant cut-paper illustrations.
The Odd Egg
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
The only bird without an egg, Duck luckily finds a giant speckled one. Inventive flaps with playful watercolors show all the eggs hatching in sequence.
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
The only bird without an egg, Duck luckily finds a giant speckled one. Inventive flaps with playful watercolors show all the eggs hatching in sequence.
The Strange Case of the Missing Sheep
written and ill. by Mircea Catusanu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
When wolf lures the sheep from Happy Valley to the dark forest, Doug, the superdog, hurries to the rescue. Humorous monochromatic illustrations.
written and ill. by Mircea Catusanu
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
When wolf lures the sheep from Happy Valley to the dark forest, Doug, the superdog, hurries to the rescue. Humorous monochromatic illustrations.
Tillie Lays an Egg
by Terry Golson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Where on the farm will Tillie lay her egg today? Try to spot each one in these eye-catching photos.
by Terry Golson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Where on the farm will Tillie lay her egg today? Try to spot each one in these eye-catching photos.
Toot Toot Zoom!
by Phyllis Root
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
After crossing a mountain in search of a friend, Pierre realizes that he has found perfect friends along the way. Ink and watercolor illustrations.
by Phyllis Root
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
After crossing a mountain in search of a friend, Pierre realizes that he has found perfect friends along the way. Ink and watercolor illustrations.
Two at the Zoo
by Donna Smith
Illustrator: Valeria Petrone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Rhyming text and bold digital and gouache illustrations help in counting the animals at the zoo from one to ten.
by Donna Smith
Illustrator: Valeria Petrone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Rhyming text and bold digital and gouache illustrations help in counting the animals at the zoo from one to ten.
Violet and Winston
by Sonya Sones
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Three humor -filled episodes define the close friendship between a swan and a duck. Colorful watercolor and ink illustrations.
by Sonya Sones
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Three humor -filled episodes define the close friendship between a swan and a duck. Colorful watercolor and ink illustrations.
When I Grow Up
written and ill. by Leonid Gore
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A boy considers different possibilities for growing up, but wants to be just like his father. Colorful, acrylic illustrations.
written and ill. by Leonid Gore
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A boy considers different possibilities for growing up, but wants to be just like his father. Colorful, acrylic illustrations.
When I Visit the Farm
written and ill. by Crystal Beshara
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A simple text accompanied by bright, vividly delineated illustrations, celebrates a child's sensory experiences as she visits a farm.
written and ill. by Crystal Beshara
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
A simple text accompanied by bright, vividly delineated illustrations, celebrates a child's sensory experiences as she visits a farm.
Where's Tumpty?
written and ill. by Polly Dunbar
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Tumpty, the elephant, discovers how to hide. Humorous mixed media illustrations.
written and ill. by Polly Dunbar
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
Tumpty, the elephant, discovers how to hide. Humorous mixed media illustrations.
Where Teddy Bears Come From
by Mark Burgess
Illustrator: Russell Ayto
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
In thanks for his huffing and puffing, Santa brings a sleepless little wolf a teddy bear to cuddle. Jaunty, multimedia illustrations.
by Mark Burgess
Illustrator: Russell Ayto
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
In thanks for his huffing and puffing, Santa brings a sleepless little wolf a teddy bear to cuddle. Jaunty, multimedia illustrations.
Wombat Walkabout
by Carol Diggory Shields
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
The peaceful walk of six clever, playful wombats is interrupted by an encounter with a hungry dingo. Expressive, humorous illustrations.
by Carol Diggory Shields
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2009
The peaceful walk of six clever, playful wombats is interrupted by an encounter with a hungry dingo. Expressive, humorous illustrations.
1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
written and ill. by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Dazzling fabric appliqués illustrate the traditional counting rhyme.
written and ill. by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Dazzling fabric appliqués illustrate the traditional counting rhyme.
A Birthday for Cow!
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
While pig and mouse make a wonderful surprise birthday cake for cow, duck knows what cow really would prefer.
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
While pig and mouse make a wonderful surprise birthday cake for cow, duck knows what cow really would prefer.
A Child's Day
written and ill. by Ida Pearle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Act, blow, catch, dance--all the way to zoom. Playful, cut-paper collages.
written and ill. by Ida Pearle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Act, blow, catch, dance--all the way to zoom. Playful, cut-paper collages.
A Cold Winter's Good Knight
by Shelley Moore Thomas
Illustrator: Jennifer Plecas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Three boisterous young dragons can lead to a good time at the ball. Colorful, ink and watercolor drawings capture the mischief.
by Shelley Moore Thomas
Illustrator: Jennifer Plecas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Three boisterous young dragons can lead to a good time at the ball. Colorful, ink and watercolor drawings capture the mischief.
A Kitten Tale
written and ill. by Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Three young kittens worry about the winter snow, but the adventurous fourth kitten cannot wait. Simple text and bold, colorful illustrations.
written and ill. by Eric Rohmann
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Three young kittens worry about the winter snow, but the adventurous fourth kitten cannot wait. Simple text and bold, colorful illustrations.
Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar
written and ill. by Clare Jarrett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Vibrant pencil and paper collages illustrate the life cycle of a caterpillar.
written and ill. by Clare Jarrett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Vibrant pencil and paper collages illustrate the life cycle of a caterpillar.
A Visitor for Bear
by Bonny Becker
Illustrator: Kady MacDonald Denton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Bear believes he enjoys solitude, but Mouse slyly changes Bear's mind. Muted watercolor, ink and gouache illustrations.
by Bonny Becker
Illustrator: Kady MacDonald Denton
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Bear believes he enjoys solitude, but Mouse slyly changes Bear's mind. Muted watercolor, ink and gouache illustrations.
Bear Feels Scared
by Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Big old Bear loses his way in the storm. Can his little friends save him? Evocative acrylics.
by Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Big old Bear loses his way in the storm. Can his little friends save him? Evocative acrylics.
Big Little Monkey
by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Illustrator: Pierre Pratt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Monkey sets out alone one morning to look for a playmate. Lush, acrylic paintings.
by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Illustrator: Pierre Pratt
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Monkey sets out alone one morning to look for a playmate. Lush, acrylic paintings.
Dance with Me
by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Rhymes and clear illustrations encourage the reader to move and sing along.
by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Rhymes and clear illustrations encourage the reader to move and sing along.
Danny's Drawing Book
written and ill. by Sue Heap
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A day at the zoo becomes an African adventure as a boy's imagination pulls us inside the book within a book.
written and ill. by Sue Heap
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A day at the zoo becomes an African adventure as a boy's imagination pulls us inside the book within a book.