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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Mommy Do You Love Me?
by Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Jan Fearnley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Mother hen reassures little chick that no matter what he does, she still loves him. Energetic watercolor and ink drawings.
by Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Jan Fearnley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Mother hen reassures little chick that no matter what he does, she still loves him. Energetic watercolor and ink drawings.
Monkey and Me
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Imitating different animals, a girl and her toy monkey play until they are tired. Pencil and watercolor illustrations.
written and ill. by Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Imitating different animals, a girl and her toy monkey play until they are tired. Pencil and watercolor illustrations.
My Pup
by Margaret O'Hair
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
With exuberant illustrations and very simple rhyme, a young girl describes her pet.
by Margaret O'Hair
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
With exuberant illustrations and very simple rhyme, a young girl describes her pet.
Nanuk Flies Home
by Christa Holtei
Illustrator: Astrid Vohwinkel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A mother polar bear and her cub wander into a northern Canadian town in search of food. Based on a true story.
by Christa Holtei
Illustrator: Astrid Vohwinkel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A mother polar bear and her cub wander into a northern Canadian town in search of food. Based on a true story.
No Mush Today
by Sally Derby
Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Tired of cornmeal porridge for breakfast and her bawling baby brother, Nonie decides to live with her grandma. Warm watercolors.
by Sally Derby
Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Tired of cornmeal porridge for breakfast and her bawling baby brother, Nonie decides to live with her grandma. Warm watercolors.
Not a Stick
written and ill. by Antoinette Portis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A young pig creates adventures with a stick in this clever sequel to Not a Box. Imaginative blue and black line drawings.
written and ill. by Antoinette Portis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A young pig creates adventures with a stick in this clever sequel to Not a Box. Imaginative blue and black line drawings.
Old Bear
written and ill. by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Old Bear falls asleep for the winter and dreams of being a cub frolicking in each of the four seasons. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
written and ill. by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Old Bear falls asleep for the winter and dreams of being a cub frolicking in each of the four seasons. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
One Watermelon Seed
by Celia Barker Lottridge
Illustrator: Karen Patkau
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Help children count from one to ten and then by tens to one hundred. Brightly colored, simple illustrations.
by Celia Barker Lottridge
Illustrator: Karen Patkau
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Help children count from one to ten and then by tens to one hundred. Brightly colored, simple illustrations.
On the Farm
by David Elliott
Illustrator: Holly Meade
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Amusing, pithy poems and brilliant woodblock prints and watercolors convey warm farm scenes.
by David Elliott
Illustrator: Holly Meade
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Amusing, pithy poems and brilliant woodblock prints and watercolors convey warm farm scenes.
Oodles of Animals
written and ill. by Lois Ehlert
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Striking collages and clever short poems introduce some of the identifying characteristics of many creatures.
written and ill. by Lois Ehlert
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Striking collages and clever short poems introduce some of the identifying characteristics of many creatures.
Princess Baby
written and ill. by Karen Katz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A little girl is angry because her parents call her lots of different pet names rather than her preferred “real” name. Bold, bright illustrations.
written and ill. by Karen Katz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A little girl is angry because her parents call her lots of different pet names rather than her preferred “real” name. Bold, bright illustrations.
Puppies and Piggies
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Ivan Bates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Rhyming text describes what animals like and what a baby loves most--his mother. Watercolor illustrations enhance the loving quality.
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Ivan Bates
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Rhyming text describes what animals like and what a baby loves most--his mother. Watercolor illustrations enhance the loving quality.
Roadwork
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Experience the hard work and noise produced by various trucks while building a road from start to finish. Energetic text and illustrations.
by Sally Sutton
Illustrator: Brian Lovelock
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Experience the hard work and noise produced by various trucks while building a road from start to finish. Energetic text and illustrations.
Rock-a-Bye Farm
by Diane Johnston Hamm
Illustrator: Alexi Natchev
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A farmer rocks baby and his farm animals to sleep before going to bed himself. Humorous illustrations. Board book.
by Diane Johnston Hamm
Illustrator: Alexi Natchev
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A farmer rocks baby and his farm animals to sleep before going to bed himself. Humorous illustrations. Board book.
Sally and the Purple Socks
written and ill. by Lisze Bechtold
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Sally the duck makes the best out of a pair of socks that keep getting bigger and bigger. Humorous gouache illustrations.
written and ill. by Lisze Bechtold
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Sally the duck makes the best out of a pair of socks that keep getting bigger and bigger. Humorous gouache illustrations.
Sheep Blast Off!
by Nancy Shaw
Illustrator: Margot Apple
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Sheep encounter a spaceship and accidently take off. Simple rhyming text and exuberant pencil illustrations.
by Nancy Shaw
Illustrator: Margot Apple
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Sheep encounter a spaceship and accidently take off. Simple rhyming text and exuberant pencil illustrations.
Simms Taback's Safari Animals
written and ill. by Simms Taback
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Elephant, zebra, lion, hippo and giraffe--all appear in vividly colored fold-out flaps. Board book.
written and ill. by Simms Taback
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Elephant, zebra, lion, hippo and giraffe--all appear in vividly colored fold-out flaps. Board book.
Smash! Crash!
by Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: David Shannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Jack Truck and Dump Truck Dan, best friends, help the other denizens of a town populated by vehicles.
by Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: David Shannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Jack Truck and Dump Truck Dan, best friends, help the other denizens of a town populated by vehicles.
Sometimes You Get What You Want
by Meredith Gary
Illustrator: Lisa Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Familiar scenes capture the occasions when you get what you want and when you don't.
by Meredith Gary
Illustrator: Lisa Brown
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Familiar scenes capture the occasions when you get what you want and when you don't.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
by Mem Fox
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Catchy rhymes and humor embrace all kinds of babies and what they have in common. Subtle watercolors exude character.
by Mem Fox
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Catchy rhymes and humor embrace all kinds of babies and what they have in common. Subtle watercolors exude character.
The Big Bigger Biggest Book
written and ill. by SAMi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Simple bold and bright illustrations explain comparisons in this appealing lift-the-flap book.
written and ill. by SAMi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Simple bold and bright illustrations explain comparisons in this appealing lift-the-flap book.
The Doghouse
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Mouse watches with alarm as each of his friends goes into the doghouse to retrieve a ball. Bright, bold illustrations.
written and ill. by Jan Thomas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Mouse watches with alarm as each of his friends goes into the doghouse to retrieve a ball. Bright, bold illustrations.
The Firefighters
by Sue Whiting
Illustrator: Donna Rawlins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A clever weaving of fantasy play and real experience depicts the job of firefighters. Colorful acrylic illustrations,
by Sue Whiting
Illustrator: Donna Rawlins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A clever weaving of fantasy play and real experience depicts the job of firefighters. Colorful acrylic illustrations,
The Little Yellow Leaf
written and ill. by Carin Berger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
An autumn leaf overcomes his fear of change with the help of a friend. Elegant and clever cut-paper illustrations.
written and ill. by Carin Berger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
An autumn leaf overcomes his fear of change with the help of a friend. Elegant and clever cut-paper illustrations.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!
written and ill. by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Pigeon believes that a puppy would be a perfect companion. But would it? Lively illustrations.
written and ill. by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Pigeon believes that a puppy would be a perfect companion. But would it? Lively illustrations.