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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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.
The Rain Stomper
by Addie Boswell
Illustrator: Eric Velasquez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Jazmin stomps a rhythm, splashes through puddles and twirls her baton through the rain that threatens her parade. Dynamic oil paintings.
by Addie Boswell
Illustrator: Eric Velasquez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Jazmin stomps a rhythm, splashes through puddles and twirls her baton through the rain that threatens her parade. Dynamic oil paintings.
The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
We all need to know how to treat grandparents. Humorous text and colorful illustrations.
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
We all need to know how to treat grandparents. Humorous text and colorful illustrations.
Too Many Toys
written and ill. by David Shannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A mother and child find a nicely handled solution to an age-old problem. Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations.
written and ill. by David Shannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A mother and child find a nicely handled solution to an age-old problem. Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations.
Trout Are Made of Trees
by April Pulley Sayre
Illustrator: Kate Endle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Lyrical text and vibrant collage illustrations present an informative science lesson on the food web.
by April Pulley Sayre
Illustrator: Kate Endle
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Lyrical text and vibrant collage illustrations present an informative science lesson on the food web.
Turtle's Penguin Day
written and ill. by Valeri Gorbachev
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Little turtle becomes a penguin for a day after his father reads a bedtme story. Lighthearted watercolor illustrations.
written and ill. by Valeri Gorbachev
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Little turtle becomes a penguin for a day after his father reads a bedtme story. Lighthearted watercolor illustrations.
Uh-oh!
written and ill. by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Pastel drawings tell the story of many “uh-oh” moments in the home of an African-American family with a young baby boy.
written and ill. by Rachel Isadora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Pastel drawings tell the story of many “uh-oh” moments in the home of an African-American family with a young baby boy.
Wave
ill. by Suzy Lee
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A wordless story depicts a little girl's experience at the beach. Charcoal and acrylic illustrations.
ill. by Suzy Lee
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A wordless story depicts a little girl's experience at the beach. Charcoal and acrylic illustrations.
Welcome to the Zoo
written and ill. by Alison Jay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Parents and preschoolers explore a colorful zoo and witness amusing events. Wordless, with vivid illustrations, including a zoo map and details to search for.
written and ill. by Alison Jay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
Parents and preschoolers explore a colorful zoo and witness amusing events. Wordless, with vivid illustrations, including a zoo map and details to search for.
What Pet to Get?
written and ill. by Emma Dodd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A small boy considers various unusual candidates, from an elephant to a polar bear. Colorful watercolors.
written and ill. by Emma Dodd
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A small boy considers various unusual candidates, from an elephant to a polar bear. Colorful watercolors.
What the Grizzly Knows
by David Elliott
Illustrator: Max Grafe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A teddy bear comes to life and takes a young boy on an adventure in the forest. Soft watercolors and rhyming text.
by David Elliott
Illustrator: Max Grafe
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2008
A teddy bear comes to life and takes a young boy on an adventure in the forest. Soft watercolors and rhyming text.