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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Trosclair and the Alligator
by Peter Huggins
Illustrator: Lindsey Gardiner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
When Trosclair and his dog, Ollie, are confronted by a ferocious alligator, Trosclair devises an ingenious plan to outwit him.
by Peter Huggins
Illustrator: Lindsey Gardiner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
When Trosclair and his dog, Ollie, are confronted by a ferocious alligator, Trosclair devises an ingenious plan to outwit him.
Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!
retold by Margaret Read Macdonald
Illustrator: Alik Arzoumanian
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A naughty pot learns the difference between right and wrong--the hard way! Bold, colorful illustrations.
retold by Margaret Read Macdonald
Illustrator: Alik Arzoumanian
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A naughty pot learns the difference between right and wrong--the hard way! Bold, colorful illustrations.
Vegetable Dreams; Huerto Soñado
by Dawn Jeffers
Illustrator: Claude Schneider
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Erin's garden dream leads to a friendship with an aged neighbor and to a successful garden.
by Dawn Jeffers
Illustrator: Claude Schneider
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Erin's garden dream leads to a friendship with an aged neighbor and to a successful garden.
Welcome, Precious
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A celebration of a new baby and life itself. Watercolor and collage illustrations of a loving, African-American family.
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A celebration of a new baby and life itself. Watercolor and collage illustrations of a loving, African-American family.
What Are You Doing Sam?
written and ill. by Marie-Louise Gay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A boy and his dog create havoc in the house while having a lovely time. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations.
written and ill. by Marie-Louise Gay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
A boy and his dog create havoc in the house while having a lovely time. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations.
What a Treasure!
by Jane and Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Mole digs with his new shovel and eventually finds the ultimate treasure. Unusual illustrations.
by Jane and Will Hillenbrand
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Mole digs with his new shovel and eventually finds the ultimate treasure. Unusual illustrations.
What Do You Want?
written and ill. by Lars Klinting
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Children will delight in discovering objects that go together when they flip the pages. Full of surprises with simple classic illustrations.
written and ill. by Lars Klinting
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Children will delight in discovering objects that go together when they flip the pages. Full of surprises with simple classic illustrations.
What Elephant?
written and ill. by Genevieve Cote
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Elephants don't live in houses! But there is one in George's house--and no one believes him. Delightful, humorous illustrations.
written and ill. by Genevieve Cote
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Elephants don't live in houses! But there is one in George's house--and no one believes him. Delightful, humorous illustrations.
Where Is Baby's Pumpkin?
written and ill. by Karen Katz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Vibrant, textured illustrations bring Halloween to life in this lift-the-flap story.
written and ill. by Karen Katz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Vibrant, textured illustrations bring Halloween to life in this lift-the-flap story.
Where's My Sock?
by Joyce Dunbar
Illustrator: Sanja Rescek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Pippin must have his yellow socks with the clocks, but one of them is missing. Bright, humorous illustrations.
by Joyce Dunbar
Illustrator: Sanja Rescek
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Pippin must have his yellow socks with the clocks, but one of them is missing. Bright, humorous illustrations.
Who Likes the Wind?
by Etta Kaner
Illustrator: Marie Lafrance
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
The effects of wind on everything it touches.
by Etta Kaner
Illustrator: Marie Lafrance
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
The effects of wind on everything it touches.
Why DoYou Cry?
by Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
When Little Rabbit invites only those friends who no longer cry to his birthday party, he is in for a big surprise.
by Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
When Little Rabbit invites only those friends who no longer cry to his birthday party, he is in for a big surprise.
Yesterday We Had a Hurricane/Ayer Tuvimos Un Huracán
written and ill. by Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
The effects of the natural disaster in simple English and Spanish text. Child-like, colorful collages.
written and ill. by Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
The effects of the natural disaster in simple English and Spanish text. Child-like, colorful collages.
Yum!
by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: SAMi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Clear, clever introduction to basic shapes. Board Book.
by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: SAMi
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2006
Clear, clever introduction to basic shapes. Board Book.
1 2 3, Maisy
written and ill. by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Sturdy flip-out pages surprise and delight.
written and ill. by Lucy Cousins
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Sturdy flip-out pages surprise and delight.
Alexander's Pretending Day
by Bunny Crumpacker
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
No matter what Alexander pretends to be, his mother is there with him. Soft whimsical illustrations.
by Bunny Crumpacker
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
No matter what Alexander pretends to be, his mother is there with him. Soft whimsical illustrations.
All Around Me I See
by Laya Steinberg
Illustrator: Cris Arbo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A young girl shares her view of the world. Warm illustrations.
by Laya Steinberg
Illustrator: Cris Arbo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A young girl shares her view of the world. Warm illustrations.
Applebee's Numbers
written and ill. by David Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Full of surprises, these whimsical, innovative concept books amuse young readers.
written and ill. by David Pelham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Full of surprises, these whimsical, innovative concept books amuse young readers.
Are You Going To Be Good?
by Cari Best
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Family members instruct Robert on manners as he prepares for his first grown-up party to celebrate Great-Gran's one hundredth birthday.
by Cari Best
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Family members instruct Robert on manners as he prepares for his first grown-up party to celebrate Great-Gran's one hundredth birthday.
Are You Sleepy Yet, Petey?
by Marie Hodge
Illustrator: Renée Graef
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A boy tries to get his puppy to go to sleep. Cheerful, large pastels.
by Marie Hodge
Illustrator: Renée Graef
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A boy tries to get his puppy to go to sleep. Cheerful, large pastels.
baby animals
by SAMi
Illustrator: Harriet Ziefert
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Board books with boldly colored geometric art encourage communication and games between an adult and young child.
by SAMi
Illustrator: Harriet Ziefert
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Board books with boldly colored geometric art encourage communication and games between an adult and young child.
Baby Brother
written and ill. by Tanneke Wigersma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Mia writes her grandmother in detail about her pregnant cat. Incidentally, she tells her grandmother about her baby brother.
written and ill. by Tanneke Wigersma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
Mia writes her grandmother in detail about her pregnant cat. Incidentally, she tells her grandmother about her baby brother.
Back into Mommy's Tummy
by Thierry Robberecht
Illustrator: Philippe Goossens
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A young child wants to return to mommy's tummy when her mother becomes pregnant. Playful oil illustrations.
by Thierry Robberecht
Illustrator: Philippe Goossens
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A young child wants to return to mommy's tummy when her mother becomes pregnant. Playful oil illustrations.
Because Your Daddy Loves You
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A little girl and her dad enjoy a wonderful beach day together. Appealing pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations.
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2005
A little girl and her dad enjoy a wonderful beach day together. Appealing pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations.