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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Joey and Jet
written and ill. by James Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A boy and his dog play a game of fetch during which many prepositions are demonstrated.
written and ill. by James Yang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A boy and his dog play a game of fetch during which many prepositions are demonstrated.
Kitten's First Full Moon
written and ill. by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Kitten mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. Boldly outlined black-and- white art.
written and ill. by Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Kitten mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. Boldly outlined black-and- white art.
Knuffle Bunny
written and ill. by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Colorful, cartoony characters against black-and-white photos tell about Trixie's favorite doll that is missing.
written and ill. by Mo Willems
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Colorful, cartoony characters against black-and-white photos tell about Trixie's favorite doll that is missing.
La La Rose
written and ill. by Satomi Ichikawa
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Clementine becomes separated from her favorite stuffed rabbit in Luxembourg Gardens. Engaging watercolors.
written and ill. by Satomi Ichikawa
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Clementine becomes separated from her favorite stuffed rabbit in Luxembourg Gardens. Engaging watercolors.
Lemons Are Not Red
written and ill. by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A striking introduction to color.
written and ill. by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A striking introduction to color.
Little Loon and Papa
by Toni Buzzeo
Illustrator: Margaret Spengler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young loon's confidence grows as he learns to swim. Rich pastel illustrations.
by Toni Buzzeo
Illustrator: Margaret Spengler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young loon's confidence grows as he learns to swim. Rich pastel illustrations.
Little Quack's Hide and Seek
by Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: Derek Anderson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Count as Little Quack plays with Mama Duck and his siblings. Appealing colorful illustrations.
by Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: Derek Anderson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Count as Little Quack plays with Mama Duck and his siblings. Appealing colorful illustrations.
Little Rabbit Goes to School
written and ill. by Harry Horse
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Gentle story of little rabbit's first day of school.
written and ill. by Harry Horse
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Gentle story of little rabbit's first day of school.
Long Night Moon
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Mark Siegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Native Americans named the twelve moons of the year. They are described with haunting charcoal, pastel and pencil illustrations.
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Mark Siegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Native Americans named the twelve moons of the year. They are described with haunting charcoal, pastel and pencil illustrations.
Looking for Sleepy
by Maribeth Boelts
Illustrator: Bernadette Pons
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Gentle, colorful illustrations give a reassuring look at getting ready for bedtime.
by Maribeth Boelts
Illustrator: Bernadette Pons
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Gentle, colorful illustrations give a reassuring look at getting ready for bedtime.
Look Out, Kindergarten, Here I Come!
written and ill. by Nancy Carlson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young mouse gets ready for his first day of kindergarten. In English and Spanish. Amusing illustrations.
written and ill. by Nancy Carlson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young mouse gets ready for his first day of kindergarten. In English and Spanish. Amusing illustrations.
Marc Just Couldn't Sleep
by Gabriela Keselman
Illustrator: Noemi Villamuza
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Mom comes to the rescue when Marc is too scared and worried to fall asleep. Imaginative illustrations.
by Gabriela Keselman
Illustrator: Noemi Villamuza
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Mom comes to the rescue when Marc is too scared and worried to fall asleep. Imaginative illustrations.
Mayfly
written and ill. by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
The joys of summer from beginning to end. Clever, colorful collages.
written and ill. by Marthe Jocelyn
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
The joys of summer from beginning to end. Clever, colorful collages.
Me Baby You Baby
written and ill. by Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A baby's day of activities in simple lilting rhyme. Good read-aloud.
written and ill. by Ashley Wolff
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A baby's day of activities in simple lilting rhyme. Good read-aloud.
Mother May I?
by Lynn Plourde
Illustrator: Amy Wummer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A little girl tries to take take care of her mother --with mixed results. Humorous illustrations.
by Lynn Plourde
Illustrator: Amy Wummer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A little girl tries to take take care of her mother --with mixed results. Humorous illustrations.
My Favorite Thing (according to Alberta)
by Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: AnnaLaura Cantone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Alberta explains her strong likes and dislikes about all sorts of things until she finally tells about the best of all. Clever, original illustrations.
by Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: AnnaLaura Cantone
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Alberta explains her strong likes and dislikes about all sorts of things until she finally tells about the best of all. Clever, original illustrations.
My Kindergarten
written and ill. by Rosemary Wells
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
The humorous and detailed activities of a kindergartener's first year in school. Simple colorful illustrations.
written and ill. by Rosemary Wells
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
The humorous and detailed activities of a kindergartener's first year in school. Simple colorful illustrations.
My Penguin Osbert
by
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young boy finally receives exactly what he wants from Santa, but it has drawbacks. Delicate watercolor and pastel illustrations.
by
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A young boy finally receives exactly what he wants from Santa, but it has drawbacks. Delicate watercolor and pastel illustrations.
Myrtle
written and ill. by Tracey Campbell Pearson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Her aunt helps Myrtle and her baby brother deal with a mean neighbor. Engaging illustrations.
written and ill. by Tracey Campbell Pearson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Her aunt helps Myrtle and her baby brother deal with a mean neighbor. Engaging illustrations.
My Teacher for President
by Kay Winters
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Humorous tale of the daily tasks of teachers that qualify them for presidential office.
by Kay Winters
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Humorous tale of the daily tasks of teachers that qualify them for presidential office.
Niccolini's Song
by Chuck Wilcoxen
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A night watchman comforts trains, babies and pets in this unique bedtime story. Muted realistic illustrations.
by Chuck Wilcoxen
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
A night watchman comforts trains, babies and pets in this unique bedtime story. Muted realistic illustrations.
Now It Is Winter
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Mary Newell DePalma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
When her child wants to know if spring will ever come, Mother Mouse's wise answer celebrates both winter and spring. Beautiful language and acrylic and cut paper illustrations.
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Mary Newell DePalma
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
When her child wants to know if spring will ever come, Mother Mouse's wise answer celebrates both winter and spring. Beautiful language and acrylic and cut paper illustrations.
Olly and Me
written and ill. by Shirley Hughes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Katie shares her world, her family and friends. Charming gouache and oil illlustrations.
written and ill. by Shirley Hughes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
Katie shares her world, her family and friends. Charming gouache and oil illlustrations.
One Little Lamb
written and ill. by Elaine Greenstein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
How wool from a lamb's coat is made into mittens.
written and ill. by Elaine Greenstein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2004
How wool from a lamb's coat is made into mittens.