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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
10 Cats
Emily Gravett
Illustrator: Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Ten playful kittens romp with paint pots as their mother sleeps blissfully through their antics. Pencil and watercolor digital illustrations.
Emily Gravett
Illustrator: Emily Gravett
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Ten playful kittens romp with paint pots as their mother sleeps blissfully through their antics. Pencil and watercolor digital illustrations.
Abuela's Super Capa
Ana Siqueira
Illustrator: Elisa Chavarri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Luis's Saturday playmate, his grandmother, falls ill, he continues their superhero antics with his younger sister. Abuela, now in a wheelchair, joins in. Animated colorful illustrations. Spanish glossary. Also available in Spanish.
Ana Siqueira
Illustrator: Elisa Chavarri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When Luis's Saturday playmate, his grandmother, falls ill, he continues their superhero antics with his younger sister. Abuela, now in a wheelchair, joins in. Animated colorful illustrations. Spanish glossary. Also available in Spanish.
Afikomen
Tziporah Cohen
Illustrator: Yaara Eshet
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When children playfully hide under the seder table, they are magically transported, witnessing Moses's inspiring life story. Wordless. Evocative watercolor and ink illustrations. Author's note.
Tziporah Cohen
Illustrator: Yaara Eshet
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
When children playfully hide under the seder table, they are magically transported, witnessing Moses's inspiring life story. Wordless. Evocative watercolor and ink illustrations. Author's note.
All's Right with the World
Jennifer Adams
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In a Black family, children spend many precious moments with their mother throughout the day. Upbeat, lyrical text. Animated, colorful digital illustrations. Inspired by a poem by Robert Browning.
Jennifer Adams
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
In a Black family, children spend many precious moments with their mother throughout the day. Upbeat, lyrical text. Animated, colorful digital illustrations. Inspired by a poem by Robert Browning.
All the Beating Hearts
Julie Fogliano
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
This wise, soulful book celebrates our common humanity, evocatively capturing joy, sorrow, light, darkness, and the meaning of life itself. Illustrations evoke tenderness.
Julie Fogliano
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
This wise, soulful book celebrates our common humanity, evocatively capturing joy, sorrow, light, darkness, and the meaning of life itself. Illustrations evoke tenderness.
Alphabuddies: G Is First!
Beth Bacon and Karen Kane
Illustrator: Eric Barclay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
G and Z suggest changing the order of the alphabet song. A protests strongly, claiming that would destroy reading. Will it? Humorous expressive character illustrations with dialogue bubbles.
Beth Bacon and Karen Kane
Illustrator: Eric Barclay
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
G and Z suggest changing the order of the alphabet song. A protests strongly, claiming that would destroy reading. Will it? Humorous expressive character illustrations with dialogue bubbles.
Apart, Together: A Book about Transformation
Linda Booth Sweeney
Illustrator: Ariel Rutland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
How can separate things come together to make something wholly new? Brightly colored, energetic full-page illustrations.
Linda Booth Sweeney
Illustrator: Ariel Rutland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
How can separate things come together to make something wholly new? Brightly colored, energetic full-page illustrations.
Baby Be
Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Sean Qualls
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lots of hip dads, male caregivers, and a few moms cherish their babies. Lyrical, swinging text emphasizing music and dance. Active mixed-media illustrations.
Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Sean Qualls
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lots of hip dads, male caregivers, and a few moms cherish their babies. Lyrical, swinging text emphasizing music and dance. Active mixed-media illustrations.
Baby, Sleepy Baby
Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Celestial elements—wind, clouds, stars, black sky—are called to care for beloved babies in diverse families. A cozy, warm bedtime read. Soft, mixed-media illustrations.
Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Celestial elements—wind, clouds, stars, black sky—are called to care for beloved babies in diverse families. A cozy, warm bedtime read. Soft, mixed-media illustrations.
Baking with Mi Abuelita (Step into Reading series)
Julissa Mora
Illustrator: Julissa Mora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Making a surprise birthday cake for Papi is such fun, especially when Grandma lets you help. Some Spanish text. Cheerful, colorful watercolor illustrations.
Julissa Mora
Illustrator: Julissa Mora
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Making a surprise birthday cake for Papi is such fun, especially when Grandma lets you help. Some Spanish text. Cheerful, colorful watercolor illustrations.
Banana
Zoey Abbott
Illustrator: Zoey Abbott
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl's relationship with her father is disrupted by his growing obsession with a mysterious banana. Cartoon-style illustrations in pencil and Risograph printing.
Zoey Abbott
Illustrator: Zoey Abbott
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A girl's relationship with her father is disrupted by his growing obsession with a mysterious banana. Cartoon-style illustrations in pencil and Risograph printing.
Barn in Winter: Safe and Warm on the Farm
Chambrae Griffith
Illustrator: Taia Morley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
It's cold and snowy, but all the farm animals are happy and cozy in the barn. Sweet illustrations using warm and soothing colors.
Chambrae Griffith
Illustrator: Taia Morley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
It's cold and snowy, but all the farm animals are happy and cozy in the barn. Sweet illustrations using warm and soothing colors.
Bear Is Never Alone
Marc Veerkamp
Illustrator: Jeska Verstegen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pianist Bear needs a break, but the forest creatures keep demanding more music. Can gentle Zebra help out? Stark black, white, and red illustrations.
Marc Veerkamp
Illustrator: Jeska Verstegen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Pianist Bear needs a break, but the forest creatures keep demanding more music. Can gentle Zebra help out? Stark black, white, and red illustrations.
Bear with me
Kerascoët
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A toddler copes when they have to leave a well-loved stuffed bear home on the first day of school. Ink and watercolor illustrations convey the nearly wordless story splendidly.
Kerascoët
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A toddler copes when they have to leave a well-loved stuffed bear home on the first day of school. Ink and watercolor illustrations convey the nearly wordless story splendidly.
Bed of Stars, A
Jessica Love
Illustrator: Jessica Love
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To alleviate his son's nighttime fears, a father takes him on a camping trip to connect him to a universe that he can trust. Scenic illustrations in soft colors.
Jessica Love
Illustrator: Jessica Love
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To alleviate his son's nighttime fears, a father takes him on a camping trip to connect him to a universe that he can trust. Scenic illustrations in soft colors.
Beneath
Cori Doerrfeld
Illustrator: Cori Doerrfeld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To heal Finn's grief, Grandpa draws him outside for a walk. An ode to the magic of looking below the surface. Cozy digital artwork grounds the lofty themes.
Cori Doerrfeld
Illustrator: Cori Doerrfeld
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
To heal Finn's grief, Grandpa draws him outside for a walk. An ode to the magic of looking below the surface. Cozy digital artwork grounds the lofty themes.
Bibi
Jo Weaver
Illustrator: Jo Weaver
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Bibi (Swahili for “grandmother”), the oldest flamingo in the flock, must guide her chicks across drought-stricken land to water. Can she survive the arduous trek? Atmospheric charcoal and digital illustrations.
Jo Weaver
Illustrator: Jo Weaver
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Bibi (Swahili for “grandmother”), the oldest flamingo in the flock, must guide her chicks across drought-stricken land to water. Can she survive the arduous trek? Atmospheric charcoal and digital illustrations.
Biggest Mistake, The
Camilla Pintonato
Illustrator: Camilla Pintonato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young lion goes to hilarious lengths to catch a clever gazelle. Can he do it? And what will happen when he does? Zany cartoon-style digital art.
Camilla Pintonato
Illustrator: Camilla Pintonato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A young lion goes to hilarious lengths to catch a clever gazelle. Can he do it? And what will happen when he does? Zany cartoon-style digital art.
Big Kids No Everything
Wednesday Kirwan
Illustrator: Wednesday Kirwan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Kids say "no" in different situations as they are growing up and learning to be independent. Children interact with adults and animals in the amusing digital illustrations.
Wednesday Kirwan
Illustrator: Wednesday Kirwan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Kids say "no" in different situations as they are growing up and learning to be independent. Children interact with adults and animals in the amusing digital illustrations.
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep!
Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
Illustrator: Nathalie Beauvois
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Chime in and bounce along with a child and his toy car. Rhyming text can be sung to the tune of "This Old Man." Vibrant acrylic art.
Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
Illustrator: Nathalie Beauvois
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Chime in and bounce along with a child and his toy car. Rhyming text can be sung to the tune of "This Old Man." Vibrant acrylic art.
B Is for Bananas
Carrie Tillotson
Illustrator: Estrella Lourenço
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Guided by zany alphabet hijinks, wild banana flees bedtime. Engaging cartoon-style digital art.
Carrie Tillotson
Illustrator: Estrella Lourenço
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Guided by zany alphabet hijinks, wild banana flees bedtime. Engaging cartoon-style digital art.
Black Girls: A Celebration of You!
Dominique Furukawa
Illustrator: Erika Lynne Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lively and musical text honors Black girls of every shade, size, and culture while exploring the many asepcts of Black girlhood. Bright, whimsical, collage-like digital illustrations.
Dominique Furukawa
Illustrator: Erika Lynne Jones
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Lively and musical text honors Black girls of every shade, size, and culture while exploring the many asepcts of Black girlhood. Bright, whimsical, collage-like digital illustrations.
Book from Far Away, The
Bruce Handy
Illustrator: Julie Benbassat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A boy witnesses an alien landing, exchanges technology with a visitor, and forges a powerful connection. A wordless narrative with dynamic digital and mixed-media illustrations.
Bruce Handy
Illustrator: Julie Benbassat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
A boy witnesses an alien landing, exchanges technology with a visitor, and forges a powerful connection. A wordless narrative with dynamic digital and mixed-media illustrations.
Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons, The
Leanne Hatch
Illustrator: Leanne Hatch
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Violet is thrilled with her brand-new box of crayons. Then her younger sister draws a picture for her, ruining their perfect points. Digitally created color illustrations.
Leanne Hatch
Illustrator: Leanne Hatch
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Violet is thrilled with her brand-new box of crayons. Then her younger sister draws a picture for her, ruining their perfect points. Digitally created color illustrations.
Brave Little Bear
Steve Small
Illustrator: Steve Small
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Arlo finds it hard to be brave . . . until his sister gets lost on a snowy mountain trek. Expressive, painterly art.
Steve Small
Illustrator: Steve Small
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2023
Arlo finds it hard to be brave . . . until his sister gets lost on a snowy mountain trek. Expressive, painterly art.