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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One Big Day
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Alea Marley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Baby's first birthday is celebrated in simple rhyming text with colorful and vibrant mixed media illustrations.
Anne Wynter
Illustrator: Alea Marley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Baby's first birthday is celebrated in simple rhyming text with colorful and vibrant mixed media illustrations.
One Boy Watching
Grant Snider
Illustrator: Grant Snider
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A boy rides the bus each morning from his rural home to urban school cataloguing the sights along the way by number. Vibrant colored pencil and marker illustrations.
Grant Snider
Illustrator: Grant Snider
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A boy rides the bus each morning from his rural home to urban school cataloguing the sights along the way by number. Vibrant colored pencil and marker illustrations.
One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me
John Micklos Jr.
Illustrator: Clive McFarland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Counting leaves, in ascending order in spring and descending order in fall, captures the rhythm of the seasons. Bright, eye-catching mixed media pictures.
John Micklos Jr.
Illustrator: Clive McFarland
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Counting leaves, in ascending order in spring and descending order in fall, captures the rhythm of the seasons. Bright, eye-catching mixed media pictures.
One Sky
Aaron Becker
Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Graceful verse follows the day from dawn to dark. Abstract art with stained-glass-like cutouts allows the light to shine through.
Aaron Becker
Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Graceful verse follows the day from dawn to dark. Abstract art with stained-glass-like cutouts allows the light to shine through.
One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of Numbers
Hena Khan
Illustrator: Mehrdokht Amini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Share a child's day observing Muslim customs, each paired with a number. Vibrant illustrations bring us into his world. Glossary and back matter.
Hena Khan
Illustrator: Mehrdokht Amini
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Share a child's day observing Muslim customs, each paired with a number. Vibrant illustrations bring us into his world. Glossary and back matter.
On My Papa's Shoulders
Niki Daly
Illustrator: Niki Daly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A boy relates the experiences he has walking to school with different members of his South African family. His favorite moments are those with his father. Joyful, brightly colored illustrations
Niki Daly
Illustrator: Niki Daly
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A boy relates the experiences he has walking to school with different members of his South African family. His favorite moments are those with his father. Joyful, brightly colored illustrations
Our World Is a Family: Our Community Can Change the World
Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson
Illustrator: Nomar Perez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A timely picture book encourages children to welcome new neighbors who are immigrants or refugees hoping for a better life. Vibrant pictures amplify the message of kindness and compassion.
Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson
Illustrator: Nomar Perez
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A timely picture book encourages children to welcome new neighbors who are immigrants or refugees hoping for a better life. Vibrant pictures amplify the message of kindness and compassion.
Park Connects Us, A
Sarah Nelson
Illustrator: Ellen Rooney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The park invites people of every size, age, ethnicity, gender, and ability to share in its boundless offerings. Lyrical text and illustrations with animated bursts of color.
Sarah Nelson
Illustrator: Ellen Rooney
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The park invites people of every size, age, ethnicity, gender, and ability to share in its boundless offerings. Lyrical text and illustrations with animated bursts of color.
Pip and Zip
Elana K. Arnold
Illustrator: Doug Salati
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
On a neighborhood walk during the time of COVID, children discover abandoned eggs and find ways to care for them. Free verse. Digitally colored pencil illustrations.
Elana K. Arnold
Illustrator: Doug Salati
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
On a neighborhood walk during the time of COVID, children discover abandoned eggs and find ways to care for them. Free verse. Digitally colored pencil illustrations.
Playtime for Restless Rascals
Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The work of childhood is play; this book captures the exuberance of a young Black child with doting parents who encourage nonstop daily adventures. Vibrant, joyful illustrations.
Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The work of childhood is play; this book captures the exuberance of a young Black child with doting parents who encourage nonstop daily adventures. Vibrant, joyful illustrations.
Pops
Gavin Bishop
Illustrator: Gavin Bishop
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A child and his grandfather spend a quiet day together. Soft illustrations complement the spare text.
Gavin Bishop
Illustrator: Gavin Bishop
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A child and his grandfather spend a quiet day together. Soft illustrations complement the spare text.
Rainy Days (Weather Days series)
Deborah Kerbel
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming couplets present all the ways a preschooler can learn from and enjoy the rain. Gorgeous collage and mixed-media illsutrations.
Deborah Kerbel
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming couplets present all the ways a preschooler can learn from and enjoy the rain. Gorgeous collage and mixed-media illsutrations.
Ready or Not, Here I Come!
Emilia Zebrowska
Illustrator: Susan Reagan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A zookeeper finds all of his animal friends during a preposition-rich game of hide-and-seek. Rhymed text. Richly-colored, mixed-media illustrations.
Emilia Zebrowska
Illustrator: Susan Reagan
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A zookeeper finds all of his animal friends during a preposition-rich game of hide-and-seek. Rhymed text. Richly-colored, mixed-media illustrations.
Rocket Finds an Egg (Steps into Reading series)
Elle Stephens
Illustrator: Grace Mills (based on the Rocket series by Tad Hills )
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
After numerous failed attempts, will Rocket the dog and his squirrel friend, Bella, ever find out to whom an egg belonged? Bright color illustrations illuminate the beginner reader text.
Elle Stephens
Illustrator: Grace Mills (based on the Rocket series by Tad Hills )
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
After numerous failed attempts, will Rocket the dog and his squirrel friend, Bella, ever find out to whom an egg belonged? Bright color illustrations illuminate the beginner reader text.
Rodney Was a Tortoise
Nan Forler
Illustrator: Yong Ling Kang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
When her pet tortoise dies, Bernadette feels alone with her sadness until another child shares his own experience with loss. Watercolor and pencil artwork.
Nan Forler
Illustrator: Yong Ling Kang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
When her pet tortoise dies, Bernadette feels alone with her sadness until another child shares his own experience with loss. Watercolor and pencil artwork.
Ruffles and the Teeny Tiny Kittens (Ruffles Series)
David Melling
Illustrator: David Melling
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The plot vehicle of a dog ultimately willing to share with kittens is used to introduce action words paired with whimsical animated illustrations.
David Melling
Illustrator: David Melling
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The plot vehicle of a dog ultimately willing to share with kittens is used to introduce action words paired with whimsical animated illustrations.
Rumble and Roar: Sound around the World
Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Khoa Le
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Four children in different parts of the world enjoy nature's sounds. Lush mixed-media illustrations. Back matter includes scientific information.
Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Khoa Le
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Four children in different parts of the world enjoy nature's sounds. Lush mixed-media illustrations. Back matter includes scientific information.
Sea (Look, Touch, Learn series)
Illustrator: Charlotte Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Images of the sea are depicted in bright colors, shapes, moving parts, and tactile elements to stimulate very young babies during "tummy time."
Illustrator: Charlotte Archer
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Images of the sea are depicted in bright colors, shapes, moving parts, and tactile elements to stimulate very young babies during "tummy time."
Seed Grows, A
Antoinette Portis
Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Follow a sunflower's life cycle as it grows from a seed until it reseeds. Artwork uses varied printing techniques (including potato stamping and printing with a celery stalk). Back matter.
Antoinette Portis
Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Follow a sunflower's life cycle as it grows from a seed until it reseeds. Artwork uses varied printing techniques (including potato stamping and printing with a celery stalk). Back matter.
See You Someday Soon
Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The distance between a grandchild and grandmother who live far apart is lessened by their shared language and playful modes of staying in touch. Engaging illustrations include die-cuts.
Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The distance between a grandchild and grandmother who live far apart is lessened by their shared language and playful modes of staying in touch. Engaging illustrations include die-cuts.
Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild
Joshua David Stein
Illustrator: Dominique Ramsey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Observe a parade of elephants and other animals who live together, as well as animals who live alone, like the solitary eagle. Striking digital illustrations. Back matter.
Joshua David Stein
Illustrator: Dominique Ramsey
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Observe a parade of elephants and other animals who live together, as well as animals who live alone, like the solitary eagle. Striking digital illustrations. Back matter.
Sometimes All I Need Is Me
Juliana Perdomo
Illustrator: Juliana Perdomo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Vivid digital folk art and simple text capture a young girl's ways of building confidence when faced with new situations.
Juliana Perdomo
Illustrator: Juliana Perdomo
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Vivid digital folk art and simple text capture a young girl's ways of building confidence when faced with new situations.
Sometimes I Grumblesquinch (Big Feelings series)
Rachel Vail
Illustrator: Hyewon Yum
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Docile Katie "grumblesquinches" her less appealing emotions deep inside until "kaplooming" in frustration. Ultimately, she learns that whatever she's feeling, she is always lovable. Childlike colored pencil art. Back matter.
Rachel Vail
Illustrator: Hyewon Yum
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Docile Katie "grumblesquinches" her less appealing emotions deep inside until "kaplooming" in frustration. Ultimately, she learns that whatever she's feeling, she is always lovable. Childlike colored pencil art. Back matter.
Sometimes Love
Katrina Moore
Illustrator: Joy Hwang Ruiz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The relationship of a loving, mixed-race military family and their dog is challenged as they move from post to post. Back matter and expressive digital art.
Katrina Moore
Illustrator: Joy Hwang Ruiz
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
The relationship of a loving, mixed-race military family and their dog is challenged as they move from post to post. Back matter and expressive digital art.
Song in the City
Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A young blind Black girl experiences the city through sound and shares the song with her hesitant grandmother. Digital illustrations make the sound effects jump off the pages.
Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A young blind Black girl experiences the city through sound and shares the song with her hesitant grandmother. Digital illustrations make the sound effects jump off the pages.