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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Mushroom Lullaby
Kenneth Kraegel
Illustrator: Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming text and warm ink and watercolor illustrations invite readers to consider the mushroom as a cozy habitat for small creatures.
Kenneth Kraegel
Illustrator: Kenneth Kraegel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Rhyming text and warm ink and watercolor illustrations invite readers to consider the mushroom as a cozy habitat for small creatures.
My Day in the Park
Marta Orzel
Illustrator: Marta Orzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Readers are invited to explore all the things that Sam discovers when taking a walk through a park. Colorful illustrations depict 14 destinations.
Marta Orzel
Illustrator: Marta Orzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Readers are invited to explore all the things that Sam discovers when taking a walk through a park. Colorful illustrations depict 14 destinations.
My Feelings
Jeffrey Turner
Illustrator: Jeffrey Turner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A prickly porcupine introduces emotions such as anger, shyness, disappointment, and excitement, each in simple, relatable text with expressive, evocative and colorful double-page spreads.
Jeffrey Turner
Illustrator: Jeffrey Turner
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A prickly porcupine introduces emotions such as anger, shyness, disappointment, and excitement, each in simple, relatable text with expressive, evocative and colorful double-page spreads.
Namaste Is a Greeting
Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Simple lyrical text and animated, richly colored illustrations introduce the many meanings of namaste--peace, joy and more.
Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Simple lyrical text and animated, richly colored illustrations introduce the many meanings of namaste--peace, joy and more.
Nigel and the Moon
Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It is difficult being the only Black child in class, but loving parents and an empathetic teacher help Nigel find his voice. Appealing gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Antwan Eady
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
It is difficult being the only Black child in class, but loving parents and an empathetic teacher help Nigel find his voice. Appealing gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Odd Birds: Meet Nature's Weirdest Flock
Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Dramatic, strikingly bright pictures and simple text present eight very strange birds. Detailed back matter explains the reasons for their odd features.
Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Gareth Lucas
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Dramatic, strikingly bright pictures and simple text present eight very strange birds. Detailed back matter explains the reasons for their odd features.
Old Friends
Margaret Aitken
Illustrator: Lenny Wen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Missing activities once shared with her grandmother, Marjorie creatively finds kindred spirits at a senior center. Engaging digital art.
Margaret Aitken
Illustrator: Lenny Wen
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Missing activities once shared with her grandmother, Marjorie creatively finds kindred spirits at a senior center. Engaging digital art.
Old Wood Boat
Nikki McClure
Illustrator: Nikki McClure
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A family lovingly restores a deserted wood boat which leads them to adventures. Digital illustrations resemble woodcuts. Glossary of nautical terms.
Nikki McClure
Illustrator: Nikki McClure
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
A family lovingly restores a deserted wood boat which leads them to adventures. Digital illustrations resemble woodcuts. Glossary of nautical terms.
Olu and Greta
Diana Ejaita
Illustrator: Diana Ejaita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Two cousins, one from Nigeria, the other from Italy, can only meet virtually but have a rich, companionable friendship. Dramatic illustrations on black backgrounds.
Diana Ejaita
Illustrator: Diana Ejaita
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Two cousins, one from Nigeria, the other from Italy, can only meet virtually but have a rich, companionable friendship. Dramatic illustrations on black backgrounds.
On a Gold Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures
Buffy Silverman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Explore changes and treasures in nature as summer turns to fall. Full-color photographs are paired perfectly with poetry. Back matter.
Buffy Silverman
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2022
Explore changes and treasures in nature as summer turns to fall. Full-color photographs are paired perfectly with poetry. Back matter.
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.