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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Fish and Sun (I Can Read! Comics series)
Sergio Ruzzier
Illustrator: Sergio Ruzzier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Fish finds a new friend, Sun, who makes the world warm and exciting. Very simple graphic novel format with beautifully painted watercolor panels.
Sergio Ruzzier
Illustrator: Sergio Ruzzier
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Fish finds a new friend, Sun, who makes the world warm and exciting. Very simple graphic novel format with beautifully painted watercolor panels.
Free
Sam Usher
Illustrator: Sam Usher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A lost bird becomes friends with a young boy and his granddad. In helping the bird find its home, they enter a magical world. Enlivening ink and watercolor illustrations.
Sam Usher
Illustrator: Sam Usher
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A lost bird becomes friends with a young boy and his granddad. In helping the bird find its home, they enter a magical world. Enlivening ink and watercolor illustrations.
Froggies Do Not Want to Sleep, The
Adam Gustavson
Illustrator: Adam Gustavson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Colorful images of leggy amphibians catapult across double page spreads. They ride unicycles, fly space ships, and train beasts in their bedtime-resistant romp.
Adam Gustavson
Illustrator: Adam Gustavson
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Colorful images of leggy amphibians catapult across double page spreads. They ride unicycles, fly space ships, and train beasts in their bedtime-resistant romp.
Go Be Wonderful!
Donna Gephart
Illustrator: Francesca Chessa
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Encouraged by her family from birth, Daisy passes each childhood milestone with confidence and success. Will this continue when she starts school? Whimsical multimedia illustrations.
Donna Gephart
Illustrator: Francesca Chessa
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Encouraged by her family from birth, Daisy passes each childhood milestone with confidence and success. Will this continue when she starts school? Whimsical multimedia illustrations.
Hardly Haunted
Jessie Sima
Illustrator: Jessie Sima
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A creaky haunted house longs for someone to make it a haunted home, but who will be brave enough? Spooky sounds abound; atmospheric digital art.
Jessie Sima
Illustrator: Jessie Sima
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A creaky haunted house longs for someone to make it a haunted home, but who will be brave enough? Spooky sounds abound; atmospheric digital art.
Hello, Moon
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Follow animals from dusk to dawn in this gentle tale told in quatrains. Saturated water color artwork.
Julie Downing
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Follow animals from dusk to dawn in this gentle tale told in quatrains. Saturated water color artwork.
Hello Preschool!
Priscilla Burris
Illustrator: Priscilla Burris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Vibrant animated double page spread illustrations show a class of enthusiastic diverse children experiencing the routines and activities on their very first day of school.
Priscilla Burris
Illustrator: Priscilla Burris
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Vibrant animated double page spread illustrations show a class of enthusiastic diverse children experiencing the routines and activities on their very first day of school.
Home Is...
Hannah Barnaby
Illustrator: Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Simple rhymed text celebrates homes for people and animals, in mountains, seas, small towns, and big cities all over the world. Jewel-toned illustrations.
Hannah Barnaby
Illustrator: Frann Preston-Gannon
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Simple rhymed text celebrates homes for people and animals, in mountains, seas, small towns, and big cities all over the world. Jewel-toned illustrations.
Honey for You Honey for Me
Michael Rosen (editor)
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Captivating watercolor illustrations accompany this diverse collection of nursery rhymes sourced from historical anthologies. Each one tickles the tongue.
Michael Rosen (editor)
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Captivating watercolor illustrations accompany this diverse collection of nursery rhymes sourced from historical anthologies. Each one tickles the tongue.
House, A
Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
In this read-and-response book, readers are invited to consider what a house is and what makes it a home. Simple, soft watercolor illustrations.
Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
In this read-and-response book, readers are invited to consider what a house is and what makes it a home. Simple, soft watercolor illustrations.
Hugo
Atinuke
Illustrator: Birgitta Sif
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Through the seasons, park warden Hugo the pigeon helps his neighbors. Eventually, he coaxes a mysterious Somebody out to play. Soft digitally-colored illustrations.
Atinuke
Illustrator: Birgitta Sif
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Through the seasons, park warden Hugo the pigeon helps his neighbors. Eventually, he coaxes a mysterious Somebody out to play. Soft digitally-colored illustrations.
I Am a Bird
Hope Lim
Illustrator: Hyewon Yum
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A young child is initially frightened by a cross-looking woman. Then the girl learns that they both love to sing to birds. Sunny, soft, textured art.
Hope Lim
Illustrator: Hyewon Yum
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A young child is initially frightened by a cross-looking woman. Then the girl learns that they both love to sing to birds. Sunny, soft, textured art.
I Can Make a Train Noise
Michael Emberley & Marie Louise Fitzpatrick
Illustrator: Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick & Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A little girl enters a cafe with her family. With one sentence "I can make a train noise," she transforms it into a moving train. Detailed multimedia illustrations.
Michael Emberley & Marie Louise Fitzpatrick
Illustrator: Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick & Michael Emberley
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A little girl enters a cafe with her family. With one sentence "I can make a train noise," she transforms it into a moving train. Detailed multimedia illustrations.
If I Were A Dog
Joanna Cotler
Illustrator: Joanna Cotler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
This simple story shows the joys of being human, of being a dog, and the similarities between the two. Beautiful watercolor illustrations.
Joanna Cotler
Illustrator: Joanna Cotler
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
This simple story shows the joys of being human, of being a dog, and the similarities between the two. Beautiful watercolor illustrations.
I Like Trains
Daisy Hirst
Illustrator: Daisy Hirst
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A young puppy really likes trains - to play with, to drive, to read books about, and to take to visit his grandma. Simple screenprinted illustrations.
Daisy Hirst
Illustrator: Daisy Hirst
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
A young puppy really likes trains - to play with, to drive, to read books about, and to take to visit his grandma. Simple screenprinted illustrations.
I'll Build You a Bookcase/ Te Haré Tu Propio Librero
Jean Ciborowski Fahey
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Children and adults share the gift of reading with others and the adventures books can take us on. Acrylic, digital stylized illustrations. Also available in Arabic, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.
Jean Ciborowski Fahey
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Children and adults share the gift of reading with others and the adventures books can take us on. Acrylic, digital stylized illustrations. Also available in Arabic, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.
I Love Insects (I Like to Read series)
Lizzy Rockwell
Illustrator: Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Emergent readers are introduced to the ways in which insects can be beautiful, scary, surprising, and helpful too! Colorful gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Lizzy Rockwell
Illustrator: Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Emergent readers are introduced to the ways in which insects can be beautiful, scary, surprising, and helpful too! Colorful gouache and watercolor illustrations.
Inside Cat
Brendan Wenzel
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Inside Cat thinks it has seen it all from its windows, but then the front door is opened. Told in lyrical rhyme; stylized mixed-media illustrations (25)
Brendan Wenzel
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Inside Cat thinks it has seen it all from its windows, but then the front door is opened. Told in lyrical rhyme; stylized mixed-media illustrations (25)
Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast
David Ezra Stein
Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
The little red chicken returns in this third adventure, hungry for cookies and hilariously shattering nursery rhymes to persuade his father to give him those treats. Bright mixed-media art.
David Ezra Stein
Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
The little red chicken returns in this third adventure, hungry for cookies and hilariously shattering nursery rhymes to persuade his father to give him those treats. Bright mixed-media art.
In the Desert
Michaela Weglinski
Illustrator: multiple photo credits
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
This introduction to life in deserts has outstanding photos from many locations. Features water and temperature issues.
Michaela Weglinski
Illustrator: multiple photo credits
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
This introduction to life in deserts has outstanding photos from many locations. Features water and temperature issues.
It's Big Brother Time
Nandini Ahuja
Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Somebody has to teach baby the house and family rules! Told from the point of view of the big brother. Humorous expressive mixed media illustrations.
Nandini Ahuja
Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Somebody has to teach baby the house and family rules! Told from the point of view of the big brother. Humorous expressive mixed media illustrations.
It's Big Sister Time
Nandini Ahuja
Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Somebody has to teach baby the house and family rules! Told from the point of view of the big sister. Humorous expressive mixed media illustrations.
Nandini Ahuja
Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Somebody has to teach baby the house and family rules! Told from the point of view of the big sister. Humorous expressive mixed media illustrations.
Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn
Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
While I kind of liked it, there seems to be a disconnect between the story and an under five listener. There is also not enough to make it a "best book," even for the younger set.
Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
While I kind of liked it, there seems to be a disconnect between the story and an under five listener. There is also not enough to make it a "best book," even for the younger set.
Jenny Mei Is Sad
Tracy Subisak
Illustrator: Tracy Subisak
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Recognizing Jenny's sadness, a friend tries to help by listening carefully. Appealing India ink, watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil illustrations. The two friends present as Asian and African-American.
Tracy Subisak
Illustrator: Tracy Subisak
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Recognizing Jenny's sadness, a friend tries to help by listening carefully. Appealing India ink, watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil illustrations. The two friends present as Asian and African-American.
Lala's Words: A Story of Planting Kindness
Gracey Zhang
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Every day, rambunctious Lala rushes out to water city plants and whisper loving words to them. They listen! Endearing hand-drawn illustrations.
Gracey Zhang
Illustrator: Gracey Zhang
Ages: 5 & Under
Published: 2021
Every day, rambunctious Lala rushes out to water city plants and whisper loving words to them. They listen! Endearing hand-drawn illustrations.