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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Snook Alone
by Marilyn Nelson
Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
An emotional tale of a dog and master separated and reunited in poetic prose with evocative acrylic and ink illustrations.
by Marilyn Nelson
Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
An emotional tale of a dog and master separated and reunited in poetic prose with evocative acrylic and ink illustrations.
Song for a Princess
by Rachael Mortimer
Illustrator: Maddy McClellan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A small bird uses his collected happy words to make a princess smile. Eye-catching mixed-media illustrations.
by Rachael Mortimer
Illustrator: Maddy McClellan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A small bird uses his collected happy words to make a princess smile. Eye-catching mixed-media illustrations.
Splinters
written and ill. by Kevin Sylvester
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Cindy's desre to play on the local hockey team is stymied until her fairy godmother arrives in this humorous take on the Cinderella story. Rich pen and ink drawings.
written and ill. by Kevin Sylvester
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Cindy's desre to play on the local hockey team is stymied until her fairy godmother arrives in this humorous take on the Cinderella story. Rich pen and ink drawings.
Spork
by Kyo Maclear
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Spork just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Will he ever find a place where he belongs?
by Kyo Maclear
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Spork just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Will he ever find a place where he belongs?
Stink
by Megan McDonald
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Is it fair that Pluto isn't considered a planet anymore? Stink launches a clever campaign to restore its status (at least in his classroom). Amusing black-and-white illustrations.
by Megan McDonald
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Is it fair that Pluto isn't considered a planet anymore? Stink launches a clever campaign to restore its status (at least in his classroom). Amusing black-and-white illustrations.
Ten-Gallon Bart Beats the Heat
by Susan Stevens Crummel
Illustrator: Dorothy Donohue
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Ten-Gallon Bart tries to find a cool place to live and learns what's best about home and friends.
by Susan Stevens Crummel
Illustrator: Dorothy Donohue
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Ten-Gallon Bart tries to find a cool place to live and learns what's best about home and friends.
That Cat Can't Stay
by Thad Krasnesky
Illustrator: David Parkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Mom keeps finding stray cats and bringing them home, to Dad's dismay. Then one day Dad visits the pound! Energetic, cartoon-like illustrations.
by Thad Krasnesky
Illustrator: David Parkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Mom keeps finding stray cats and bringing them home, to Dad's dismay. Then one day Dad visits the pound! Energetic, cartoon-like illustrations.
The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw
by Lois Peterson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Abandoned by his mother, eight-year-old Kevin fantasizes himself as a brave cowboy who is not afraid of being on his own.
by Lois Peterson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Abandoned by his mother, eight-year-old Kevin fantasizes himself as a brave cowboy who is not afraid of being on his own.
The Best Horse Ever
by Alice DeLaCroix
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Will Abby lose the affection of her best friend when she immerses herself in taking care of and riding her new horse. Realistic black and white drawings.
by Alice DeLaCroix
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Will Abby lose the affection of her best friend when she immerses herself in taking care of and riding her new horse. Realistic black and white drawings.
The Bicklebys' Birdbath
by Andrea Perry
Illustrator: Roberta Angaramo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A cumulative rhyme deconstructs the events leading to the broken birdbath. Creative acrylic illustrations of the chaos.
by Andrea Perry
Illustrator: Roberta Angaramo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A cumulative rhyme deconstructs the events leading to the broken birdbath. Creative acrylic illustrations of the chaos.
The Boy in the Garden
written and ill. by Allen Say
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Jiro, a young Japanese boy, sees a beautiful crane statue in the garden and imagines that he is part of the famous folktale, The Crane Wife. Haunting watercollors.
written and ill. by Allen Say
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Jiro, a young Japanese boy, sees a beautiful crane statue in the garden and imagines that he is part of the famous folktale, The Crane Wife. Haunting watercollors.
The Case that Time Forgot
by Tracy Barrett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Xena and her younger brother Xander star in a school mystery that takes them around London and, in their research, back to ancient Egypt.
by Tracy Barrett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Xena and her younger brother Xander star in a school mystery that takes them around London and, in their research, back to ancient Egypt.
The First Pup
written and ill. by Bob Staake
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
The true story of how Bo the dog came to the Obama White House. Cheery, cartoonish paper illustrations add to the fun.
written and ill. by Bob Staake
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
The true story of how Bo the dog came to the Obama White House. Cheery, cartoonish paper illustrations add to the fun.
The Inside Tree
by Linda Smith
Illustrator: David Parkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Everything is fine after Mr. Potter brings his ‘lonely' tree into the house. And then it rains. Bold, colorful illustrations.
by Linda Smith
Illustrator: David Parkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Everything is fine after Mr. Potter brings his ‘lonely' tree into the house. And then it rains. Bold, colorful illustrations.
The Odious Ogre
by Norton Juster
Illustrator: Jules Feiffer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
To his surprise, a hateful ogre meets his match. Humorous, exaggerated illustrations.
by Norton Juster
Illustrator: Jules Feiffer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
To his surprise, a hateful ogre meets his match. Humorous, exaggerated illustrations.
The Painting That Wasn't There
by Steve Brezenoff
Illustrator: C. B. Canga
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Young detectives observe and deduct in order to solve a mystery on their school visit to a museum.
by Steve Brezenoff
Illustrator: C. B. Canga
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Young detectives observe and deduct in order to solve a mystery on their school visit to a museum.
The Pirate of Kindergarten
by George Ella Lyon
Illustrator: Lynne Avril
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Ginny's eyes play tricks on her until she gets the proper medical attention. Lively chalk and pencil illustrations.
by George Ella Lyon
Illustrator: Lynne Avril
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Ginny's eyes play tricks on her until she gets the proper medical attention. Lively chalk and pencil illustrations.
The PS Brothers
by Maribeth Boelts
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Two best friends, both poor and picked on, discover and uncover much to be thankful for in their quest for a dog.
by Maribeth Boelts
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Two best friends, both poor and picked on, discover and uncover much to be thankful for in their quest for a dog.
The Ride
by Kitty Griffin
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Though no documents attest to Betsy's adventure during the American Revolution, this story of her ride to defend her town has stayed alive. Quirky drawings.
by Kitty Griffin
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Though no documents attest to Betsy's adventure during the American Revolution, this story of her ride to defend her town has stayed alive. Quirky drawings.
The Rooster Prince of Breslov
by Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
In this hilarious tale, a young prince throws off his royal robes and starts acting like a rooster.Only a wise man can readjust the situation. Humorous gouache paintings.
by Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
In this hilarious tale, a young prince throws off his royal robes and starts acting like a rooster.Only a wise man can readjust the situation. Humorous gouache paintings.
The Spider's Gift
retold by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Katya Krenina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
In this retelling of a traditional story, Katrusya's family is rewarded when they allow baby spiders to spin webs in their Christmas tree.
retold by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Katya Krenina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
In this retelling of a traditional story, Katrusya's family is rewarded when they allow baby spiders to spin webs in their Christmas tree.
The Storyteller's Secrets
by Tony Mitton
Illustrator: Peter Bailey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Twins Toby and Tess are entranced by a mysterious stranger and his Celtic stories with morals. Pen and ink illustrations.
by Tony Mitton
Illustrator: Peter Bailey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Twins Toby and Tess are entranced by a mysterious stranger and his Celtic stories with morals. Pen and ink illustrations.
The Taming of Lola
by Ellen Weiss
Illustrator: Jerry Smath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Lola is a willful shrew who meets her match when cousin Lenny comes to visit--a stretch on Shakespeare's tale. Humorous, detailed illustrations.
by Ellen Weiss
Illustrator: Jerry Smath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Lola is a willful shrew who meets her match when cousin Lenny comes to visit--a stretch on Shakespeare's tale. Humorous, detailed illustrations.
The Weaver
by Thacher Hurd
Illustrator: Elisa Kleven
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Lyrical words and soft illustrations tell a soothing story of a weaver who uses the love of people to create a protective blanket of dreams for the world.
by Thacher Hurd
Illustrator: Elisa Kleven
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
Lyrical words and soft illustrations tell a soothing story of a weaver who uses the love of people to create a protective blanket of dreams for the world.
This Tree Counts!
by Alison Formento
Illustrator: Sarah Snow
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A teacher and a group pf school children plant trees and discover their many uses. Simple collage and acrylic illustrations.
by Alison Formento
Illustrator: Sarah Snow
Ages: 6+
Published: 2010
A teacher and a group pf school children plant trees and discover their many uses. Simple collage and acrylic illustrations.