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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Sienna's Scrapbook
by Toni Trent Parker
Illustrator: Janell Genovese
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Join Sienna's family as they explore African-American historic sights from Connecticut to North Carolina.
by Toni Trent Parker
Illustrator: Janell Genovese
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Join Sienna's family as they explore African-American historic sights from Connecticut to North Carolina.
Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries
by Donna Jo Napoli
Illustrator: Heather Maione
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Detective Sly solves three mysteries involving pets. Pen-and-ink illustrations.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Illustrator: Heather Maione
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Detective Sly solves three mysteries involving pets. Pen-and-ink illustrations.
Someday Is Not a Day of the Week
by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Illustrator: Kevin OMalley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Finally Max's family makes “some day” today. Expressive illustrations.
by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Illustrator: Kevin OMalley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Finally Max's family makes “some day” today. Expressive illustrations.
Sometimey Friend
by Pansie Hart Flood
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Eleven-year-old Sylvia's great grandma helps her adjust to her new surroundings and learn the meaning of friendship and home.
by Pansie Hart Flood
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Eleven-year-old Sylvia's great grandma helps her adjust to her new surroundings and learn the meaning of friendship and home.
So, what's it like to be cat?
by karla kuskin
Illustrator: betsy lewin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A child interviews a cat whose answers represent feline behavior and feelings. Humorous text and spirited watercolor illustrations.
by karla kuskin
Illustrator: betsy lewin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A child interviews a cat whose answers represent feline behavior and feelings. Humorous text and spirited watercolor illustrations.
Squashed in the Middle
by Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrator: Pat Cummings
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Middle child Daisy finds a clever way to get her family to finally listen. Watercolor, gouache and pastel illustrations.
by Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrator: Pat Cummings
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Middle child Daisy finds a clever way to get her family to finally listen. Watercolor, gouache and pastel illustrations.
Stagestruck
written and ill. by Tomie De Paola
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
When his kindergarten class performs a play about Peter Rabbit, Tommy “steals the show,” but has he behaved well?
written and ill. by Tomie De Paola
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
When his kindergarten class performs a play about Peter Rabbit, Tommy “steals the show,” but has he behaved well?
Steeeeamboat A-Comin'!
by Jill Esbaum
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Poetic and pictorial snapshot of a nineteenth-century town on the Mississippi River inspired by Mark Twain. Realistic, historical paintings.
by Jill Esbaum
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Poetic and pictorial snapshot of a nineteenth-century town on the Mississippi River inspired by Mark Twain. Realistic, historical paintings.
Stinky Stern Forever
written and ill. by Michelle Edwards
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A second grade bully is hit by a car and his classmates struggle with their memories and feelings.
written and ill. by Michelle Edwards
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A second grade bully is hit by a car and his classmates struggle with their memories and feelings.
Sunny Boy!
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Anne Wilsdorf
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Events in the life of an old tortoise including a barrel ride over Niagara Falls.
by Candace Fleming
Illustrator: Anne Wilsdorf
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Events in the life of an old tortoise including a barrel ride over Niagara Falls.
Superhero
written and ill. by Marc Tauss
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Using his imagination, a boy savies his city. Comic book inspired black-and-white illustrations.
written and ill. by Marc Tauss
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Using his imagination, a boy savies his city. Comic book inspired black-and-white illustrations.
Talk Peace
by Sam Williams
Illustrator: Mique Moriuchi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Lively, child-like collage illustrations and spare, lyrical text encourage peace in everyday life.
by Sam Williams
Illustrator: Mique Moriuchi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Lively, child-like collage illustrations and spare, lyrical text encourage peace in everyday life.
Terrific
written and ill. by Jon Agee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
When his cruise ship crashes, Eugene finds himself on an island with a bossy parrot.
written and ill. by Jon Agee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
When his cruise ship crashes, Eugene finds himself on an island with a bossy parrot.
The Best Seat in Second Grade
by Katharine Kenah
Illustrator: Abby Carter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
On a class trip, Sam sneaks the class hamster named George Washington into the science museum.
by Katharine Kenah
Illustrator: Abby Carter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
On a class trip, Sam sneaks the class hamster named George Washington into the science museum.
The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity; La Rana y Sus Amigos Salvan a la Humanidad
by Victor Villasenor
Illustrator: Jose Ramirez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Animals unite to spare the life of a new creation realizing that Mother Nature always has a purpose. Colorful, stylized illustrations. Bilingual.
by Victor Villasenor
Illustrator: Jose Ramirez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Animals unite to spare the life of a new creation realizing that Mother Nature always has a purpose. Colorful, stylized illustrations. Bilingual.
The Good Lion
by Beryl Markham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
The startling story of some truths about animal nature. The African veldt is illuminated in accompanying watercolors.
by Beryl Markham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
The startling story of some truths about animal nature. The African veldt is illuminated in accompanying watercolors.
The Happiest Tree a Yoga Story
by Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Ruth Jayaveeran
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Meena doesn't want to be in her class play because her clumsiness embarrasses her. Will yoga help?
by Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Ruth Jayaveeran
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Meena doesn't want to be in her class play because her clumsiness embarrasses her. Will yoga help?
The Have a Good Day Cafe
by Frances Park
Illustrator: Katherine Potter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A boy and his homesick grandma give business a boost by introducing Korean dishes to the family hot dog cart. Soft pastels.
by Frances Park
Illustrator: Katherine Potter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A boy and his homesick grandma give business a boost by introducing Korean dishes to the family hot dog cart. Soft pastels.
The Hero Beowulf
by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Leonard Everett Fisher
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Bold illustrations and simple text recreate Beowulf's famous capture of the vile creature, Grendel.
by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Leonard Everett Fisher
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Bold illustrations and simple text recreate Beowulf's famous capture of the vile creature, Grendel.
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
by Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: Nicola Bayley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Vibrant colored pencil illustrations and elegant design introduce a new generation to the man-cub, Mowgli and the Law of the Jungle.
by Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: Nicola Bayley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Vibrant colored pencil illustrations and elegant design introduce a new generation to the man-cub, Mowgli and the Law of the Jungle.
The Legend of the Curse of the Bambino
by Dan Shaughnessy
Illustrator: C.F. Payne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A light-hearted look at the sad fate of the Boston Red Sox after they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
by Dan Shaughnessy
Illustrator: C.F. Payne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
A light-hearted look at the sad fate of the Boston Red Sox after they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
The Love Of Two Stars
retold and ill. by Janie Jaehyun Park
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Expressive folkloric illustrations accompany this Korean legend about two stars that meet once a year in the Milky Way.
retold and ill. by Janie Jaehyun Park
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Expressive folkloric illustrations accompany this Korean legend about two stars that meet once a year in the Milky Way.
The Magician's Boy
by Susan Cooper
Illustrator: Serena Riglietti
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
The magician won't teach his young assistant anything magic until he proves himself on a visit to the Land of Story.
by Susan Cooper
Illustrator: Serena Riglietti
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
The magician won't teach his young assistant anything magic until he proves himself on a visit to the Land of Story.
The Matzo Ball Boy
by Lisa Shulman
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
“The Gingerbread Man” revisited , with a number of surprising twists. Folkloric illustrations.
by Lisa Shulman
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
“The Gingerbread Man” revisited , with a number of surprising twists. Folkloric illustrations.
The Musicians Of Bremen
retold and ill. by Niroot Puttapipat
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Four old farm animals outlive their usefulness and attempt a career change but are waylaid by robbers. Richly illustrated retelling of the Grimm story.
retold and ill. by Niroot Puttapipat
Ages: 6+
Published: 2005
Four old farm animals outlive their usefulness and attempt a career change but are waylaid by robbers. Richly illustrated retelling of the Grimm story.