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/.

How to Perform a Search and Save a List

Search
Advanced Search
Manuelo the Playing Mantis
written and ill. by Don Freeman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A frustrated music lover finds a way to satisfy his need to play. Posthumously completed from Freeman's sketches.

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan
by Christine Kole MacLean
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
An eight-year-old yearns for a pet and works to get one as her family awaits the birth of a third child.

Mighty Jackie the Strike-Out Queen
by Marissa Moss
Illustrator: C.F. Payne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Energetic art using dramatic perspectives shows how, in 1931, a female pitcher struck out two of baseball's legendary batters.

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel
by Leslie Connor
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In 1856, a young immigrant's wise decision about what to take along serves her well in a new land. Woodcuts.

Monkey Business
written and ill. by Wallace Edwards
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Exquisite, extremely humorous illustrations “explain” various idioms.

Monsters Party All Night Long
written and ill. by Adam J.B. Lane
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Monstrously funny, with clever text and creative polymer clay collage illustrations.

More Mr. and Mrs. Green
by Keith Baker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A delightful alligator couple enjoys fishing, parenting and much, much more. Humorous acrylic illustrations.

Moses Sees a Play
written and ill. by Isaac Millman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
It's a special day for Moses when the Little Theatre of the Deaf visits and performs. Helpful illustrations of American Sign Language.

Mouse in the House
written and ill. by John and Ann Hassett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Helping grandmother adjust to a new “old” house. Lively illustrations.

Mr. George Baker
by Amy Hest
Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Young Henry and his friend, a talented one hundred-year-old musician, go to school together to learn to read.

Mr. Putter & Tabby Write the Book
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Arthur Howard
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Mr. Putter discovers that writing a book is much more complicated than he thought.

Music for Alice
written and ill. by Allen Say
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Through hard work and determination, a courageous Japanese-American couple overcome discrimination and adversity. Illustrated with detailed, realistic watercolors.

My Mountain Song
by Shutta Crum
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Cousins squabble as they compete for the attention of beloved great-grandparents on a Kentucky mountain farm. Appealing, realistic illustrations.

Nonsense!
by Edward Lear
Illustrator: Valorie Fisher
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Favorite limericks with sly imaginative illustrations.

Old Coyote
by Nancy Wood
Illustrator: Max Grafe
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Old coyote completes life's circle. Lyrically told and illustrated.

Oliver's Game
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Oliver learns that his grandfather had the chance to be a major league player until World War II intervened. Pencil and watercolor illustrations.

Once Upon a Wedding
written and ill. by Jeanette Milde
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A far from perfect wedding results from the doings of three bored children.

Pascual and the Kitchen Angels
written and ill. by Tomie De Paola
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
The life and legends of the sixteenth-century Spanish patron saint of cooks and kitchens. Engagingly illustrated.

Pearl and Wagner Three Secrets
by Kate McMullan
Illustrator: R.W. Alley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Detailed, gently witty illustrations add to the fun as two good friends share life's ups and downs.

Pee-Ew! Is That You, Bertie?
written and ill. by David Roberts
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Bertie passes gas. He's just one of the family .

Perfectly Martha
written and ill. by Susan Meddaugh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Martha, the talking dog, solves the mystery of the fraudulent Perfect Pet Institute.

Piggy Riddles
by Katy Hall
Illustrator: Renee Andriani
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Side-splitting animal riddles.

Rachel's Library
written and ill. by Richard Ungar
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In the Polish village of Chelm, Rachel's idea saves the day. Bright watercolor and colored pencil folk art illustrations.

Rain
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
See: Clouds

Rainy Days with Bear
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A celebration of friendship, imagination and travel to exotic places.