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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The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs
by Shirley Raye Redmond
Illustrator: Simon Sullivan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
About a girl and a dog, both dinosaur-bone hunters, who became famous long ago in England.
by Shirley Raye Redmond
Illustrator: Simon Sullivan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
About a girl and a dog, both dinosaur-bone hunters, who became famous long ago in England.
The Firekeeper's Son
by Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In the 1800s Korea Sang-hee must decide whether to light the signal fire of peace or make the army come. Soft watercolors and pastels.
by Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In the 1800s Korea Sang-hee must decide whether to light the signal fire of peace or make the army come. Soft watercolors and pastels.
The Flying Canoe
by Roch Carrier
Illustrator: Sheldon Cohen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Winter-bound Quebec loggers dream of New Year's celebrations at home and the magic vehicle that can take them there.
by Roch Carrier
Illustrator: Sheldon Cohen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Winter-bound Quebec loggers dream of New Year's celebrations at home and the magic vehicle that can take them there.
The Foot-Stomping Adventures of Clementine Sweet
by Kitty Griffin
Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A spunky girl from Texas Hill country finds a way to get noticed and entertain the town. A rollicking original “tall tale.”
by Kitty Griffin
Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A spunky girl from Texas Hill country finds a way to get noticed and entertain the town. A rollicking original “tall tale.”
The Frog House
by Mark Taylor
Illustrator: Barbara Garrison
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
An apple-shaped birdhouse provides an adventure, a new home and new friends for Frog. Folk art style collagraphs.
by Mark Taylor
Illustrator: Barbara Garrison
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
An apple-shaped birdhouse provides an adventure, a new home and new friends for Frog. Folk art style collagraphs.
The Golden Cricket
by Marilee Joy Mayfield
Illustrator: Randy W. Jennings
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A Chinese farmer rescues a golden cricket which leads him on a journey of good fortune and new knowledge.
by Marilee Joy Mayfield
Illustrator: Randy W. Jennings
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A Chinese farmer rescues a golden cricket which leads him on a journey of good fortune and new knowledge.
The Greatest Skating Race
by Louise Borden
Illustrator: Niki Daly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
During World War II, a young Dutch boy bravely escorts two friends to safety by skating sixteen kilometers on Dutch canals.
by Louise Borden
Illustrator: Niki Daly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
During World War II, a young Dutch boy bravely escorts two friends to safety by skating sixteen kilometers on Dutch canals.
The Hidden Folk
by Lise Lunge-Larsen
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Stories of small creatures sometimes seen. Intricate colored scratchboard illustrations.
by Lise Lunge-Larsen
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Stories of small creatures sometimes seen. Intricate colored scratchboard illustrations.
The Hungry Coat
written and ill. by Demi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Nasrettin Hoca, a good man in a not-so-good coat, learns--and then teaches--that appearances can be deceiving. Turkish, miniature-style illustrations.
written and ill. by Demi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Nasrettin Hoca, a good man in a not-so-good coat, learns--and then teaches--that appearances can be deceiving. Turkish, miniature-style illustrations.
The Librarian of Basra
written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In the midst of the Iraq War, a cherished meeting place and library was destroyed, but Alia's ingenuity saved the precious books. Folk art illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In the midst of the Iraq War, a cherished meeting place and library was destroyed, but Alia's ingenuity saved the precious books. Folk art illustrations.
The Magic Crystal
by Brigitte Weninger
Illustrator: Robert Ingpen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Muted illustrations enhance the tale of an ugly but kind dwarf who is given a rainbow crystal that reflects who he really is.
by Brigitte Weninger
Illustrator: Robert Ingpen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Muted illustrations enhance the tale of an ugly but kind dwarf who is given a rainbow crystal that reflects who he really is.
The People Could Fly
by Virginia Hamilton
Illustrator: Leo and Diane Dillon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
The title story of American slaves from the original 1993 volume, with intense, haunting paintings.
by Virginia Hamilton
Illustrator: Leo and Diane Dillon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
The title story of American slaves from the original 1993 volume, with intense, haunting paintings.
The Perfect Clubhouse
written and ill. by Daniel J. Mahoney
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Friendship survives individual differences through compromise and teamwork.
written and ill. by Daniel J. Mahoney
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Friendship survives individual differences through compromise and teamwork.
The Pickle Patch Bathtub
by Frances Kennedy
Illustrator: Sheila Aldridge
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A young Missouri farm girl harvests a plan to buy her family a much needed bathtub.
by Frances Kennedy
Illustrator: Sheila Aldridge
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A young Missouri farm girl harvests a plan to buy her family a much needed bathtub.
The Princess Knight
by Cornelia Funke
Illustrator: Kerstin Meyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
As her brothers train to be fierce strong knights, Princess Violetta works to surpass them. Medieval style illustrations.
by Cornelia Funke
Illustrator: Kerstin Meyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
As her brothers train to be fierce strong knights, Princess Violetta works to surpass them. Medieval style illustrations.
The Rattlesnake Who Went to School
by Craig Kee Strete
Illustrator: Lynne Cravath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Crowboy, fearful of his first day of school, goes as a mean old rattlesnake and makes a friend.
by Craig Kee Strete
Illustrator: Lynne Cravath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Crowboy, fearful of his first day of school, goes as a mean old rattlesnake and makes a friend.
The Red Blanket
by Eliza Thomas
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A single mother adopts and bonds with her Chinese daughter. Colorful oil paintings.
by Eliza Thomas
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A single mother adopts and bonds with her Chinese daughter. Colorful oil paintings.
The Red Book
written and ill. by Barbara Lehman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In watercolor, gouache and ink, a wordless picture book creates sophisticated levels of fancy when a girl finds a treasure.
written and ill. by Barbara Lehman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In watercolor, gouache and ink, a wordless picture book creates sophisticated levels of fancy when a girl finds a treasure.
The Reluctant Dragon
by Kenneth Grahame
Illustrator: Inga Moore
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
An abridgment of this hundred-year-old favorite with detailed vibrant watercolor and ink illustrations. Delightful read-aloud.
by Kenneth Grahame
Illustrator: Inga Moore
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
An abridgment of this hundred-year-old favorite with detailed vibrant watercolor and ink illustrations. Delightful read-aloud.
The School at Crooked Creek
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Beansie dreads leaving his mother and the farm for the long trek to school, but he shows his resilience in a blinding snowstorm.
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Beansie dreads leaving his mother and the farm for the long trek to school, but he shows his resilience in a blinding snowstorm.
The Schoolchildren's Blizzard
by Marty Rhodes Figley
Illustrator: Shelly O. Haas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A school day in a Nebraska prairie one-room classroom in 1888 turns scary when an unseasonal blizzard disrupts a class picnic.
by Marty Rhodes Figley
Illustrator: Shelly O. Haas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A school day in a Nebraska prairie one-room classroom in 1888 turns scary when an unseasonal blizzard disrupts a class picnic.
The SOS File
by Betsy Byars
Illustrator: Arthur Howard
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Twelve humorous stories about students in various emergency situations.
by Betsy Byars
Illustrator: Arthur Howard
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
Twelve humorous stories about students in various emergency situations.
The Sugar Child
by Monique De Varennes
Illustrator: Leonid Gore
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In an original fairy tale set in Canada, a child made of marzipan mysteriously comes to life.
by Monique De Varennes
Illustrator: Leonid Gore
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
In an original fairy tale set in Canada, a child made of marzipan mysteriously comes to life.
The Trial of Cardigan Jones
written and ill. by Tim Egan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A civics lesson is presented with humor when Cardigan, the moose, is accused of stealing Mrs. Brown's apple pie.
written and ill. by Tim Egan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
A civics lesson is presented with humor when Cardigan, the moose, is accused of stealing Mrs. Brown's apple pie.
The Umbrella
written and ill. by Jan Brett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
The adventures of rain forest animals with an umbrella. Vivid detailed illustrations.
written and ill. by Jan Brett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2004
The adventures of rain forest animals with an umbrella. Vivid detailed illustrations.