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 Mystery of the Hairy Tomatoes
by George E. Stanley
Illustrator: Salvatore Murdocca
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Noelle's dog is being blamed for digging up tomatoes. Who is the real culprit? A beginning chapter book.
by George E. Stanley
Illustrator: Salvatore Murdocca
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Noelle's dog is being blamed for digging up tomatoes. Who is the real culprit? A beginning chapter book.
The Orphan Singer
written and ill. by Emily Arnold McCully
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An impoverished family in Venice leaves their talented daughter at a foundling home where she can be trained as an opera singer.
written and ill. by Emily Arnold McCully
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An impoverished family in Venice leaves their talented daughter at a foundling home where she can be trained as an opera singer.
The Pizza That We Made
by Joan Holub
Illustrator: Lynne Cravath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An amusing story of making food, with rhythms similar to those of “This is the House that Jack Built.”
by Joan Holub
Illustrator: Lynne Cravath
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An amusing story of making food, with rhythms similar to those of “This is the House that Jack Built.”
The Race of the Birkebeiners
by Lise Lunge-Larsen
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Enthralling Norwegian story of how Prince Hakon's life was saved. Woodcut and watercolor illustrations.
by Lise Lunge-Larsen
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Enthralling Norwegian story of how Prince Hakon's life was saved. Woodcut and watercolor illustrations.
The Secret to Freedom
by Marcia Vaughan
Illustrator: Larry Johnson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A slave family before and after liberation. Touching and informative.
by Marcia Vaughan
Illustrator: Larry Johnson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A slave family before and after liberation. Touching and informative.
The Shark God
by Rafe Martin
Illustrator: David Shannon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
When their two children are sentenced to death for befriending a shark, their parents seek help from the Shark God. A Hawaiian legend.
by Rafe Martin
Illustrator: David Shannon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
When their two children are sentenced to death for befriending a shark, their parents seek help from the Shark God. A Hawaiian legend.
The Spider Weaver
by Margaret Musgrove
Illustrator: Julia Cairns
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A talented spider teaches two weavers the Kente cloth pattern. A traditional tale from Ghana. Beautifully illustrated.
by Margaret Musgrove
Illustrator: Julia Cairns
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A talented spider teaches two weavers the Kente cloth pattern. A traditional tale from Ghana. Beautifully illustrated.
The Tale of Tricky Fox
retold by Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Fox almost succeeds in tricking a human into putting a pig into his sack. Illustrations in nineteenth-century style.
retold by Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Fox almost succeeds in tricking a human into putting a pig into his sack. Illustrations in nineteenth-century style.
The Three Little Pigs
retold and ill. by Barry Moser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
The familiar tale with sprightly illustrations.
retold and ill. by Barry Moser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
The familiar tale with sprightly illustrations.
The Three Pigs
written and ill. by David Wiesner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Sophisticated, imaginative paintings of the pig brothers' adventures after the wolf huffs and puffs them right out of their own story.
written and ill. by David Wiesner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Sophisticated, imaginative paintings of the pig brothers' adventures after the wolf huffs and puffs them right out of their own story.
The Tin Forest
by Helen Ward
Illustrator: Wayne Anderson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Lavish illustrations enhance this fable of an old man whose imagination brings a desolate place to life.
by Helen Ward
Illustrator: Wayne Anderson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Lavish illustrations enhance this fable of an old man whose imagination brings a desolate place to life.
The Tomb of the Boy King
by John Frank
Illustrator: Tom Pohrt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
The history of the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb told in poetry. Classic illustrations.
by John Frank
Illustrator: Tom Pohrt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
The history of the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb told in poetry. Classic illustrations.
The Tower
by Richard Paul Evans
Illustrator: Jonathan Linton
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A young man seeking greatness learns from experience and finally achieves his goal.
by Richard Paul Evans
Illustrator: Jonathan Linton
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A young man seeking greatness learns from experience and finally achieves his goal.
The War
written and ill. by Anais Vaugelade
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A unique tale of disagreement gone awry with an unusual ending.
written and ill. by Anais Vaugelade
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A unique tale of disagreement gone awry with an unusual ending.
The Web Files
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Stylized and quirky ducktective quacks the case. Take-off of TV series “Dragnet.” Great fun with lively illustrations.
by
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Stylized and quirky ducktective quacks the case. Take-off of TV series “Dragnet.” Great fun with lively illustrations.
The Yellow House
by Susan Goldman Rubin
Illustrator: Jos. A. Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An unsuccessful experiment in living and working together creates a compelling story about the two artists.
by Susan Goldman Rubin
Illustrator: Jos. A. Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An unsuccessful experiment in living and working together creates a compelling story about the two artists.
Tiger Trouble!
written and ill. by Diane Goode
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A turn-of-the-century urban neighorbhood is the setting for a tale of a tiger whose good deeds reform an unpleasant landlord.
written and ill. by Diane Goode
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A turn-of-the-century urban neighorbhood is the setting for a tale of a tiger whose good deeds reform an unpleasant landlord.
Tub-Boo-Boo
by Margie Palatini
Illustrator: Glin Dibley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Clever word play about stopping a drip of water with one's toe. Humorous illustrations.
by Margie Palatini
Illustrator: Glin Dibley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Clever word play about stopping a drip of water with one's toe. Humorous illustrations.
Very Boring Alligator
written and ill. by Jean Gralley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A resourceful little girl makes an alligator behave. Funny book to read aloud.
written and ill. by Jean Gralley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A resourceful little girl makes an alligator behave. Funny book to read aloud.
What a Mess!
by Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Joe Mathieu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Follow the mystery of the muddy footprints to its rollicking conclusion!
by Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Joe Mathieu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Follow the mystery of the muddy footprints to its rollicking conclusion!
Where the Big Fish Are
by Jonathan London
Illustrator: Adam Gustavson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Two boys build a raft. A quiet friendship. Watercolors.
by Jonathan London
Illustrator: Adam Gustavson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Two boys build a raft. A quiet friendship. Watercolors.
Who Took My Hairy Toe?
retold by Shutta Crum
Illustrator: Katya Krenina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A satisfyingly scary retelling of a familiar monster tale. Good for Halloween.
retold by Shutta Crum
Illustrator: Katya Krenina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
A satisfyingly scary retelling of a familiar monster tale. Good for Halloween.
Willie Wins
by Almira Astudillo Gilles
Illustrator: Carl Angel
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Charming story of young Willie's growing understanding of his Filipino heritage.
by Almira Astudillo Gilles
Illustrator: Carl Angel
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Charming story of young Willie's growing understanding of his Filipino heritage.
Winnie Dancing on Her Own
by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Illustrator: Alissa Imre Geis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Crisis occurs when Winnie's two best friends want to take ballet--and she really doesn't.
by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Illustrator: Alissa Imre Geis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Crisis occurs when Winnie's two best friends want to take ballet--and she really doesn't.
Winter Shoes for Shadow Horse
by Linda Oatman High
Illustrator: Ted Lewin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Beautifully illustrated, quiet story of a boy learning to shoe his first horse.
by Linda Oatman High
Illustrator: Ted Lewin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Beautifully illustrated, quiet story of a boy learning to shoe his first horse.