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 Man Who Wore All His Clothes
by Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: Katharine McEwen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An action packed day with the Gaskitt family as they foil a bank robbery. Great fun.
by Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: Katharine McEwen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
An action packed day with the Gaskitt family as they foil a bank robbery. Great fun.
The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway
retold and ill. by Alice Provensen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Little Chu masters the sword, and Mu Chi escapes death through his marvelous paintings. Illustrated in traditional style.
retold and ill. by Alice Provensen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
Little Chu masters the sword, and Mu Chi escapes death through his marvelous paintings. Illustrated in traditional style.
The Merbaby
by Teresa Bateman
Illustrator: Patience Brewster
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
When Tarron's fishing net pulls up a merbaby, he resists the fame and fortune it could bring, risks the peril of the siren song, and returns her to her folk.
by Teresa Bateman
Illustrator: Patience Brewster
Ages: 6+
Published: 2001
When Tarron's fishing net pulls up a merbaby, he resists the fame and fortune it could bring, risks the peril of the siren song, and returns her to her folk.
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.