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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Fatima's Great Outdoors
Ambreen Tariq
Illustrator: Stevie Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Fatima has a hard time at school after emigrating from India, but learns more about herself when she goes on her first family camping trip. Amusing illustrations.
Ambreen Tariq
Illustrator: Stevie Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Fatima has a hard time at school after emigrating from India, but learns more about herself when she goes on her first family camping trip. Amusing illustrations.
Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist
Laurie Lawlor
Illustrator: Becca Stadtlander
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
North's 19th century English family tried to keep her from studying art, but she developed into a wonderful botanical painter. Lush illustrations resemble the artist's paintings. Excellent back matter.
Laurie Lawlor
Illustrator: Becca Stadtlander
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
North's 19th century English family tried to keep her from studying art, but she developed into a wonderful botanical painter. Lush illustrations resemble the artist's paintings. Excellent back matter.
First Blade of Sweetgrass, The: A Native American Story
Suzanne Greenlaw & Gabriel Fry
Illustrator: Nancy Baker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Soft oils, pastels, and story depict a grandmother and her grandchild harvesting sweetgrass for basket making, honoring Native American traditional practices.
Suzanne Greenlaw & Gabriel Fry
Illustrator: Nancy Baker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Soft oils, pastels, and story depict a grandmother and her grandchild harvesting sweetgrass for basket making, honoring Native American traditional practices.
Floating Field, The: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
Scott Riley
Illustrator: Nguyen Quang / Kim Lien
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Prasit and his friends find an alternative to the sandbar, where they occasionally enjoy their favorite sport. Evocative illustrations. Supplementary information. Maps and photos.
Scott Riley
Illustrator: Nguyen Quang / Kim Lien
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Prasit and his friends find an alternative to the sandbar, where they occasionally enjoy their favorite sport. Evocative illustrations. Supplementary information. Maps and photos.
Follow That Frog!
Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
While recalling her many worldwide adventures, Aunt J urges young Sadie to ignore whoever is at the door. A fast-paced romp with punchy language and comical illustrations.
Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
While recalling her many worldwide adventures, Aunt J urges young Sadie to ignore whoever is at the door. A fast-paced romp with punchy language and comical illustrations.
Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme
Melissa Stewart
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Discover how 14 different monkey species coexist in Peru's Manú National Park. Naturalistic cut-and-torn-paper collage illustrations. Detailed profiles of each species included.
Melissa Stewart
Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Discover how 14 different monkey species coexist in Peru's Manú National Park. Naturalistic cut-and-torn-paper collage illustrations. Detailed profiles of each species included.
Fox and The Forest Fire, The
Danny Popovici
Illustrator: Danny Popovici
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Gouache, watercolor and pencil illustrations evocatively chronicle a young boy's growing appreciation of the forest and even a rebirthing forest fire. Back matter.
Danny Popovici
Illustrator: Danny Popovici
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Gouache, watercolor and pencil illustrations evocatively chronicle a young boy's growing appreciation of the forest and even a rebirthing forest fire. Back matter.
From the Tops of the Trees
Kao Kalia Yang
Illustrator: Rachel Wada
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The father of a Hmong child climbs a tall tree to show her how big the world really is beyond the gates of the refugee camp. Natural color palette illustrations.
Kao Kalia Yang
Illustrator: Rachel Wada
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The father of a Hmong child climbs a tall tree to show her how big the world really is beyond the gates of the refugee camp. Natural color palette illustrations.
Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! (Ready-to-Read Graphics)
Maggie P. Chang
Illustrator: Maggie P. Chang
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Comic-style illustrations exalt the power of friendship as Taiwanese American Geraldine and Jamaican American newcomer Deven overcome ostracism because of their ethnic lunches.
Maggie P. Chang
Illustrator: Maggie P. Chang
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Comic-style illustrations exalt the power of friendship as Taiwanese American Geraldine and Jamaican American newcomer Deven overcome ostracism because of their ethnic lunches.
Gladys the Magic Chicken
Adam Rubin
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
In Ancient Times, Gladys, a lucky and maybe magical chicken, meets many comic characters in a series of Disneyesque misadventures. Animated full-color digitally painted illustrations.
Adam Rubin
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
In Ancient Times, Gladys, a lucky and maybe magical chicken, meets many comic characters in a series of Disneyesque misadventures. Animated full-color digitally painted illustrations.
Goodnight Ganesha
Nadia Salomon
Illustrator: Poonam Mistry
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Two young South Asian children say goodnight to all the objects in their grandparents' house. Sumptuous ink and digital stylized illustrations.
Nadia Salomon
Illustrator: Poonam Mistry
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Two young South Asian children say goodnight to all the objects in their grandparents' house. Sumptuous ink and digital stylized illustrations.
Goody, The
Lauren Child
Illustrator: Lauren Child
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A complex problem - the peril of parental expectations becoming self-fulfilling prophecies - is presented in a truthful, humorous and relatable way. Expressive collage art. Great discussion prompts.
Lauren Child
Illustrator: Lauren Child
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A complex problem - the peril of parental expectations becoming self-fulfilling prophecies - is presented in a truthful, humorous and relatable way. Expressive collage art. Great discussion prompts.
Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call: The Heroic Story of WWI Telephone Operators
Claudia Friddell
Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Beautiful, historically accurate illustrations combine with engaging language to tell a true and uplifting wartime story. Meticulously researched with timeline, photos and supplementary facts.
Claudia Friddell
Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Beautiful, historically accurate illustrations combine with engaging language to tell a true and uplifting wartime story. Meticulously researched with timeline, photos and supplementary facts.
Gravity Tree, The: The True Story of a Tree That Inspired the World
Anna Crowley Redding
Illustrator: Yas Imamura
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The source of Isaac Newton's brilliant discovery also inspired Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and many others who have honored this legendary tree. Lively text, engaging illustrations, and supplementary information.
Anna Crowley Redding
Illustrator: Yas Imamura
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The source of Isaac Newton's brilliant discovery also inspired Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and many others who have honored this legendary tree. Lively text, engaging illustrations, and supplementary information.
Hair Twins
Raakhee Mirchandani
Illustrator: Holly Hatam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young brown-skinned girl and her Sikh father bond over their long dark hair during morning routines. Vibrant digially collaged illustrations.
Raakhee Mirchandani
Illustrator: Holly Hatam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young brown-skinned girl and her Sikh father bond over their long dark hair during morning routines. Vibrant digially collaged illustrations.
Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School
Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Harry is anxious about starting first grade. Will teachers yell? Will learning to read be hard? Colorful illustrations. Chapter book.
Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Harry is anxious about starting first grade. Will teachers yell? Will learning to read be hard? Colorful illustrations. Chapter book.
Hear the Wind Blow
Doe Boyle
Illustrator: Emily Paik
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
With mounting intensity, each poetic stanza evokes shifts in weather and matches a category on the Beaufort Windforce Scale. Engaging illustrations. Glossary and supplementary resources.
Doe Boyle
Illustrator: Emily Paik
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
With mounting intensity, each poetic stanza evokes shifts in weather and matches a category on the Beaufort Windforce Scale. Engaging illustrations. Glossary and supplementary resources.
Highest Tribute, The: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadershp, and Legacy
Kekla Magoon
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Creating change was a mission for a boy who broke barriers and advanced racial justice. Realistic artwork accompanies a triumphant story. Timeline and milestone court cases included.
Kekla Magoon
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Creating change was a mission for a boy who broke barriers and advanced racial justice. Realistic artwork accompanies a triumphant story. Timeline and milestone court cases included.
Hope at Sea: An Adventure Story
Daniel Miyares
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Love shines through when Hope stows away to join her sailor father. Detailed pen and ink art takes readers out to sea.
Daniel Miyares
Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Love shines through when Hope stows away to join her sailor father. Detailed pen and ink art takes readers out to sea.
How Beautiful
Antonella Capetti
Illustrator: Melissa Castrillón
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A caterpillar, puzzled at being called beautiful, sets out to discover what that means. Finely detailed pencil and digital illustrations.
Antonella Capetti
Illustrator: Melissa Castrillón
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A caterpillar, puzzled at being called beautiful, sets out to discover what that means. Finely detailed pencil and digital illustrations.
How to Build an Insect
Roberta Gibson
Illustrator: Anne Lambelet
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Each anatomical part of an insect, with an explanation of its function and comparison to humans, is assembled to create a model. Exquisitely detailed ilustrations.
Roberta Gibson
Illustrator: Anne Lambelet
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Each anatomical part of an insect, with an explanation of its function and comparison to humans, is assembled to create a model. Exquisitely detailed ilustrations.
How to Make a Book (About My Dog)
Chris Barton
Illustrator: Sarah Horne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
An author details the creation of a nonfiction picture book, from initial idea to manuscript to finished product. His dog makes humorous appearances. Cartoon illustrations. Back matter.
Chris Barton
Illustrator: Sarah Horne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
An author details the creation of a nonfiction picture book, from initial idea to manuscript to finished product. His dog makes humorous appearances. Cartoon illustrations. Back matter.
I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story
Martha Brockenbrough with Grace Lin
Illustrator: Julia Kuo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Born in California to Chinese parents in 1873, Wong Kim Ark challenged the Supreme Court to be recognized as an American citizen. Back matter, simple digital illustrations.
Martha Brockenbrough with Grace Lin
Illustrator: Julia Kuo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Born in California to Chinese parents in 1873, Wong Kim Ark challenged the Supreme Court to be recognized as an American citizen. Back matter, simple digital illustrations.
I Am Elephant
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrator: Miriam Nerlove
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Mellifluous words spoken in the first person provide a host of information about elephants. Watercolor and pencil art illustrations. End Note.
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrator: Miriam Nerlove
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Mellifluous words spoken in the first person provide a host of information about elephants. Watercolor and pencil art illustrations. End Note.
I Am Smoke
Henry Herz
Illustrator: Mercè López
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Explore the various ways that smoke has always impacted nature and the lives of humans in both positive and negative ways. Swirling, smoky illustrations.
Henry Herz
Illustrator: Mercè López
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Explore the various ways that smoke has always impacted nature and the lives of humans in both positive and negative ways. Swirling, smoky illustrations.