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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Sweet Pea Summer
Hazel Mitchell
Illustrator: Hazel Mitchell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young girl, staying with her grandparents for the summer while her mother is hospitalized, plants sweet peas in the garden with hope and caring. Warm, graphite illustrations.
Hazel Mitchell
Illustrator: Hazel Mitchell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young girl, staying with her grandparents for the summer while her mother is hospitalized, plants sweet peas in the garden with hope and caring. Warm, graphite illustrations.
Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World (Sydney and Taylor series)
Jacqueline Davies
Illustrator: Deborah Hocking
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Two friends, a hedgehog and a skunk, leave their "perfectly perfect" burrow for a grand adventure. Colorful gouache and pencil illustrations.
Jacqueline Davies
Illustrator: Deborah Hocking
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Two friends, a hedgehog and a skunk, leave their "perfectly perfect" burrow for a grand adventure. Colorful gouache and pencil illustrations.
Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle: Pandemonium and Patience in the President's House
Beth Anderson
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A rambunctious son with speech and learning challenges never fails to engage and delight his father —the US President. A well-documented, heartwarming true story. Expressive artwork.
Beth Anderson
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A rambunctious son with speech and learning challenges never fails to engage and delight his father —the US President. A well-documented, heartwarming true story. Expressive artwork.
Tag Team (El Toro & Friends)
Raúl the Third
Illustrator: Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Quirky characters and dynamic comic-style illustrations evoke the world of Lucha Libre wrestling, while subtly promoting self-confidence and teamwork in this beginning reader series. Embedded Spanish terms.
Raúl the Third
Illustrator: Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Quirky characters and dynamic comic-style illustrations evoke the world of Lucha Libre wrestling, while subtly promoting self-confidence and teamwork in this beginning reader series. Embedded Spanish terms.
Teaflet and Roog Make a Mess
Jeanne Birdsall
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Siblings prepare for a party, but their house must be inspected for cleanliness, and it's full of animals! Charmingly constructed scenes using figures made of wool and wire,
Jeanne Birdsall
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Siblings prepare for a party, but their house must be inspected for cleanliness, and it's full of animals! Charmingly constructed scenes using figures made of wool and wire,
THAO
Thao Lam
Illustrator: Thao Lam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Arriving in Canada as a young child, Thao must start school with a simple name that no one can pronounce. Collage illustrations.
Thao Lam
Illustrator: Thao Lam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Arriving in Canada as a young child, Thao must start school with a simple name that no one can pronounce. Collage illustrations.
There Goes Patti McGee!: The Story of the First Women's National Skateboard Champion
Tootie Nienow
Illustrator: Erika Medina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Entranced when she sees a skateboarder, Patti builds a skateboard and practises until she wins competitions. Energetic illustrations. Back matter.
Tootie Nienow
Illustrator: Erika Medina
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Entranced when she sees a skateboarder, Patti builds a skateboard and practises until she wins competitions. Energetic illustrations. Back matter.
There's a Ghost in this House
Oliver Jeffers
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
An unnamed little girl invites readers to join a comedic hide-and-seek search for ghosts in a supposedly haunted house. Loose line drawings, black-and-white photographs interspersed with translucent pages.
Oliver Jeffers
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
An unnamed little girl invites readers to join a comedic hide-and-seek search for ghosts in a supposedly haunted house. Loose line drawings, black-and-white photographs interspersed with translucent pages.
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth
Sean Rubin
Illustrator: Sean Rubin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The emotional intensity of the World Trade Center tragedy is sensitively brought to readers through the resilient voice of the Survivor Tree. Immersive digital artwork.
Sean Rubin
Illustrator: Sean Rubin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The emotional intensity of the World Trade Center tragedy is sensitively brought to readers through the resilient voice of the Survivor Tree. Immersive digital artwork.
Too Small Tola
Atinuke
Illustrator: Onyinye Iwu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Meet endearing Tola, who helps her family, copes with bullies, and supports a neighbor. Black and white spot art captures the vibrant and diverse city of Lagos, Nigeria.
Atinuke
Illustrator: Onyinye Iwu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Meet endearing Tola, who helps her family, copes with bullies, and supports a neighbor. Black and white spot art captures the vibrant and diverse city of Lagos, Nigeria.
Two at the Top: A Shared Dream of Everest
Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Christopher Corr
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Told in alternate voices with brilliantly colored naïve-style illustrations, two men from different worlds join forces in 1953, becoming the first to reach the highest peak in the Himalayas. Extensive back matter.
Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Christopher Corr
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Told in alternate voices with brilliantly colored naïve-style illustrations, two men from different worlds join forces in 1953, becoming the first to reach the highest peak in the Himalayas. Extensive back matter.
Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America's First Gay Wedding
Rob Sanders
Illustrator: Robbie Cathro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The making of a cake and the development of a same-sex friendship into love and marriage are parallel stories in this account of a historical milestone. Bright illustrations. Comprehensive back matter.
Rob Sanders
Illustrator: Robbie Cathro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
The making of a cake and the development of a same-sex friendship into love and marriage are parallel stories in this account of a historical milestone. Bright illustrations. Comprehensive back matter.
Ty's Travels: Beach Day! (My First I Can Read!)
Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrator: Nina Mata
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Using their imaginations, two children of color turn an ordinary day in the sandbox into a beach day. Colorful art with imaginary scenes in childlike crayon.
Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrator: Nina Mata
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Using their imaginations, two children of color turn an ordinary day in the sandbox into a beach day. Colorful art with imaginary scenes in childlike crayon.
Uma Wimple Charts Her House
Reif Larsen
Illustrator: Ben Gibson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young girl loves to make charts, but she worries when she gets a school assignment to chart her own home. Mixed-media and digital illustrations.
Reif Larsen
Illustrator: Ben Gibson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young girl loves to make charts, but she worries when she gets a school assignment to chart her own home. Mixed-media and digital illustrations.
Walk in the Words, A
Hudson Talbott
Illustrator: Hudson Talbott
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young boy, labeled a "slow reader," chronicles the challenges he faced learning to read and his escape into art when feeling overwhelmed. Mixed-media illustrations.
Hudson Talbott
Illustrator: Hudson Talbott
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A young boy, labeled a "slow reader," chronicles the challenges he faced learning to read and his escape into art when feeling overwhelmed. Mixed-media illustrations.
Wall and the Wild, The
Christina Dendy
Illustrator: Katie Rewse
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Ana wants to create a neat and orderly garden, but nature doesn't cooperate. Colorful illustrations against a dark background.
Christina Dendy
Illustrator: Katie Rewse
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Ana wants to create a neat and orderly garden, but nature doesn't cooperate. Colorful illustrations against a dark background.
Wanda
Sihle Nontshokweni & Mathabo Tlali
Illustrator: Chantelle Thorne & Burgen Thorne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Buoyed by her mother's affirmations, grandmother's stories, and photos of prominent black women's hair styles, South African Wanda comes to appreciate her afro hair. Emotive colorful illustrations.
Sihle Nontshokweni & Mathabo Tlali
Illustrator: Chantelle Thorne & Burgen Thorne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Buoyed by her mother's affirmations, grandmother's stories, and photos of prominent black women's hair styles, South African Wanda comes to appreciate her afro hair. Emotive colorful illustrations.
Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration
Doyin Richards
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A boy, from Sierra Leone, determined to come to the U.S. to have a better life, becomes a doctor. Richly-colored illustrations using oils over acrylic.
Doyin Richards
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A boy, from Sierra Leone, determined to come to the U.S. to have a better life, becomes a doctor. Richly-colored illustrations using oils over acrylic.
Watercress
Andrea Wang
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A Chinese American girl, angry and embarrassed when her immigrant parents gather watercress from a roadside ditch, learns why it is important to them. Rich watercolor washed illustrations.
Andrea Wang
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A Chinese American girl, angry and embarrassed when her immigrant parents gather watercress from a roadside ditch, learns why it is important to them. Rich watercolor washed illustrations.
Water Lady, The: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation
Alice B. McGinty
Illustrator: Shonto Begay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A Navajo woman travels throughout the New Mexico reservation delivering water to community members. Cody, a young boy, waits eagerly for her. Watercolor illustrations show the arid landscape. Author's note.
Alice B. McGinty
Illustrator: Shonto Begay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A Navajo woman travels throughout the New Mexico reservation delivering water to community members. Cody, a young boy, waits eagerly for her. Watercolor illustrations show the arid landscape. Author's note.
We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America
Lisa Westberg Peters
Illustrator: Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Using wind as a metaphor, U.S. migration is depicted, starting with humans crossing the land bridge from Asia. Dramatic watercolor and digital illustrations. Back matter.
Lisa Westberg Peters
Illustrator: Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Using wind as a metaphor, U.S. migration is depicted, starting with humans crossing the land bridge from Asia. Dramatic watercolor and digital illustrations. Back matter.
We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
Traci Sorell
Illustrator: Frané Lessac
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Celebrating Indigenous People's Day at school, 12 Native American children present the ongoing political and social history of native life. Extensively researched folkart-like illustrations. Back matter.
Traci Sorell
Illustrator: Frané Lessac
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Celebrating Indigenous People's Day at school, 12 Native American children present the ongoing political and social history of native life. Extensively researched folkart-like illustrations. Back matter.
Welcome Chair, The
Rosemary Wells
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A chair is handed down through many generations, but always welcomes immigrants. Based on family memories, but colored by the author's imagination. Evocative, realistic watercolors.
Rosemary Wells
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
A chair is handed down through many generations, but always welcomes immigrants. Based on family memories, but colored by the author's imagination. Evocative, realistic watercolors.
We Shall Overcome
Bryan Collier
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Black-and-white illustrations of the past combine with vibrant contemporary scenes to show the poignant, enduring power of the Civil Rights era anthem. Comprehensive back matter.
Bryan Collier
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Black-and-white illustrations of the past combine with vibrant contemporary scenes to show the poignant, enduring power of the Civil Rights era anthem. Comprehensive back matter.
We Wait For the Sun
Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Digital illustrations capture the love between Black army veteran, lawyer and activist Dovey Johnson Roundtree and her grandmother. Informative back matter extends the story.
Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2021
Digital illustrations capture the love between Black army veteran, lawyer and activist Dovey Johnson Roundtree and her grandmother. Informative back matter extends the story.