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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Keith Haring
by Kay A. Haring
Illustrator: Robert Neubecker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Digitized art captures the iconic creations of a young artist who drew on vinyl, streets, buildings, and subway walls - all inspired by break dancing. Back matter.
by Kay A. Haring
Illustrator: Robert Neubecker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Digitized art captures the iconic creations of a young artist who drew on vinyl, streets, buildings, and subway walls - all inspired by break dancing. Back matter.
King & Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse
by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrator: Nancy Meyers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Colorful illustrations enhance this humorous mystery where two girls “think” they solve a case when their dogs have beat them to it.
by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrator: Nancy Meyers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Colorful illustrations enhance this humorous mystery where two girls “think” they solve a case when their dogs have beat them to it.
King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code
by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrator: Nancy Meyers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Can Kayla decode the mysterious letter that she receives? Amusing pencil and digitally colored illustrations. First in a new series.
by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrator: Nancy Meyers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Can Kayla decode the mysterious letter that she receives? Amusing pencil and digitally colored illustrations. First in a new series.
King of the Sky
by Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Laura Carlin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A newly immigrated boy feels he's not where he belongs until he bonds with an old man racing pigeons. Evocative mixed media illustrations and hand lettering.
by Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Laura Carlin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A newly immigrated boy feels he's not where he belongs until he bonds with an old man racing pigeons. Evocative mixed media illustrations and hand lettering.
Life on Mars
by Jon Agee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Determined to discover extraterrestrial life, a young astronaut finds a yellow flower but overlooks the Martian who follows him. Bold illustrations add a humorous twist.
by Jon Agee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Determined to discover extraterrestrial life, a young astronaut finds a yellow flower but overlooks the Martian who follows him. Bold illustrations add a humorous twist.
Lighter Than Air
by Matthew Clark Smith
Illustrator: Matt Tavares
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
In the early nineteenth century, Sophie becomes the first woman to pilot a hot air balloon alone. Ink and watercolor illustrations. Notes and selected bibliography.
by Matthew Clark Smith
Illustrator: Matt Tavares
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
In the early nineteenth century, Sophie becomes the first woman to pilot a hot air balloon alone. Ink and watercolor illustrations. Notes and selected bibliography.
Lines
written and illustrated by Suzy Lee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Evocative pencil drawings illustrate this wordless celebration of self-expression and the joyful surprises that perseverance can bring.
written and illustrated by Suzy Lee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Evocative pencil drawings illustrate this wordless celebration of self-expression and the joyful surprises that perseverance can bring.
Lines, Bars and Circles
by Helaine Becker
Illustrator: Marie-Ève Tremblay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Cook Prize 2017? Return to Allie (2/23/17) The eighteenth-century Scottish mathematician was considered a failure in his time, but created the revolutionary system of organizing information. Clever, useful illustrations.
by Helaine Becker
Illustrator: Marie-Ève Tremblay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Cook Prize 2017? Return to Allie (2/23/17) The eighteenth-century Scottish mathematician was considered a failure in his time, but created the revolutionary system of organizing information. Clever, useful illustrations.
Listen
by Leda Schubert
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
The life of Pete Seeger is interspersed with titles of his songs and related causes he supported. Expressive color illustrations. Timeline, source notes, and bibliographies.
by Leda Schubert
Illustrator: Raúl Colón
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
The life of Pete Seeger is interspersed with titles of his songs and related causes he supported. Expressive color illustrations. Timeline, source notes, and bibliographies.
Little Fox in the Forest
written and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
In this wordless picture book, a girl and her friend chase a toy thief and find themselves in a magical village. Mixed-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
In this wordless picture book, a girl and her friend chase a toy thief and find themselves in a magical village. Mixed-media illustrations.
Little i
written and illustrated by Michael Hall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Lower case i loses its dot and embarks on a journey to find it, while other letters and punctuation marks provide encouragement. Colorful dramatic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Michael Hall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Lower case i loses its dot and embarks on a journey to find it, while other letters and punctuation marks provide encouragement. Colorful dramatic illustrations.
Love, Triangle
by Marcie Colleen
Illustrator: Bob Shea
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Best friends Circle and Square must make room for a new buddy, Triangle.” A geometric romp full of word play and colorful pop art cartooning.
by Marcie Colleen
Illustrator: Bob Shea
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Best friends Circle and Square must make room for a new buddy, Triangle.” A geometric romp full of word play and colorful pop art cartooning.
Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel
by Charise Mericle Harper
Illustrator: Ashley Spires
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A girl and her talking dog seek out a new friend in this whimsical and humorous story. Expressive illustrations.
by Charise Mericle Harper
Illustrator: Ashley Spires
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A girl and her talking dog seek out a new friend in this whimsical and humorous story. Expressive illustrations.
Magnets Push, Magnets Pull
by David A. Adler
Illustrator: Anna Raff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Grab your magnets and have fun with all the tricks possible in a very clear and accessible explanation of magnetism. Ink washes, assembled and colored digitally.
by David A. Adler
Illustrator: Anna Raff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Grab your magnets and have fun with all the tricks possible in a very clear and accessible explanation of magnetism. Ink washes, assembled and colored digitally.
Malala's Magic Pencil
by Malala Yoysafzai
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
F&G Pakistani winner of the Nobel Peace Prize fulfills her childhood dream to change the world through the power of the pencil. Evocative ink and watercolor illustrations.
by Malala Yoysafzai
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
F&G Pakistani winner of the Nobel Peace Prize fulfills her childhood dream to change the world through the power of the pencil. Evocative ink and watercolor illustrations.
Martí's Song for Freedom/Martí y sus versos por la libertad
by Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Beatriz Vidal
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A sensitive bilingual portrayal of the Cuban crusader for justice. In verse, with gorgeous folk-style gouache illustrations.
by Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Beatriz Vidal
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A sensitive bilingual portrayal of the Cuban crusader for justice. In verse, with gorgeous folk-style gouache illustrations.
Masterpiece Mix
written and illustrated by Roxie Munro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
An artist describes her materials and her sources of inspiration: paintings from throughout the centuries. Mixed media illustrations incorporating famous works of art. Notes on the paintings.
written and illustrated by Roxie Munro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
An artist describes her materials and her sources of inspiration: paintings from throughout the centuries. Mixed media illustrations incorporating famous works of art. Notes on the paintings.
Maya Lin
by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrator: Dow Phumiruk
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
The daughter of Chinese immigrants became a creator of art and architecture. Watercolor and Photoshop illustrations. Author's note.
by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrator: Dow Phumiruk
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
The daughter of Chinese immigrants became a creator of art and architecture. Watercolor and Photoshop illustrations. Author's note.
Meditate with Me
by Mariam Gates
Illustrator: Margarita Surnaite
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
This book describes the yoga way to become calm by focusing on one's breath and the sensations of the body. Helpful, colorful digital illustrations.
by Mariam Gates
Illustrator: Margarita Surnaite
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
This book describes the yoga way to become calm by focusing on one's breath and the sensations of the body. Helpful, colorful digital illustrations.
Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament
by Anne Renaud
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A clever multiracial chef invents the first potato chips in upstate New York in the 1850s. Period illustrations in pencil and watercolor.
by Anne Renaud
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
A clever multiracial chef invents the first potato chips in upstate New York in the 1850s. Period illustrations in pencil and watercolor.
My Daddy Rules the World
written and illustrated by Hope Anita Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Children share loving times with their fathers - from breakfast to ball playing and from reading to being best friends. Lovely torn paper illustrations.
written and illustrated by Hope Anita Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Children share loving times with their fathers - from breakfast to ball playing and from reading to being best friends. Lovely torn paper illustrations.
Niko Draws a Feeling
by Bob Raczka
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Niko loves to draw, but no one understands his abstract drawings except Iris, his new neighbor. Mixed-media, digital and acrylic paint illustrations.
by Bob Raczka
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Niko loves to draw, but no one understands his abstract drawings except Iris, his new neighbor. Mixed-media, digital and acrylic paint illustrations.
On a Magical Do-Nothing Day
written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Bored with her video game, a girl discovers the world of nature. Her orange coat punctuates the mystical forest illustrations.
written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Bored with her video game, a girl discovers the world of nature. Her orange coat punctuates the mystical forest illustrations.
Once There Was a Story
retold by Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Elegant, accessible prose enhances more than thirty stories, many familiar, and will keep young listeners and readers rapt.
retold by Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Jane Dyer
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Elegant, accessible prose enhances more than thirty stories, many familiar, and will keep young listeners and readers rapt.
Our Very Own Dog
by Amanda McCardie
Illustrator: Salvatore Rubbino
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Sophie finally has a forever home and her new owners have lots of helpful hints about how to take care of her. Whimsical mixed media illustrations, backmatter.
by Amanda McCardie
Illustrator: Salvatore Rubbino
Ages: 6+
Published: 2017
Sophie finally has a forever home and her new owners have lots of helpful hints about how to take care of her. Whimsical mixed media illustrations, backmatter.