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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When the Sun Shines on Antarctica
by Irene Latham
Illustrator: Anna Wadham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Free verse explains the creatures that live and breed in an unusual frozen environment. Lively illustrations and scientific notes.
by Irene Latham
Illustrator: Anna Wadham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Free verse explains the creatures that live and breed in an unusual frozen environment. Lively illustrations and scientific notes.
When We Were Alone
by David A Robertson
Illustrator: Julie Flett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A child asks her grandmother why she wears bright colors, a long braid, and speaks Cree. Delicate collages vividly render a wide range of emotions.
by David A Robertson
Illustrator: Julie Flett
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A child asks her grandmother why she wears bright colors, a long braid, and speaks Cree. Delicate collages vividly render a wide range of emotions.
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? (Tales From Deckawoo Drive series)
by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Baby Lincoln departs on a Necessary Journey and discovers her true self. A joy to read and share. Humorous gouache illustrations.
by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Baby Lincoln departs on a Necessary Journey and discovers her true self. A joy to read and share. Humorous gouache illustrations.
Whoosh!
by Chris Barton
Illustrator: Don Tate
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
An innovative engineer unexpectedly invented the Super Soaker, one of the most popular toys of all time. Mixed media illustrations.
by Chris Barton
Illustrator: Don Tate
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
An innovative engineer unexpectedly invented the Super Soaker, one of the most popular toys of all time. Mixed media illustrations.
Who We Are!
by Robie H. Harris
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A family spends a day noticing what's the same and what's different about people, including their skin color, eye shape, and hair. Colorful cartoon-like illustrations.
by Robie H. Harris
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A family spends a day noticing what's the same and what's different about people, including their skin color, eye shape, and hair. Colorful cartoon-like illustrations.
Yaks Yak
by Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Animals act out their homographs - verbs that share their spelling and pronunciation. Each is set in a comic two-page spread with definitions. Watercolor and ink illustrations. Etymological notes.
by Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
Animals act out their homographs - verbs that share their spelling and pronunciation. Each is set in a comic two-page spread with definitions. Watercolor and ink illustrations. Etymological notes.
You Never Heard of Casey Stengel?!
by Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Barry Blitt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
How did a “goofball” mediocre baseball player become possibly the greatest manager in baseball history? Playful watercolors.
by Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Barry Blitt
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
How did a “goofball” mediocre baseball player become possibly the greatest manager in baseball history? Playful watercolors.
Zach and Lucy and the Museum of Natural Wonders
by Jennifer Bradbury
Illustrator: Mark Chambers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A lively brother and sister team create an unusual museum in their city apartment building and win over a grumpy neighbor. Vibrant cartoon-like illustrations.
by Jennifer Bradbury
Illustrator: Mark Chambers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2016
A lively brother and sister team create an unusual museum in their city apartment building and win over a grumpy neighbor. Vibrant cartoon-like illustrations.
Aaron and Alexander
written and illustrated by Don Brown
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, two powerful men of the American Revolution, come to blows with fatal results. Dramatic watercolors. Notes and bibliography.
written and illustrated by Don Brown
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, two powerful men of the American Revolution, come to blows with fatal results. Dramatic watercolors. Notes and bibliography.
A Chicken Followed Me Home!
written and illustrated by Robin Page
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Fascinating facts about chickens and their eggs. Digital colorful realistic illustrations. Additional information and brief bibliography.
written and illustrated by Robin Page
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Fascinating facts about chickens and their eggs. Digital colorful realistic illustrations. Additional information and brief bibliography.
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
by Laurie Wallmark
Illustrator: April Chu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Interested in science and math, young Ada wrote what is considered to be the first computer program. Victorian style illustrations, pencil on paper then colored.
by Laurie Wallmark
Illustrator: April Chu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Interested in science and math, young Ada wrote what is considered to be the first computer program. Victorian style illustrations, pencil on paper then colored.
Amazing Places
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator: Chris Soentpiet
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Exquisite anthology of historic places and people represents diverse voices and fresh viewpoints of a group of notable poets and illustrators.
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator: Chris Soentpiet
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Exquisite anthology of historic places and people represents diverse voices and fresh viewpoints of a group of notable poets and illustrators.
An A from Miss Keller
written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A demanding but dedicated teacher inspires young Trisha to be the best writer she can be. Colored pencil and marker illustrations.
written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A demanding but dedicated teacher inspires young Trisha to be the best writer she can be. Colored pencil and marker illustrations.
An Ambush of Tigers
by Betsy R. Rosenthal
Illustrator: Jago
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
The collective nouns for assemblages of animals is humorously and poetically presented with equally clever illustrations. Includes a glossary.
by Betsy R. Rosenthal
Illustrator: Jago
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
The collective nouns for assemblages of animals is humorously and poetically presented with equally clever illustrations. Includes a glossary.
A Nest Is Noisy
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
An amazing variety of nests of diverse animals -- hornets, flamingos, lampreys and more -- are carefully and brilliantly illustrated.
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
An amazing variety of nests of diverse animals -- hornets, flamingos, lampreys and more -- are carefully and brilliantly illustrated.
A Poem in Your Pocket
by Margaret McNamara
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Will Elinor ever find her poet's eye? Colorful gouache, pencil, and acrylic illustrations.
by Margaret McNamara
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Will Elinor ever find her poet's eye? Colorful gouache, pencil, and acrylic illustrations.
Ask Me
by Bernard Waber
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A father and daughter walk through the the neighborhood, exploring and asking each other questions as they go. Pencil illustrations in bold autumn colors.
by Bernard Waber
Illustrator: Suzy Lee
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A father and daughter walk through the the neighborhood, exploring and asking each other questions as they go. Pencil illustrations in bold autumn colors.
A Wave Came Through Our Window
by Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Charity Russell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Benny and her big sister cannot sleep on a hot night, so they enjoy the neighborhood sounds and smells. Soft, colored illustrations.
by Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Charity Russell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Benny and her big sister cannot sleep on a hot night, so they enjoy the neighborhood sounds and smells. Soft, colored illustrations.
Big Red Kangaroo
by Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Graham Byrne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
In the wilds of Australia, a male kangaroo daily feeds his mob and meets the challenges to his leadership. Arresting illustrations.
by Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Graham Byrne
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
In the wilds of Australia, a male kangaroo daily feeds his mob and meets the challenges to his leadership. Arresting illustrations.
Bird & Diz
by Gary Golio
Illustrator: Ed Young
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
When jazz greats Charlie “Bird” Parker and “Dizzy” Gillespie played together, they created a new sound in music called Bebop. Pastel, gouache, and ink illustrations.
by Gary Golio
Illustrator: Ed Young
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
When jazz greats Charlie “Bird” Parker and “Dizzy” Gillespie played together, they created a new sound in music called Bebop. Pastel, gouache, and ink illustrations.
Boats Float!
by George Ella Lyon
Illustrator: Mick Wiggins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Rhyming text and colorful, digitally rendered illustrations depict many different types of boats.
by George Ella Lyon
Illustrator: Mick Wiggins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Rhyming text and colorful, digitally rendered illustrations depict many different types of boats.
Book of Nature Poetry
edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
From sky to sea. in splendor and distress, nature is depicted by a wide variety of poets. Full color photographs.
edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
From sky to sea. in splendor and distress, nature is depicted by a wide variety of poets. Full color photographs.
Boy, Were We Wrong About the Human Body
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Illustrator: Debbie Tilley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
What will we find in twenty years that will disprove what what we know for sure? A delightful romp through medical history with humorous watercolors. Timeline.
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Illustrator: Debbie Tilley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
What will we find in twenty years that will disprove what what we know for sure? A delightful romp through medical history with humorous watercolors. Timeline.
Boy, Were We Wrong About the Weather!
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Illustrator: Sebastià Serra
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Throughout recorded history, people had myriad theories about weather--all wrong! This book corrects errors in belief and sets us straight. Pencil and computer graphics. Timeline.
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Illustrator: Sebastià Serra
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
Throughout recorded history, people had myriad theories about weather--all wrong! This book corrects errors in belief and sets us straight. Pencil and computer graphics. Timeline.
Buddy and Earl
by Maureen Fergus
Illustrator: Carey Sookocheff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A dog and a hedgehog forge a joyous friendship and banish boredom using their imaginations. Exuberant watercolors.
by Maureen Fergus
Illustrator: Carey Sookocheff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2015
A dog and a hedgehog forge a joyous friendship and banish boredom using their imaginations. Exuberant watercolors.