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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Shall We Dance?
Robin Page
Illustrator: Robin Page
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Simple words, accompanied by explanatory paragraphs and brightly hued illustrations, feature animals from seahorses to eagles dancing to court a mate, to alert others, or maybe just to have fun.
Robin Page
Illustrator: Robin Page
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Simple words, accompanied by explanatory paragraphs and brightly hued illustrations, feature animals from seahorses to eagles dancing to court a mate, to alert others, or maybe just to have fun.
Shigeru Ban Builds a Better World (Art for Good series)
Isadoro Saturno
Illustrator: Stefano Di Cristofaro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A world-famous Japanese architect turns paper into lasting buildings for disaster victims. Simple, elegant illustrations. Interview with Ban, time line, and booklet insert included.
Isadoro Saturno
Illustrator: Stefano Di Cristofaro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A world-famous Japanese architect turns paper into lasting buildings for disaster victims. Simple, elegant illustrations. Interview with Ban, time line, and booklet insert included.
Sick Day Jitters (Jitters series)
Julie Danneberg
Illustrator: Judy Love
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Mrs. Hartwell is ill and cannot teach her class. A lack of dependable substitutes sends it into disarray. Watercolor, transparent dye, and india ink illustrations.
Julie Danneberg
Illustrator: Judy Love
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Mrs. Hartwell is ill and cannot teach her class. A lack of dependable substitutes sends it into disarray. Watercolor, transparent dye, and india ink illustrations.
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea
Jean E. Pendziwol
Illustrator: Todd Stewart
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Two siblings experience the glory of nature as they skate on the frozen surface of Lake Superior. Poetic text. Digital art with screen-printed textures.
Jean E. Pendziwol
Illustrator: Todd Stewart
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Two siblings experience the glory of nature as they skate on the frozen surface of Lake Superior. Poetic text. Digital art with screen-printed textures.
Sky Is Not the Limit, The (Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series)
Jérémie Decalf
Illustrator: Jérémie Decalf
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In lyrical text, the Voyager 2 space probe narrates the trajectory of its adventures in outer space. Digital illustrations. Back matter.
Jérémie Decalf
Illustrator: Jérémie Decalf
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In lyrical text, the Voyager 2 space probe narrates the trajectory of its adventures in outer space. Digital illustrations. Back matter.
Smallest Owlet, The
Georgia Graham
Illustrator: Georgia Grahm
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Follow along over winter, spring, and summer as two great horned owls care for and raise their three young owlets. Realistic, exquisitely detailed illustrations. Back matter.
Georgia Graham
Illustrator: Georgia Grahm
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Follow along over winter, spring, and summer as two great horned owls care for and raise their three young owlets. Realistic, exquisitely detailed illustrations. Back matter.
Small Places, Close to Home: A Children's Declaration of Rights
Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Kate Gardiner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A poetic and moving statement of the rights of children and the responsibility to respect the rights of others. Illustrations in a muted palette depict people of diverse races and cultures.
Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Kate Gardiner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A poetic and moving statement of the rights of children and the responsibility to respect the rights of others. Illustrations in a muted palette depict people of diverse races and cultures.
Smart, Smart School, A
Sharon Creech
Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The principal becomes ill and is replaced by a substitute who demands testing rather than creativity. Will the popular Mr. Keene return? Colorful, expressive digital illustrations.
Sharon Creech
Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The principal becomes ill and is replaced by a substitute who demands testing rather than creativity. Will the popular Mr. Keene return? Colorful, expressive digital illustrations.
Snow Day for Plum!, A
Matt Phelan
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Zoo animals visiting a local elementary school get snowed in. Some scurrying school pets set them free, setting some issues in motion. Entertaining black-and-white illustrations.
Matt Phelan
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Zoo animals visiting a local elementary school get snowed in. Some scurrying school pets set them free, setting some issues in motion. Entertaining black-and-white illustrations.
Snow Man, The
Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
For over 51 years, while living alone in the Rocky Mountains, billy barr made observations about changes in nature, helping scientists studying climate change. Simple folk-art-style illustrations.
Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
For over 51 years, while living alone in the Rocky Mountains, billy barr made observations about changes in nature, helping scientists studying climate change. Simple folk-art-style illustrations.
Something Wild
Molly Ruttan
Illustrator: Molly Ruttan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Hannah loves to play the violin, but performing before an audience makes her nervous. Her imagination helps her find a way. Playful full-page illustrations.
Molly Ruttan
Illustrator: Molly Ruttan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Hannah loves to play the violin, but performing before an audience makes her nervous. Her imagination helps her find a way. Playful full-page illustrations.
Stand As Tall As the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest
Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau
Illustrator: Vanessa Jaramillo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
With members of her Ecuadorean Kichwa community, Gualinga fought in the Court of Human Rights against the commercial exploitation that was devastating the rainforest. Lyrical text. Poignant watercolor illustrations. Back matter.
Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau
Illustrator: Vanessa Jaramillo
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
With members of her Ecuadorean Kichwa community, Gualinga fought in the Court of Human Rights against the commercial exploitation that was devastating the rainforest. Lyrical text. Poignant watercolor illustrations. Back matter.
Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland
Ævar Þór Benediktsson
Illustrator: Anne Wilson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When two adventurers travel to a newly formed volcanic island in Iceland to explore it, their ride home forgets to pick them up. Humorous mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Ævar Þór Benediktsson
Illustrator: Anne Wilson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When two adventurers travel to a newly formed volcanic island in Iceland to explore it, their ride home forgets to pick them up. Humorous mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Summer Is for Cousins
Rajani LaRocca
Illustrator: Abhi Alwar
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Ravi is excited about spending summer vacation with his extended family. But will his favorite cousin, who has matured, still want to spend time with Ravi? Vibrant digital illustrations.
Rajani LaRocca
Illustrator: Abhi Alwar
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Ravi is excited about spending summer vacation with his extended family. But will his favorite cousin, who has matured, still want to spend time with Ravi? Vibrant digital illustrations.
Supermoms! (Animal Heroes series)
Heather Lang and Jamie Harper
Illustrator: Jamie Harper
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In comic-style panels with humorous speech bubbles, a variety of animals are displayed in their maternal roles as teachers, protectors, builders, transporters, and foragers. Back matter.
Heather Lang and Jamie Harper
Illustrator: Jamie Harper
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In comic-style panels with humorous speech bubbles, a variety of animals are displayed in their maternal roles as teachers, protectors, builders, transporters, and foragers. Back matter.
Talent Show, The (Confetti Kids series)
Samantha Thornhill
Illustrator: Shirley Ng-Benitez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Henry, encouraged by his mom and her partner, Joy, decides to do something new for the school performance—dance! Engaging cartoon-style illustrations.
Samantha Thornhill
Illustrator: Shirley Ng-Benitez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Henry, encouraged by his mom and her partner, Joy, decides to do something new for the school performance—dance! Engaging cartoon-style illustrations.
Tee Time on the Moon: How Astronaut Alan Shepard Played Lunar Golf
David A. Kelly
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
An Apollo 14 astronaut carried out an "unauthorized" experiment—hitting a golf ball in an environment with no gravity. Dramatic digital illustrations.
David A. Kelly
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
An Apollo 14 astronaut carried out an "unauthorized" experiment—hitting a golf ball in an environment with no gravity. Dramatic digital illustrations.
That Flag
Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrator: Nikkolas Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Two best friends, one Black and one White, are challenged and changed while learning about Black history at a museum and experiencing violent racism. Powerful digital artwork. Extensive back matter.
Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrator: Nikkolas Smith
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Two best friends, one Black and one White, are challenged and changed while learning about Black history at a museum and experiencing violent racism. Powerful digital artwork. Extensive back matter.
The Mambo Rescue! (Tow on the Go! series/Ready-to-Read series)
Patricia Lakin
Illustrator: Chiara Galletti
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When ten cars all get stuck in the snow, they call Mo the tow truck to help. Can he tow them all together? Bright colorful illustrations.
Patricia Lakin
Illustrator: Chiara Galletti
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When ten cars all get stuck in the snow, they call Mo the tow truck to help. Can he tow them all together? Bright colorful illustrations.
There Was a Party for Langston
Jason Reynolds
Illustrator: Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
An homage to Langston Hughes (1901-1967) and the generations of poets he influenced. Joyful, graphical illustrations interwoven with the text.
Jason Reynolds
Illustrator: Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
An homage to Langston Hughes (1901-1967) and the generations of poets he influenced. Joyful, graphical illustrations interwoven with the text.
These Olive Trees: A Palestinian Family's Story
Aya Ghanameh
Illustrator: Aya Ghanameh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Hand-drawn earth-toned illustrations accompany this poignant story centering on cherished olive trees and a Palestinian child whose family is forever exiled from their homeland. Author's note provides historical background.
Aya Ghanameh
Illustrator: Aya Ghanameh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Hand-drawn earth-toned illustrations accompany this poignant story centering on cherished olive trees and a Palestinian child whose family is forever exiled from their homeland. Author's note provides historical background.
This Is Tap: Savion Glover Finds His Funk
Selene Castrovilla
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Glover's influence on dance is conveyed through rhythmic text and energetic, digitally created color illustrations.
Selene Castrovilla
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Glover's influence on dance is conveyed through rhythmic text and energetic, digitally created color illustrations.
Tibbles the Cat
Michal Sanda
Illustrator: David Dolenský
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In 1894 David Lyall moved to New Zealand with his cat to be a lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island, with tragic consequences for a rare indigenous bird. Vintage-style illustrations.
Michal Sanda
Illustrator: David Dolenský
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In 1894 David Lyall moved to New Zealand with his cat to be a lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island, with tragic consequences for a rare indigenous bird. Vintage-style illustrations.
Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwick Created the Parachute Rip Cord
Candy Dahl
Illustrator: Maithili Joshi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A little-known heroine leapt from hot air balloons and airplanes to try to make parachutes safe for all. Bright digital art. Back matter.
Candy Dahl
Illustrator: Maithili Joshi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A little-known heroine leapt from hot air balloons and airplanes to try to make parachutes safe for all. Bright digital art. Back matter.
Together Tree, The
Aisha Saeed
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When Rumi, a new student, is bullied for being different, a classmate steps in to play with him, and soon others join them under an old willow tree. Expressive illustrations.
Aisha Saeed
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When Rumi, a new student, is bullied for being different, a classmate steps in to play with him, and soon others join them under an old willow tree. Expressive illustrations.