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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Orris and Timble: The Beginning (Orris and Timble series)
Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Carmen Mok
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Orris the rat hesitates to help Timble the owl, who is caught in a mousetrap. Will he regret freeing the bird of prey? Gentle mixed-media illustrations.
Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Carmen Mok
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Orris the rat hesitates to help Timble the owl, who is caught in a mousetrap. Will he regret freeing the bird of prey? Gentle mixed-media illustrations.
Our Congress
Christy Mihaly
Illustrator: Doruntina Beqiraj
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Ghosts of past leaders and a charming cat teach Alice about the branches of the US government. Simple, clearly drawn illustrations.
Christy Mihaly
Illustrator: Doruntina Beqiraj
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Ghosts of past leaders and a charming cat teach Alice about the branches of the US government. Simple, clearly drawn illustrations.
Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book
Gloria Koster
Illustrator: Pawel Gierlinski
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An anthropomorphized book relates his bumpy mishaps from having been an all-time favorite to becoming buried and forgotten by his newest borrower, Sebastian. Full color illustrations. Back matter.
Gloria Koster
Illustrator: Pawel Gierlinski
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An anthropomorphized book relates his bumpy mishaps from having been an all-time favorite to becoming buried and forgotten by his newest borrower, Sebastian. Full color illustrations. Back matter.
Party for Florine, A: Florine Stettheimer and Me
Yevgenia Nayberg
Illustrator: Yevgenia Nayberg
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A young girl is captivated by her resemblance to the pioneering American modernist painter, their shared religion, and their mutual creative spirits. Vibrant illustrations move and flow.
Yevgenia Nayberg
Illustrator: Yevgenia Nayberg
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A young girl is captivated by her resemblance to the pioneering American modernist painter, their shared religion, and their mutual creative spirits. Vibrant illustrations move and flow.
Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta
Aimee Lucido
Illustrator: Mavisu Demirağ
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A romp in rhyme where many relatives and friends bring different pastas and enjoy cooking and eating them. Italian words clear in context. Amusing, colorful, digital collages.
Aimee Lucido
Illustrator: Mavisu Demirağ
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A romp in rhyme where many relatives and friends bring different pastas and enjoy cooking and eating them. Italian words clear in context. Amusing, colorful, digital collages.
Peach Heaven
Yangsook Choi
Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
The author recalls the day when peaches rained down on her South Korean village during a powerful storm. Bright, energetic art.
Yangsook Choi
Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
The author recalls the day when peaches rained down on her South Korean village during a powerful storm. Bright, energetic art.
Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys
Rob Peñas
Illustrator: Carl Angel
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A struggling immigrant reimagined the yo-yos he loved to play with as a child and popularized them in the United States. Realistic artwork. Author's note includes information about the history of the Philippines.
Rob Peñas
Illustrator: Carl Angel
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A struggling immigrant reimagined the yo-yos he loved to play with as a child and popularized them in the United States. Realistic artwork. Author's note includes information about the history of the Philippines.
Perfect
Waka T. Brown
Illustrator: Yuko Jones
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Japanese American Miki is heartsick after breaking her favorite teacup, a handmade gift from her grandmother. But Obaachan mends it in a way that celebrates imperfection. Realistic mixed-media illustrations. Author's note.
Waka T. Brown
Illustrator: Yuko Jones
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Japanese American Miki is heartsick after breaking her favorite teacup, a handmade gift from her grandmother. But Obaachan mends it in a way that celebrates imperfection. Realistic mixed-media illustrations. Author's note.
Pie Reports, The
Hayley Lowe
Illustrator: Hayley Lowe
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Noor and Granddad love to make pies when together and talk about pies virtually when apart, until his health gets in the way. Digitally colored graphite stick illustrations.
Hayley Lowe
Illustrator: Hayley Lowe
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Noor and Granddad love to make pies when together and talk about pies virtually when apart, until his health gets in the way. Digitally colored graphite stick illustrations.
Puppet
David Almond
Illustrator: Lizzy Stewart
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Elderly Silvester and his last wooden creation, who seemingly comes to life, meet a young girl willing to learn the craft of puppet making. Black-and-white line illustrations.
David Almond
Illustrator: Lizzy Stewart
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Elderly Silvester and his last wooden creation, who seemingly comes to life, meet a young girl willing to learn the craft of puppet making. Black-and-white line illustrations.
Ramadan Kareem
M. O. Yuksel
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A little girl describes how her family and community celebrate Ramadan with fasting, praying, and feasting. Gentle free verse. Lively digital artwork.
M. O. Yuksel
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A little girl describes how her family and community celebrate Ramadan with fasting, praying, and feasting. Gentle free verse. Lively digital artwork.
Rising
Sidura Ludwig
Illustrator: Sophia Vincent Guy
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A child and her mother mix dough and braid it to make challah for the Sabbath. Sunny mixed-media illustrations. Recipe. Author's note. Hebrew glossary.
Sidura Ludwig
Illustrator: Sophia Vincent Guy
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A child and her mother mix dough and braid it to make challah for the Sabbath. Sunny mixed-media illustrations. Recipe. Author's note. Hebrew glossary.
Rock in My Throat, The
Kao Kalia Yang
Illustrator: Jiemei Lin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A Hmong American child witnesses her family being met with disrespect when speaking English and stops speaking in school. Autobiographical story/ Soft digital illustrations. Author's note.
Kao Kalia Yang
Illustrator: Jiemei Lin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A Hmong American child witnesses her family being met with disrespect when speaking English and stops speaking in school. Autobiographical story/ Soft digital illustrations. Author's note.
Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen
Ryan Bani Tahmaseb
Illustrator: Fateme Mokhles
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An Iranian immigrant boy dreads photo day at school because he is being made to wear a traditional vest, but it unexpectedly helps him find acceptance. Digital illustrations.
Ryan Bani Tahmaseb
Illustrator: Fateme Mokhles
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An Iranian immigrant boy dreads photo day at school because he is being made to wear a traditional vest, but it unexpectedly helps him find acceptance. Digital illustrations.
Roy Is Not a Dog
Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Newell Kaufman
Illustrator: Esmé Shapiro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A boy sets out to prove his mysterious neighbor is actually a dog in disguise. Quirky, colorful illustrations combine painting and collage with digital technique.
Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Newell Kaufman
Illustrator: Esmé Shapiro
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A boy sets out to prove his mysterious neighbor is actually a dog in disguise. Quirky, colorful illustrations combine painting and collage with digital technique.
Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love
Rashin Kheiriyeh
Illustrator: Rashin Kheiriyeh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Influenced by an idyllic childhood, a 13th-century Persian scholar and teacher became a renowned poet whose writing was inspired by the loss of a friendship. Colorful illustrations rich in ornamental details. Back matter.
Rashin Kheiriyeh
Illustrator: Rashin Kheiriyeh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Influenced by an idyllic childhood, a 13th-century Persian scholar and teacher became a renowned poet whose writing was inspired by the loss of a friendship. Colorful illustrations rich in ornamental details. Back matter.
Running Machine, The: The Invention of the Very First Bicycle
Keith Negley
Illustrator: Keith Negley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Whoever thought of creating a bicycle? What was the inspiration? Energetic illustrations in a muted palette. Author's note provides historical context.
Keith Negley
Illustrator: Keith Negley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Whoever thought of creating a bicycle? What was the inspiration? Energetic illustrations in a muted palette. Author's note provides historical context.
Sashiko's Stitches
Sanae Ishida
Illustrator: Sanae Ishida
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Japanese fisher folk turned clothing mending into an art form called sashiko. A child learns to cope with difficult emotions through this practice. Expressive illustrations of girl stitching.
Sanae Ishida
Illustrator: Sanae Ishida
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Japanese fisher folk turned clothing mending into an art form called sashiko. A child learns to cope with difficult emotions through this practice. Expressive illustrations of girl stitching.
Schlemiel Kids Save the Moon, The (The Schlemiel Kids of Chelm series)
Audrey Barbakoff
Illustrator: Rotem Teplow
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
When the residents of Chelm are alarmed by the disappearance of a reflected moon that they believe was "stuck" in the water, two children help enlighten them. Colorful illustrations capture hilarious rescue attempts.
Audrey Barbakoff
Illustrator: Rotem Teplow
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
When the residents of Chelm are alarmed by the disappearance of a reflected moon that they believe was "stuck" in the water, two children help enlighten them. Colorful illustrations capture hilarious rescue attempts.
Secret Elephant, The
Ellan Rankin
Illustrator: Ellan Rankin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
During World War II, a zookeeper protects a baby elephant from bombardment by bringing her home every night. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Ellan Rankin
Illustrator: Ellan Rankin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
During World War II, a zookeeper protects a baby elephant from bombardment by bringing her home every night. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Secret Gardeners: Growing a Community and Healing the Earth
Maija Hurme and Lina Laurent
Illustrator: Maija Hurme
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Detailed gardening information is introduced through varied colorful layouts as three children become involved in helping transform an abandoned urban plot into a sustainable community garden. Back matter.
Maija Hurme and Lina Laurent
Illustrator: Maija Hurme
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Detailed gardening information is introduced through varied colorful layouts as three children become involved in helping transform an abandoned urban plot into a sustainable community garden. Back matter.
She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist
Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Emily Paik
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An English girl helped support her family with the sale of ancient bones and seashells and taught herself about fossils, becoming the first dinosaur scientist. Digital illustrations.
Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Emily Paik
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
An English girl helped support her family with the sale of ancient bones and seashells and taught herself about fossils, becoming the first dinosaur scientist. Digital illustrations.
Simone
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Illustrator: Minnie Phan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
While California wildfires rage, Simone and her Vietnamese immigrant family shelter in a high school gym, finding community with other evacuees. Monochrome spreads contrast with undulating colored pencil and watercolor illustrations.
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Illustrator: Minnie Phan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
While California wildfires rage, Simone and her Vietnamese immigrant family shelter in a high school gym, finding community with other evacuees. Monochrome spreads contrast with undulating colored pencil and watercolor illustrations.
Sioux, The (First Americas series)
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A brief portrayal of the history and culture of the Sioux, from their creation myth to the present. Painterly, detailed, mixed-media illustrations. Map. Photographs.
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
A brief portrayal of the history and culture of the Sioux, from their creation myth to the present. Painterly, detailed, mixed-media illustrations. Map. Photographs.
Sister Friend
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrator: Shahrzad Maydani
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Ameena's classmates didn't seem to register her presence in her new school. Then one day another student who didn't look like all the others showed up. Gentle pastel illustrations.
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrator: Shahrzad Maydani
Ages: 6+
Published: 2024
Ameena's classmates didn't seem to register her presence in her new school. Then one day another student who didn't look like all the others showed up. Gentle pastel illustrations.