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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I'm a Frog
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Piggie decides she is a frog and Gerald worries about his friend and himself, until he finds out what it means to pretend. Simple, humorous, ink-outlined drawings.
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Piggie decides she is a frog and Gerald worries about his friend and himself, until he finds out what it means to pretend. Simple, humorous, ink-outlined drawings.
Inside Outside
written and illustrated by Lizi Boyd
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A boy and his dog explore the seasons in a wordless celebration. Paintings on kraft paper in gouache with die-cuts.
written and illustrated by Lizi Boyd
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A boy and his dog explore the seasons in a wordless celebration. Paintings on kraft paper in gouache with die-cuts.
In the Tree House
by Andrew Larsen
Illustrator: Dusan Petri i
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A boy yearns for a tree house and the companionship of his older brother. Simple drawings with dashes of color.
by Andrew Larsen
Illustrator: Dusan Petri i
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A boy yearns for a tree house and the companionship of his older brother. Simple drawings with dashes of color.
It's Our Garden
written and photographed by George Ancona
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Photographs chronicle a school's a school's communal garden through the growing seasons, demonstrating the work and joy of growing food.
written and photographed by George Ancona
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Photographs chronicle a school's a school's communal garden through the growing seasons, demonstrating the work and joy of growing food.
Johnny Kaw
by Devin Scillian
Illustrator: Brad Sneed
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Six-foot Johnny cleans the plains, tames a tornado, and creates the Rocky Mountains. Rhymed text and colorful illustrations.
by Devin Scillian
Illustrator: Brad Sneed
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Six-foot Johnny cleans the plains, tames a tornado, and creates the Rocky Mountains. Rhymed text and colorful illustrations.
Journey
written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A lonely girl's fantastic journey is helped by her magical red crayon. Wordless with sumptuous watercolor and pen and ink illustrations.
written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A lonely girl's fantastic journey is helped by her magical red crayon. Wordless with sumptuous watercolor and pen and ink illustrations.
Katie Woo: Who Needs Glasses
by Fran Manushkin
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
When things look blurry, maybe it's time to have your eyes checked. Katie and Pedro find that glasses really help. Watercolor illustrations.
by Fran Manushkin
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
When things look blurry, maybe it's time to have your eyes checked. Katie and Pedro find that glasses really help. Watercolor illustrations.
Kelsey Green, Reading Queen
by Claudia Mills
Illustrator: Rob Shepperson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Third-grader Kelsey becomes obsessed with her school's reading contest. Beside devouring books, she offers a helping hand. Full-page, black-and-white illustrations.
by Claudia Mills
Illustrator: Rob Shepperson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Third-grader Kelsey becomes obsessed with her school's reading contest. Beside devouring books, she offers a helping hand. Full-page, black-and-white illustrations.
Knit Your Bit
by Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Steven Guarnaccia
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
With Pop fighting in the army, Mickey and his friends enter the Central Park Knitting Bee to help the war effort. Pen and ink and watercolor illustrations.
by Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Steven Guarnaccia
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
With Pop fighting in the army, Mickey and his friends enter the Central Park Knitting Bee to help the war effort. Pen and ink and watercolor illustrations.
Knock Knock
by Daniel Beaty
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
The anguish caused by a suddenly absent parent, expressed in a child's voice, evolves from despair into a powerful declaration of hope. Mixed-media collages.
by Daniel Beaty
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
The anguish caused by a suddenly absent parent, expressed in a child's voice, evolves from despair into a powerful declaration of hope. Mixed-media collages.
Lifetime
by Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A glimpse into the amazing amounts animals will shed, molt, bore, give birth, and grow over various lifespans. Included extra animal facts and math challenges. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.
by Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A glimpse into the amazing amounts animals will shed, molt, bore, give birth, and grow over various lifespans. Included extra animal facts and math challenges. Colorful mixed-media illustrations.
Lulu and the Dog from the Sea
by Hilary McKay
Illustrator: Priscilla Lamont
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Lulu's family with her friend, Mollie, vacation at the beach where a mysterious dog of the sea saves the day. Pen and ink illustrations.
by Hilary McKay
Illustrator: Priscilla Lamont
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Lulu's family with her friend, Mollie, vacation at the beach where a mysterious dog of the sea saves the day. Pen and ink illustrations.
Lumpito and the Painter From Spain
by Monica Kulling
Illustrator: Dean Griffiths
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Accompanying his owner, a photographer, Lump the dachshund catches the fancy of Pablo Picasso, finding a more congenial home in France with the painter. Colorful, realistic illustrations enliven the text.
by Monica Kulling
Illustrator: Dean Griffiths
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Accompanying his owner, a photographer, Lump the dachshund catches the fancy of Pablo Picasso, finding a more congenial home in France with the painter. Colorful, realistic illustrations enliven the text.
Maria Had a Little Llama/María Tenía Una Llamita
written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A Peruvian version of Mary Had a Little Lamb. Extraordinary gouache illustrations.
written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A Peruvian version of Mary Had a Little Lamb. Extraordinary gouache illustrations.
Mermaids in the Backyard
by Catherine Hapka
Illustrator: Patricia Castelao
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
When she leaves Chicago and her best friend behind, Lindy wonders if she will make friends in her new beach front home. Black-and-white pictures.
by Catherine Hapka
Illustrator: Patricia Castelao
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
When she leaves Chicago and her best friend behind, Lindy wonders if she will make friends in her new beach front home. Black-and-white pictures.
Miracle Mud
by David A. Kelly
Illustrator: Oliver Dominguez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
New baseballs are too smooth for pitchers to grip. In the 1930s Lena Blackburn found a way to solve the problem. Detailed, richly textured illustrations.
by David A. Kelly
Illustrator: Oliver Dominguez
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
New baseballs are too smooth for pitchers to grip. In the 1930s Lena Blackburn found a way to solve the problem. Detailed, richly textured illustrations.
Mister and Lady Day
by Amy Novesky
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Spare text and colorful gouache and collage illustrations portray the great jazz singer and the dogs who were an important part of her life.
by Amy Novesky
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Spare text and colorful gouache and collage illustrations portray the great jazz singer and the dogs who were an important part of her life.
Mr. Flux
by Kyo Maclear
Illustrator: Matte Stephens
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Everything is seen in a new way when an artist moves in on Martin's street. Gouache illustrations.
by Kyo Maclear
Illustrator: Matte Stephens
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Everything is seen in a new way when an artist moves in on Martin's street. Gouache illustrations.
Mr. Wuffles!
written and illustrated by David Wiesner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A cat disdains his toys, but he's intrigued by a tiny space ship filled with aliens who collaborate with ants and beetles to escape. A wordless book with brilliant, expressive watercolors.
written and illustrated by David Wiesner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A cat disdains his toys, but he's intrigued by a tiny space ship filled with aliens who collaborate with ants and beetles to escape. A wordless book with brilliant, expressive watercolors.
Musk Ox Counts
by Erin Cabatingan
Illustrator: Matthew Myers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Humorous animated illustrations follow an ox that refuses to stay on his assigned page as “number 1,” causing chaos in this hilarious math romp.
by Erin Cabatingan
Illustrator: Matthew Myers
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Humorous animated illustrations follow an ox that refuses to stay on his assigned page as “number 1,” causing chaos in this hilarious math romp.
My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood
by Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A color for each mood, expressed in rhyme, describes Jamie's feelings as a middle child in a large family. Oil painted collages.
by Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A color for each mood, expressed in rhyme, describes Jamie's feelings as a middle child in a large family. Oil painted collages.
My Crocodile Does Not Bite
written and illustrated by Joe Kulka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Cindy Lou insists that Ernest's lovable giant crocodile is dangerous, until she gets a surprise comeuppance. Computer-manipulated acrylic illustrations.
written and illustrated by Joe Kulka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Cindy Lou insists that Ernest's lovable giant crocodile is dangerous, until she gets a surprise comeuppance. Computer-manipulated acrylic illustrations.
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther Kind, Jr.
by Martin Luther King III
Illustrator: AG Ford
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
The son of the dynamic leader shares his memories of the Civil Rights Movement and of his father. Acrylic and oil illustrations.
by Martin Luther King III
Illustrator: AG Ford
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
The son of the dynamic leader shares his memories of the Civil Rights Movement and of his father. Acrylic and oil illustrations.
My Happy Life
by Rose Lagercrantz
Illustrator: Eva Eriksson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Dani starts at a new school. She makes a best friend, Ella, but then Ella moves away. Black-and-white line drawings are an equal part with the text.
by Rose Lagercrantz
Illustrator: Eva Eriksson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
Dani starts at a new school. She makes a best friend, Ella, but then Ella moves away. Black-and-white line drawings are an equal part with the text.
My New Teacher and Me!
by Al Yankovic
Illustrator: Wes Hargis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A serious teacher tries to rein in Billy's imagination until he realizes that maybe his stories are not so far-fetched. Engaging rhymes. Watercolor, pencil, and digital illustrations.
by Al Yankovic
Illustrator: Wes Hargis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2013
A serious teacher tries to rein in Billy's imagination until he realizes that maybe his stories are not so far-fetched. Engaging rhymes. Watercolor, pencil, and digital illustrations.