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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Windrush Child: The Tale of a Caribbean Child Who Faced a New Horizon
John Agard
Illustrator: Sophie Bass
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Vibrant gouache and pen illustrations and lyrical text evoke a child's personal experience of a challenging period in mid-20th century history, evoking the universal hope that stories of immigration can bring.
John Agard
Illustrator: Sophie Bass
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Vibrant gouache and pen illustrations and lyrical text evoke a child's personal experience of a challenging period in mid-20th century history, evoking the universal hope that stories of immigration can bring.
Words We Share, The
Jack Wong
Illustrator: Jack Wong
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Angie translates and paints signs for her father and other non-English-speaking Chinese immigrants. But when she mistranslates something, her father's knowledge of dialects saves the day. Gently humorous illustrations.
Jack Wong
Illustrator: Jack Wong
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Angie translates and paints signs for her father and other non-English-speaking Chinese immigrants. But when she mistranslates something, her father's knowledge of dialects saves the day. Gently humorous illustrations.
You and the Bowerbird
Maria Gianferrari
Illustrator: Maris Wicks
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
With binoculars and notepad, a curious brown-skinned child watches Satin, a male bowerbird, collecting and defending his collection of items (mostly blue), in preparation for mating. Cheerful illustrations. Back matter.
Maria Gianferrari
Illustrator: Maris Wicks
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
With binoculars and notepad, a curious brown-skinned child watches Satin, a male bowerbird, collecting and defending his collection of items (mostly blue), in preparation for mating. Cheerful illustrations. Back matter.
Your One and Only Heart
Rajani LaRocca, MD
Illustrator: Lauren Paige Conrad
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Lyrical language and bold, colorful images convey the power of this vital organ. The juxtaposition of complex information with familiar experiences makes the content accessible. Text boxes. Diagrams.
Rajani LaRocca, MD
Illustrator: Lauren Paige Conrad
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Lyrical language and bold, colorful images convey the power of this vital organ. The juxtaposition of complex information with familiar experiences makes the content accessible. Text boxes. Diagrams.
You Rule!
Rilla Alexander
Illustrator: Rilla Alexander
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A range of possible answers to questions about feelings and thoughts depict ways to measure the intangible. Colorful digital art.
Rilla Alexander
Illustrator: Rilla Alexander
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A range of possible answers to questions about feelings and thoughts depict ways to measure the intangible. Colorful digital art.
You So Black
Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.
Illustrator: London Ladd
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Musical language celebrates everything about being Black, from history to family to religion. Mixed-media illustrations.
Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.
Illustrator: London Ladd
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Musical language celebrates everything about being Black, from history to family to religion. Mixed-media illustrations.
Yukie's Island: My Family's World War II Story
Yukie Kimura, Kōdo Kimura, and Steve Sheinkin
Illustrator: Kōdo Kimura
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A lighthouse family in a remote island in northern Japan seemed largely untouched by war. Then the bombs came; yet life went on. Cinematic illustrations and archival images and photographs. Authors' notes.
Yukie Kimura, Kōdo Kimura, and Steve Sheinkin
Illustrator: Kōdo Kimura
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A lighthouse family in a remote island in northern Japan seemed largely untouched by war. Then the bombs came; yet life went on. Cinematic illustrations and archival images and photographs. Authors' notes.
Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story of a Thunderstorm
Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Elly MacKay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A beautiful summer day is interrupted when a sudden thunderstorm sends three children scurrying for home. Rhyming text. Colorful, fluid illustrations. Engaging back matter.
Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Elly MacKay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A beautiful summer day is interrupted when a sudden thunderstorm sends three children scurrying for home. Rhyming text. Colorful, fluid illustrations. Engaging back matter.
Abdul's Story
Jamilah Thompkins -Bigelow
Illustrator: Tiffany Rose
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Abdul, a dark-skinned boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing, is assured by an author visiting the school that it is OK to make mistakes. Colorful digital illustrations.
Jamilah Thompkins -Bigelow
Illustrator: Tiffany Rose
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Abdul, a dark-skinned boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing, is assured by an author visiting the school that it is OK to make mistakes. Colorful digital illustrations.
Abuelita and I Make Flan
Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Illustrator: Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
While preparing flan for Abuelito's birthday, Anita accidently breaks her grandmother's special plate. How will she tell Abuelita? Includes Spanish words and phrases. Bright, playful illustrations and a recipe among the back matter.
Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Illustrator: Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
While preparing flan for Abuelito's birthday, Anita accidently breaks her grandmother's special plate. How will she tell Abuelita? Includes Spanish words and phrases. Bright, playful illustrations and a recipe among the back matter.
A is for Bee: An Alphabet Book in Translation
Ellen Heck
Illustrator: Ellen Heck
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Well-known animals portrayed in bold stylized digital illustrations are identified in different languages. Web-based pronunciation guide.
Ellen Heck
Illustrator: Ellen Heck
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Well-known animals portrayed in bold stylized digital illustrations are identified in different languages. Web-based pronunciation guide.
Alaska Is for the Birds!: Fourteen Favorite Feathered Friends
Susan Ewing
Illustrator: Evon Zerbetz
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
The tufted puffin, willow ptarmigan, and 12 other birds found in the 49th state are described in rhyming verse. Vibrant linocut illustrations. Back matter includes glossary and additional information.
Susan Ewing
Illustrator: Evon Zerbetz
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
The tufted puffin, willow ptarmigan, and 12 other birds found in the 49th state are described in rhyming verse. Vibrant linocut illustrations. Back matter includes glossary and additional information.
All from a Walnut
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Emilia's immigrant grandfather guides her in carrying on their Italian family's tradition of growing a walnut tree from a single walnut. Comforting green, ochre, and brown illustrations.
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Emilia's immigrant grandfather guides her in carrying on their Italian family's tradition of growing a walnut tree from a single walnut. Comforting green, ochre, and brown illustrations.
All You Need
Howard Schwartz
Illustrator: Jasu Hu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A girl from China grows into an accomplished artist mindful of the small but important things in life. Soft watercolor illustrations.
Howard Schwartz
Illustrator: Jasu Hu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A girl from China grows into an accomplished artist mindful of the small but important things in life. Soft watercolor illustrations.
Alone Like Me
Rebecca Evans
Illustrator: Rebecca Evans
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Liling, taunted and lonely when her parents move from a rural area to an urban environment in China, finds solace through an unexpected friendship. Muted watercolor illustrations. Author's note.
Rebecca Evans
Illustrator: Rebecca Evans
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Liling, taunted and lonely when her parents move from a rural area to an urban environment in China, finds solace through an unexpected friendship. Muted watercolor illustrations. Author's note.
Amah Faraway
Margaret Chiu Greanias
Illustrator: Tracy Subisak
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
It's time to visit Amah in Taipei, but Kylie has doubts; everything there is so different. Colorful mixed media illustrations. Information on Taipei sights and foods.
Margaret Chiu Greanias
Illustrator: Tracy Subisak
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
It's time to visit Amah in Taipei, but Kylie has doubts; everything there is so different. Colorful mixed media illustrations. Information on Taipei sights and foods.
Amazing Plants of the World (World of Amazement)
Štěpánka Sekaninová
Illustrator: Zuzana Dreadka Krutá
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Dr. Carnations's botanical garden showcases smelly, carnivorous fungi and plants that look like people, animals, and objects. Humorous informal text accompanies each whimsical colorful plant and tree illustration.
Štěpánka Sekaninová
Illustrator: Zuzana Dreadka Krutá
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Dr. Carnations's botanical garden showcases smelly, carnivorous fungi and plants that look like people, animals, and objects. Humorous informal text accompanies each whimsical colorful plant and tree illustration.
Am I a Frog? (I Like to Read series)
Lizzy Rockwell
Illustrator: Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A simple, clear introduction to the way a tadpole turns into a frog. Calming, blue and green watercolor and digital illustrations.
Lizzy Rockwell
Illustrator: Lizzy Rockwell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A simple, clear introduction to the way a tadpole turns into a frog. Calming, blue and green watercolor and digital illustrations.
Anglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep
Elaine M. Alexander
Illustrator: Fiona Fogg
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Born on the ocean surface, anglerfish then live most of their lives in the deepest ocean. Strange and unique characteristics and adaptations allow them to survive. Digital art. Back matter.
Elaine M. Alexander
Illustrator: Fiona Fogg
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Born on the ocean surface, anglerfish then live most of their lives in the deepest ocean. Strange and unique characteristics and adaptations allow them to survive. Digital art. Back matter.
Anna Hibiscus
Atinuke
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Lively pencil drawings burgeon with the exuberant spirit of Anna's childhood in a busy Nigerian city.
Atinuke
Illustrator: Lauren Tobia
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Lively pencil drawings burgeon with the exuberant spirit of Anna's childhood in a busy Nigerian city.
Annette Feels Free: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life Mermaid
Katie Mazeika
Illustrator: Katie Mazeika
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Colorful digital illustrations capture the life of a forward thinking feminist swimmer, who achieved fame after overcoming a childhood disability. Back matter and resources.
Katie Mazeika
Illustrator: Katie Mazeika
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Colorful digital illustrations capture the life of a forward thinking feminist swimmer, who achieved fame after overcoming a childhood disability. Back matter and resources.
Away with Words!: Wise and Witty Poems for Language Lovers
Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrator: Perry Hoberman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Clever rhymes deliver surprisingly sophisticated grammar and punctuation rules with panache, heart, and humor. Playful pencil and pen drawings.
Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrator: Perry Hoberman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
Clever rhymes deliver surprisingly sophisticated grammar and punctuation rules with panache, heart, and humor. Playful pencil and pen drawings.
Awe-Some Days: Poems about the Jewish Holidays
Marilyn Singer
Illustrator: Dana Wulfekotte
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A family celebrates a year of Jewish holidays. Each of the twelve poems is accompanied by additional information about the festival. Animated illustrations.
Marilyn Singer
Illustrator: Dana Wulfekotte
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A family celebrates a year of Jewish holidays. Each of the twelve poems is accompanied by additional information about the festival. Animated illustrations.
Baker by the Sea,The
Paula White
Illustrator: Paula White
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A boy dreams of becoming a brave fisherman, but comes to value his father's job as a baker in their seaside English village. Evocative pencil and ink illustrations. Author's note.
Paula White
Illustrator: Paula White
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
A boy dreams of becoming a brave fisherman, but comes to value his father's job as a baker in their seaside English village. Evocative pencil and ink illustrations. Author's note.
Bear in the Family
Eric Walters
Illustrator: Olga Barinova
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
After a wildfire, a multiracial family finds an orphaned bear cub and cares for it until it can be placed in a wildlife sanctuary. Black-and-white illustrations.
Eric Walters
Illustrator: Olga Barinova
Ages: 6+
Published: 2022
After a wildfire, a multiracial family finds an orphaned bear cub and cares for it until it can be placed in a wildlife sanctuary. Black-and-white illustrations.