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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Swan Lake
by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Enchanting retelling of the tale of the Swan Queen and the prince who woos her with Tchaikovsky's original happy ending.
by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Enchanting retelling of the tale of the Swan Queen and the prince who woos her with Tchaikovsky's original happy ending.
Taking Care of Trouble
by Bonnie Graves
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Joel babysits for the first time and hilariously averts various disasters. Black and white drawings.
by Bonnie Graves
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Joel babysits for the first time and hilariously averts various disasters. Black and white drawings.
Talkin' About Bessie
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Fictionalizerd testamonials from those who knew this African-American aviatrix give a real sense of her life and times.
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Fictionalizerd testamonials from those who knew this African-American aviatrix give a real sense of her life and times.
Tanya and the Red Shoes
by Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrator: Satomi Ichikawa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Tanya works hard in her ballet class, but it takes so long to be ready for toe shoes. Expressive watercolors.
by Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrator: Satomi Ichikawa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Tanya works hard in her ballet class, but it takes so long to be ready for toe shoes. Expressive watercolors.
That's Hockey
by David Bouchard
Illustrator: Dean Griffiths
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Etienne and his cousin's rousing game of street hockey ends in a surprise.
by David Bouchard
Illustrator: Dean Griffiths
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Etienne and his cousin's rousing game of street hockey ends in a surprise.
The Battle for St. Michaels
written and ill. by Emily Arnold McCully
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
During the War of 1812, residents of a Maryland port work together to save their town from British bombardment.
written and ill. by Emily Arnold McCully
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
During the War of 1812, residents of a Maryland port work together to save their town from British bombardment.
The Best Fall of All
by Laura Godwin
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Honey the cat and her friend Happy the dog frolic and work together.
by Laura Godwin
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Honey the cat and her friend Happy the dog frolic and work together.
The Birdwatchers
written and ill. by Simon James
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A grandfather initiates his granddaughter into the pleasures of bird watching. Quirky illustrations.
written and ill. by Simon James
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A grandfather initiates his granddaughter into the pleasures of bird watching. Quirky illustrations.
The Bourbon Street Musicians
by Kathy Price
Illustrator: Andrew Glass
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A Cajun retelling of the Bremen Town Musicians set in Louisiana bayou country. Humorous bluesy dialect and colorful comic illustrations. Glossary of Southern vocabulary.
by Kathy Price
Illustrator: Andrew Glass
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A Cajun retelling of the Bremen Town Musicians set in Louisiana bayou country. Humorous bluesy dialect and colorful comic illustrations. Glossary of Southern vocabulary.
The Boy Who Was Generous with Salt
by Corinne Demas
Illustrator: Michael Hays
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Sent to work on a fishing boat to help support his family, eight-year-old Ned hopes to return home for his birthday.
by Corinne Demas
Illustrator: Michael Hays
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Sent to work on a fishing boat to help support his family, eight-year-old Ned hopes to return home for his birthday.
The Brave Little Seamstress
by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Giselle Potter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A feisty seamstress kills seven flies with one blow in this genderbending retelling of the classic Grimm's tale.
by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Giselle Potter
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A feisty seamstress kills seven flies with one blow in this genderbending retelling of the classic Grimm's tale.
The Broken Cat
written and ill. by Lynne Rae Perkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
When his cat is ill, Andy's mother comforts him by telling the story of her broken arm.
written and ill. by Lynne Rae Perkins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
When his cat is ill, Andy's mother comforts him by telling the story of her broken arm.
The Color of Home
by Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Karin Littlewood
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
At school, Hassan's difficult transition from Somalia to America is aided by a chance to paint his homeland.
by Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Karin Littlewood
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
At school, Hassan's difficult transition from Somalia to America is aided by a chance to paint his homeland.
The Daring Escape of Ellen Craft
by Cathy Moore
Illustrator: Mary OKeefe Young
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
With her husband William posing as her slave, Ellen Craft, disguised as a white man, travels to Philadelphia and freedom. A true story.
by Cathy Moore
Illustrator: Mary OKeefe Young
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
With her husband William posing as her slave, Ellen Craft, disguised as a white man, travels to Philadelphia and freedom. A true story.
The Firebird
by Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Vladimir Vagin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Stylish retelling of the Russian folktale in which the firebird helps defeat the evil Koschei. Lavish illustrations link the story to the Balanchine/Stravinsky ballet.
by Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Vladimir Vagin
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Stylish retelling of the Russian folktale in which the firebird helps defeat the evil Koschei. Lavish illustrations link the story to the Balanchine/Stravinsky ballet.
The First Thing My Mama Told Me
by Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
The universal importance of a name. Soft, expressive illustrations.
by Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
The universal importance of a name. Soft, expressive illustrations.
The Four Ugly Cats in Apartment 3D
by Marilyn Sachs
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
When a neighbor dies, Lily sets out to find homes for the cats he loved.
by Marilyn Sachs
Illustrator: Rosanne Litzinger
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
When a neighbor dies, Lily sets out to find homes for the cats he loved.
The House in the Mail
by Rosemary and Tom Wells
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
In 1927, Emily's family builds a “modern” house from a mail-order kit. Illustrated as a scrapbook.
by Rosemary and Tom Wells
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
In 1927, Emily's family builds a “modern” house from a mail-order kit. Illustrated as a scrapbook.
The Jamie and Angus Stories
by Anne Fine
Illustrator: Penny Dale
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Six delightful stories about Jamie and his beloved toy Highland Bull. Good read-aloud.
by Anne Fine
Illustrator: Penny Dale
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Six delightful stories about Jamie and his beloved toy Highland Bull. Good read-aloud.
The Kite
written and ill. by Luis Garay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A young newspaper vendor, for whom life is difficut, is helped by his supportive Nicaraguan community.
written and ill. by Luis Garay
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A young newspaper vendor, for whom life is difficut, is helped by his supportive Nicaraguan community.
The Lighthouse Family: The Storm
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Preston McDaniels
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A lighthouse keeper cat, a shipwrecked dog , and three mice come together and discover the joys and meaning of family.
by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Preston McDaniels
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A lighthouse keeper cat, a shipwrecked dog , and three mice come together and discover the joys and meaning of family.
The Little Jester
written and ill. by Helena Olofsson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A clever young jester performs a wonderful miracle. Medieval style illustrations.
written and ill. by Helena Olofsson
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A clever young jester performs a wonderful miracle. Medieval style illustrations.
The Log Cabin Church
by Ellen Howard
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Elvirey wonders why her Granny wants a church to be built in their Michigan frontier community.
by Ellen Howard
Illustrator: Ronald Himler
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
Elvirey wonders why her Granny wants a church to be built in their Michigan frontier community.
The Lost Ball
written and ill. by Lynn Reiser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
English speaking Richard and Spanish speaking Ricardo and their dogs walk in the park looking for their lost ball.
written and ill. by Lynn Reiser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
English speaking Richard and Spanish speaking Ricardo and their dogs walk in the park looking for their lost ball.
The Nightingale
by Hans Christian Andersen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A kitchen girl and a nightingale enable the king to recover. The brilliant illustrations set the story in a multi-cultural Morocco.
by Hans Christian Andersen
Ages: 6+
Published: 2002
A kitchen girl and a nightingale enable the king to recover. The brilliant illustrations set the story in a multi-cultural Morocco.