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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January 1905
by Katharine Boling
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Ten-year-old twins cope with the harsh life of a mill town before the advent of child labor laws.
by Katharine Boling
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Ten-year-old twins cope with the harsh life of a mill town before the advent of child labor laws.
Joe Louis, My Champion
by William Miller
Illustrator: Rodney S. Pate
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young African American wants to be a boxer like his hero, Joe Louis.
by William Miller
Illustrator: Rodney S. Pate
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young African American wants to be a boxer like his hero, Joe Louis.
Journey to Cahokia
by Albert Lorenz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young native American Indian travels from his village to the largest trading village in the midwest ca. 1300 CE.
by Albert Lorenz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young native American Indian travels from his village to the largest trading village in the midwest ca. 1300 CE.
Journey to the Bottomless Pit
by Elizabeth Mitchell
Illustrator: Kellyn Alder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In 1838, the slave, Stephen Bishop acts as guide for Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and does extensive exploration there.
by Elizabeth Mitchell
Illustrator: Kellyn Alder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In 1838, the slave, Stephen Bishop acts as guide for Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and does extensive exploration there.
Letters from Wolfie
by Patti Sherlock
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
During the Vietnam War, Mark contributes his beloved dog to serve as an army scout--and when the conflict divides his family--has second thoughts.
by Patti Sherlock
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
During the Vietnam War, Mark contributes his beloved dog to serve as an army scout--and when the conflict divides his family--has second thoughts.
Lost Goat Lane
by Rosa Jordan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Two Florida families, one white, one black, come to respect each other through the friendship of their children.
by Rosa Jordan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Two Florida families, one white, one black, come to respect each other through the friendship of their children.
Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me
by Katy Kelly
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Eight-year-old Lucy survives a year of adjustment to a move, a new school, and her parents' separation with spunk and a strong sense of self.
by Katy Kelly
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Eight-year-old Lucy survives a year of adjustment to a move, a new school, and her parents' separation with spunk and a strong sense of self.
Messenger
by Lois Lowry
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Matty struggles to save his peaceful Village as dark powers attempt to overtake it.
by Lois Lowry
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Matty struggles to save his peaceful Village as dark powers attempt to overtake it.
Midnight Over Sanctaphrax
by Paul Stewart
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Exciting, intricately plotted new adventure series accompanied by finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings.
by Paul Stewart
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Exciting, intricately plotted new adventure series accompanied by finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings.
Missy Violet & Me
by Barbara Hathaway
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In the rural South in the 1900s, eleven-year-old Viney spends the summer helping and learning from a local midwife.
by Barbara Hathaway
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In the rural South in the 1900s, eleven-year-old Viney spends the summer helping and learning from a local midwife.
Mr. Maxwell's Mouse
by Frank Asch
Illustrator: Devin Asch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A clever mouse tracks a sophisticated cat out of his dinner in this monochromatically illustrated story.
by Frank Asch
Illustrator: Devin Asch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A clever mouse tracks a sophisticated cat out of his dinner in this monochromatically illustrated story.
Nothing Here But Stones
by Nancy Oswald
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Ten-year-old Emma, her family and other Jewish Russian immigrants come to a desolate region of Colorado in 1882.
by Nancy Oswald
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Ten-year-old Emma, her family and other Jewish Russian immigrants come to a desolate region of Colorado in 1882.
Operation Clean Sweep
by Darleen Bailey Beard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
What's the mayor's son, Cornelius, to do? The town election is coming and newly enfranchised women are planning a takeover with his mother heading the slate.
by Darleen Bailey Beard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
What's the mayor's son, Cornelius, to do? The town election is coming and newly enfranchised women are planning a takeover with his mother heading the slate.
Ophie Out of Oz
by Kathleen O'Dell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When Ophie's ruby slippers no longer fit, she realizes that she really has left her old life behind.
by Kathleen O'Dell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When Ophie's ruby slippers no longer fit, she realizes that she really has left her old life behind.
Pilgrim Cat
by Carol Antoinette Peacock
Illustrator: Doris Ettlinger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The journey and the first difficult years of the Pilgrims in America told by a young girl and her cat.
by Carol Antoinette Peacock
Illustrator: Doris Ettlinger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The journey and the first difficult years of the Pilgrims in America told by a young girl and her cat.
Private and Confidential
by Marion Ripley
Illustrator: Colin Backhouse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When Laura discovers her Australian pen pal is nearly blind, she learns a new way to communicate. Colorful, textured pastels.
by Marion Ripley
Illustrator: Colin Backhouse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When Laura discovers her Australian pen pal is nearly blind, she learns a new way to communicate. Colorful, textured pastels.
Really, Truly, Everything's Fine
by Linda Leopold Strauss
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The arrest of fourteen-year-old Jill's father for robbery changes her life at school and at home.
by Linda Leopold Strauss
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The arrest of fourteen-year-old Jill's father for robbery changes her life at school and at home.
Sarah's Ground
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Spirited Sarah Tracy keeps Mount Vernon neutral during the Civil War. Based on a true story.
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Spirited Sarah Tracy keeps Mount Vernon neutral during the Civil War. Based on a true story.
Silk Umbrellas
by Carolyn Marsden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In Thailand, Noi helps her struggling family while achieving her dream of becoming an artist.
by Carolyn Marsden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In Thailand, Noi helps her struggling family while achieving her dream of becoming an artist.
Some Friend
by Marie Bradby
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The 1960 experience of an eleven-year-old African-American girl.
by Marie Bradby
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The 1960 experience of an eleven-year-old African-American girl.
Sonny's House of Spies
by George Ella Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A family in a small southern town in the 1950s faces desertion by the father, “adoption” by the town baker, and confusing sex and race relations.
by George Ella Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A family in a small southern town in the 1950s faces desertion by the father, “adoption” by the town baker, and confusing sex and race relations.
Spilled Water
by Sally Grindley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young Chinese girl finds the courage to challenge cruelty and prejudice against women.
by Sally Grindley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young Chinese girl finds the courage to challenge cruelty and prejudice against women.
Taking Care of Moses
by Barbara O'Connor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Randall's momentous secret weighs heavily as he struggles to do what's right.
by Barbara O'Connor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Randall's momentous secret weighs heavily as he struggles to do what's right.
Tangled Threads
by Pegi Deitz Shea
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A Laos refugee finally is allowed to join her Hmong cousins in Rhode Island but finds adjusting to life in America confusing.
by Pegi Deitz Shea
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A Laos refugee finally is allowed to join her Hmong cousins in Rhode Island but finds adjusting to life in America confusing.