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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Technical Foul
by Rich Wallace
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Jared's temper gets in the way of his love for basketball.
by Rich Wallace
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Jared's temper gets in the way of his love for basketball.
The Big Nothing
by Adrian Fogelin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An eighth grader deals with his parents' failing marriage, his mother's deployment to Iraq, and falling in love with a classmate.
by Adrian Fogelin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An eighth grader deals with his parents' failing marriage, his mother's deployment to Iraq, and falling in love with a classmate.
The Breaker Boys
by Pat Hughes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An unusual friendship between Nate, a mine-owner's son and a group of child laborers in a Pennsylvania coal town in 1887 and the union's struggle to organize.
by Pat Hughes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An unusual friendship between Nate, a mine-owner's son and a group of child laborers in a Pennsylvania coal town in 1887 and the union's struggle to organize.
The Cats in Krasinski Square
by Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Although the Gestapo have discovered a plan to smuggle food into the Warsaw Ghetto, a young girl finds a way to save the day.
by Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Although the Gestapo have discovered a plan to smuggle food into the Warsaw Ghetto, a young girl finds a way to save the day.
The Crow-Girl
by Bodil Bredsdorff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A lonely orphan's long and difficult journey brings her new friends and experiences and ultimately, a new name.
by Bodil Bredsdorff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A lonely orphan's long and difficult journey brings her new friends and experiences and ultimately, a new name.
The Double-Digit Club
by Marion Dane Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Sarah almost loses her best friend but discovers the true meaning of friendship and honesty through her relationship with her blind neighbor.
by Marion Dane Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Sarah almost loses her best friend but discovers the true meaning of friendship and honesty through her relationship with her blind neighbor.
The End of the Beginning
by Avi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The adventures of a snail and an ant told with humorous, philosophical comments.
by Avi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The adventures of a snail and an ant told with humorous, philosophical comments.
The Fish in Room II
by Heather Dyer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Mer-people, a greedy hotel owner and a lonely boy who finds some friends. A quirky story.
by Heather Dyer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Mer-people, a greedy hotel owner and a lonely boy who finds some friends. A quirky story.
The Golden Hour
by Maiya Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An abandoned hotel in Maine proves to be a time-travel portal to the French Reign of Terror for three adventurous children.
by Maiya Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An abandoned hotel in Maine proves to be a time-travel portal to the French Reign of Terror for three adventurous children.
The Great Sockathon
by Michael Delaney
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
To save a 275-year-old tree, four eleven-year-olds dream up a wacky fundraiser involving a chain of socks and a concerned ghost.
by Michael Delaney
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
To save a 275-year-old tree, four eleven-year-olds dream up a wacky fundraiser involving a chain of socks and a concerned ghost.
The Great Tree of Avalon
by T. A. Barron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Avalon faces a new danger and Elli and Scree must find the true heir of Merlin and the child of the dark prophecy before Rhita Gawr does.
by T. A. Barron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Avalon faces a new danger and Elli and Scree must find the true heir of Merlin and the child of the dark prophecy before Rhita Gawr does.
The Harmonica
by Tony Johnston
Illustrator: Ron Mazellan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Even when unspeakable evil abounded, the power of music lifted the spirits of Holocaust victims. Haunting paintings.
by Tony Johnston
Illustrator: Ron Mazellan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Even when unspeakable evil abounded, the power of music lifted the spirits of Holocaust victims. Haunting paintings.
The House on the Gulf
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
While house-sitting in Florida, a family discovers strange secrets that seem to touch their lives.
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
While house-sitting in Florida, a family discovers strange secrets that seem to touch their lives.
The Last of the Roundup Boys
by Debra Seely
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Teenagers Tom and Evie find hard work, friendship and love on the harsh Kansas frontier in 1886.
by Debra Seely
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Teenagers Tom and Evie find hard work, friendship and love on the harsh Kansas frontier in 1886.
The Legend of Buddy Bush
by Sheila P. Moses
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The uncle of a twelve-year-old African American is falsely accused of attacking a white woman.
by Sheila P. Moses
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The uncle of a twelve-year-old African American is falsely accused of attacking a white woman.
The Mystery of Eatum Hall
by John Kelly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A gluttonous couple accepts an invitation to a weekend of free gourmet food. They don't realize what they are getting themselves into! Dark humorous art.
by John Kelly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A gluttonous couple accepts an invitation to a weekend of free gourmet food. They don't realize what they are getting themselves into! Dark humorous art.
The Old Willis Place
by Mary Downing Hahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Two children living in the woods by themselves yearning to get out, finally reveal their creepy secret.
by Mary Downing Hahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Two children living in the woods by themselves yearning to get out, finally reveal their creepy secret.
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
by e.l. konigsburg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Twelve-year-old Margaret mobilizes the community to save three towers, her great-uncles' artistic creations.
by e.l. konigsburg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Twelve-year-old Margaret mobilizes the community to save three towers, her great-uncles' artistic creations.
The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When her mother and guardian are murdered, thirteen-year-old Sarah is drawn into a quest for justice in this Arthurian tale.
by Gerald Morris
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When her mother and guardian are murdered, thirteen-year-old Sarah is drawn into a quest for justice in this Arthurian tale.
The Quilt
by Gary Paulsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young boy learns about life when his grandmother helps deliver a baby. Based on the author's early life.
by Gary Paulsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A young boy learns about life when his grandmother helps deliver a baby. Based on the author's early life.
there you are
by Joanne Taylor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A tragedy changes the warm family life of a seventh grader living in Cape Breton, Canada during World War II.
by Joanne Taylor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A tragedy changes the warm family life of a seventh grader living in Cape Breton, Canada during World War II.
The Secret Life of a Boarding School Brat
by Amy Gordon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Lydia's friendship with her boarding school caretaker/night-watchman helps both of them comes to terms with loss.
by Amy Gordon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Lydia's friendship with her boarding school caretaker/night-watchman helps both of them comes to terms with loss.
The Singer of All Songs
by Kate Constable
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Equipped only with the gift of “chantment,” Calwyn follows her new friends to an unknown, dangerous world. First of a trilogy.
by Kate Constable
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Equipped only with the gift of “chantment,” Calwyn follows her new friends to an unknown, dangerous world. First of a trilogy.
The Sons of the Dragon King
written and ill. by Ed Young
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The Dragon King's nine sons must each develop their indiviual talents to serve the people of China. Brush, ink and cut paper illustrations.
written and ill. by Ed Young
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The Dragon King's nine sons must each develop their indiviual talents to serve the people of China. Brush, ink and cut paper illustrations.
The Teacher's Funeral
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In rural Indiana in 1904, fifteen-year-old Russell's dream is humorously upended by the death of the teacher in the one-room schoolhouse.
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In rural Indiana in 1904, fifteen-year-old Russell's dream is humorously upended by the death of the teacher in the one-room schoolhouse.