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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The Toughest Cowboy or How the Wild West Was Tamed
by John Frank
Illustrator: Zachary Pullen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A tall tale of a small poodle's civilizing influence. Caricature type oil paintings.
by John Frank
Illustrator: Zachary Pullen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A tall tale of a small poodle's civilizing influence. Caricature type oil paintings.
The Trial
by Jen Bryant
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The Great Depression fuels Katie's profound reaction to the local trial about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.
by Jen Bryant
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
The Great Depression fuels Katie's profound reaction to the local trial about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.
The Truth About Sparrows
by Marian Hale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Times are hard for Sadie and her family in their tarpaper cabin during the Depression, but her grit and close family help them survive.
by Marian Hale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Times are hard for Sadie and her family in their tarpaper cabin during the Depression, but her grit and close family help them survive.
The Unseen
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Xandra, the fifth of six children, uses magic to escape from her perception of the difficulties in her life.
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Xandra, the fifth of six children, uses magic to escape from her perception of the difficulties in her life.
The Various
by Steve Augarde
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Rescuing a tiny winged horse leads Midge into the threatened world of the knee-height creatures inhabiting her uncle's woods. First in a trilogy.
by Steve Augarde
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Rescuing a tiny winged horse leads Midge into the threatened world of the knee-height creatures inhabiting her uncle's woods. First in a trilogy.
The Willoughby Spit Wonder
by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In 1950s Maryland, Carter Johnston deals with his father's terminal illness by modeling his actions after the comic book superheroes he admires.
by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In 1950s Maryland, Carter Johnston deals with his father's terminal illness by modeling his actions after the comic book superheroes he admires.
The World According to Humphrey
by Betty G. Birney
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Humphrey, a hamster, transforms the lives of children and adults when he enters their classroom, homes and hearts.
by Betty G. Birney
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Humphrey, a hamster, transforms the lives of children and adults when he enters their classroom, homes and hearts.
Thunder from the Sea
by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An orphan boy and a rescued dog prove their worth in a rugged Newfoundland fishing village in 1929.
by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
An orphan boy and a rescued dog prove their worth in a rugged Newfoundland fishing village in 1929.
Trembling Earth
by Kim L. Siegelson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp seems far from the Civil War until Hamp and his family are tempted with a bounty for four runaway slaves.
by Kim L. Siegelson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp seems far from the Civil War until Hamp and his family are tempted with a bounty for four runaway slaves.
Troll Fell
by Katherine Langrish
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Orphaned Peer must live with his miller uncles whose greed for Troll's gold cause problems for all.
by Katherine Langrish
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Orphaned Peer must live with his miller uncles whose greed for Troll's gold cause problems for all.
Voyage of Ice
by Michele Torrey
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A cruel captain, a shipwreck and an avenging polar bear leave Nick wondering if he can survive his first whaling voyage in 1851. Includes glossary and bibliography.
by Michele Torrey
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
A cruel captain, a shipwreck and an avenging polar bear leave Nick wondering if he can survive his first whaling voyage in 1851. Includes glossary and bibliography.
Wee Winnie Witch's Skinny
by Virginia Hamilton
Illustrator: Barry Moser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Both scary and humorous, a tale about a family bewitched. A read-aloud for Halloween or in between. Powerful dark wood engravings.
by Virginia Hamilton
Illustrator: Barry Moser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Both scary and humorous, a tale about a family bewitched. A read-aloud for Halloween or in between. Powerful dark wood engravings.
Who Goes Home?
by Sylvia Waugh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Which planet is “home” for fourteen-year-old Jacob/Javayl? Third in the Ormingat Trilogy.
by Sylvia Waugh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Which planet is “home” for fourteen-year-old Jacob/Javayl? Third in the Ormingat Trilogy.
Why Does the Coqui Sing?
by Barbara Garland Polikoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When thirteen-year-old Luz moves to Puerto Rico with her family, adjustment to the new culture is slow and difficult.
by Barbara Garland Polikoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
When thirteen-year-old Luz moves to Puerto Rico with her family, adjustment to the new culture is slow and difficult.
Willy the Scrub
by Jamie McEwan
Illustrator: Victor Kennedy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Willy and his sports-loving buddies try hard to join middle-school teams, without much success. A story of perseverance and friendship.
by Jamie McEwan
Illustrator: Victor Kennedy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
Willy and his sports-loving buddies try hard to join middle-school teams, without much success. A story of perseverance and friendship.
Worth
by A. LaFaye
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In nineteenth-century Nebraska, Nate's damaged leg causes Pa to replace him with an Orphan Train boy for farm chores.
by A. LaFaye
Ages: 9+
Published: 2004
In nineteenth-century Nebraska, Nate's damaged leg causes Pa to replace him with an Orphan Train boy for farm chores.
Agnes Parker...Girl in Progress
by Kathleen O'Dell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A shy sixth grader deals with friends, old and new, and with a long-time bully.
by Kathleen O'Dell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A shy sixth grader deals with friends, old and new, and with a long-time bully.
Aleutian Sparrow
by Karen Hesse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Aleuts were transported to relocation centers where their lives were changed forever. Told in unrhymed verse.
by Karen Hesse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Aleuts were transported to relocation centers where their lives were changed forever. Told in unrhymed verse.
Alice Yazzie's Year
by Ramona Maher
Illustrator: Shonto Begay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The dreams and everyday life of an eleven-year-old Navajo girl. Poetic text and strong, impressionistic illustrations.
by Ramona Maher
Illustrator: Shonto Begay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The dreams and everyday life of an eleven-year-old Navajo girl. Poetic text and strong, impressionistic illustrations.
All Their Names Were Courage
by Sharon Phillips Denslow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Eleven-year-old Sallie trades letters with her brother about horses of generals and soldiers, descirbing the hardships and bravery of families on both sides of the conflict.
by Sharon Phillips Denslow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Eleven-year-old Sallie trades letters with her brother about horses of generals and soldiers, descirbing the hardships and bravery of families on both sides of the conflict.
Almost Forever
by Maria Testa
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In 1967 a young girl describes her feelings during the year her father is serving in Vietnam. Appealing poetic prose.
by Maria Testa
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In 1967 a young girl describes her feelings during the year her father is serving in Vietnam. Appealing poetic prose.
A Long Time Ago Today
by Sally Warner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A letter left for Dilly, written by her mother before she died, rekindles the eleven-year-old's anger, but leads to a new interest and awareness of the past..and present.
by Sally Warner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A letter left for Dilly, written by her mother before she died, rekindles the eleven-year-old's anger, but leads to a new interest and awareness of the past..and present.
A Mango-Shaped Space
by Wendy Mass
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
No one can understand thirteen-year-old Mia's colorful world until a doctor's diagnosis allows her to accept herself and her special gift.
by Wendy Mass
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
No one can understand thirteen-year-old Mia's colorful world until a doctor's diagnosis allows her to accept herself and her special gift.
And Round Me Rings
by Ann Spencer
Illustrator: Lindsay Grater
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
How bells have helped shape history. Entertaining and informative.
by Ann Spencer
Illustrator: Lindsay Grater
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
How bells have helped shape history. Entertaining and informative.
Artemis Fowl : The Eternity Code
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
By using fairy technology, Artemis works to develop his goals to collect riches.
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
By using fairy technology, Artemis works to develop his goals to collect riches.