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/.
How to Perform a Search and Save a List
Search
Advanced Search
Palindromania!
written and ill. by Jon Agee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Riotous illustrations of words and phrases that read the same forward and backward.
written and ill. by Jon Agee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Riotous illustrations of words and phrases that read the same forward and backward.
Patrol
by Walter Dean Myers
Illustrator: Ann Grifalconi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The moving story of one soldier's harrowing thoughts and experiences for a few hours in an endless war. Magnificent illustrations.
by Walter Dean Myers
Illustrator: Ann Grifalconi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The moving story of one soldier's harrowing thoughts and experiences for a few hours in an endless war. Magnificent illustrations.
Pictures Of Hollis Woods
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A twelve-year-old orphan yearns to belong to her adoptive family, but filled with self- doubt, she runs away.
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A twelve-year-old orphan yearns to belong to her adoptive family, but filled with self- doubt, she runs away.
Quit it
by Marcia Byalick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Affecting story of a middle school Long Island girl coping with the odd mannerisms and accompanying compulsive rituals of Tourette Syndrome.
by Marcia Byalick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Affecting story of a middle school Long Island girl coping with the odd mannerisms and accompanying compulsive rituals of Tourette Syndrome.
Quiver
by Stephanie Spinner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Brill;iant sly retelling of the Atalanta myth with cameo appearances by Apollo, Artemis Aphrodite and Eros. Greek society with all its beauty and violence.
by Stephanie Spinner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Brill;iant sly retelling of the Atalanta myth with cameo appearances by Apollo, Artemis Aphrodite and Eros. Greek society with all its beauty and violence.
Ravine
by Janet Hickman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Compelling time-travel fantasy in which two boys chase their dog into a mysterious ravine and have a frightening adventure.
by Janet Hickman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Compelling time-travel fantasy in which two boys chase their dog into a mysterious ravine and have a frightening adventure.
Red Midnight
by Ben Mikaelsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Santiago and his little sister flee civil strife in Guatemala in a homemade kayak.
by Ben Mikaelsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Santiago and his little sister flee civil strife in Guatemala in a homemade kayak.
Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal
by Emily Rodda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The future security of his society depends on Rowan's choosing the right next keeper of the crystal.
by Emily Rodda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The future security of his society depends on Rowan's choosing the right next keeper of the crystal.
Rowan and the Zebak
by Emily Rodda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When his sister is abducted by enemies of Rin, Rowan and a small band of friends embark on a perilous journey to bring her back.
by Emily Rodda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When his sister is abducted by enemies of Rin, Rowan and a small band of friends embark on a perilous journey to bring her back.
Ruby Holler
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Thirteen-year-old orphan twins are rescued by an eccentric older couple and enter a magic place.
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Thirteen-year-old orphan twins are rescued by an eccentric older couple and enter a magic place.
Runt
by Marion Dane Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Runt, small and always in trouble, proves his worth in his wolf pack.
by Marion Dane Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Runt, small and always in trouble, proves his worth in his wolf pack.
Saffy's Angel
by Hilary McKay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An adopted daughter's quest to define how she belongs to a wildly eccentric “artistic” British family.
by Hilary McKay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An adopted daughter's quest to define how she belongs to a wildly eccentric “artistic” British family.
Shoeless Joe & Me
by Dan Gutman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Joe travels back to 1919 to meet Shoeless Joe Jackson and prevent the fixing of the World Series.
by Dan Gutman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Joe travels back to 1919 to meet Shoeless Joe Jackson and prevent the fixing of the World Series.
Someday
by Jackie French Koller
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Fouteen-year-old Celie, her family, and friends must deal with dramatic changes in their lives as the Swift River Reservoir project claims their town.
by Jackie French Koller
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Fouteen-year-old Celie, her family, and friends must deal with dramatic changes in their lives as the Swift River Reservoir project claims their town.
Song of Sampo Lake
by William Durbin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Matti, the middle child, assumes an adult role in the struggles of his Finnish family homesteading in Minnesota.
by William Durbin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Matti, the middle child, assumes an adult role in the struggles of his Finnish family homesteading in Minnesota.
Sparks
by Graham McNamee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Adjustment to a regular fifth-grade class after a year in Special Needs involves poignant and humorous changes for Todd.
by Graham McNamee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Adjustment to a regular fifth-grade class after a year in Special Needs involves poignant and humorous changes for Todd.
Sparks Fly Upward
by Carol Matas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
After the farm home of her large family is destroyed by fire in 1910, Rebecca moves to the city and faces virulent anti-semitism and life as a foster child.
by Carol Matas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
After the farm home of her large family is destroyed by fire in 1910, Rebecca moves to the city and faces virulent anti-semitism and life as a foster child.
Spring-Heeled Jack
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: David Mostyn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The adventures of three orphans in Victorian England. A high-spirited spoof with an abundance of comics-style illustrations.
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: David Mostyn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
The adventures of three orphans in Victorian England. A high-spirited spoof with an abundance of comics-style illustrations.
Stand Tall
by Joan Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A boy nicknamed Tree learns to cope with his height, his awkwardness, his beloved grandfather's illness and his parents' divorce.
by Joan Bauer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A boy nicknamed Tree learns to cope with his height, his awkwardness, his beloved grandfather's illness and his parents' divorce.
Stink Alley
by Jamie Gilson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An orphan in William Brewster's household in Holland struggles to balance the austerity of her Pilgim community and her spirited nature.
by Jamie Gilson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An orphan in William Brewster's household in Holland struggles to balance the austerity of her Pilgim community and her spirited nature.
String Music
by Rick Telander
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
After running away, an eleven-year-old basketball fan meets his hero, JJ and finds to his surprise that he can help him.
by Rick Telander
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
After running away, an eleven-year-old basketball fan meets his hero, JJ and finds to his surprise that he can help him.
Surviving the Applewhites
by Stephanie S. Tolan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An eccentric family takes in a troubled teenager whose experiences at their Creative Academy help develop his acting talent.
by Stephanie S. Tolan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An eccentric family takes in a troubled teenager whose experiences at their Creative Academy help develop his acting talent.
Sylvia & Miz Lula Maye
by Pansie Hart Flood
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When ten-year-old Sylvia moves to South Carolina, friendship with a hundred-year-old neighbor keeps her from being lonely.
by Pansie Hart Flood
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When ten-year-old Sylvia moves to South Carolina, friendship with a hundred-year-old neighbor keeps her from being lonely.
Take Command, Captain Farragut!
by Peter Roop
Illustrator: Michael McCurdy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Fictional letters to his father from young David G. Farragut while on a British prison ship.
by Peter Roop
Illustrator: Michael McCurdy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Fictional letters to his father from young David G. Farragut while on a British prison ship.
The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle
by Claudia Logan
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A boy and his family learn about archeology while on a 1925 dig at Giza. Based on historical records.
by Claudia Logan
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A boy and his family learn about archeology while on a 1925 dig at Giza. Based on historical records.