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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AMAZING Islands: 100+ Places that Will Boggle Your Mind
Sabrina Weiss & Kerry Hyndman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
An examination of the origins of Islands around the world, including people and creatures who inhabit these isolated places. Informative, double-page illustrations with extensive back matter.
Sabrina Weiss & Kerry Hyndman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
An examination of the origins of Islands around the world, including people and creatures who inhabit these isolated places. Informative, double-page illustrations with extensive back matter.
Amphibian Acrobats
Leslie Bulion
Illustrator: Robert Meganck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Accompanied by jaunty digital art, 20 inventive poems are paired with science facts about frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Extensive back matter includes information on the varied poetic forms.
Leslie Bulion
Illustrator: Robert Meganck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Accompanied by jaunty digital art, 20 inventive poems are paired with science facts about frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Extensive back matter includes information on the varied poetic forms.
Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring
Safety information, Terms, Inuktituk Glossary included
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
The pioneering journey of a black female artist culminated in world recognition for her portraits of African Americans, including Marian Anderson. Reproductions of portraits, painterly style illustrations. Author's note.
Safety information, Terms, Inuktituk Glossary included
Illustrator: Felicia Marshall
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
The pioneering journey of a black female artist culminated in world recognition for her portraits of African Americans, including Marian Anderson. Reproductions of portraits, painterly style illustrations. Author's note.
Becoming Muhammad Ali: A Novel
James Patterson & Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Dawud Anyabwile
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
With the support of loving family, friends, and a fierce dedication to boxing, racial justice and peace activism, Ali becomes a legend. Powerful black-and-white digital illustrations.
James Patterson & Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Dawud Anyabwile
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
With the support of loving family, friends, and a fierce dedication to boxing, racial justice and peace activism, Ali becomes a legend. Powerful black-and-white digital illustrations.
Before the Ever After
Jacqueline Woodson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
ZJ's father was a Super-Bowl-winning football star. Now, migraine headaches and incipient dementia prevent his playing.
Jacqueline Woodson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
ZJ's father was a Super-Bowl-winning football star. Now, migraine headaches and incipient dementia prevent his playing.
Bird In Me Flies, The
Sara Lundberg
Illustrator: Sara Lundberg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
A novel in verse with nature-inspired watercolor and collage illustrations based on the life, art, and writing of Swedish artist Berta Hansson. Back matter with archival photos.
Sara Lundberg
Illustrator: Sara Lundberg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
A novel in verse with nature-inspired watercolor and collage illustrations based on the life, art, and writing of Swedish artist Berta Hansson. Back matter with archival photos.
Black Heroes Of The Wild West
James Otis Smith
Illustrator: James Otis Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Little-known but legendary Blacks including stagecoach Mary, marshal Bass Reeves, and horse wrangler Bob Lemmons depicted with vibrant graphic illustrations, archival photographs and extensive back matter of cowboy life.
James Otis Smith
Illustrator: James Otis Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Little-known but legendary Blacks including stagecoach Mary, marshal Bass Reeves, and horse wrangler Bob Lemmons depicted with vibrant graphic illustrations, archival photographs and extensive back matter of cowboy life.
Blue Skies
Anne Bustard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
It's 1949 and Glory Bea, 11, is convinced her dad is finally coming home from the war on the French Gratitude Train when it stops in Gladiola, Texas.
Anne Bustard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
It's 1949 and Glory Bea, 11, is convinced her dad is finally coming home from the war on the French Gratitude Train when it stops in Gladiola, Texas.
Boreal Forest, The: A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome
L. E. Carmichael
Illustrator: Josee Bisaillon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
About the massive forest that spans North America and Eurasia and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Lavish, muted, colorful mixed media illustrations.
L. E. Carmichael
Illustrator: Josee Bisaillon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
About the massive forest that spans North America and Eurasia and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Lavish, muted, colorful mixed media illustrations.
Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Michele Wood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
After his enslaved family is sold, Henry Brown decides to mail himself to freedom with the help of his friends. Colorful mixed-media collage illustrations.
Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Michele Wood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
After his enslaved family is sold, Henry Brown decides to mail himself to freedom with the help of his friends. Colorful mixed-media collage illustrations.
Boys in the Back Row, The
Mike Jung
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
When their school marching band is chosen to play in a competitive festival, sixth-grade best friends Matt and Ethan plan to sneak away to a comic con.
Mike Jung
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
When their school marching band is chosen to play in a competitive festival, sixth-grade best friends Matt and Ethan plan to sneak away to a comic con.
Boy Whose Head Was Filled with Stars, Ther: The Story of Edwin Hubble
Isabelle Marinov
Illustrator: Deborah Marcero
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Following his childhood passion, the famous astronomer used advanced telescopes to discover many new galaxies and an ever-expanding universe. Contrasting color palette. Notes.
Isabelle Marinov
Illustrator: Deborah Marcero
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Following his childhood passion, the famous astronomer used advanced telescopes to discover many new galaxies and an ever-expanding universe. Contrasting color palette. Notes.
Brave Like That
Lindsey Stoddard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Cyrus, 11, knows he will not be a football hero or fireman like his adopted father, but it takes a stray dog, new friends, and a loving grandmother to teach him just how he is brave.
Lindsey Stoddard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Cyrus, 11, knows he will not be a football hero or fireman like his adopted father, but it takes a stray dog, new friends, and a loving grandmother to teach him just how he is brave.
Breaking the News: What's Real, What's Not, and Why the Difference Matters
Terry-Brown, Robin
Illustrator: Many
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Tips for budding journalists and those active on social media to spot fraud and become more discerning about the news they read. Multiple informative graphics.
Terry-Brown, Robin
Illustrator: Many
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Tips for budding journalists and those active on social media to spot fraud and become more discerning about the news they read. Multiple informative graphics.
Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem
Jude Isabella
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
The complex balance restored by reintroducing a keystone species to the Yellowstone ecosystem. Accessible format and colorful illustrations. Glossary, index, resources.
Jude Isabella
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
The complex balance restored by reintroducing a keystone species to the Yellowstone ecosystem. Accessible format and colorful illustrations. Glossary, index, resources.
Cape
by Kate Hannigan
Illustrator: Patrick Spaziante
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
All the great comic book superheroes disappear from Philadelphia until schoolgirls Josie, Mae, and Akiko meet. Sparks fly and so do they. Intermittent action-packed graphic illustrations.
by Kate Hannigan
Illustrator: Patrick Spaziante
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
All the great comic book superheroes disappear from Philadelphia until schoolgirls Josie, Mae, and Akiko meet. Sparks fly and so do they. Intermittent action-packed graphic illustrations.
Cat Man of Aleppo, The
Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
An ambulance driver rescues cats and other animals during the Syrian Civil War. Ink and digital illustrations of contemporary Aleppo. Extensive notes from Alaa, the "cat man," the authors, and illustrator.
Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
An ambulance driver rescues cats and other animals during the Syrian Civil War. Ink and digital illustrations of contemporary Aleppo. Extensive notes from Alaa, the "cat man," the authors, and illustrator.
Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM
Tonya Bolden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Inspiring profiles of achieving Black woman who defied discrimination in computer science medicine (including Dr. Rebecca Crumpler who earned her MD degree in 1864), mathematics and more. Extensive source notes.
Tonya Bolden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Inspiring profiles of achieving Black woman who defied discrimination in computer science medicine (including Dr. Rebecca Crumpler who earned her MD degree in 1864), mathematics and more. Extensive source notes.
Cinders & Sparrows
Bachmann, Stefan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Orphan Zita Brydgeborn, 12, learns she's a witch when she inherits a haunted estate housing her petrified family. Can she reverse the curse that has bewitched them?
Bachmann, Stefan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Orphan Zita Brydgeborn, 12, learns she's a witch when she inherits a haunted estate housing her petrified family. Can she reverse the curse that has bewitched them?
Circus of Stolen Dreams, The
Lorelei Savaryn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Andrea, 12, feeling guilty and unhappy over the disappearance of her brother, seeks relief from reality in a dream world. Can she return to the real world?
Lorelei Savaryn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Andrea, 12, feeling guilty and unhappy over the disappearance of her brother, seeks relief from reality in a dream world. Can she return to the real world?
Construction People
Lee Bennett Hopkins (ed)
Illustrator: Ellen Shi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Each of fourteen well-known poets offers an ode to machines and people who are essential to building a skyscraper. Colorful illustrations.
Lee Bennett Hopkins (ed)
Illustrator: Ellen Shi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Each of fourteen well-known poets offers an ode to machines and people who are essential to building a skyscraper. Colorful illustrations.
Dan Unmasked
Chris Negron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
With his best friend in a coma after being hit by a baseball, Dan, 13, believes their favorite comic book series holds the key to Nate's recovery.
Chris Negron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
With his best friend in a coma after being hit by a baseball, Dan, 13, believes their favorite comic book series holds the key to Nate's recovery.
Derby Daredevils, The: Kenzie Kickstarts a Team
Kit Rosewater
Illustrator: Sophie Escabasse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Friendship conflicts and a first crush challenge an eleven-year-old girl's efforts to form a roller derby team. Black-and-white line illustrations. First of a three-part series.
Kit Rosewater
Illustrator: Sophie Escabasse
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Friendship conflicts and a first crush challenge an eleven-year-old girl's efforts to form a roller derby team. Black-and-white line illustrations. First of a three-part series.
Desert Diary: Japanese American Kids Behind Barbed Wire
Michael O. Tunnell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Pages from a third-grade classroom in the Utah relocation camp form the framework of an exploration of children's experiences in incarceration. Archival photos, glossary, bibliography.
Michael O. Tunnell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Pages from a third-grade classroom in the Utah relocation camp form the framework of an exploration of children's experiences in incarceration. Archival photos, glossary, bibliography.
Dog Patrol: Our Canine Companions and the Kids Who Protect Them, The
Rob Laidlaw
Illustrator: Multiple-Photographers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Extensive engaging information augmented by colorful illustrations and side bars explore the history of dogs and the responsibility of ownership. Back matter.
Rob Laidlaw
Illustrator: Multiple-Photographers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2020
Extensive engaging information augmented by colorful illustrations and side bars explore the history of dogs and the responsibility of ownership. Back matter.