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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All the Greys on Greene Street
by Laura Tucker
Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Twelve-year-old Olympia's father fled New York's Soho for France and her mother won't leave her bed. Can artistic Olympia mend her world? Frequent pencil illustrations.
by Laura Tucker
Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Twelve-year-old Olympia's father fled New York's Soho for France and her mother won't leave her bed. Can artistic Olympia mend her world? Frequent pencil illustrations.
An Invisible Thread
by Laura Schroff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A woman walking to work extends a helping hand to a homeless 11-year-old boy, and two lives are saved. Archival photographs.
by Laura Schroff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A woman walking to work extends a helping hand to a homeless 11-year-old boy, and two lives are saved. Archival photographs.
A Place to Belong
by Cynthia Kadohata
Illustrator: Julia Kuo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Hanako, 12, recounts the family's return to Hiroshima after their confinement in an incarceration camp during World War II. Occasional black-and-while illustrations.
by Cynthia Kadohata
Illustrator: Julia Kuo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Hanako, 12, recounts the family's return to Hiroshima after their confinement in an incarceration camp during World War II. Occasional black-and-while illustrations.
A Ray of Light
written and photographed by Walter Wick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A noted photographer carefully explores the complex subject of light through the meticulously planned experiments he photographs. Back matter.
written and photographed by Walter Wick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A noted photographer carefully explores the complex subject of light through the meticulously planned experiments he photographs. Back matter.
A Slip of a Girl
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Anna joins the struggle to end family farm evictions in Ireland. Told in verse and based on the author's late-19th century family history.
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Anna joins the struggle to end family farm evictions in Ireland. Told in verse and based on the author's late-19th century family history.
A Talent for Trouble
by Natasha Farrant
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Three unlikely friends at a Scottish boarding school deviate from their school orienteering trip and learn truths about life and themselves.
by Natasha Farrant
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Three unlikely friends at a Scottish boarding school deviate from their school orienteering trip and learn truths about life and themselves.
A Tear in the Ocean
by H. M. Bouwman
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the second world, when the ocean water becomes undrinkable, twelve-year-old Prince Putnam runs away to solve the problem, meeting danger and friendship on the way. Occasional black-and-white drawings.
by H. M. Bouwman
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the second world, when the ocean water becomes undrinkable, twelve-year-old Prince Putnam runs away to solve the problem, meeting danger and friendship on the way. Occasional black-and-white drawings.
Banjo
by Graham Salisbury
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Faced with having to put down his beloved dog, accused of attacking a neighbor, Danny abandons him in a distant forest. What will happen to Banjo?
by Graham Salisbury
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Faced with having to put down his beloved dog, accused of attacking a neighbor, Danny abandons him in a distant forest. What will happen to Banjo?
Because of the Rabbit
by Cynthia Lord
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
As a new fifth grade student at a rural Maine public school, Emma connects with Jack, a student with special needs, over her rescue rabbit.
by Cynthia Lord
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
As a new fifth grade student at a rural Maine public school, Emma connects with Jack, a student with special needs, over her rescue rabbit.
Becoming RBG
by Debbie Levy
Illustrator: Whitney Gardner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Life experiences shaped this feminist icon's legal perspective and ascent to the Supreme Court. Endnotes. Monochromatic digitally rendered illustrations.
by Debbie Levy
Illustrator: Whitney Gardner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Life experiences shaped this feminist icon's legal perspective and ascent to the Supreme Court. Endnotes. Monochromatic digitally rendered illustrations.
Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen
by Niki Lenz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Bernice stops being a bully when she is forced to live in a small town with her aunt, a nun.
by Niki Lenz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Bernice stops being a bully when she is forced to live in a small town with her aunt, a nun.
Best Friends
by Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Sixth-grader Shannon struggles to maintain her friendship with the popular girls, cope with anxiety, and develop her love of writing. Animated color graphic panels.
by Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Sixth-grader Shannon struggles to maintain her friendship with the popular girls, cope with anxiety, and develop her love of writing. Animated color graphic panels.
Beverly, Right Here
by Kate DiCamillo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Following the death of her dog, Buddy, Beverly Tapinski, 14, decides it's time for her to leave home and make a new life for herself.
by Kate DiCamillo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Following the death of her dog, Buddy, Beverly Tapinski, 14, decides it's time for her to leave home and make a new life for herself.
Beyond Words
by Carl Safina
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The behavior and family structure of the largest mammals on land and in the ocean have been studied in depth by observers who discuss similarities with human behavior. Photographs, back matter.
by Carl Safina
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The behavior and family structure of the largest mammals on land and in the ocean have been studied in depth by observers who discuss similarities with human behavior. Photographs, back matter.
Birth of the Cool
by Kathleen Cornell Berman
Illustrator: Keith Henry Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The combination of free verse and pastel illustrations depict young Davis, his later association with other jazz greats, and the emergence of his own unique musical sound.
by Kathleen Cornell Berman
Illustrator: Keith Henry Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The combination of free verse and pastel illustrations depict young Davis, his later association with other jazz greats, and the emergence of his own unique musical sound.
Boom! Bellow! Bleat!
by Georgia Heard
Illustrator: Aaron DeWitt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Poems encourage play with words and sounds while providing opportunities to gather information. Digital illustrations are equally playful. Back matter provides interesting facts.
by Georgia Heard
Illustrator: Aaron DeWitt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Poems encourage play with words and sounds while providing opportunities to gather information. Digital illustrations are equally playful. Back matter provides interesting facts.
Born Just Right
by Jordan Reeves
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Jordan, 14, was born without a lower arm or hand. She creates an arm prosthesis that shoots glitter, advocates for the disabled, and writes her own story. Photographs and back matter.
by Jordan Reeves
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Jordan, 14, was born without a lower arm or hand. She creates an arm prosthesis that shoots glitter, advocates for the disabled, and writes her own story. Photographs and back matter.
Can You Crack the Code?
by Ella Schwartz
Illustrator: Lily Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
An introduction to the history of different codes and ciphers used from antiquity to the present, including interactive examples. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations. Back matter.
by Ella Schwartz
Illustrator: Lily Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
An introduction to the history of different codes and ciphers used from antiquity to the present, including interactive examples. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations. Back matter.
Can You Hear the Trees Talking?
by Peter Wohlleben
Illustrator: Belle Wuthrich
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
How trees communicate with one another, breathe, drink, procreate, and more are explained by a life-long forester. Quizzes and activities. Excellent color photos, sketches. Backmatter.
by Peter Wohlleben
Illustrator: Belle Wuthrich
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
How trees communicate with one another, breathe, drink, procreate, and more are explained by a life-long forester. Quizzes and activities. Excellent color photos, sketches. Backmatter.
Caterpillar Summer
by Gillian McDunn
Illustrator: Alisa Coburn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
After their father dies, Cat is responsible for her brother, Chicken, who is on the spectrum. Only when she meets their grandparents does she get to be a child again. Intermittent black-and-white illustrations.
by Gillian McDunn
Illustrator: Alisa Coburn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
After their father dies, Cat is responsible for her brother, Chicken, who is on the spectrum. Only when she meets their grandparents does she get to be a child again. Intermittent black-and-white illustrations.
Chapter Two is Missing
by Josh Lieb
Illustrator: Kevin Cornell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A take-charge child narrator, goofy detective, and suspicious janitor are involved in an engaging mystery. Bold cartoon illustrations in orange, black, and white.
by Josh Lieb
Illustrator: Kevin Cornell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A take-charge child narrator, goofy detective, and suspicious janitor are involved in an engaging mystery. Bold cartoon illustrations in orange, black, and white.
Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species
adapted and illustrated by Sabina Radeva
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Complex concepts such as variation and natural selection are introduced through accessible text and quotes, supported by stylized but accurate depiction of species. Author's note, bibliography, glossary, end papers.
adapted and illustrated by Sabina Radeva
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Complex concepts such as variation and natural selection are introduced through accessible text and quotes, supported by stylized but accurate depiction of species. Author's note, bibliography, glossary, end papers.
Comics: Easy as ABC!
written and illustrated by Ivan Brunetti
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Useful illustrations are combined with instructions on drawing cartoons. Resources, bibliography.
written and illustrated by Ivan Brunetti
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Useful illustrations are combined with instructions on drawing cartoons. Resources, bibliography.
Count Me In
by Varsha Bajaj
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In alternating chapters, seventh graders Karina and Chris tell the story of an attack on Karina's grandfather, an Indian-American in a Texas town.
by Varsha Bajaj
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In alternating chapters, seventh graders Karina and Chris tell the story of an attack on Karina's grandfather, an Indian-American in a Texas town.
Crossing on Time
written and illustrated by David Macaulay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Full-page illustrations, diagrams, and cutaway views detail the history of the construction of the steamship the SS United States, on which the author-artist emmigrated in 1957.sw
written and illustrated by David Macaulay
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Full-page illustrations, diagrams, and cutaway views detail the history of the construction of the steamship the SS United States, on which the author-artist emmigrated in 1957.sw