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 Moon Within
by Aida Salazar
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Celi, 11, ponders her changing body. Will she embrace her ancestral Mexica moon ceremony, marking her entrance into womanhood? Told in verse with spot black-and-white illustrations.
by Aida Salazar
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Celi, 11, ponders her changing body. Will she embrace her ancestral Mexica moon ceremony, marking her entrance into womanhood? Told in verse with spot black-and-white illustrations.
The Next Great Paulie Fink
by Ali Benjamin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Everyone in the seventh grade (except Caitlyn, who's new) is grieving the inexplicable disappearance of former classmate, Paulie, who had achieved mythic status. Is he irreplaceable?
by Ali Benjamin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Everyone in the seventh grade (except Caitlyn, who's new) is grieving the inexplicable disappearance of former classmate, Paulie, who had achieved mythic status. Is he irreplaceable?
The Other, Better Me
by Antony John
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A school assignment moves Lola to search for her unknown father with an interesting outcome.
by Antony John
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
A school assignment moves Lola to search for her unknown father with an interesting outcome.
The Other Half of Happy
by Rebecca Balcárcel
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
No way is Quijana going with her family to visit Guatemala. She can't speak Spanish anyway. But can her little brother manage without her?
by Rebecca Balcárcel
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
No way is Quijana going with her family to visit Guatemala. She can't speak Spanish anyway. But can her little brother manage without her?
The Poison Eaters
by Gail Jarrow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the early 20th century, Dr. Harvy Wiley fought hard to see passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which ultimately led to the FDA. Photographs. Timeline, notes, and bibliography.
by Gail Jarrow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the early 20th century, Dr. Harvy Wiley fought hard to see passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which ultimately led to the FDA. Photographs. Timeline, notes, and bibliography.
The Root of Magic
by Kathleen Benner Duble
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Lost in a blizzard, Willow, her mother, and her sick brother find themselves in a town where everyone's helpfulness turns a bit spooky.
by Kathleen Benner Duble
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Lost in a blizzard, Willow, her mother, and her sick brother find themselves in a town where everyone's helpfulness turns a bit spooky.
The Roots of Rap
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Powerful, rhythmic text and dynamic paintings put rap and graffiti, break dancing, rapping, MCing and deejaying in historical context. Author/illustrator notes and glossary.
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Powerful, rhythmic text and dynamic paintings put rap and graffiti, break dancing, rapping, MCing and deejaying in historical context. Author/illustrator notes and glossary.
The Runaways
by Ulf Stark
Illustrator: Kitty Crowther
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Grandpa and grandson Gottfried share a temperament that's skipped a generation. To enliven his last days, Gottfried engineers Grandpa's escape from the hospital. Colored-pencil illustrations.
by Ulf Stark
Illustrator: Kitty Crowther
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Grandpa and grandson Gottfried share a temperament that's skipped a generation. To enliven his last days, Gottfried engineers Grandpa's escape from the hospital. Colored-pencil illustrations.
The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper
Illustrator: Carson Ellis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Together, the Newbery Medal-winning poet and Caldecott Honor painter celebrate the return of seasonal light. Evocative gouache illustrations. Author's note.
by Susan Cooper
Illustrator: Carson Ellis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Together, the Newbery Medal-winning poet and Caldecott Honor painter celebrate the return of seasonal light. Evocative gouache illustrations. Author's note.
The Size of the Truth
by Andrew Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Sam thought falling into a well when he was four was terrible, but skipping from 6th to 8th grade might be a whole new disaster.
by Andrew Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Sam thought falling into a well when he was four was terrible, but skipping from 6th to 8th grade might be a whole new disaster.
The Space We're In
by Katya Balen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
ARC Ten-year-old Frank struggles to accommodate the needs of his younger autistic brother. When tragedy strikes, he discovers ways to make the family whole again.
by Katya Balen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
ARC Ten-year-old Frank struggles to accommodate the needs of his younger autistic brother. When tragedy strikes, he discovers ways to make the family whole again.
The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku
by Ellie Crowe
Illustrator: Richard Waldrep
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Born in 1890 in Hawaii, this word-famous surfer and swimmer won Olympic gold medals and broke world records while facing discrimination. Realistic black-and-white illustrations. Time line, bibliography, sources.
by Ellie Crowe
Illustrator: Richard Waldrep
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Born in 1890 in Hawaii, this word-famous surfer and swimmer won Olympic gold medals and broke world records while facing discrimination. Realistic black-and-white illustrations. Time line, bibliography, sources.
The Storyteller of Damascus
by Rafik Schami
Illustrator: Peter Knorr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
An old storyteller travels with his wonder chest of drawings and adventure stories for children. As time passes, his drawings and stories change. Amusing color illustrations.
by Rafik Schami
Illustrator: Peter Knorr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
An old storyteller travels with his wonder chest of drawings and adventure stories for children. As time passes, his drawings and stories change. Amusing color illustrations.
The Story That Cannot Be Told
by J. Kasper Kramer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In 1989 Communist Romania, Ileana's parents send her to her grandparents' faraway mountain village to keep her safe from those who want to silence her storytelling.
by J. Kasper Kramer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In 1989 Communist Romania, Ileana's parents send her to her grandparents' faraway mountain village to keep her safe from those who want to silence her storytelling.
The Tornado Scientist (Scientists in the Field series)
by Mary Kay Carson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Research meteorologist Robin Tanamachi studies tornadoes and Dixie Alleys. Includes sources, glossary, and breathtaking photographs.
by Mary Kay Carson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Research meteorologist Robin Tanamachi studies tornadoes and Dixie Alleys. Includes sources, glossary, and breathtaking photographs.
The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins
by Gail Shepherd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Lyndie, a Civil War buff, is coping with difficult family members and a challenging southern parochial school. Two special friends and nurturing adults help.
by Gail Shepherd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Lyndie, a Civil War buff, is coping with difficult family members and a challenging southern parochial school. Two special friends and nurturing adults help.
The Undefeated
by Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
F&G Poetic text and powerful oil-on-board portraits celebrate African-Americans who “hurdled history and opened a world of possible.”
by Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
F&G Poetic text and powerful oil-on-board portraits celebrate African-Americans who “hurdled history and opened a world of possible.”
The Unstoppable Garrett Morgan
by Joan DiCicco
Illustrator: Ebony Glenn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The son of freed slaves, Morgan loved finding a better way to do things. Noticing that firefighters were not sufficiently protected from the flames, he invented a safety hood. Smoky watercolors. Time line and bibliography.
by Joan DiCicco
Illustrator: Ebony Glenn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
The son of freed slaves, Morgan loved finding a better way to do things. Noticing that firefighters were not sufficiently protected from the flames, he invented a safety hood. Smoky watercolors. Time line and bibliography.
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA
by Brenda Woods
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
As a Caucasion boy turns 12 in the summer of 1946, his friendship with an African-American veteran leads him to confront the realities of racism in South Carolina.
by Brenda Woods
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
As a Caucasion boy turns 12 in the summer of 1946, his friendship with an African-American veteran leads him to confront the realities of racism in South Carolina.
The Women Who Caught the Babies
by Eloise Greenfield
Illustrator: Daniel Minter
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Poems capturing the work, the pain, and the joy of African American midwives illustrate their importance to families and communities. Powerful illustrations and photographs.
by Eloise Greenfield
Illustrator: Daniel Minter
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Poems capturing the work, the pain, and the joy of African American midwives illustrate their importance to families and communities. Powerful illustrations and photographs.
The Woolly Monkey Mysteries
by Sandra Markle
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Photos and varied text features complement a scientific study in a Peruvian reserve of an endangered species critical to the survival of the rainforest.
by Sandra Markle
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Photos and varied text features complement a scientific study in a Peruvian reserve of an endangered species critical to the survival of the rainforest.
The World Ends in April
by Stacy McAnulty
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
7th grader Eleanor discovers a website predicting an asteroid will collide with the earth. Despite evidence to the contrary, she convinces friends and classmates to prepare for disaster. Includes information on asteroids and emergency preparedness.
by Stacy McAnulty
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
7th grader Eleanor discovers a website predicting an asteroid will collide with the earth. Despite evidence to the contrary, she convinces friends and classmates to prepare for disaster. Includes information on asteroids and emergency preparedness.
The Year We Fell From Space
by Amy Sarig King
Illustrator: Nina Goffi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Liberty draws new constellations to help cope with her father's depression and the separation of her parents. A poignant portrayal of a changing family.
by Amy Sarig King
Illustrator: Nina Goffi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Liberty draws new constellations to help cope with her father's depression and the separation of her parents. A poignant portrayal of a changing family.
This Promise of Change
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Jo Ann Allen Boyce shares her experience as one of 12 black teens integrating Tennessee's Clinton High School in 1956. Archival photographs, timeline, and bibliography.
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
Jo Ann Allen Boyce shares her experience as one of 12 black teens integrating Tennessee's Clinton High School in 1956. Archival photographs, timeline, and bibliography.
Todos Iguales - All Equal
written and illustrated by Christy Hale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the 1930s, Mexican Americans fought for their right to attend an integrated elementary school in Lemon Grove, California. Illustrations in gouache and relief printing inks. Told in English and in Spanish. Back matter.
written and illustrated by Christy Hale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2019
In the 1930s, Mexican Americans fought for their right to attend an integrated elementary school in Lemon Grove, California. Illustrations in gouache and relief printing inks. Told in English and in Spanish. Back matter.