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
Out of Wonder
by Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An inspirational collection of poems paired with dynamic multimedia illustrations emulate the style, feelings, and themes of twenty culturally diverse poets from various periods. References. Biographies.
by Kwame Alexander
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An inspirational collection of poems paired with dynamic multimedia illustrations emulate the style, feelings, and themes of twenty culturally diverse poets from various periods. References. Biographies.
Outside In
by Jennifer Bradbury
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Living on the streets in India, eleven-year-old Ram becomes an apprentice to a hardworking artist. Inspired by the true story of Nek Chand, one of India's most beloved artists.
by Jennifer Bradbury
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Living on the streets in India, eleven-year-old Ram becomes an apprentice to a hardworking artist. Inspired by the true story of Nek Chand, one of India's most beloved artists.
Pablo and Birdy
by Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Ana Juan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Pablo, now 10, arrived by sea as a baby. His community nurtures him, but he wants to know his origins. Delicate line drawings.
by Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Ana Juan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Pablo, now 10, arrived by sea as a baby. His community nurtures him, but he wants to know his origins. Delicate line drawings.
Paper Chains
by Elaine Vickers
Illustrator: Sara Not
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Two best friends - one concerned about adoption secrets and the other with a father who has abandoned the family - powerfully challenge and support each other. Spot black-and-white illustrations.
by Elaine Vickers
Illustrator: Sara Not
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Two best friends - one concerned about adoption secrets and the other with a father who has abandoned the family - powerfully challenge and support each other. Spot black-and-white illustrations.
Pathfinders
by Tonya Bolden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Women and men achieve great success as bankers, soldiers, filmmakers, architects, attorneys, mathematicians, and spies. Photographs and back matter.
by Tonya Bolden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Women and men achieve great success as bankers, soldiers, filmmakers, architects, attorneys, mathematicians, and spies. Photographs and back matter.
Patina (Track series)
by Jason Reynolds
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An African American tween who loves to run for her track team faces challenges at her posh new school and in her close-knit extended family.
by Jason Reynolds
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An African American tween who loves to run for her track team faces challenges at her posh new school and in her close-knit extended family.
Pigs Might Fly
by Nick Abadzis
Illustrator: Jerel Dye
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Determined to invent an airplane without using magic, just science, Lily Leanchop's goal becomes more urgent, when the evil Warthogs attack Pigdom Plains. Will pigs fly?
by Nick Abadzis
Illustrator: Jerel Dye
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Determined to invent an airplane without using magic, just science, Lily Leanchop's goal becomes more urgent, when the evil Warthogs attack Pigdom Plains. Will pigs fly?
Podkin One-Ear (Longburrow series)
by Kieran Larwood
Illustrator: David Wyatt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An elderly storyteller relates the adventures of Podkin, Paz, and Pook, young rabbits forced to flee the evil Gorm. Shaded pencil drawings.
by Kieran Larwood
Illustrator: David Wyatt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An elderly storyteller relates the adventures of Podkin, Paz, and Pook, young rabbits forced to flee the evil Gorm. Shaded pencil drawings.
Real Friends
by Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Budding storyteller Shannon relies on her imagination to help navigate elementary school friendships within the context of tricky group dynamics. Bold full-color panels.
by Shannon Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Budding storyteller Shannon relies on her imagination to help navigate elementary school friendships within the context of tricky group dynamics. Bold full-color panels.
Rise of the Jumbies
by Tracey Baptiste
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Corinne, half human girl and half Jumbie, must rescue missing children from her Caribbean island, with folkloric roots spanning the Atlantic.
by Tracey Baptiste
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Corinne, half human girl and half Jumbie, must rescue missing children from her Caribbean island, with folkloric roots spanning the Atlantic.
Schomburg
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Eric Velasquez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Arturo Schomburg's life and work researching and collecting black historical and cultural materials is depicted in free verse poetry and vivid oil paintings. Back matter.
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Eric Velasquez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Arturo Schomburg's life and work researching and collecting black historical and cultural materials is depicted in free verse poetry and vivid oil paintings. Back matter.
Short
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Learning to be comfortable and confident in a challenging summer production of “The Wizard of Oz” helps undersized Julia grow in a variety of ways.
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Learning to be comfortable and confident in a challenging summer production of “The Wizard of Oz” helps undersized Julia grow in a variety of ways.
Silent Days, Silent Dreams
written and illustrated by Allen Say
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Deaf, autistic folk artist James Castle created amazing art with spit and ashes. This fictionalized account features original illustrations in Castle's style. Bibliography.
written and illustrated by Allen Say
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Deaf, autistic folk artist James Castle created amazing art with spit and ashes. This fictionalized account features original illustrations in Castle's style. Bibliography.
Siren Sisters
by Dana Langer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
With her friend Jason, Lolly manages to destroy the spell on everyone deemed to be sirens.
by Dana Langer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
With her friend Jason, Lolly manages to destroy the spell on everyone deemed to be sirens.
Skateboards (Made by Hand series)
by Patricia Lakin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
List with Bicycles (Made by Hand series) Follow step-by-step as a craftsman creates a skateboard. Clear text, photographs, and diagrams convey the pleasure and satisfaction of making something by hand.
by Patricia Lakin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
List with Bicycles (Made by Hand series) Follow step-by-step as a craftsman creates a skateboard. Clear text, photographs, and diagrams convey the pleasure and satisfaction of making something by hand.
Soldier Song
by Debbie Levy
Illustrator: Gilbert Ford
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
On opposite sides of a river, Union and Confederate troops mourned their dead, but played music they sometimes shared. Extensive back matter and expressive illustrations.
by Debbie Levy
Illustrator: Gilbert Ford
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
On opposite sides of a river, Union and Confederate troops mourned their dead, but played music they sometimes shared. Extensive back matter and expressive illustrations.
Sputnik's Guide To Life on Earth
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Can Prez, a foster kid, and alien/dog Sputnik, find Prez's locked-up grandfather and “10 things worth seeing or doing” to prevent Earth's destruction?
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Can Prez, a foster kid, and alien/dog Sputnik, find Prez's locked-up grandfather and “10 things worth seeing or doing” to prevent Earth's destruction?
Star Scouts
written and illustrated by Mike Lawrence
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Abducted by an alien named Mabel, Avanti learns to be a good scout and friend. Puns, jokes, and jolly digital art add to the fun.
written and illustrated by Mike Lawrence
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Abducted by an alien named Mabel, Avanti learns to be a good scout and friend. Puns, jokes, and jolly digital art add to the fun.
Stef Soto, Taco Queen
by Jennifer Torres
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An artistic 13-year-old chaffs at her loving immigrant family's overprotectiveness and at her identification with the family's taco truck business.
by Jennifer Torres
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An artistic 13-year-old chaffs at her loving immigrant family's overprotectiveness and at her identification with the family's taco truck business.
Step Up To the Plate, Maria Singh
by Uma Krishnaswami
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
For fifth grader Maria Singh playing softball is everything, but will her father let her dress like the other girls? Set in California during WW II.
by Uma Krishnaswami
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
For fifth grader Maria Singh playing softball is everything, but will her father let her dress like the other girls? Set in California during WW II.
Stolen Words
by Melanie Florence
Illustrator: Gabrielle Grimard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A granddaughter helps her Cree grandfather remember words a First Nations residential school took away, rediscovering the language's familiarity and beauty. Muted color illustrations.
by Melanie Florence
Illustrator: Gabrielle Grimard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A granddaughter helps her Cree grandfather remember words a First Nations residential school took away, rediscovering the language's familiarity and beauty. Muted color illustrations.
Superstar
by Mandy Davis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Space-obsessed ten-year-old Lester Mueselbaum, on the autism spectrum, experiences the challenges of being a fifth grader in public school after years of home schooling.
by Mandy Davis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Space-obsessed ten-year-old Lester Mueselbaum, on the autism spectrum, experiences the challenges of being a fifth grader in public school after years of home schooling.
The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole
written and illustrated by Michelle Cuevas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Bereaved 11-year-old Stella trains her new pet, yet the black hole swallows everything --including Stella and her younger brother. Humorous black-and-white sketches.
written and illustrated by Michelle Cuevas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Bereaved 11-year-old Stella trains her new pet, yet the black hole swallows everything --including Stella and her younger brother. Humorous black-and-white sketches.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart
by Stephanie Burgis
Illustrator: Freya Hartas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A feisty young dragon, turned into a girl by a food mage, has to make a livelihood as a human and becomes an apprentice chocolatier. Spot black-and-white illustrations.
by Stephanie Burgis
Illustrator: Freya Hartas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A feisty young dragon, turned into a girl by a food mage, has to make a livelihood as a human and becomes an apprentice chocolatier. Spot black-and-white illustrations.
The Elephant Keeper (Citizen Kids series)
by Margriet Ruurs
Illustrator: Pedro Covo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
After rescuing a drowning baby elephant, a young boy is offered a job as her caretaker at an elephant orphanage. Muted mixed-media illustrations.
by Margriet Ruurs
Illustrator: Pedro Covo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
After rescuing a drowning baby elephant, a young boy is offered a job as her caretaker at an elephant orphanage. Muted mixed-media illustrations.