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 First Rule of Punk
written and illustrated by Celia C. Pérez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Of both Mexican and Irish-American heritage, Malú, 12, just wants to be punk. Black and white pencil illustrations.
written and illustrated by Celia C. Pérez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Of both Mexican and Irish-American heritage, Malú, 12, just wants to be punk. Black and white pencil illustrations.
The Gauntlet
by Karuna Riazi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An ancient game springs to life as soon as Farah, 12, and her friends begin playing. Now they must win the game or remain its prisoners.
by Karuna Riazi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
An ancient game springs to life as soon as Farah, 12, and her friends begin playing. Now they must win the game or remain its prisoners.
The Good Fight
by Anne Quirk
Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
This is a lively and humorous account of the rivalry and disagreements among five founding fathers. Pencil illustrations. Sources, bibliography.
by Anne Quirk
Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
This is a lively and humorous account of the rivalry and disagreements among five founding fathers. Pencil illustrations. Sources, bibliography.
The Great American Foot Race
by Andrew Speno
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In 1928, 199 runners began a marathon race from Los Angeles to New York. 54 runners finished. This book tells their story. Photographs and extensive back matter.
by Andrew Speno
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In 1928, 199 runners began a marathon race from Los Angeles to New York. 54 runners finished. This book tells their story. Photographs and extensive back matter.
The Harlem Charade
by Natasha Tarpley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Three children join forces to save their historic neighborhood from development by an ambitious politician.
by Natasha Tarpley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Three children join forces to save their historic neighborhood from development by an ambitious politician.
The Last Panther
by Todd Mitchell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In a future world where most animals are extinct, Kiri discovers a panther family. Can she save them from being hunted or locked up in a lab?
by Todd Mitchell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In a future world where most animals are extinct, Kiri discovers a panther family. Can she save them from being hunted or locked up in a lab?
The Legendary Miss Lena Horne
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Despite racial prejudice and political persecution, Lena Horne became a successful performer and a vibrant civil rights activist. Oil and collage illustrations.
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Despite racial prejudice and political persecution, Lena Horne became a successful performer and a vibrant civil rights activist. Oil and collage illustrations.
The Magician and the Spirits
by Deborah Noyes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A magician and an escape artist, Houdini also became obsessed with exposing phenomena related to ghosts and the spirit world. Sepia-toned archival photographs. Back matter.
by Deborah Noyes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
A magician and an escape artist, Houdini also became obsessed with exposing phenomena related to ghosts and the spirit world. Sepia-toned archival photographs. Back matter.
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
by Christopher Edge
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC Albie Bright's mother has died of cancer, but using a box, a banana, a Geiger counter, and her computer, can he travel to a parallel universe to find her?
by Christopher Edge
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC Albie Bright's mother has died of cancer, but using a box, a banana, a Geiger counter, and her computer, can he travel to a parallel universe to find her?
The Mystery of the Painted Dragon (The Clockwork Sparrow series)
by Katherine Woodfine
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In 1909, two daring female detectives and their friends unmask the thief of a painting. A fast-paced Edwardian mystery.
by Katherine Woodfine
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In 1909, two daring female detectives and their friends unmask the thief of a painting. A fast-paced Edwardian mystery.
The New Ocean
written and illustrated by Bryn Barnard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
What will become of marine life as the oceans become more polluted and global warming becomes more pervasive? Through tales of six sea creatures, that decline is described. Oil an canvas illustrations. Glossary. Sources.
written and illustrated by Bryn Barnard
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
What will become of marine life as the oceans become more polluted and global warming becomes more pervasive? Through tales of six sea creatures, that decline is described. Oil an canvas illustrations. Glossary. Sources.
The Notations of Cooper Cameron
by Jane O'Reilly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Spending the summer at a lake cabin, the scene of his grandfather's death two years earlier, gives Cooper opportunities to confront his fears and grief.
by Jane O'Reilly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Spending the summer at a lake cabin, the scene of his grandfather's death two years earlier, gives Cooper opportunities to confront his fears and grief.
The People Shall Continue
by Simon J. Ortiz
Illustrator: Sharol Graves
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
This reprint tells of the resilience and strength of Native nations, reflecting differences among cultures while also honoring their cohesion. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter. Also available in Spanish as El Pueblo Seguirá.
by Simon J. Ortiz
Illustrator: Sharol Graves
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
This reprint tells of the resilience and strength of Native nations, reflecting differences among cultures while also honoring their cohesion. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter. Also available in Spanish as El Pueblo Seguirá.
The Playbook
by Kwame Alexander
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Within the framework of a basketball game, solid tips for being the best possible person are presented. Black-and-white photographs.
by Kwame Alexander
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Within the framework of a basketball game, solid tips for being the best possible person are presented. Black-and-white photographs.
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine
by Mark Twain
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Kindness and friendship guide an unfortunate boy through adventures, expanding a long-forgotten Twain manuscript. Exquisite illustrations and book design.
by Mark Twain
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Kindness and friendship guide an unfortunate boy through adventures, expanding a long-forgotten Twain manuscript. Exquisite illustrations and book design.
The Quilts of Gee's Bend
by Susan Goldman Rubin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
The women of this African-American Alabama community have for generations created striking abstract quilts while enduring dire circumstances and backbreaking labor. A triumphant narrative illustrated with photographs of the actual quilts.
by Susan Goldman Rubin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
The women of this African-American Alabama community have for generations created striking abstract quilts while enduring dire circumstances and backbreaking labor. A triumphant narrative illustrated with photographs of the actual quilts.
The Real McCoys
by Matthew Swanson
Illustrator: Robbi Behr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC Someone has stolen Tiddlywhump Elementary School's beloved owl mascot. Can ten-year-old Moxie unmask the culprit? Humorous black-and-white illustrations on every page.
by Matthew Swanson
Illustrator: Robbi Behr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC Someone has stolen Tiddlywhump Elementary School's beloved owl mascot. Can ten-year-old Moxie unmask the culprit? Humorous black-and-white illustrations on every page.
The Secret of Nightingale Wood
by Lucy Strange
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Henrietta, twelve, must find strength in herself, her imagination, and maybe from the witch in the wood, to bring her lost family together again.
by Lucy Strange
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Henrietta, twelve, must find strength in herself, her imagination, and maybe from the witch in the wood, to bring her lost family together again.
The Someday Birds
by Sally J. Pla
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When Charlie and his siblings travel to see their father who was wounded in Afghanistan, Charlie confronts many new situations challenging his fears.
by Sally J. Pla
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When Charlie and his siblings travel to see their father who was wounded in Afghanistan, Charlie confronts many new situations challenging his fears.
The Someday Suitcase
by Corey Ann Haydu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When Danny falls ill, best friend Clover uses science and the belief in their specially shared magic to bring hope.
by Corey Ann Haydu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When Danny falls ill, best friend Clover uses science and the belief in their specially shared magic to bring hope.
The Uncommoners
by Jennifer Bell
Illustrator: Karl James Mountford
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Eleven-year-old Ivy and her brother, Seb, 14, discover a magical underground world that holds clues to their parents' disappearance and grandmother's past.
by Jennifer Bell
Illustrator: Karl James Mountford
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
Eleven-year-old Ivy and her brother, Seb, 14, discover a magical underground world that holds clues to their parents' disappearance and grandmother's past.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When a large, happy family living on a friendly Harlem block is being forced to move by their mysterious, curmudgeonly landlord, the children devise a plan. Will it work? Spot pencil sketches. Map on the end papers.
written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
When a large, happy family living on a friendly Harlem block is being forced to move by their mysterious, curmudgeonly landlord, the children devise a plan. Will it work? Spot pencil sketches. Map on the end papers.
The Warden's Daughter
by Jerry Spinelli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
It's summer 1959, and Cammie, 12, hopes to find a mother figure in one of the inmates at the prison her father runs in Pennsylvania.
by Jerry Spinelli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
It's summer 1959, and Cammie, 12, hopes to find a mother figure in one of the inmates at the prison her father runs in Pennsylvania.
The War I Finally Won
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In this sequel to “The War That Saved My Life,” Ada's clubfoot is mended but the stress of WWII and the pain from her past remain.
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
In this sequel to “The War That Saved My Life,” Ada's clubfoot is mended but the stress of WWII and the pain from her past remain.
The Way to Bea
by Kat Yeh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC - Beatrice turns to her poetry when rejected by her group of friends. New friends emerge as she embarks on a quest to find the perfect labyrinth.
by Kat Yeh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2017
ARC - Beatrice turns to her poetry when rejected by her group of friends. New friends emerge as she embarks on a quest to find the perfect labyrinth.