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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Somewhere Among
by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Ema and her pregnant mom move to Japan, but she misses her life in the United States. Then the twin towers fall. A novel in verse
by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Ema and her pregnant mom move to Japan, but she misses her life in the United States. Then the twin towers fall. A novel in verse
Some Writer!
written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
E. B. White's personal and professional life and his development as a favorite children's author is beautifully related with a collage of archival and new pictures and documents.
written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
E. B. White's personal and professional life and his development as a favorite children's author is beautifully related with a collage of archival and new pictures and documents.
Spirit Week Showdown (The Magnificent Mya Tibbs series)
by Crystal Allen
Illustrator: Eda Kaban
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
With VIP tickets to the Fall Festival on the line, will nine-year-old Mya Tibbs find the friends she needs to win the Spirit Week competition?
by Crystal Allen
Illustrator: Eda Kaban
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
With VIP tickets to the Fall Festival on the line, will nine-year-old Mya Tibbs find the friends she needs to win the Spirit Week competition?
Step Right Up
by Donna Janell Bowman
Illustrator: Daniel Minter
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
William “Doc” Key, formerly a slave, trains his horse Jim how to spell and do math using kindness. Linoleum block print illustrations. Photos and backmatter.
by Donna Janell Bowman
Illustrator: Daniel Minter
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
William “Doc” Key, formerly a slave, trains his horse Jim how to spell and do math using kindness. Linoleum block print illustrations. Photos and backmatter.
Still a Work in Progress
by Jo Knowles
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Noah struggles with seventh grade, coping with his sister's illness, and becoming “invisible”.
by Jo Knowles
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Noah struggles with seventh grade, coping with his sister's illness, and becoming “invisible”.
Strange Mr. Satie
by M. T. Anderson
Illustrator: Petra Mathers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In Paris at the turn of the last century, this irreverent composer wrote music that most people didn't understand. Fanciful watercolor illustrations capture his eccentric world.
by M. T. Anderson
Illustrator: Petra Mathers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In Paris at the turn of the last century, this irreverent composer wrote music that most people didn't understand. Fanciful watercolor illustrations capture his eccentric world.
Sweet Home Alaska
by Carole Estby Dagg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
During the Great Depression, Terpsichore's family moves to Alaska. Although exposed to many hardships, she falls in love with Alaska, and with pluck, keeps her family there.
by Carole Estby Dagg
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
During the Great Depression, Terpsichore's family moves to Alaska. Although exposed to many hardships, she falls in love with Alaska, and with pluck, keeps her family there.
Taking Action for Civil and Political Rights
by Eric Braun
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Meet a twelve-year-old environmental activist, a 15-year-old leader of Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution, and other young people who are making the world better.
by Eric Braun
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Meet a twelve-year-old environmental activist, a 15-year-old leader of Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution, and other young people who are making the world better.
Taking Action to Help the Environment
by Eric Braun
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
list with “Taking Action for Civil and Political Rights”
by Eric Braun
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
list with “Taking Action for Civil and Political Rights”
Talking Leaves
by Joseph Bruchac
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Told from the perspective of his son, this story recounts the trials Sequoyah faced in creating a written language for the Cherokee.
by Joseph Bruchac
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Told from the perspective of his son, this story recounts the trials Sequoyah faced in creating a written language for the Cherokee.
The Best Man
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Archer goes through grade school with a happy family, good friends, one bully, and a blossoming love between his uncle and a male substitute teacher.
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Archer goes through grade school with a happy family, good friends, one bully, and a blossoming love between his uncle and a male substitute teacher.
The Cat who Came in Off the Roof
by Annie M. G. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Tibble, a newspaper reporter who's about to be fired for filing too many stories about cats, is aided by Minou, a strange lady with feline tendencies.
by Annie M. G. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Tibble, a newspaper reporter who's about to be fired for filing too many stories about cats, is aided by Minou, a strange lady with feline tendencies.
The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle
by Janet Fox
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
As London is bombed in 1940, three siblings escape to a relative's castle in Scotland, where they land in danger -- body and soul.
by Janet Fox
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
As London is bombed in 1940, three siblings escape to a relative's castle in Scotland, where they land in danger -- body and soul.
The Colorful Story of Comics (History of Fun Stuff series)
by Patricia Lakin
Illustrator: Rob McClurkan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
From cave paintings to graphic novels and manga, pictures and speech bubbles have been used to tell stories. Bright digital illustrations.
by Patricia Lakin
Illustrator: Rob McClurkan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
From cave paintings to graphic novels and manga, pictures and speech bubbles have been used to tell stories. Bright digital illustrations.
The Courage Test
by James Preller
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Will's newly-divorced dad forces him to journey along the Lewis and Clark trail, which in turn forces him to reconsider both American history and his own father.
by James Preller
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Will's newly-divorced dad forces him to journey along the Lewis and Clark trail, which in turn forces him to reconsider both American history and his own father.
The Distance to Home
by Jenn Bishop
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Quinnen. a supreme baseball fan, struggles with all she's lost since her older sister and friend died.
by Jenn Bishop
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Quinnen. a supreme baseball fan, struggles with all she's lost since her older sister and friend died.
The Door by the Staircase
by Katherine Marsh
Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Twelve-year-old Mary leaves a dreadful orphanage for a new home, but her mysterious adoptive mother turns out to have terrifying magical powers. Detailed black-and-white ink wash illustrations.
by Katherine Marsh
Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Twelve-year-old Mary leaves a dreadful orphanage for a new home, but her mysterious adoptive mother turns out to have terrifying magical powers. Detailed black-and-white ink wash illustrations.
The Extincts
by Veronica Cossanteli
Illustrator: Roman Muradov
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Needing money, George applies for a job at Wormestall Farm. That is only the beginning of his weird adventure with prehistoric creatures. Punctuated with quirky illustrations.
by Veronica Cossanteli
Illustrator: Roman Muradov
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Needing money, George applies for a job at Wormestall Farm. That is only the beginning of his weird adventure with prehistoric creatures. Punctuated with quirky illustrations.
The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island
by Dana Alison Levy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The two fathers and their four sons are on their annual summer vacation where they make new friends, but also face racial prejudice and unscrupulous developers.
by Dana Alison Levy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The two fathers and their four sons are on their annual summer vacation where they make new friends, but also face racial prejudice and unscrupulous developers.
The Firefly Code
by Megan Frazer Blakemore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Mori and her friends sense something different about Ilana, who has just moved into the utopian village of Old Harmonie. Is she human?
by Megan Frazer Blakemore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Mori and her friends sense something different about Ilana, who has just moved into the utopian village of Old Harmonie. Is she human?
The First Last Day
by Dorian Cirrone
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
After Haleigh, 11, wishes her perfect summer day wouldn't end, her wish comes true. Will she be stuck in time forever?
by Dorian Cirrone
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
After Haleigh, 11, wishes her perfect summer day wouldn't end, her wish comes true. Will she be stuck in time forever?
The First Step
by Susan E. Goodman
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In 1847 in Boston, an African American family challenges the law that prevents young Sarah Roberts from attending her neighborhood school. Soft-toned watercolor and gouache illustrations. Extensive backmatter.
by Susan E. Goodman
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In 1847 in Boston, an African American family challenges the law that prevents young Sarah Roberts from attending her neighborhood school. Soft-toned watercolor and gouache illustrations. Extensive backmatter.
The Great Leopard Rescue
by Sandra Markle
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In creating protective parks in the forests of China and Russia, scientists found ingenious ways to prevent the extinction of this rare cat. Photographs and maps. Well-documented.
by Sandra Markle
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In creating protective parks in the forests of China and Russia, scientists found ingenious ways to prevent the extinction of this rare cat. Photographs and maps. Well-documented.
The Great White Shark Scientist (Scientists in the Field series)
by Sy Montgomery
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Photography and tracking devices help in the study of the much-maligned sharks swimming off the coasts of New england and Mexico. Brilliant color photographs, fascinating facts, and back matter.
by Sy Montgomery
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Photography and tracking devices help in the study of the much-maligned sharks swimming off the coasts of New england and Mexico. Brilliant color photographs, fascinating facts, and back matter.
The Human Microbiome
by Rebecca E. Hirsch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Microbes protect us from dangerous germs that help us digest food, cause auto-immune illnesses, and provide immunity against diseases. Photographs. Source notes.
by Rebecca E. Hirsch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Microbes protect us from dangerous germs that help us digest food, cause auto-immune illnesses, and provide immunity against diseases. Photographs. Source notes.