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 Inquisitor's Tale
by Adam Gidwitz
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
France in 1242 is filled with danger, prejudice, and miracles for a peasant girl, a Jewish boy, and a dark-skinned monk. Line drawings and back matter.
by Adam Gidwitz
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
France in 1242 is filled with danger, prejudice, and miracles for a peasant girl, a Jewish boy, and a dark-skinned monk. Line drawings and back matter.
The Key to Extraordinary
by Natalie Lloyd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Eleven-year-old Emma's ancestors learned their unique destinies through special dreams; but Emma's dream is confusing, making her destiny frustratingly vague.
by Natalie Lloyd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Eleven-year-old Emma's ancestors learned their unique destinies through special dreams; but Emma's dream is confusing, making her destiny frustratingly vague.
The Land of Forgotten Girls
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Abandoned by their father and living with their abusive stepmother in Louisiana, Filipina sisters Sol, 12, and Ming, 6, find refuge in stories and friends.
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Abandoned by their father and living with their abusive stepmother in Louisiana, Filipina sisters Sol, 12, and Ming, 6, find refuge in stories and friends.
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary
by Laura Shovan
Illustrator: Abigail Halpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A diverse group of fifth graders have one big thing in common: their school is about to be torn down. Can they save it? Spot black-and-white illustrations.
by Laura Shovan
Illustrator: Abigail Halpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A diverse group of fifth graders have one big thing in common: their school is about to be torn down. Can they save it? Spot black-and-white illustrations.
The Mask That Sang
by Susan Currie
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
ARC Cass and her mother are frequently homeless until they inherit a home from her late grandmother. The house comes with a singing mask and many revelations about their heritage.
by Susan Currie
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
ARC Cass and her mother are frequently homeless until they inherit a home from her late grandmother. The house comes with a singing mask and many revelations about their heritage.
The Mummy Makers of Egypt
written and illustrated by Tamara Bower
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The task of preparing a mummy for the afterlife, essential in Ancient Egypt, is described in vivid detail along with precise illustrations in the style of the times.
written and illustrated by Tamara Bower
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The task of preparing a mummy for the afterlife, essential in Ancient Egypt, is described in vivid detail along with precise illustrations in the style of the times.
The Night Parade
by Kathryn Tanquary
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When Saki, 12, rings the sacred bell on a dare during Obon, she invokes a death curse. Now she must undo it.
by Kathryn Tanquary
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When Saki, 12, rings the sacred bell on a dare during Obon, she invokes a death curse. Now she must undo it.
The Only Road
by Alexandra Diaz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Jaime, 12, and his cousin, Angela, flee Guatemala after being threatened by the local gang, and make the treacherous journey across the border to the U.S.
by Alexandra Diaz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Jaime, 12, and his cousin, Angela, flee Guatemala after being threatened by the local gang, and make the treacherous journey across the border to the U.S.
The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart
by Lauren DeStefano
Illustrator: Kevin Keele
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Marybeth and Lionel, a pair of unlikely friends at the orphanage, discover a mysterious blue light that seems to be asking for their help. For what?
by Lauren DeStefano
Illustrator: Kevin Keele
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Marybeth and Lionel, a pair of unlikely friends at the orphanage, discover a mysterious blue light that seems to be asking for their help. For what?
The Plot to Kill Hitler
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A German minister overcomes his pacifist beliefs and participates in the failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1943. Photographs.
by Patricia McCormick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A German minister overcomes his pacifist beliefs and participates in the failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1943. Photographs.
The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price
by Jennifer Maschari
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When Charlie's little sister, Imogen, wishes to be with their deceased mother she begins disappearing from family photos. Is she disappearing in real life?
by Jennifer Maschari
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When Charlie's little sister, Imogen, wishes to be with their deceased mother she begins disappearing from family photos. Is she disappearing in real life?
The School the Aztec Eagles Built
by Dorinda Makanaōnalani Nicholson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A pilot in Mexico's WWII Air Force elicits a promise from Mexico's president to build a much needed school before they go to war. With archival photographs.
by Dorinda Makanaōnalani Nicholson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
A pilot in Mexico's WWII Air Force elicits a promise from Mexico's president to build a much needed school before they go to war. With archival photographs.
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
by Megan Shepherd
Illustrator: Dan Burgess
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Set in a hospital for tubercular children in World War II, Emmaline sees winged horses in mirrors and enters their world. Powerful black-and-white woodcuts.
by Megan Shepherd
Illustrator: Dan Burgess
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Set in a hospital for tubercular children in World War II, Emmaline sees winged horses in mirrors and enters their world. Powerful black-and-white woodcuts.
The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When eleven-year-old Lincoln's mom, escaping an abusive boyfriend, gets a job with dementia patients, Lincoln uncovers the humanity lurking behind their illnesses.
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
When eleven-year-old Lincoln's mom, escaping an abusive boyfriend, gets a job with dementia patients, Lincoln uncovers the humanity lurking behind their illnesses.
The Seventh Wish
by Kate Messner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Charlie, 12, can't believe that she has caught a wish-granting fish. But when her sister overdoses on heroin, can the fish possibly help?
by Kate Messner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Charlie, 12, can't believe that she has caught a wish-granting fish. But when her sister overdoses on heroin, can the fish possibly help?
The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel
by Radhika R. Dhariwal
Illustrator: Audrey Benjaminsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
An enslaved orphan squirrel is provoked into finding the Key of Brittle that will help win his freedom and unlock the mystery of his origins.
by Radhika R. Dhariwal
Illustrator: Audrey Benjaminsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
An enslaved orphan squirrel is provoked into finding the Key of Brittle that will help win his freedom and unlock the mystery of his origins.
The Three Lucys
by Hayan Charara
Illustrator: Sara Kahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The 2006 war in Lebanon is revealed through the eyes of young Luli as he worries about his pet cats left behind in the war zone. Evocative pen-and-ink illustrations.
by Hayan Charara
Illustrator: Sara Kahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The 2006 war in Lebanon is revealed through the eyes of young Luli as he worries about his pet cats left behind in the war zone. Evocative pen-and-ink illustrations.
The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk
written and illustrated by Jan Thornhill
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The now extinct great auk managed to survive and avoid its predators for hundreds of thousands of years until humans came along. Mixed-media illustrations.
written and illustrated by Jan Thornhill
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
The now extinct great auk managed to survive and avoid its predators for hundreds of thousands of years until humans came along. Mixed-media illustrations.
The Voyage to Magical North
by Claire Fayers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
12-year-old Brine escapes servitude to land in the center of a pirate adventure, develop a friendship with a magician's apprentice, and learn about her true self.
by Claire Fayers
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
12-year-old Brine escapes servitude to land in the center of a pirate adventure, develop a friendship with a magician's apprentice, and learn about her true self.
The Wildest Race Ever
written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Ninety degree temperature played havoc with the ten highlighted runners the the first marathon held at the World's Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri. Acrylic cartoon-like illustrations. References.
written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Ninety degree temperature played havoc with the ten highlighted runners the the first marathon held at the World's Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri. Acrylic cartoon-like illustrations. References.
The Wild Robot
written and illustrated by Peter Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Roz, a robot, finds herself alone on a remote island where she must learn to survive in this unfamiliar environment. Whimsical black-and-white illustrations.
written and illustrated by Peter Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Roz, a robot, finds herself alone on a remote island where she must learn to survive in this unfamiliar environment. Whimsical black-and-white illustrations.
The Wolf's Boy
by Susan Williams Beckhorn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Rejected by his Paleolithic family because of his crippled leg, Kai befriends a wolf-pup and survives with courage and resourcefulness in a hostile environment.
by Susan Williams Beckhorn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Rejected by his Paleolithic family because of his crippled leg, Kai befriends a wolf-pup and survives with courage and resourcefulness in a hostile environment.
This Is Not a Werewolf Story
by Sandra Evans
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Deserted by his father, boarding school student Raul is not a werewolf, but what is he? Update of a 12th century Breton legend.
by Sandra Evans
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Deserted by his father, boarding school student Raul is not a werewolf, but what is he? Update of a 12th century Breton legend.
This Kid Can Fly
by Aaron Philip
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Aaron, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, overcomes many obstacles with the help of his devoted family and numerous “angels.” He wins recognition as a disability activist.
by Aaron Philip
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
Aaron, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, overcomes many obstacles with the help of his devoted family and numerous “angels.” He wins recognition as a disability activist.
Tiny Stitches
by Gwendolyn Hooks
Illustrator: Colin Bootman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In the face of institutional racism, African American Vivien Thomas became renowned for developing pediatric open-heart surgery. Realistic watercolor illustrations. References.
by Gwendolyn Hooks
Illustrator: Colin Bootman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2016
In the face of institutional racism, African American Vivien Thomas became renowned for developing pediatric open-heart surgery. Realistic watercolor illustrations. References.