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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Waiting to Forget
by Sheila Kelly Welch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
T. J. and his younger sister, Angela, move from a dysfunctional family to adoption.
by Sheila Kelly Welch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
T. J. and his younger sister, Angela, move from a dysfunctional family to adoption.
What Came From the Stars
by Gary D. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
When a mysterious necklace falls into his possession, sixth grader Tommy Pepper doesn't know what hit him. Will he rise to the challenge?
by Gary D. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
When a mysterious necklace falls into his possession, sixth grader Tommy Pepper doesn't know what hit him. Will he rise to the challenge?
What the Dog Said
by Randi Reisfeld
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Grace, mourning her father's death, is helped by training a rescue dog for her older sister's senior project.
by Randi Reisfeld
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Grace, mourning her father's death, is helped by training a rescue dog for her older sister's senior project.
White House Kids
by Joe Rhatiganwith
Illustrator: Jay Shin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
The stories, photos, and illustrations about the children of presidents, from John Adams to Barack Obama, depict what it's like to grow up in the White House.
by Joe Rhatiganwith
Illustrator: Jay Shin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
The stories, photos, and illustrations about the children of presidents, from John Adams to Barack Obama, depict what it's like to grow up in the White House.
Wonder
by R. J. Palacio
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Auggie's fifth-grade classmates --and the rest of his school--grow to appreciate the bright, witty boy masked by a frighteningly disfigured face.
by R. J. Palacio
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Auggie's fifth-grade classmates --and the rest of his school--grow to appreciate the bright, witty boy masked by a frighteningly disfigured face.
You Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please
by James Mihaley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
When an alien force threatens to take over Earth, Giles and his friends battle to save it.
by James Mihaley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
When an alien force threatens to take over Earth, Giles and his friends battle to save it.
Zip
by Ellie Rollins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Thirteen-year-old Lyssa sets off on her scooter to save her deceased mother's house and encounters many obstacles as she journeys across half the country and discovers more about herself.
by Ellie Rollins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2012
Thirteen-year-old Lyssa sets off on her scooter to save her deceased mother's house and encounters many obstacles as she journeys across half the country and discovers more about herself.
13 Planets
by David A. Aguilar, photos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The latest and greatest discoveries and theories about our universe is presented. Magnificent photos and paintings illustrate the text.
by David A. Aguilar, photos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The latest and greatest discoveries and theories about our universe is presented. Magnificent photos and paintings illustrate the text.
1862, Fredericksburg
by K. M. Kostyal
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The perspective of slaves and Confederate and Union soldiers are presented. Photographs.
by K. M. Kostyal
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The perspective of slaves and Confederate and Union soldiers are presented. Photographs.
A Dog's Way Home
by Bobbie Pyron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Separated from his family and his “special girl” Abby, Tom, a Shetland sheepdog, endures incredible hardships trying to find his way home.
by Bobbie Pyron
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Separated from his family and his “special girl” Abby, Tom, a Shetland sheepdog, endures incredible hardships trying to find his way home.
Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider
by Jean Fritz
Illustrator: Ian Schoenherr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
An immigrant from the British West Indies, a teenager, Hamilton arrived in the United States and changed the course of history as a soldier, poet, lawyer, and politician. ARC
by Jean Fritz
Illustrator: Ian Schoenherr
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
An immigrant from the British West Indies, a teenager, Hamilton arrived in the United States and changed the course of history as a soldier, poet, lawyer, and politician. ARC
All the World's A Stage
by Gretchen Woelfle
Illustrator: Thomas Cox
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Caught stealing purses, twelve-year-old Kit is rescued by Will Shakespeare. Although he thinks he wants to be an actor, Kit learns that his real calling is to be a carpenter.
by Gretchen Woelfle
Illustrator: Thomas Cox
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Caught stealing purses, twelve-year-old Kit is rescued by Will Shakespeare. Although he thinks he wants to be an actor, Kit learns that his real calling is to be a carpenter.
Alvin Ho:
by Lenore Look
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
When Alvin'a grandfather loses his best friend, Alvin precipitously agrees to accompany him to the funeral--and then imagines every possible thing that might go wrong.
by Lenore Look
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
When Alvin'a grandfather loses his best friend, Alvin precipitously agrees to accompany him to the funeral--and then imagines every possible thing that might go wrong.
Amelia Lost
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic set many other records before she disappeared in the attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Archival photos and graphics.
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic set many other records before she disappeared in the attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Archival photos and graphics.
America Is Under Attack
written and illustrated by Don Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
This is a clear, matter-of-fact narrative of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
written and illustrated by Don Brown
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
This is a clear, matter-of-fact narrative of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
A Million Miles from Boston
by Karen Day
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
For Lucy, the summer before middle school promises to be the best ever at her family's Maine cottage, until there are some unexpected arrivals.
by Karen Day
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
For Lucy, the summer before middle school promises to be the best ever at her family's Maine cottage, until there are some unexpected arrivals.
An Elephant in the Garden
by Michael Morpurgo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
With Russian and American armies closing in on Dresden toward the end of World War II, a German family struggles to survive and protect a young zoo elephant.
by Michael Morpurgo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
With Russian and American armies closing in on Dresden toward the end of World War II, a German family struggles to survive and protect a young zoo elephant.
Around the World on Eighty Legs
by Amy Gibson
Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Captivating poems introduce a variety of animals. Amusing, colorful illustrations. Glossary of factual information.
by Amy Gibson
Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Captivating poems introduce a variety of animals. Amusing, colorful illustrations. Glossary of factual information.
A True Princess
by Diane Zahler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Lilia's quest to find her true origins and save her best friend is filled with adventure.
by Diane Zahler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Lilia's quest to find her true origins and save her best friend is filled with adventure.
Basketball Belles
by Sue Macy
Illustrator: Matt Collins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
In a first person narrative, Agnes Morley tells the exciting story of the first intercollegiate women's basketball game in 1896. Computer-generated illustrations.
by Sue Macy
Illustrator: Matt Collins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
In a first person narrative, Agnes Morley tells the exciting story of the first intercollegiate women's basketball game in 1896. Computer-generated illustrations.
Beasts
by Stephanie Brockway
Illustrator: Ralph Masiello
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Thirteen-year-old Abigail's strange life takes a turn for the stranger when an anonymous letter leads her to embark on a quest. Vibrant mixed-media illustrations.
by Stephanie Brockway
Illustrator: Ralph Masiello
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Thirteen-year-old Abigail's strange life takes a turn for the stranger when an anonymous letter leads her to embark on a quest. Vibrant mixed-media illustrations.
Before They Were Famous
by Bob Raczka, photographs
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Were Michelangelo and Picasso great painters even when they were kids? These brief portraits provide intriguing information about them and five other famous artists.
by Bob Raczka, photographs
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
Were Michelangelo and Picasso great painters even when they were kids? These brief portraits provide intriguing information about them and five other famous artists.
Better than Weird
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
It's a real challenge for Aaron to fit in with his sixth-grade peers, but he just knows that when his dad comes back everything is going to get better.
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
It's a real challenge for Aaron to fit in with his sixth-grade peers, but he just knows that when his dad comes back everything is going to get better.
Big City Otto
written and illustrated by Bill Slavin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The search for a chimp named Georgie takes elephant Otto and parrot Crackers from the jungle to the big city in this graphic adventure.
written and illustrated by Bill Slavin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
The search for a chimp named Georgie takes elephant Otto and parrot Crackers from the jungle to the big city in this graphic adventure.
Bigger Than a Bread Box
written by Laurel Snyder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
When her mother decides she must take her children to live with their grandmother, Rebecca's familiar world falls apart. Magic solves some problems but creates others.
written by Laurel Snyder
Ages: 9+
Published: 2011
When her mother decides she must take her children to live with their grandmother, Rebecca's familiar world falls apart. Magic solves some problems but creates others.