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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Nightshade City
by Hilary Wagner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Vincent and Victor Nightshade band together with legendary Juniper to save the residents of the Catacombs from their (rat) dictator.
by Hilary Wagner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Vincent and Victor Nightshade band together with legendary Juniper to save the residents of the Catacombs from their (rat) dictator.
Ninth Ward
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A young girl struggles courageously to survive during Hurricane Katrina as she deals with her ailing foster mother.
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A young girl struggles courageously to survive during Hurricane Katrina as she deals with her ailing foster mother.
Noodle Pie
by Ruth Starke
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A trip to Vietnam is a homecoming for his father but a real culture shock for Andy, who helps his street-smart cousins transform the simple family restaurant into a tourist-friendly money-maker.
by Ruth Starke
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A trip to Vietnam is a homecoming for his father but a real culture shock for Andy, who helps his street-smart cousins transform the simple family restaurant into a tourist-friendly money-maker.
No Such Thing as Dragons
by Philip Reeve
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A young, mute boy who is apprenticed to a dragon-slayer suspects that the winged beasts do not exist until he learns the truth.
by Philip Reeve
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A young, mute boy who is apprenticed to a dragon-slayer suspects that the winged beasts do not exist until he learns the truth.
Octavia Boone's Big Questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything
by Rebecca Rupp
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When seventh-grader Octavia's questions aren't answered by her mother's conservative Christian faith or her father's devotion to Thoreau, she develops a scene experiment to test the existence of God.
by Rebecca Rupp
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When seventh-grader Octavia's questions aren't answered by her mother's conservative Christian faith or her father's devotion to Thoreau, she develops a scene experiment to test the existence of God.
Old Photographs
by Sherie Poserorski
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Two fourteen-year-olds try to find the robbers who ransacked a home and beat a confused elderly woman they had befriended.
by Sherie Poserorski
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Two fourteen-year-olds try to find the robbers who ransacked a home and beat a confused elderly woman they had befriended.
One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive in Oakland, California, in the summer of 1968 to spend time with their long-absent mother, they learn more than they bargained for.
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive in Oakland, California, in the summer of 1968 to spend time with their long-absent mother, they learn more than they bargained for.
Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Melody Brooks can't walk, feed herself, or talk. Her classmates think she's dumb and weird. How can she find a way to communicate her brilliant, retentive mind?
by Sharon Draper
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Melody Brooks can't walk, feed herself, or talk. Her classmates think she's dumb and weird. How can she find a way to communicate her brilliant, retentive mind?
Palace Beautiful
by Sarah deFord Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A journal written in 1918 and a new friend help thirteen-year-old Sadie and her younger sister come to terms with issues in their lives.
by Sarah deFord Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A journal written in 1918 and a new friend help thirteen-year-old Sadie and her younger sister come to terms with issues in their lives.
Pickle Impossible
by Eli Stutz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Pierre and Aurore must get a jar of pickles to the Picklelympics contest in Switzerland and save the family farm, but the evil Monsieur Borsht has other plans.
by Eli Stutz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Pierre and Aurore must get a jar of pickles to the Picklelympics contest in Switzerland and save the family farm, but the evil Monsieur Borsht has other plans.
Rascal
by Ken Wells
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Rascal, an irrepressible beagle, loves to romp through the Louisiana Bayou with his boy, Meely, chsing rabbits and sniffing out danger! Engaging line drawings.
by Ken Wells
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Rascal, an irrepressible beagle, loves to romp through the Louisiana Bayou with his boy, Meely, chsing rabbits and sniffing out danger! Engaging line drawings.
Saving Sky
by Diane Stanley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
As terrorist attacks rise in the U.S., and the police begin to arrest all Arabs or presumed Arabs, Sky's family rides Kareem on their secluded New Mexico ranch.
by Diane Stanley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
As terrorist attacks rise in the U.S., and the police begin to arrest all Arabs or presumed Arabs, Sky's family rides Kareem on their secluded New Mexico ranch.
Sea of the Dead
by Julia Durango
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When the Fallen King kidnaps the son of the Warrior Prince, he learns surprising truths about his empire and his family.
by Julia Durango
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When the Fallen King kidnaps the son of the Warrior Prince, he learns surprising truths about his empire and his family.
Shooting Kabul
by N.H. Senzai
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fadi and his family flee war-torn Afghanistan, leaving his younger sister behind. In California they struggle to reunite the family.
by N.H. Senzai
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fadi and his family flee war-torn Afghanistan, leaving his younger sister behind. In California they struggle to reunite the family.
Slick
by Sara Cassidy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Liza and her seventh grade friends take action on behalf of Guatemalans exploited by oil companies.
by Sara Cassidy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Liza and her seventh grade friends take action on behalf of Guatemalans exploited by oil companies.
Smells Like Dog
by Suzanne Selfors
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Homer Pudding, a twelve-year-old aspiring treasure hunter, runs away to find out the identity of the most important thing his explorer uncle left him when he died. An engaging adventure spoof.
by Suzanne Selfors
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Homer Pudding, a twelve-year-old aspiring treasure hunter, runs away to find out the identity of the most important thing his explorer uncle left him when he died. An engaging adventure spoof.
Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
After an accident, sixth-grader Raina faces extensive dental work, which encourages the school bullies to increase their taunts until she finds her confidence...and herself. A graphic novel.
by Raina Telgemeier
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
After an accident, sixth-grader Raina faces extensive dental work, which encourages the school bullies to increase their taunts until she finds her confidence...and herself. A graphic novel.
Spaceheadz (Book 1)
by Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Shane Prigmore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Earth is about to be turned off and horrible things can happen unless Michael K and his new alien friends recruit three or four million kids to become Spaceheadz.
by Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Shane Prigmore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Earth is about to be turned off and horrible things can happen unless Michael K and his new alien friends recruit three or four million kids to become Spaceheadz.
Sports Camp
by Rich Wallace
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In spite of being among the youngest and his ”new camper” status, Riley manages to gain the respect of his bunkmates.
by Rich Wallace
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In spite of being among the youngest and his ”new camper” status, Riley manages to gain the respect of his bunkmates.
Stand Straight, Ella Kate
by Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
More than eight feet tall, Ella Kate Ewing, a woman born in Missouri in 1872, makes the most of her unusual size. Fictionalized biography. Acrylic paintings.
by Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
More than eight feet tall, Ella Kate Ewing, a woman born in Missouri in 1872, makes the most of her unusual size. Fictionalized biography. Acrylic paintings.
Star in the Forest
by Laura Resau
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fifth-grader and illegal immigrant Zitlally deals with her family's troubles when her father is deported. A stray dog and a girl befriend her.
by Laura Resau
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fifth-grader and illegal immigrant Zitlally deals with her family's troubles when her father is deported. A stray dog and a girl befriend her.
Storyteller
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Elizabeth feels a powerful connection to the portrait of an eighteenth-century ancestor and learns about her family's history during the American Revolution.
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Elizabeth feels a powerful connection to the portrait of an eighteenth-century ancestor and learns about her family's history during the American Revolution.
Sweet and Sunny
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Sunny Holiday is back, determined to make Kid's Day a national holiday, while using her “firefly ideas” to help those around her.
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Sunny Holiday is back, determined to make Kid's Day a national holiday, while using her “firefly ideas” to help those around her.
Take Me With You
by Carolyn Marsden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Living at the Naples orphanage since World War II, blond-haired Pina is sure she will be adopted first. Dusky-haired Susanna does not dare to dream. Their hopes are fulfilled in unexpected ways.
by Carolyn Marsden
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Living at the Naples orphanage since World War II, blond-haired Pina is sure she will be adopted first. Dusky-haired Susanna does not dare to dream. Their hopes are fulfilled in unexpected ways.
The Accidental Adventures of India McAllister
written and ill. by Charlotte Agell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Adopted from China and raised in Maine, nine-year-old India's adventures bring her closer to her artist mother, her male best friend, and her father and his new partner, Richard.
written and ill. by Charlotte Agell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Adopted from China and raised in Maine, nine-year-old India's adventures bring her closer to her artist mother, her male best friend, and her father and his new partner, Richard.