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 Archaeolojesters
by Andreas Oertel
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
To keep their Canadian hometown afloat, three twelve-year-olds concoct a crazy-seeming plan to create and plant a fake ancient Egyptian artifact. Can it possibly work?
by Andreas Oertel
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
To keep their Canadian hometown afloat, three twelve-year-olds concoct a crazy-seeming plan to create and plant a fake ancient Egyptian artifact. Can it possibly work?
The Boy Who Climbed Into the Moon
by David Almond
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Allowed to stay home from school for a day, Paul does not expect to realize his dream of reaching the moon.
by David Almond
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Allowed to stay home from school for a day, Paul does not expect to realize his dream of reaching the moon.
The Chihuahua Chase
by A. E. Cannon
Illustrator: Julie Olson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fourth-grader Addie May joins her nemesis and classmate Teddy to find his missing dog before Saturday's big race. Black-and-white illustrations.
by A. E. Cannon
Illustrator: Julie Olson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fourth-grader Addie May joins her nemesis and classmate Teddy to find his missing dog before Saturday's big race. Black-and-white illustrations.
The Dancing Pancake
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
After her parents separate, Bindi adjusts to a new life as her friends and extended family help to make her mother and aunt's new diner a success.
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
After her parents separate, Bindi adjusts to a new life as her friends and extended family help to make her mother and aunt's new diner a success.
The Death-Defying Pepper Roux
by Geraldine McCaughrean
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Destined not to outlive his fourteenth birthday, Pepper takes a last walk to the harbor and finds himself aboard his father's ship, not as passenger, but as captain.
by Geraldine McCaughrean
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Destined not to outlive his fourteenth birthday, Pepper takes a last walk to the harbor and finds himself aboard his father's ship, not as passenger, but as captain.
The Dreamer
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrator: Peter Sís
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
This fictional biography of the Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, artfully combines spare prose, poetry, and ink drawings to describe a shy boy's imaginative transformation of the world around him.
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Illustrator: Peter Sís
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
This fictional biography of the Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, artfully combines spare prose, poetry, and ink drawings to describe a shy boy's imaginative transformation of the world around him.
The Emerald Atlas
by John Stephens
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
An enthralling adventure takes three kids from their bleak orphanage lives to a magical land where they change the course of history and learn how special they are.
by John Stephens
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
An enthralling adventure takes three kids from their bleak orphanage lives to a magical land where they change the course of history and learn how special they are.
The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
by Barbara Kerley
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Mark Twain's thirteen-year-old daughter Susy writes his biography--warts and all, dispensing advice along the way. Earth-toned artwork.
by Barbara Kerley
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Mark Twain's thirteen-year-old daughter Susy writes his biography--warts and all, dispensing advice along the way. Earth-toned artwork.
The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A class full of extreme individuals ,plus a very creative teacher, adds up to a year of joyful learning.
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A class full of extreme individuals ,plus a very creative teacher, adds up to a year of joyful learning.
The Fantastic Adventures of Baron Munchausen
by Heinz Janisch
Illustrator: Aljoscha Blau
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Surrealistic paintings lead into a fantastic world where you can ride a cannonball in the air or a sea horse under water.
by Heinz Janisch
Illustrator: Aljoscha Blau
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Surrealistic paintings lead into a fantastic world where you can ride a cannonball in the air or a sea horse under water.
The Fizzy Whiz Kid
by Maiya Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eleven-year-old Mitch feels like an outsider at his new Hollywood school, until he lands a part in a TV commercial.
by Maiya Williams
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eleven-year-old Mitch feels like an outsider at his new Hollywood school, until he lands a part in a TV commercial.
The Good Garden
by Katie Smith Milway
Illustrator: Sylvie Daigneault
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A Honduran girl saves her family from hunger by applying farming techniques taught by her teacher. Glowing colored pencil illustrations with some hints of magical realism.
by Katie Smith Milway
Illustrator: Sylvie Daigneault
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A Honduran girl saves her family from hunger by applying farming techniques taught by her teacher. Glowing colored pencil illustrations with some hints of magical realism.
The Grimm Legacy
by Polly Shulman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Elizabeth becomes a page at a library which circulates material objects, not books, she gets involved in fantastic, scary, and suspenseful happenings.
by Polly Shulman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Elizabeth becomes a page at a library which circulates material objects, not books, she gets involved in fantastic, scary, and suspenseful happenings.
The Healing Spell
by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Twelve-year-old Livie loves the Louisiana bayou and her Dad but struggles with her role in her mother's accident.
by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Twelve-year-old Livie loves the Louisiana bayou and her Dad but struggles with her role in her mother's accident.
The Last Words of Will Wolfkin
by Steven Knight
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Imprisoned in his own body for more than fourteen years, Toby suddenly fantasizes himself on a journey to Iceland with a cat turned boy.
by Steven Knight
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Imprisoned in his own body for more than fourteen years, Toby suddenly fantasizes himself on a journey to Iceland with a cat turned boy.
The Other Half of My Heart
by Sundee T. Frazier
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
While struggling with her own identity, white-skinned eleven-year-old Minni comes to understand her twin black-skinned sister's feelings, when they participate in a southern pageant.
by Sundee T. Frazier
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
While struggling with her own identity, white-skinned eleven-year-old Minni comes to understand her twin black-skinned sister's feelings, when they participate in a southern pageant.
The Owl Keeper
by Christine Brodien-Jones
Illustrator: Maggie Kneen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fleeing for their lives in a brutal regime, Max and Rose embark on a perilous quest to fulfill a prophecy.
by Christine Brodien-Jones
Illustrator: Maggie Kneen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fleeing for their lives in a brutal regime, Max and Rose embark on a perilous quest to fulfill a prophecy.
The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy
by Jill MacLean
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Prinny's small-town Newfoundland life with an alcoholic mother, few friends, and serious reading difficulties, becomes even harder when bullies invade.
by Jill MacLean
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Prinny's small-town Newfoundland life with an alcoholic mother, few friends, and serious reading difficulties, becomes even harder when bullies invade.
The Red Umbrella
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Castro takes over and life becomes dangerous for non-revolutionaries, Lucía, fourteen, and Frankie, seven, are sent to Nebraska to live with an older couple.
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Castro takes over and life becomes dangerous for non-revolutionaries, Lucía, fourteen, and Frankie, seven, are sent to Nebraska to live with an older couple.
The Ring of Five
by Eoin McNamee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Kidnapped on his way to boarding school, Danny finds himself in a school for spies with his own life in danger.
by Eoin McNamee
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Kidnapped on his way to boarding school, Danny finds himself in a school for spies with his own life in danger.
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic
by Jennifer Trafton
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Persimmony has wonderful adventures with strange, outlandish creatures on the isolated little island on which they all live.
by Jennifer Trafton
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Persimmony has wonderful adventures with strange, outlandish creatures on the isolated little island on which they all live.
The Risen Horse
by Karen Taschek
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When fifteen-year-old Isabel is sent to the Carlisle School for Indians, her world opens up.
by Karen Taschek
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When fifteen-year-old Isabel is sent to the Carlisle School for Indians, her world opens up.
The Search for WondLa
written and ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eva unsuccessfully searches the world to find other humans, but a creature with very positive human qualities helps her survive.
written and ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eva unsuccessfully searches the world to find other humans, but a creature with very positive human qualities helps her survive.
The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman
by Ben H. Winters
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Bethesda's Social Studies project leads her to look into the private life of mousy Ms. Finkleman. Was she really a rock star?
by Ben H. Winters
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Bethesda's Social Studies project leads her to look into the private life of mousy Ms. Finkleman. Was she really a rock star?
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Told from the varying points of view of sixth-grade students, the short chapters tell of the outcast boy who becomes advisor to Middle School social interactions. In the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
by Tom Angleberger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Told from the varying points of view of sixth-grade students, the short chapters tell of the outcast boy who becomes advisor to Middle School social interactions. In the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.