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 Summer of Moonlight Secrets
by Danette Haworth
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Twelve-year-old Allie Jo is expecting a lonely summer. Instead she makes new friends, including the mysterious Tara, who seems more comfortable in the sea.
by Danette Haworth
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Twelve-year-old Allie Jo is expecting a lonely summer. Instead she makes new friends, including the mysterious Tara, who seems more comfortable in the sea.
The Sundown Rule
by Wendy Townsend
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Louise and her father live in a rural area near a lake full of wonderful, wild creatures. When her dad is assigned to work in Brazil, she faces some adjustments.
by Wendy Townsend
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Louise and her father live in a rural area near a lake full of wonderful, wild creatures. When her dad is assigned to work in Brazil, she faces some adjustments.
The Taking Tree
by Shrill Travesty
Illustrator: Lucy Ruth Cummins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
The beloved Shel Silverstein classic is retold in a darkly humorous fashion. Charcoal and watercolor illustrations.
by Shrill Travesty
Illustrator: Lucy Ruth Cummins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
The beloved Shel Silverstein classic is retold in a darkly humorous fashion. Charcoal and watercolor illustrations.
The Thirteenth Princess
by Diane Zahler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Zita, the last princess, is relegated to serving maid, but is loved by her twelve sisters. When they become enchanted, three friends save them all.
by Diane Zahler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Zita, the last princess, is relegated to serving maid, but is loved by her twelve sisters. When they become enchanted, three friends save them all.
The Wish Stealers
by Tracy Trivas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Sixth-grader Griffin loves making wishes, but an unexpected gift comes with a curse that will make her think twice before wishing again.
by Tracy Trivas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Sixth-grader Griffin loves making wishes, but an unexpected gift comes with a curse that will make her think twice before wishing again.
The Wonder of Charlie Anne
by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Charlie Anne copes with the death of her mother, the hardships of family life, and racial prejudice in 1930s Massachusetts.
by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Charlie Anne copes with the death of her mother, the hardships of family life, and racial prejudice in 1930s Massachusetts.
The Year Money Grew on Trees
written and ill. by Aaron Hawkins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In early 1980s New Mexico, thirteen-year-old Jackson convinces his cousins and sisters to help resurrect a neglected apple orchard with the hope of making big money.
written and ill. by Aaron Hawkins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In early 1980s New Mexico, thirteen-year-old Jackson convinces his cousins and sisters to help resurrect a neglected apple orchard with the hope of making big money.
This Means War!
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that created real fear of war, a group of youngsters distract themselves with a “war” between boys and girls.
by Ellen Wittlinger
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that created real fear of war, a group of youngsters distract themselves with a “war” between boys and girls.
Three Rivers Rising
by Jame Richards
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Set against the violent man-made disaster of 1899, a love story between an upper-class girl and the son of a miner unfolds in free verse.
by Jame Richards
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Set against the violent man-made disaster of 1899, a love story between an upper-class girl and the son of a miner unfolds in free verse.
Tortilla Sun
by Jennifer Cervantes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Spending the summer in New Mexico with her grandmother, twelve-year-old Izzie learns about her culture and the true story of her father's death.
by Jennifer Cervantes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Spending the summer in New Mexico with her grandmother, twelve-year-old Izzie learns about her culture and the true story of her father's death.
Touch Blue
by Cynthia Lord
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eleven-year-old Tess pulls every trick to encourage foster brother Aaron to stay on her Maine island and discovers what belonging really means.
by Cynthia Lord
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Eleven-year-old Tess pulls every trick to encourage foster brother Aaron to stay on her Maine island and discovers what belonging really means.
Truth with a Capital T
by Bethany Hegedus
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
No longer “Gifted and Talented”, Maebelle needs a summer alone with her grandparents. To her chagrin, Isaac, her adopted cousin, is there.
by Bethany Hegedus
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
No longer “Gifted and Talented”, Maebelle needs a summer alone with her grandparents. To her chagrin, Isaac, her adopted cousin, is there.
Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer L. Holm
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A reluctant visitor to her aunt in Key West, Turtle and the “diaper gang” make the best of life in Depression-era Florida.
by Jennifer L. Holm
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A reluctant visitor to her aunt in Key West, Turtle and the “diaper gang” make the best of life in Depression-era Florida.
Vordak the Incomprehensible
by Scott Seegert
Illustrator: John Martin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A clever supervillian offers rules and advice to readers on how to develop an evil plan to rule the world.
by Scott Seegert
Illustrator: John Martin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
A clever supervillian offers rules and advice to readers on how to develop an evil plan to rule the world.
Walls within Walls
by Maureen Sherry
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Failure to return a library book dated 1937 causes a treasure to remain undiscovered, until the curious Smithfork children move into an historic Manhattan apartment.
by Maureen Sherry
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Failure to return a library book dated 1937 causes a treasure to remain undiscovered, until the curious Smithfork children move into an historic Manhattan apartment.
Warriors in the Crossfire
by Nancy Bo Flood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Two teenagers caught in the conflict between the Japanese and Americans in World War II Saipan make difficult decisions to save their families.
by Nancy Bo Flood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Two teenagers caught in the conflict between the Japanese and Americans in World War II Saipan make difficult decisions to save their families.
Watch Out, World - Rosy Cole is Going Green!
by Sheila Greenwald
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Rosy Cole comes up with some unusual “green-themed” ideas for her school's fall fair.
by Sheila Greenwald
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Rosy Cole comes up with some unusual “green-themed” ideas for her school's fall fair.
Wayfarer
by R. J. Anderson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
The faeries of the Oak have lost their magic. Linden, fifteen years old, is sent on a dangerous mission to retrieve it. A human teen, Timothy, helps.
by R. J. Anderson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
The faeries of the Oak have lost their magic. Linden, fifteen years old, is sent on a dangerous mission to retrieve it. A human teen, Timothy, helps.
We Stand as One
by Laura B. Edge
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Risking imprisonment, abuse, and their lives when they protested in 1909 in New York City, teenaged girls helped change the way factories were run. Resources include footnotes, bibliography and web sites.
by Laura B. Edge
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Risking imprisonment, abuse, and their lives when they protested in 1909 in New York City, teenaged girls helped change the way factories were run. Resources include footnotes, bibliography and web sites.
What Happened on Fox Street
by Tricia Springstubb
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Mo finds out that an unscrupulous real estate developer is trying to disrupt family life on her street, she goes into action.
by Tricia Springstubb
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
When Mo finds out that an unscrupulous real estate developer is trying to disrupt family life on her street, she goes into action.
When Molly Was a Harvey Girl
by Frances M. Wood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In the late 1800s, two sisters, one of whom is thirteen masquerading as eighteen, go West to work in a railroad eatery and encounter myriad adventures.
by Frances M. Wood
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In the late 1800s, two sisters, one of whom is thirteen masquerading as eighteen, go West to work in a railroad eatery and encounter myriad adventures.
Who Will Shout if Not Us?
by Ann Kerns
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
This is the story of the young people who, in the spring of 1989, took on the oppressive government of China because they believed in freedom, equality and civil rights. Time lines, bibliography, and index.
by Ann Kerns
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
This is the story of the young people who, in the spring of 1989, took on the oppressive government of China because they believed in freedom, equality and civil rights. Time lines, bibliography, and index.
Willowood
by Cecilia Galante
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fifth grader Lily feels lost and lonely in a new city until she begins to collect an unusual group of friends.
by Cecilia Galante
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
Fifth grader Lily feels lost and lonely in a new city until she begins to collect an unusual group of friends.
Wishing for Tomorrow
by Hilary McKay
Illustrator: Nick Maland
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In this sequel to the classic A Little Princess we learn what happened to the school and the students Sara Crewe left behind.
by Hilary McKay
Illustrator: Nick Maland
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
In this sequel to the classic A Little Princess we learn what happened to the school and the students Sara Crewe left behind.
Year of the Tiger
by Alison Lloyd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
During the Han Empire, Len and Li, from totally different backgrounds, team up. A genuine friendship develops as the boys save the city.
by Alison Lloyd
Ages: 9+
Published: 2010
During the Han Empire, Len and Li, from totally different backgrounds, team up. A genuine friendship develops as the boys save the city.