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 Gecko & Sticky
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In this zany adventure, 13-year-old Dave and Sticky (a talking gecko) battle an evil villain for magic Aztec ingots. Humorous black and white illustrations.
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In this zany adventure, 13-year-old Dave and Sticky (a talking gecko) battle an evil villain for magic Aztec ingots. Humorous black and white illustrations.
The Gecko & Sticky
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In this energetic romp, 13-year-old Dave and his sidekick Sticky engage in another battle with arch-villain Damien. Humorous black and white illustrations.
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In this energetic romp, 13-year-old Dave and his sidekick Sticky engage in another battle with arch-villain Damien. Humorous black and white illustrations.
The Georges and the Jewels
by Jane Smiley
Illustrator: Elaine Clayton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In 1960s California, seventh-grader Abby works on her family's horse farm while coping with her strict father and school problems.
by Jane Smiley
Illustrator: Elaine Clayton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
In 1960s California, seventh-grader Abby works on her family's horse farm while coping with her strict father and school problems.
The Giant-Slayer
by Iain Lawrence
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Laurie's magical stories of dragons, gnomes, and a fearless young hero allow children confined to iron-lung machines to travel beyond the confines of the polio ward.
by Iain Lawrence
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Laurie's magical stories of dragons, gnomes, and a fearless young hero allow children confined to iron-lung machines to travel beyond the confines of the polio ward.
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies
by Mick Cochrane
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Molly keeps the memory of her dead father vivid by using his favorite knuckleball which wins her a place on the baseball team.
by Mick Cochrane
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Molly keeps the memory of her dead father vivid by using his favorite knuckleball which wins her a place on the baseball team.
The Kind of Friends We Used to Be
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
12-year-old friends since preschool grow apart as their interests become more and more diverse. A wise and appealing depiction of middle school crises.
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
12-year-old friends since preschool grow apart as their interests become more and more diverse. A wise and appealing depiction of middle school crises.
The Last Leopard
by Lauren St. John
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
11-year-old Martine uses her special powers over animals to save the last leopard of Zimbabwe.
by Lauren St. John
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
11-year-old Martine uses her special powers over animals to save the last leopard of Zimbabwe.
The Last Newspaper Boy in America
by Sue Corbett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When he reaches age twelve and becomes his town's newspaper boy, Wil must fight to save his job and his town.
by Sue Corbett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When he reaches age twelve and becomes his town's newspaper boy, Wil must fight to save his job and his town.
The Magician's Elephant
by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Yoko Tanaka
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
A ten-year-old orphan, Peter, meets a fortune teller, setting off a remarkable chain of events and a search for his sister, once presumed dead.
by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Yoko Tanaka
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
A ten-year-old orphan, Peter, meets a fortune teller, setting off a remarkable chain of events and a search for his sister, once presumed dead.
The Mealworm Diaries
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
After a terrible accident, Jeremy faces many challenges, including adjusting to a new school and having the class's social outcast as his science partner.
by Anna Kerz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
After a terrible accident, Jeremy faces many challenges, including adjusting to a new school and having the class's social outcast as his science partner.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
by Rodman Philbrick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Eleven-year-old Homer searches for his older brother in the Union Army and encounters a confederate spy, a noble preacher, a balloonist, and even the Battle of Gettysburg.
by Rodman Philbrick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Eleven-year-old Homer searches for his older brother in the Union Army and encounters a confederate spy, a noble preacher, a balloonist, and even the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Museum of Mary Child
by Cassandra Golds
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
There is neither beauty nor love in Heloise's life, but, with a little magic, she finds both in a haunting fairy tale.
by Cassandra Golds
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
There is neither beauty nor love in Heloise's life, but, with a little magic, she finds both in a haunting fairy tale.
The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes
by Kelly Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
With the aid of her evil father's potions, Liberty seeks her destiny in a wacky world of talking animals, scoundrels, and enablers.
by Kelly Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
With the aid of her evil father's potions, Liberty seeks her destiny in a wacky world of talking animals, scoundrels, and enablers.
The Problem with the Puddles
by Kate Feiffer
Illustrator: Tricia Tusa
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
A most exasperating family deals with their beloved lost dogs. Line drawings.
by Kate Feiffer
Illustrator: Tricia Tusa
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
A most exasperating family deals with their beloved lost dogs. Line drawings.
The Rock and the River
by Kekla Magoon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Though his father preaches non-violence, Sam's older brother gets involved with the Black Panthers. Which one will Sam follow?
by Kekla Magoon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Though his father preaches non-violence, Sam's older brother gets involved with the Black Panthers. Which one will Sam follow?
The Seven Keys of Balabad
by Paul Haven
Illustrator: Mark Zug
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Twelve-year-old Oliver and his friend Zee locate an ancient Middle Eastern treasure and restore it to its rightful owner.
by Paul Haven
Illustrator: Mark Zug
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Twelve-year-old Oliver and his friend Zee locate an ancient Middle Eastern treasure and restore it to its rightful owner.
The Troll's-Eye View
edited by Ellen Datlow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
With tales that range from funny to creepy, well-known authors rewrite classic fairy tales from the villain's point of view.
edited by Ellen Datlow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
With tales that range from funny to creepy, well-known authors rewrite classic fairy tales from the villain's point of view.
The Unfinished Angel
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When an angel encounters Zola, a colorful young American girl with a mission, life in a small Swiss mountain village turns upside-down.
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When an angel encounters Zola, a colorful young American girl with a mission, life in a small Swiss mountain village turns upside-down.
The Year the Swallows Came Early
by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
“Groovy” Robinson is furious with her father who has gambled away her inheritance. Can she forgive him as she becomes more self-reliant?
by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
“Groovy” Robinson is furious with her father who has gambled away her inheritance. Can she forgive him as she becomes more self-reliant?
Tofu Quilt
by Ching Yeung Russell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
The life and dreams of a young girl growing up in Hong Kong in the 1950s vividly unfolds in blank verse.
by Ching Yeung Russell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
The life and dreams of a young girl growing up in Hong Kong in the 1950s vividly unfolds in blank verse.
Top of the Order
by John Coy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Can a Little League team adjust to having a girl play second base for them?
by John Coy
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Can a Little League team adjust to having a girl play second base for them?
Tumtum and Nutmeg
by Emily Bearn
Illustrator: Nick Price
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Living in a neglected cottages's closet, the Nuthouses find themselves caught up in unexpected adventures.
by Emily Bearn
Illustrator: Nick Price
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Living in a neglected cottages's closet, the Nuthouses find themselves caught up in unexpected adventures.
Umbrella Summer
by Lisa Graff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When ten-year-old Anne struggles to come to terms with the death of her brother, help comes from very unexpected places.
by Lisa Graff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
When ten-year-old Anne struggles to come to terms with the death of her brother, help comes from very unexpected places.
When the Whistle Blows
by Fran Cannon Slayton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Life in a small West Virginia train town in the 1940s is depicted in a series of Halloween vignettes.
by Fran Cannon Slayton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Life in a small West Virginia train town in the 1940s is depicted in a series of Halloween vignettes.
When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Is time travel possible? Who is sending mysterious notes to a sixth grader in 1970's New York City?
by Rebecca Stead
Ages: 9+
Published: 2009
Is time travel possible? Who is sending mysterious notes to a sixth grader in 1970's New York City?