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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Nobody's Princess
by Esther Friesner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A young Spartan princess who will become Helen of Troy bucks traditional expectations to choose her own life.
by Esther Friesner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A young Spartan princess who will become Helen of Troy bucks traditional expectations to choose her own life.
No Talking
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: Mark Elliot
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Dave learns about Mahatma Gandhi and a whole new world of communication (and competition with the girls)opens to him.
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: Mark Elliot
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Dave learns about Mahatma Gandhi and a whole new world of communication (and competition with the girls)opens to him.
One Beastly Beast (Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales)
by Garth Nix
Illustrator: Brian Biggs
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Four stories in which a boy pursues video pirates; a princess searches for adventure; an inventor longs to be adopted and a girl aids a sea serpent.
by Garth Nix
Illustrator: Brian Biggs
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Four stories in which a boy pursues video pirates; a princess searches for adventure; an inventor longs to be adopted and a girl aids a sea serpent.
On the Wings of Heroes
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In a small Illinois town during World War II, Davy describes the home front chores and poignancy of an older brother going off to war.
by Richard Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In a small Illinois town during World War II, Davy describes the home front chores and poignancy of an older brother going off to war.
Pappy's Handkerchief
by Devin Scillian
Illustrator: Chris Ellison
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In 1889, Moses and his family leave Baltimore to join the many other African-American families making a stake in the Oklahoma land run. Painterly illustrations.
by Devin Scillian
Illustrator: Chris Ellison
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In 1889, Moses and his family leave Baltimore to join the many other African-American families making a stake in the Oklahoma land run. Painterly illustrations.
Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas
by Pauline Chen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Fifth grader Peiling Wang wants to celebrate Christmas like her American friends, but her traditional Taiwanese American father has other ideas.
by Pauline Chen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Fifth grader Peiling Wang wants to celebrate Christmas like her American friends, but her traditional Taiwanese American father has other ideas.
Reaching For Sun
by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Thirteen-year-old Josie shares her year of growth as she deals with cerebral palsy and lessons from the family garden. In free verse.
by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Thirteen-year-old Josie shares her year of growth as she deals with cerebral palsy and lessons from the family garden. In free verse.
Rickshaw Girl
by Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Jamie Hogan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Naima, a resourceful Bangladeshi girl, steps out of traditional women's occupations to help her family while using her artisic talents.
by Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Jamie Hogan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Naima, a resourceful Bangladeshi girl, steps out of traditional women's occupations to help her family while using her artisic talents.
Rip Van Winkle's Return
by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Leonard Everett Fisher
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A retelling of Irving's famous story with a changed ending. Strong acrylic paintings.
by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator: Leonard Everett Fisher
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A retelling of Irving's famous story with a changed ending. Strong acrylic paintings.
Robot Dreams
written and ill. by Sara Varon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
The love and agony of a new friendship between a dog and the robot he created is shown in expressive, almost wordless graphic panels.
written and ill. by Sara Varon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
The love and agony of a new friendship between a dog and the robot he created is shown in expressive, almost wordless graphic panels.
Samuel Blink And The Forbidden Forest
by Matt Haig
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Samuel defies the mystery and dangers of a Norwegian forest to rescue his sister from threatening creatures.
by Matt Haig
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Twelve-year-old Samuel defies the mystery and dangers of a Norwegian forest to rescue his sister from threatening creatures.
Shots at Sea
by Tom Lalicki
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Nate and his famous mentor, Harry Houdini, must foil an attempt to assassinate President Theodore Roosevelt aboard the Lusitania in 1911.
by Tom Lalicki
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Nate and his famous mentor, Harry Houdini, must foil an attempt to assassinate President Theodore Roosevelt aboard the Lusitania in 1911.
Sitting Bull Remembers
by Ann Turner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Lyrical text and expressive, realistic illustrations reflect the life of the great Sioux leader.
by Ann Turner
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Lyrical text and expressive, realistic illustrations reflect the life of the great Sioux leader.
Someone Named Eva
by Joan M. Wolf
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Seized in Lidice in 1940, eleven-year-old Milada struggles to maintain her Czech identity throughout the Nazi occupation.
by Joan M. Wolf
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Seized in Lidice in 1940, eleven-year-old Milada struggles to maintain her Czech identity throughout the Nazi occupation.
Stone Age Boy
written and ill. by Satoshi Kitamura
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Lively detailed illustrations help tell the story about life in the Stone Age.
written and ill. by Satoshi Kitamura
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Lively detailed illustrations help tell the story about life in the Stone Age.
Summer Ball
by Mike Lupica
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Thirteen-year-old Danny, a champion (but short) basketball player, goes to a prestigious camp and finds that he makes both friends and enemies.
by Mike Lupica
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Thirteen-year-old Danny, a champion (but short) basketball player, goes to a prestigious camp and finds that he makes both friends and enemies.
Summerhouse Time
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Eleven-year-old Sophie shares joys and woes when she joins her extended family for their annual stay at the beach house.
by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Eleven-year-old Sophie shares joys and woes when she joins her extended family for their annual stay at the beach house.
The Aurora County All-Stars
by Deborah Wiles
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In a small town in Mississippi, a hopeful twelve-year-old baseball player must find courage to deal with life and death messages.
by Deborah Wiles
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
In a small town in Mississippi, a hopeful twelve-year-old baseball player must find courage to deal with life and death messages.
The Bee Tree
by Stephen Buchmann
Illustrator: Paul Mirocha
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
As a rite of passage, a young boy from a honey-hunting clan in Malaysia must climb the tallest rainforest tree in the dark of night.
by Stephen Buchmann
Illustrator: Paul Mirocha
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
As a rite of passage, a young boy from a honey-hunting clan in Malaysia must climb the tallest rainforest tree in the dark of night.
The Cemetery Keepers Of Gettysburg
by Linda Oatman High
Illustrator: Laura Francesca Filippucci
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
With the father away, a family struggles to bury the dead from the Battle of Gettysburg. Watercolors heightened with brown ink.
by Linda Oatman High
Illustrator: Laura Francesca Filippucci
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
With the father away, a family struggles to bury the dead from the Battle of Gettysburg. Watercolors heightened with brown ink.
The Day The Stones Walked
by T.A. Barron
Illustrator: William Low
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
When a tsunami threatens his island, Pico understands about the giant stone faces. Expressive computer-generated illustrations.
by T.A. Barron
Illustrator: William Low
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
When a tsunami threatens his island, Pico understands about the giant stone faces. Expressive computer-generated illustrations.
The Discovery Of Dragons: New Research Revealed
written and ill. by Graeme Base
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A series of sophisticated letters provide an amusing parody on the subject of serpentology. Fanciful illustrations.
written and ill. by Graeme Base
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
A series of sophisticated letters provide an amusing parody on the subject of serpentology. Fanciful illustrations.
The Ever-After Bird
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
When Cece accompanies her ornithologist uncle on a search through 1851 Georgia for the scarlet ibis, she learns that has a secret mission.
by Ann Rinaldi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
When Cece accompanies her ornithologist uncle on a search through 1851 Georgia for the scarlet ibis, she learns that has a secret mission.
The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Skulls on the teacher's desk, nose rings for class pictures and a boy named Ashley inspire unexpected morals.
by Candace Fleming
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Skulls on the teacher's desk, nose rings for class pictures and a boy named Ashley inspire unexpected morals.
The Faceless Fiend
by Howard Whitehouse
Illustrator: Bill Slavin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Emmaline and Rab must help their friend Princess Purnah evade the evil clutches of her enemies. Loads of fun!
by Howard Whitehouse
Illustrator: Bill Slavin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2007
Emmaline and Rab must help their friend Princess Purnah evade the evil clutches of her enemies. Loads of fun!