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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Atalanta and the Arcadian Beast
by Jane Yolen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Fearless young hunter Atalanta joins forces with Orion to track down the vicious creature terrorizing the Arcadian countryside.
by Jane Yolen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Fearless young hunter Atalanta joins forces with Orion to track down the vicious creature terrorizing the Arcadian countryside.
Canaries and Criminals
by Kelly Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Aaron and his friends and family get involved in an adventure involving a mysterious turtle. Humorous description.
by Kelly Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Aaron and his friends and family get involved in an adventure involving a mysterious turtle. Humorous description.
Chig
by Gwenyth Swain
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
During the Great Depression, Chig, a very small eight-year-old, finds a way to “be seen” and to help her community
by Gwenyth Swain
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
During the Great Depression, Chig, a very small eight-year-old, finds a way to “be seen” and to help her community
Circle of Doom
by Tim Kennemore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A hilarious tale of magic potions, their consequences and of the difference between magic and coincidence experienced by three very individual siblings.
by Tim Kennemore
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A hilarious tale of magic potions, their consequences and of the difference between magic and coincidence experienced by three very individual siblings.
Cold in Summer
by Tracy Barrett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A lonely girl is befriended by a ghost, the key to the past of a small Tennessee town.
by Tracy Barrett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A lonely girl is befriended by a ghost, the key to the past of a small Tennessee town.
Death and the Arrow
by Chris Priestley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In 1715 London, after his pickpocket friend is killed, fifteen-year-old Tom sets out to solve a series of other murders.
by Chris Priestley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In 1715 London, after his pickpocket friend is killed, fifteen-year-old Tom sets out to solve a series of other murders.
Donuthead
by Sue Stauffacher
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Franklin is afraid of everything, then tough-as-nails Sarah enters the fifth grade. Hilarious story of unexpected friendship.
by Sue Stauffacher
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Franklin is afraid of everything, then tough-as-nails Sarah enters the fifth grade. Hilarious story of unexpected friendship.
Especially Heroes
by Virginia Kroll
Illustrator: Tim Ladwig
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After learning about heroes and martyrs in school, a young girl witnesses heroism at work in her own home and neighborhood. Realistic illustrations.
by Virginia Kroll
Illustrator: Tim Ladwig
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After learning about heroes and martyrs in school, a young girl witnesses heroism at work in her own home and neighborhood. Realistic illustrations.
Eye of the Wolf
by Daniel Pennac
Illustrator: Max Grafe
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A mystical, absorbing story of a young African boy's rapport with zoo animals and with one wolf in particular.
by Daniel Pennac
Illustrator: Max Grafe
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A mystical, absorbing story of a young African boy's rapport with zoo animals and with one wolf in particular.
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia
by Barbara O'Connor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An unpopular girl befriends a new boy who is also an outcast. Together they forge an uncommon friendship.
by Barbara O'Connor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An unpopular girl befriends a new boy who is also an outcast. Together they forge an uncommon friendship.
Flying South
by Laura Malone Elliott
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An eleven-year-old confronts loneliness, death and social change in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1968.
by Laura Malone Elliott
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An eleven-year-old confronts loneliness, death and social change in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1968.
For Freedom
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The bravery of ordinary people including a thirteen-year-old spy for the French resistance, during World War II.
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The bravery of ordinary people including a thirteen-year-old spy for the French resistance, during World War II.
Ghost Girl
by Delia Ray
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A story focusing on the school established by President Hoover during the Depression. Based on a true incident.
by Delia Ray
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A story focusing on the school established by President Hoover during the Depression. Based on a true incident.
Gifts from the Sea
by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Illustrator: Judy Pedersen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Quila and her father live in a remote Maine lighthouse, both grieving for her mother. When a baby is washed ashore, everything changes.
by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Illustrator: Judy Pedersen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Quila and her father live in a remote Maine lighthouse, both grieving for her mother. When a baby is washed ashore, everything changes.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Granny's stories help two twelve-year-old neighbors stay best friends.
by Sharon Creech
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Granny's stories help two twelve-year-old neighbors stay best friends.
Grape Thief
by Kristine L. Franklin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Growing up poor in an ethnically diverse community in 1925, Cuss must make some difficult choices about family, work and school.
by Kristine L. Franklin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Growing up poor in an ethnically diverse community in 1925, Cuss must make some difficult choices about family, work and school.
Gregor the Overlander
by Suzanne Collins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Gregor battles giant rats and cockroaches in the Underland as he searches for his father and cares for his baby sister.
by Suzanne Collins
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Gregor battles giant rats and cockroaches in the Underland as he searches for his father and cares for his baby sister.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In his fifth year of wizard school, Harry battles a deceitful government and the return of the evil Voldemort.
by J.K. Rowling
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
In his fifth year of wizard school, Harry battles a deceitful government and the return of the evil Voldemort.
Hatching Magic
by Ann Downer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A hole in time between thirteenth-century England and twenty-first century Massachusetts challenged young Theodore Oglethorpe and a stranded baby dragon.
by Ann Downer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A hole in time between thirteenth-century England and twenty-first century Massachusetts challenged young Theodore Oglethorpe and a stranded baby dragon.
Hear the Wind Blow
by Mary Downing Hahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
During the Civil War, a southern farm boy uses his ingenuity to survive and reunite what's left of this family.
by Mary Downing Hahn
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
During the Civil War, a southern farm boy uses his ingenuity to survive and reunite what's left of this family.
Hill Hawk Hattie
by Clara Gillow Clark
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After Ma dies, an eventful rafting trip changes Mattie's relationship with her father and her life. Set in the 1800s.
by Clara Gillow Clark
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
After Ma dies, an eventful rafting trip changes Mattie's relationship with her father and her life. Set in the 1800s.
Hold Up The Sky
retold by Jane louise Curry
Illustrator: James Watts
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A rich and varied collection beautifully retold. Brief introduction to each tribe. Pencil illustrations.
retold by Jane louise Curry
Illustrator: James Watts
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A rich and varied collection beautifully retold. Brief introduction to each tribe. Pencil illustrations.
I, Freddy
by Dietlof Reiche
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A smart conceited hamster tells how reading and writing saved his life. Clever sketches.
by Dietlof Reiche
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A smart conceited hamster tells how reading and writing saved his life. Clever sketches.
Iqbal
by Francesco D'Adamo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The life of a Pakistani child forced to become a “carpet maker slave” to settle a family debt. Based on real life.
by Francesco D'Adamo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The life of a Pakistani child forced to become a “carpet maker slave” to settle a family debt. Based on real life.
It Only Looks Easy
by Pamela Curtis Swallow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Seventh grader, Kat “borrows” a bicycle from the schoolyard and suffers the consequences when it disappears.
by Pamela Curtis Swallow
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Seventh grader, Kat “borrows” a bicycle from the schoolyard and suffers the consequences when it disappears.