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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Virginia Bound
by Amy Butler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An orphan, kidnapped from a London Street in 1627, is sent to Virginia's Jamestown colony and forced to work as an indentured servant beside a Pamunkey Indian girl. Suspenseful.
by Amy Butler
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
An orphan, kidnapped from a London Street in 1627, is sent to Virginia's Jamestown colony and forced to work as an indentured servant beside a Pamunkey Indian girl. Suspenseful.
William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
retold by Bruce Coville
Illustrator: Tim Raglin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The confusion of mistaken identities in an engagingly told and illustrated adaptation of the play.
retold by Bruce Coville
Illustrator: Tim Raglin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
The confusion of mistaken identities in an engagingly told and illustrated adaptation of the play.
Willow and Twig
by Jean Little
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Abandoned by their mother, a physically impaired boy and his older sister find refuge, support and love with their grandmother and her extended family.
by Jean Little
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
Abandoned by their mother, a physically impaired boy and his older sister find refuge, support and love with their grandmother and her extended family.
Wizard at Work
by Vivian Vande Velde
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A wizard reluctantly rescues princesses and vanquishes ghosts and dragons. Funny!
by Vivian Vande Velde
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
A wizard reluctantly rescues princesses and vanquishes ghosts and dragons. Funny!
Year of No Rain
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
When soldiers destroy their village, an orphaned eleven-year-old and his friends wander around southern Sudan before returning home.
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2003
When soldiers destroy their village, an orphaned eleven-year-old and his friends wander around southern Sudan before returning home.
A Corner of the Universe
by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Hattie's summer is changed by the appearance of her previously unknown Uncle Adam, ebullient, childlike and mentally disabled.
by Ann M. Martin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Hattie's summer is changed by the appearance of her previously unknown Uncle Adam, ebullient, childlike and mentally disabled.
After Elaine
by Ann L. Dreyer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A fifth grader's adjustment to the death of her rebellious teenage sister and to her own transition into middle school.
by Ann L. Dreyer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A fifth grader's adjustment to the death of her rebellious teenage sister and to her own transition into middle school.
A Picture of Grandmother
by Esther Hautzig
Illustrator: Beth Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Sara's world is turned upside down when she learns a family secret in pre-World War II Lithuania.
by Esther Hautzig
Illustrator: Beth Peck
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Sara's world is turned upside down when she learns a family secret in pre-World War II Lithuania.
A Real American
by Richard Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In a Pennsylvania coal mining town, Nathan thinks he can turn his new immigrant friend, Arturo, into a “real” American.
by Richard Easton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In a Pennsylvania coal mining town, Nathan thinks he can turn his new immigrant friend, Arturo, into a “real” American.
A Stone In My Hand
by Cathryn Clinton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Set in Gaza in 1988, Malaak loses her father and her brother is drawn to a radical group.
by Cathryn Clinton
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Set in Gaza in 1988, Malaak loses her father and her brother is drawn to a radical group.
Blizzard's Wake
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A severe, dangerous blizzard in March 1941 brings together a widower and his children and the man who accidentally killed their mother four years before.
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A severe, dangerous blizzard in March 1941 brings together a widower and his children and the man who accidentally killed their mother four years before.
Blue Eyes Better
by Ruth Wallace-Brodeur
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
WhenTessa's teenage brother dies in a car accident, individual family members struggle to help one another.
by Ruth Wallace-Brodeur
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
WhenTessa's teenage brother dies in a car accident, individual family members struggle to help one another.
Darby
by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A small South Carolina town copes with racial inequality in 1926. A moving first person account.
by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A small South Carolina town copes with racial inequality in 1926. A moving first person account.
Daughter of Venice
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In 1592, Donata, sheltered by a noble family, is determined to discover the world forbidden to her and finds more than she expected.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In 1592, Donata, sheltered by a noble family, is determined to discover the world forbidden to her and finds more than she expected.
Dear Emma
by Johanna Hurwitz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Dossi's letters portray life on New York City's lower East Side at the beginning of the twentieth century. Includes the Triangle Shirtwaist fire.
by Johanna Hurwitz
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Twelve-year-old Dossi's letters portray life on New York City's lower East Side at the beginning of the twentieth century. Includes the Triangle Shirtwaist fire.
Dork on the Run
by Carol Gorman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Running for sixth grade president against the “cool” Gabe, former “dork” Jerry finds himself confronting many new challenges.
by Carol Gorman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Running for sixth grade president against the “cool” Gabe, former “dork” Jerry finds himself confronting many new challenges.
Double Fudge
by Judy Blume
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
As twelve-year-old Peter agonizes over his younger brother's money obsession, newly found relatives further complicate his life.
by Judy Blume
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
As twelve-year-old Peter agonizes over his younger brother's money obsession, newly found relatives further complicate his life.
Earthborn
by Sylvia Waugh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When Nesta Gwynn discovers she is the child of alien parents who plan to return to their home planet, she devises a plan to stay on earth.
by Sylvia Waugh
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
When Nesta Gwynn discovers she is the child of alien parents who plan to return to their home planet, she devises a plan to stay on earth.
Familiar and Haunting
by Philippa Pearce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Evocative language, interesting characters and situations form a collection of tales by a master story teller.
by Philippa Pearce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Evocative language, interesting characters and situations form a collection of tales by a master story teller.
Feather Boy
by Nicky Singer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An unpopular boy discovers courage and confidence when he befriends an elderly woman and decides to help her.
by Nicky Singer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An unpopular boy discovers courage and confidence when he befriends an elderly woman and decides to help her.
Flying Lessons
by Kezi Matthews
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In 1937 South Carolina, airplane-loving LaMarr must leave a traveling dance troupe to live with relatives after her mother's accidental death.
by Kezi Matthews
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
In 1937 South Carolina, airplane-loving LaMarr must leave a traveling dance troupe to live with relatives after her mother's accidental death.
Fruitlands
by Gloria Whelan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An account of Alcott's experiment in communal living told through ten-year-old Louisa's secret journal.
by Gloria Whelan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
An account of Alcott's experiment in communal living told through ten-year-old Louisa's secret journal.
Gina.Jamie.Father.Bear
by George Ella Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Trying to solve the mysteries of their fathers' strange behavior, Gina and Jamie learn that their stories intersect.
by George Ella Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Trying to solve the mysteries of their fathers' strange behavior, Gina and Jamie learn that their stories intersect.
Girl in a Cage
by Jane Yolen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Although Edward, King of England, can't capture Robert Bruce, self-proclaimed King of Scotland, Bruce's eleven-year-old daughter makes a defiant captive and fascinating heroine.
by Jane Yolen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
Although Edward, King of England, can't capture Robert Bruce, self-proclaimed King of Scotland, Bruce's eleven-year-old daughter makes a defiant captive and fascinating heroine.
Grasslands
by Debra Seely
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A thirteen-year-old confronts the challenge of adjustment from a comfortable life in Virginia with his grandparents to a hardscrabble farm in Kansas with his new stepfamily.
by Debra Seely
Ages: 9+
Published: 2002
A thirteen-year-old confronts the challenge of adjustment from a comfortable life in Virginia with his grandparents to a hardscrabble farm in Kansas with his new stepfamily.