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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Dovey Coe
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In an affectionate North Carolina family, a younger sister is accused of the murder of her sister's suitor.
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In an affectionate North Carolina family, a younger sister is accused of the murder of her sister's suitor.
Dream Soul
by Laurence Yep
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
When charming new neighbors move in, Joan finds herself critical of the frugality and discipline of her own Chinese family.
by Laurence Yep
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
When charming new neighbors move in, Joan finds herself critical of the frugality and discipline of her own Chinese family.
Escape from Heart
by Lynette Stark
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A Mennonite girl reflects on the value of her way of life when she must leave the colony to escape a vicious leader.
by Lynette Stark
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A Mennonite girl reflects on the value of her way of life when she must leave the colony to escape a vicious leader.
Escape to the Forest
by Ruth Yaffe Radin
Illustrator: Janet Hamlin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A Polish family help over a thousand Jews survive the Holocaust.
by Ruth Yaffe Radin
Illustrator: Janet Hamlin
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A Polish family help over a thousand Jews survive the Holocaust.
Esperanza Rising
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
When her father's death ends her privileged childhood in Mexico, Esperanza must adjust to life in a California migrant camp.
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
When her father's death ends her privileged childhood in Mexico, Esperanza must adjust to life in a California migrant camp.
Everything I Know about Pirates
written and ill. by Tom Lichtenheld
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Pirates and their rogue life, a humorous encyclopedic account. Hilarious illustrations.
written and ill. by Tom Lichtenheld
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Pirates and their rogue life, a humorous encyclopedic account. Hilarious illustrations.
Fever, 1793
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Graphic, moving description of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia, as narrated by a fourteen-year-old girl.
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Graphic, moving description of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia, as narrated by a fourteen-year-old girl.
Fiddle Fever
by Sharon Arms Doucet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In Louisiana in 1914, a fourteen-year-old Cajun makes a fiddle from a cigar box and teaches himself to play.
by Sharon Arms Doucet
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In Louisiana in 1914, a fourteen-year-old Cajun makes a fiddle from a cigar box and teaches himself to play.
Friends and Enemies
by Louann Gaeddert
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
William is torn between the pacifism of his Mennonite friends and the patriotic fervor engendered by World War II in rural Kansas.
by Louann Gaeddert
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
William is torn between the pacifism of his Mennonite friends and the patriotic fervor engendered by World War II in rural Kansas.
Ghost Town
by Joan Lowery Nixon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Evocative ghost stories about real abandoned towns in the American West.
by Joan Lowery Nixon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Evocative ghost stories about real abandoned towns in the American West.
Give a Boy a Gun
by Todd Strasser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Realistic depiction of a fictional high school shooting. Footnotes of horrific facts on youthful gun use.
by Todd Strasser
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Realistic depiction of a fictional high school shooting. Footnotes of horrific facts on youthful gun use.
Gold Dust
by Chris Lynch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Twelve-year-old Richard's world is baseball until a new friend turns this world upside down. An honest, funny, compassionate child's eye look at racism.
by Chris Lynch
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Twelve-year-old Richard's world is baseball until a new friend turns this world upside down. An honest, funny, compassionate child's eye look at racism.
Guy Time
by Sarah Weeks
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Guy's life is not going right: his mother is dating and a girl has asked him to the movies.
by Sarah Weeks
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Guy's life is not going right: his mother is dating and a girl has asked him to the movies.
Hannah's Journal
written and ill. by Marissa Moss
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A ten-year-old's commentary on her family's travels from Lithuania to New York in 1901.
written and ill. by Marissa Moss
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A ten-year-old's commentary on her family's travels from Lithuania to New York in 1901.
Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen
retold by Ken Setterington
Illustrator: Nelly and Ernst Hofer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Fascinating cut-paper illustrations accompany a lively retelling of the classic story of the magician and the evil queen.
retold by Ken Setterington
Illustrator: Nelly and Ernst Hofer
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Fascinating cut-paper illustrations accompany a lively retelling of the classic story of the magician and the evil queen.
Homeless Bird
by Gloria Whelan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A young Hindu, widowed and abandoned at age thirteen, refuses to submit to her fate, instead creating a new life for herself.
by Gloria Whelan
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A young Hindu, widowed and abandoned at age thirteen, refuses to submit to her fate, instead creating a new life for herself.
If Ever I Return Again
by Corinne Demas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In letter form, the twelve-year-old daughter of a whaling ship captain relates the daily pleasures and pains of her world.
by Corinne Demas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
In letter form, the twelve-year-old daughter of a whaling ship captain relates the daily pleasures and pains of her world.
Island of the Aunts
by Eva Ibbotson
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Two kidnapped children are put to work on an isolated island populated by mystical creatures. Humorous.
by Eva Ibbotson
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Two kidnapped children are put to work on an isolated island populated by mystical creatures. Humorous.
I Was a Rat!
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Who will believe Roger's tale of his rodent past? An exciting comical retelling of the Cinderella story.
by Philip Pullman
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Who will believe Roger's tale of his rodent past? An exciting comical retelling of the Cinderella story.
Joey Pigza Loses Control
by Jack Gantos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
His attention deficit disorder is managed by medication, but Joey faces new challenges when he goes to stay with his estranged, hard-drinking father.
by Jack Gantos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
His attention deficit disorder is managed by medication, but Joey faces new challenges when he goes to stay with his estranged, hard-drinking father.
Little Women Next Door
by Sheila Solomon Klass
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Depicts the Alcott family life during 1843 when the father and others tried to establish a utopian community.
by Sheila Solomon Klass
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Depicts the Alcott family life during 1843 when the father and others tried to establish a utopian community.
Lucky Lady
by Susan Saunders
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Spending her summer vacation with her aloof grandfather, twelve-year-old Jamie learns about caring for an abused horse--and also about family and love. An exciting adventure.
by Susan Saunders
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Spending her summer vacation with her aloof grandfather, twelve-year-old Jamie learns about caring for an abused horse--and also about family and love. An exciting adventure.
Magic Steps
by Tamora Pierce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A talented fourteen-year-old magician and her new young student develop a plan to save her uncle's kingdom from chaos. Fast-paced, thoughtful.
by Tamora Pierce
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
A talented fourteen-year-old magician and her new young student develop a plan to save her uncle's kingdom from chaos. Fast-paced, thoughtful.
Matilda Bone
by Karen Cushman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Matilda becomes an apprentice to Red Peg, the bonesetter, and learns that book learning and piety are not all that makes a person worthy.
by Karen Cushman
Ages: 9+
Published: 2000
Matilda becomes an apprentice to Red Peg, the bonesetter, and learns that book learning and piety are not all that makes a person worthy.