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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Straw into Gold
by Gary D. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
What if Rumpelstiltskin kept the baby? An old story with new depth and pace.
by Gary D. Schmidt
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
What if Rumpelstiltskin kept the baby? An old story with new depth and pace.
Surviving Hitler
by Andrea Warren, photos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
At once a sobering look at the Nazi horrors and a tribute to the human spirit. Told with dignity.
by Andrea Warren, photos
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
At once a sobering look at the Nazi horrors and a tribute to the human spirit. Told with dignity.
Surviving Jamestown
by Gail Langer Karwoski
Illustrator: Paul Casale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
An unusual view of the struggle of the first colonists at Jamestown, told by a lively boy.
by Gail Langer Karwoski
Illustrator: Paul Casale
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
An unusual view of the struggle of the first colonists at Jamestown, told by a lively boy.
Takeoffs and Landings
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Teenagers Lori and Chuck make many discoveries about themselves and their mother when they join her on one of her speaking tours.
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Teenagers Lori and Chuck make many discoveries about themselves and their mother when they join her on one of her speaking tours.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
by Terry Pratchett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Maurice the cat and his troop of talking rats plan a Pied Piper scam in the town of Bad Blintz.
by Terry Pratchett
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Maurice the cat and his troop of talking rats plan a Pied Piper scam in the town of Bad Blintz.
The Book of Dragons
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
A classic collection of stories reissued with the original illustrations. Very British with superb storytelling.
by
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
A classic collection of stories reissued with the original illustrations. Very British with superb storytelling.
The Comic Book Kid
by Adam Osterweil
Illustrator: Craig Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Two twelve-year-old boys become involved with valuable vintage comic books, time warps and aliens.
by Adam Osterweil
Illustrator: Craig Smith
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Two twelve-year-old boys become involved with valuable vintage comic books, time warps and aliens.
The Devil in Ol' Rosie
by Louise Moeri
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
In Oregon in 1907 a twelve-year-old is sent on the scary task of returning runaway horses while his parents await the new baby.
by Louise Moeri
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
In Oregon in 1907 a twelve-year-old is sent on the scary task of returning runaway horses while his parents await the new baby.
The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs
by Cynthia DeFelice
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Eleven-year-old Allie faces her ghost with great courage in this thrilling sequel to The Ghost of Fossil Glen.
by Cynthia DeFelice
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Eleven-year-old Allie faces her ghost with great courage in this thrilling sequel to The Ghost of Fossil Glen.
The Jumping Tree
by René Saldaña, Jr.
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Rey crosses the border between childhood and manhood in a Mexican-American family, school and community.
by René Saldaña, Jr.
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Rey crosses the border between childhood and manhood in a Mexican-American family, school and community.
The Misfits
by James Howe
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Four seventh graders, friends for years, form a new political party for Student Council, based on no name-calling and respect for all.
by James Howe
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Four seventh graders, friends for years, form a new political party for Student Council, based on no name-calling and respect for all.
The Other Side of Truth
by Beverley Naidoo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Two children, political refugees from Nigeria, are abandoned in London. A powerful and dramatic account.
by Beverley Naidoo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Two children, political refugees from Nigeria, are abandoned in London. A powerful and dramatic account.
The School Story
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Twelve-year-old Natalie, a talented writer and budding novelist, submits her story under a pen name to her editor mother.
by Andrew Clements
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Twelve-year-old Natalie, a talented writer and budding novelist, submits her story under a pen name to her editor mother.
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups: The Second File
written and ill. by David Wisniewski
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
More wacky revelations of the real reasons behind parental rules. Amazing and funny cut-paper illustrations.
written and ill. by David Wisniewski
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
More wacky revelations of the real reasons behind parental rules. Amazing and funny cut-paper illustrations.
The Secret School
by Avi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
After the teacher in her one-room schoolhouse leaves, Ida Bidson struggles to teach the other children and complete eighth grade.
by Avi
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
After the teacher in her one-room schoolhouse leaves, Ida Bidson struggles to teach the other children and complete eighth grade.
The Star-Bearer
by Dianne Hofmeyr
Illustrator: Jude Daly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
The creation of earth and sky, and the birth, roles and powers of the gods. Stylistized illustrations.
by Dianne Hofmeyr
Illustrator: Jude Daly
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
The creation of earth and sky, and the birth, roles and powers of the gods. Stylistized illustrations.
The Tiger Rising
by Kate DiCamillo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Twelve-year-old Rob and his new friend plan to free the tiger they come upon in the woods. Sensitively told.
by Kate DiCamillo
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Twelve-year-old Rob and his new friend plan to free the tiger they come upon in the woods. Sensitively told.
The Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle
by David Elliott
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Eating too much fast food turns a normal ten-tear-old into a giant bug. A suspenseful and very funny fantasy.
by David Elliott
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Eating too much fast food turns a normal ten-tear-old into a giant bug. A suspenseful and very funny fantasy.
The War Within
by Carol Matas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
The hardships along the road encountered by a family forced to move north from their Union-occupied Mississippi home because they are Jewish.
by Carol Matas
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
The hardships along the road encountered by a family forced to move north from their Union-occupied Mississippi home because they are Jewish.
The Wizard's Dilemma
by Diane Duane
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
In the fifth in the seies that began with “So You Want to Be a Wizard”, a sophisticated dilemma confronts Nita, estranged from her best friend and trying to save her mother.
by Diane Duane
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
In the fifth in the seies that began with “So You Want to Be a Wizard”, a sophisticated dilemma confronts Nita, estranged from her best friend and trying to save her mother.
The Wonderful Sky Boat
retold by Jane Louise Curry
Illustrator: James Watts
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Familiar folk tales are given a special twist in these how and why stories. Includes brief summaries of tribal history.
retold by Jane Louise Curry
Illustrator: James Watts
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Familiar folk tales are given a special twist in these how and why stories. Includes brief summaries of tribal history.
Three Days
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Traveling with her father in Italy, ten-year-old Jackie is kidnapped and held in a remote farmhouse in Calabria.
by Donna Jo Napoli
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Traveling with her father in Italy, ten-year-old Jackie is kidnapped and held in a remote farmhouse in Calabria.
Through the Grapevine
retold by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss
Illustrator: Carol Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
A guide for the burgeoning storyteller replete with stories, their sources and tips on how to tell them.
retold by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss
Illustrator: Carol Lyon
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
A guide for the burgeoning storyteller replete with stories, their sources and tips on how to tell them.
Till Tomorrow
by John Donahue
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
New to an American army base near Verdun, France, O.B. has to decide whether to befriend a French boy teased by the Americans.
by John Donahue
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
New to an American army base near Verdun, France, O.B. has to decide whether to befriend a French boy teased by the Americans.
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Cole Matthews accepts banishment to an Alaskan island to avoid a prison sentence after battering another boy. But is he really willing to change himself?
by Ben Mikaelsen
Ages: 9+
Published: 2001
Cole Matthews accepts banishment to an Alaskan island to avoid a prison sentence after battering another boy. But is he really willing to change himself?