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/.

How to Perform a Search and Save a List

The Banana-Leaf Ball (CitizenKid series)

by Katie Smith Milway

Illustrator: Shane W. Evans

Ages: 6+

Published: 2017

Publisher: Kids Can Press

ISBN: 978-1-77138-331-8

Keywords: Picture Books for Older Readers, Refugees

In a refugee camp in Tanzania, Deo is bullied by a gang leader until they start playing soccer and making their own balls together. Expressive textured illustrations.