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.

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Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (Omega Morales series)

Laekan Zea Kemp

Illustrator: Vanessa Morales

Ages: 9+

Published: 2022

Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR/Hachette

ISBN: 978-0-316-30416-0

Keywords: Empathy, Bullying, Microaggressions, Mexican American folklore, Grief, Ghosts, Extended families, Social Emotional learning, paranormal

From a magical family of empaths, Mexican American Omega, 12, her cousin Carlitos, and a ghost solve the mystery of a giant owl wreaking havoc in their Texas town. Occasional greyscale illustrations.