Children’s Book Committee

Best Children’s Books of the Year

The Children’s Book Committee strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. The list includes more than 600 titles chosen by reviewers for literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.

Diversity Statement

In evaluating books for their literary merit, the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee (CBC) recognizes the importance of diversity in children’s literature and acknowledges and celebrates the voices and cultures of all of our readers. Diversity encompasses the varied and unique identities, experiences, perspectives, and cultural communities of a book’s main and supporting characters, whose attributes include (but are not limited to):

  • race
  • ethnicity
  • gender
  • abilities
  • sexuality
  • class
  • religion
  • family structure
  • local and global challenges

All children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in what they read, and from seeing characters with different identities, depicted accurately and without stereotypes, in texts and/or illustrations. The CBC values representations of characters who are change agents and advocates for social justice, inclusivity, and equity.

Nonfiction Statement

The Committee supports modeling proper sourcing of nonfiction writing. For informational books for children nine and older, we seek works that contain supporting references including, at a minimum, sources, quote attributions, and photo credits. Book annotations may also refer to “back matter” to indicate that additional reference material has been provided.