Aggie and the GhostMatthew Forsythe, illustrated by Matthew ForsytheA girl who lives alone is saddled with a rebellious house ghost. Can a high-stakes tic-tac-toe game resolve their differences? Wildly colorful watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil art.Under FiveATOS 2.9AR interest LG K-3View book detailsBank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2026
A large annual list organized by age group and subject.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2026 edition]See the original list
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Published byBank Street College of Education
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Under Five
60 of 103 selections on this pageContinues on page 2
Aggie and the GhostMatthew Forsythe, illustrated by Matthew ForsytheA girl who lives alone is saddled with a rebellious house ghost. Can a high-stakes tic-tac-toe game resolve their differences? Wildly colorful watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil art.Under FiveATOS 2.9AR interest LG K-3View book details
All Around a YearMariana Ruiz Johnson, translated from Spanish by Avi SilbersteinA year in the life of a cozy mouse family, cycling joyfully through the four seasons. Cheery ink art with digital color. Also available in Spanish.Under FiveView book details
Astronaut SistersJulie FortenberryBiracial sisters Fern and Rosie pretend to be astronauts. Colorful cartoon illustrations show that they are waiting for their mother, who is returning from a space mission. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
BalloonBruce HandyAfter his balloon pops, a despondent dark-skinned boy thinks he sees balloons everywhere. Then he finds something unexpectedly wonderful. Nearly wordless. Bright, gentle illustrations in ink and digital color.Under FiveView book details
Big Bike, Little BikeKellie DuBay Gillis, illustrated by Jacob SouvaPlayful digital illustrations follow a bicycle as it passes from rider to rider, each considering it from a different point of view.Under FiveView book details
Big EnoughRegina Linke, illustrated by Regina LinkeLittle Ah-Fu works up the nerve to bring his family’s large ox home for the evening. Jewel-toned digital illustrations emulate traditional Chinese gongbi and xieyi art.Under FiveView book details
BlueSuzanne Kaufman, illustrated by Suzanne KaufmanA boy and a blue heron spend the day frolicking on the beach and take a magical flight through the night sky. Joyful mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Blue Sky MorningJihyun Kim, Polly LawsonFollow the sights, sounds, and sensations of a girl’s walk through her South Korean neighborhood to school. Bright, delicate watercolor and pencil art.Under FiveView book details
Clara and the Man with Books in His WindowMaría Teresa AndruettoA laundress’s daughter and a reclusive man bond when he lends her books, which finally brings him to step outside his home. Minimal text. Surrealistic images capture time changes.Under FiveView book details
The Digger and the Flower (The Digger series)Joseph KueflerA large piece of construction equipment shows tenderness for a tiny plant and helps transform a city. Black-and-white illustrations with splashes of warm colors.Under FiveView book details
Emmie Builds Something NewMarjorie Crosby-FairallA plucky mouse tinkers with wondrous mechanical inventions to scare off a newly arrived house cat. Bright, energetic drawings bursting with detail.Under FiveView book details
Every Monday MabelJashar Awan, illustrated by Jashar AwanTo her family’s fond amusement, a girl wakes up early once a week for a very special neighborhood ritual. Jaunty digital illustrations with thick lines and bold colors.Under FiveATOS 1.9AR interest LG K-3View book details
Field Trip to Dinosaur Valley (Field Trip Adventures Series)John HareA student gets lost on a time-traveling field trip and encounters a bevy of hungry dinosaurs. Cheerful, action-packed acrylic art.Under FiveView book details
If You Make a Call on a Banana PhoneGideon Sterer, illustrated by Emily HughesGently humorous instructions for navigating conversation on an imaginary phone call into the jungle. Playful, richly textured pencil and digital art.Under FiveATOS 3.3AR interest LG K-3View book details
The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked PirateJoy CowleyWhen she learns he is afraid of the dark, a woman takes pity on the brash pirate knocking at her seaside shack. Bold mixed-media illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Island StormBrian Floca, illustrated by Sydney SmithAs a storm approaches, a brother and sister risk walking through familiar sights that are altered by the weather, until it is almost too late. Lyrical text. Dramatic watercolor art.Under FiveLexile 549LATOS 3.6View book details
FireworksMatthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia ChienOn a sweltering Fourth of July, two children explore their neighborhood and attend a spectacular fireworks display. Rhythmic, alliterative text. Dynamic, evocative mixed-media art.Under FiveATOS 3.5AR interest LG K-3View book details
Get Dressed, Belly Button!Lucie Brunellière, translated from French by Linda BurgessIt’s time to go outside! An eager dark-skinned toddler puts on clothes one by one until dressed from head to toe. Bright, cheerful art on vertically flipped pages.Under FiveView book details
I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like MeSylvaine JaouiWarm, playful illustrations with die-cut windows explore the parallel development of a seedling and a baby and celebrate their connections as they grow into a tree and a child.Under FiveView book details
I’m Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday BookOliver JeffersEngaged in trivial tasks, Bridget’s friends can’t come over to see her. Will they remember that it’s her special day in time to celebrate? Playful gouache and colored pencil art.Under FiveView book details
Just One WaveTravis JonkerNo waves at the beach? Liam comes up with a series of creative ideas to coax one out of hiding. Childlike ink and digital art.Under FiveView book details
Mommy Loves Me! (Changing Faces series)PintachanIn this interactive book, toddlers are asked to reciprocate Mom’s affection. Cheerful illustrations change via slatted pages.Under FiveView book details
A Monstrous BedtimeKerilynn WilsonWhen the friendly monster under her bed has trouble falling asleep, a girl offers outsize versions of her own favorite nighttime routines. Swirling, cool-toned art.Under FiveView book details
Mrs. NobodyY. S. LeeA girl must stand up for herself when her imaginary friend starts to exhibit controlling behavior. Fantastical art in graphite with digital color.Under FiveView book details
The Night GiantLorenzo ColtellacciAn owlish giant plays in the town after dark. Who is he really, and where does he come from? Nocturnal pencil and watercolor scenes filled with quiet magic.Under FiveView book details
Octavio and His GlassesMarc González Rossell, translated from Spanish by Susan OuriouWith a new pair of glasses, a boy begins to see the world in unexpected ways. Striking illustrations in bright yellow, stark white, and smoky black.Under FiveView book details
One Two, Grandma Loves You (One, Two, I Love You series)Shelly BeckerIn this riff on a centuries-old counting rhyme, a biracial toddler and their grandmother have a wonderful visit. Illustrations evoke mid-century modern interiors.Under FiveView book details
The Peddler of PuddlesBeth FerryA turtle peddler provides customized puddles for people and animals to enjoy. A trip to the ocean broadens his perspective. Bright pencil and watercolor art.Under FiveView book details
A Pocket Full of RocksKristin MahoneyThe simple objects that an imaginative dark-skinned child collects throughout the seasons are cleverly offered as gifts to his family. Lyrical text, textured mixed-media art.Under FiveView book details
Saif’s Special PatchesHumera MalikThe memories captured in the quilt Saif’s mother has been sewing since his birth remind him of all the wonderful things he is capable of, from learning to read the Quran to helping clean the mosque. Soft, colorful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Sato the Rabbit: Morning Light (Sato the Rabbit series)Yuki Ainoya, translated from Japanese by Michael BlaskowskyIn two fanciful stories, a child dressed in a rabbit suit magically transmutes light to create beauty and wonder in the world around him. Warm-hued, whimsical art.Under FiveView book details
Sounds Like JoyYesenia MoisesA young BIPOC mermaid is overjoyed to find a tambourine in the ocean. When it breaks, her sea friends help her make music. Bright, exuberant digital art.Under FiveView book details
A Spoonful of the SeaHyewon YumBirthday seaweed soup? That’s not what a little Korean girl wants, until she learns about her maternal ancestors’ diving tradition of harvesting this gift from the sea. Mixed-media art. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
SundayMarcelo Tolentino, translated from Portuguese by Rahul BeryBored at family dinner night, a boy embarks on an imaginary adventure with his dog. Richly colored art with thick-lined hatching and cinematic perspectives.Under FiveView book details
We Are Already Haunting Here!Gideon StererA little ghost visits many spooky locations in search of a home but is rebuffed by spirits already occupying the premises. Rich, moody art in purples, browns, and greys.Under FiveView book details
We Leap TogetherChristopher Silas Neal, illustrated by Christopher Silas NealSpare language and soft-hued illustrations liken a whale swimming with her calf to a human mother caring for her child. Back matter.Under FiveLexile AD370LATOS 2.6View book details
Alphaprints: ABC (Alphaprints series)Roger PriddyEach whimsical animal in this rhyming alphabet primer is made up of large fingerprints combined with colorful photographed images.Under FiveView book details
Baby Signs (See, Touch, Feel series)Roger PriddyLearn how to sign infants’ first words and phrases. Photographs and bright images.Under FiveView book details
Buzz! Boom! Bang!: The Book of SoundsBenjamin Gottwald, illustrated by Benjamin GottwaldWhat sound do you hear when you hit a ping pong ball? When a racing car speeds around the track? Look at the bold, bright illustrations in this wordless book and make the sounds yourself!Under FiveView book details
Egg, Egg, Egg!Sarah FinanBouncy rhyming couplets celebrate eggs from the chicken coop all the way to a child’s satisfied tummy. Bright, bold die-cut illustrations.Under FiveView book details
FortsKatie Venit, illustrated by Kenard PakA gentle exploration of the nooks and crannies where children can play and hide in their world. Warm illustrations made with watercolor, gouache, and digital technique.Under FiveLexile AD610LView book details
M Is for MangoAtinukeNigerian toddler Mo ventures out in search of mangoes, causing mayhem in their midst. Bright mixed-media illustrations bring to life this read aloud, complete with mischievous monkeys.Under FiveView book details
Mask-A-Rade Monsters (Mask-A-Rade series)Child’s PlayA die-cut mask format encourages role-playing and exploration of playful monsters’ feelings and actions. Bright, bold color illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting BookMaría Dolores Águila, illustrated by Erika MezaA family, conversing in a mixture of English and Spanish, gathers to enjoy a special soup, but recovering from a near mealtime disaster requires inventive skills. Colorful, cheerful illustrations. Glossary.Under FiveLexile 540LFountas & Pinnell MView book detailsSeriesMy First Black and White Book series
• Play!
• Touch!written and illustrated by Pascale EstellonExplore shapes, opposites, and more in these mostly black-and-white fold-out accordion tummy time books.Under Five
ParksMarc MajewskiWith spare, playful language and cheery acrylic illustrations, this informational book guides readers through parks across the globe. Back matter.Under FiveView book details
Seven Little DucklingsAnnette LeBlanc Cate, illustrated by Annette LeBlanc CateA duck’s eggs hatch overnight; the next morning, the babies have vanished! Mama duck’s ensuing rescue operation yields some extra wee ones to the mix. Delicate watercolor art.Under FiveATOS 2.2AR interest LG K-3View book details
That’s Not My Narwhal (That’s Not My series)Fiona WattYou can’t be my narwhal because… Bright illustrations with patches of different textures for babies and toddlers to touch and explore.Under FiveView book details
¡Tocamos!: Mexican Folk Art Music Makers in English and Spanish (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art series)Cynthia WeillColorful, vibrant folk art birds assemble a band. English text on verso/Spanish on recto allow for mono- and bilingual readings.Under FiveView book details
Tuck Me In!Nathan W. Pyle, illustrated by Nathan W. PyleThe moon brings the tide to tuck sleepy beaches in at night, but as one gets covered, another is uncovered! Simple, digital illustrations. Science explained in back matter.Under FiveView book details
Tummy Time: Park (Tummy Time series)Nosy Crow Ltd, illustrated by Louise LockhartReaders are invited to greet animals in a busy park; panoramic scenes alternate with animal faces. Bright illustrations inspired by textiles and folk art. Fold-out format with mirror.Under FiveView book details
Upside Down AnimalsDanielle McLeanWhat are these animals doing? The answer depends on whether the book is held right side up or upside down. Simple rhyming text and bright, playful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
What to Do When You’re Not Sure What to DoDavina Bell, illustrated by Hilary Jean TapperA soft color palette matches the gentle tone of this clear but simple guide to facing situations that young children may find confusing, frightening, or disappointing.Under FiveView book detailsSeriesYour Places series
• Your Farm
• Your Forestwritten and illustrated by Jon KlassenIn each of these books, a series of everyday objects is introduced and arranged to make a familiar place. Spare, playful, ink and graphite illustrations against simple backgrounds. Also available in Spanish.Under Five
Diwali (Bright Baby Touch & Feel series)Roger PriddyPhotographs, graphic arts-style illustrations, and limited text display cultural traditions associated with this joyous Hindu holiday.Under FiveView book details
Pumpkin Mash (Mix and Match series)Catharine RobertsonLift the flaps of split pages to create multiple Halloween combinations. Bright, cheerful illustrations.Under FiveView book details
The Bear Out ThereJess Hannigan, illustrated by Jess HanniganAn alarmed child warns the reader of a bear watching from the forest. Then the bear tells its version. Wacky, cartoon-style acrylic art and paper collage, digitally edited.Under FiveATOS 2.4AR interest LG K-3View book details
Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World)Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by Corey R. TaborA standoffish bird chasing away animals on a telephone wire is actually a covert agent awaiting a mission to outer space! Cheerful digital art enhances the subtle humor.Under FiveATOS 1.8AR interest LG K-3View book details
DropbearPhilip BuntingA koala’s tendency to apparently fall out of trees starts being wrongly attributed to bad intentions. What will stop the rumor mill? Humorous gouache, digital collage, and duct tape illustrations.Under FiveView book details
Evelyn Witch Gets a PetBeth FerryEvelyn, initially disappointed to get an egg for a pet, tends to it faithfully and is rewarded with a baby owl who becomes a beloved companion. Humorous digital illustrations.Under FiveView book details