The Wanting MonsterMartine MurrayA strange beast afflicts the local town with insatiable greed. Wild, expressive, deep-colored art.Five to NineView 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
Selections619
Published byBank Street College of Education
Sections5 sections
Browse sections5 sections
Five to Nine
60 of 216 selections on this pageContinued from page 3Continues on page 5
The Wanting MonsterMartine MurrayA strange beast afflicts the local town with insatiable greed. Wild, expressive, deep-colored art.Five to NineView book details
The Wild Robot on the Island (Wild Robot series)Peter BrownAfter falling off a ship, Roz, a robot, learns to adapt to her new surroundings on an island by studying how the animals survive there. Digital illustrations. Picture book adaptation of The Wild Robot.Five to NineView book details
The Witch in the TowerJúlia SardàFeeling abandoned by her maturing older sister, a girl meets a mysterious witch and discovers her own inner power. Dazzling digital art filled with wild creatures and enigmatic symbolism.Five to NineView book details
The Animal People Choose a Leader (Richard Wagamese Storybook Collection)Richard WagameseA race to determine the animals’ leader turns into a profound lesson on pride, misplaced goals, appreciation, and community. Mysterious, stately art by an Anishinaabe illustrator.Five to NineView book details
My Abuela Is a BrujaMayra CuevasA young Puerto Rican girl waxes poetic about the magic her grandmother imparts in all she does. Cartoon-like mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Take a Walk with the WindXiong Liang, translated from Chinese by Chloe Garcia RobertsA Treeling, taken unwillingly on a wild adventure by the wind, apologizes profusely for his disturbance of the peaceful lives of the beings along his path. Breathtakingly gorgeous Chinese wash ink.Five to NineView book details
Chidori: A Story of One Thousand BirdsJennifer MarunoIn 2011 a young girl on Honshu survives a tsunami, but her artist mother perishes. The family starts finding solace together by painting birds that the mother loved. Evocative collage art.Five to NineView book details
Hansel and GretelStephen KingAbandoned in the woods, a brother and sister must outwit an evil witch. A lively, faithful adaptation by King with wild illustrations repurposed from Sendak’s opera designs.Five to NineView book details
The Gift of the Great BuffaloCarole Lindstrom, illustrated by Aly McKnightIn the 1880s the Métis-Ojibwe people gathered for communal buffalo hunts. One year, young Rose sets out alone to track the herd. Watercolor and graphite paintings.Five to NineView book details
The Lost SundayIleana Surducan, illustrated by Ileana SurducanA girl seeks out an underground witch who legend says has stolen a day of the week. Detailed artwork in a dark palette.Five to NineView book details
The Library in the WoodsCalvin Alexander RamseyIn 1959, when his family’s farm fails, a young Black boy moves to town and is introduced to a treasure in the forest. Representational artwork.Five to NineView book details
Minh and the Magic Grains of RiceĐỗ Nguyệt HàAfter carelessly spilling rice, a Vietnamese boy visits the past and learns the value of hard work and the harvest alongside his ancestors. Jovial cartoon-style digital art. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Sharing the DreamShelia P. MosesSitting on her daddy’s shoulders, a young Black girl from Alabama experiences the inspiring speeches and tremendous, peaceful, multiracial crowd at the 1963 March on Washington. Warm, inviting illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Dasher and the Polar Bear (Dasher series)Matt TavaresWhile flying and enjoying the northern lights, reindeer Dasher makes a new friend, a polar bear named George who wishes he could fly, too. Digital full-bleed illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Bear and Bird: The Stick and Other Stories (Bear and Bird series)JarvisClever short stories with subtle humor show how friends Bear and Bird negotiate their differences. Friendly illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest FestivalKathleen Choi, Sook Nyul ChoiSu-Jin and her best friends learn about an important Korean holiday, and help Halmoni (grandmother) prepare a feast to share with other friends. Stylized illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Bitty and Bub: Best Buds (Bitty and Bub series)Janee TraslerLaugh at the five comic adventures of these two unlikely friends, Bitty the rabbit and Bub the squirrel. Bold yet spare colorful illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Invisible ParadeLeigh Bardugo, illustrated by John PicacioFour mysterious horsemen help Cala come to terms with her grandfather’s death at her family’s Día de Muertos celebration. Arrestingly cinematic hand- drawn graphite art, steeped in dark fantasy symbolism.Five to NineATOS 3.9AR interest LG K–3View book details
Legendary Cakes: A Story of Tết, the Vietnamese New YearKerisa GreeneTwo siblings sleep over at their grandmother’s, celebrating Lunar New Year with steamed rice cakes and storytelling. Lighthearted digital collage using found textures and hand-carved patterns. Glossary. Recipe.Five to NineView book details
The Remembering CandleAlison Goldberg, illustrated by Selina AlkoLighting a yahrzeit candle to commemorate the anniversary of a family member’s passing is a Jewish tradition, but this gentle story offers everyone a comforting way to honor their loved ones’ death. Joyful illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Don’t Trust FishNeil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan SantatA hilarious, full-throated diatribe warning about the sinister nature of fish. Wildly imaginative pencil, watercolor, and digital art.Five to NineLexile AD470LATOS 2.1View book details
EchoAdam RexGrowing up with an agreeable mountain echo leads young Junior Junior to believe he is always right. The new girl next door sets him straight. Comical digital paintings.Five to NineView book details
It’s Taco Knight!Megan MaynorThe Knights of Dinner take turns providing meals in a land where nobody cooks. An overly enthusiastic newcomer’s popularity threatens to upend the peace. Slyly punny text. Jolly digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
RecessLane Smith, illustrated by Lane SmithStudents in a classroom long for a break; a narrator invites them (and readers) to give their pent-up energy a lively and restorative airing. Bold, joyful, color- saturated panels.Five to NineATOS 2.3AR interest Lower Grades (LG K-3)View book details
The Richest Cow in the WorldBarroux, illustrated by BarrouxPig suggests to a contented cow sitting under an apple tree that apples could become a multinational business, and then Cow could retire. A modern take on an old parable. Witty drawings.Five to NineView book details
Steve: A Rare EggKelly CollierA horse discovers a thingamabob that he identifies as an egg and determines to care for it. Cheery illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Who Ate Steve?Susannah Lloyd, illustrated by Kate HindleyA large bird makes multiple attempts to consume a small worm. Then a new predator arrives, inviting readers to reconsider what “large” and “small” are. Mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About SharingMatthew Diffee, illustrated by Matthew Diffee“The sheep says ‘baa.’” But the goat claims proprietorship of “baa,” sparking a lively territorial battle among farm animals for their own unique sounds. Rich wax and colored pencil illustrations.Five to NineATOS 2.1AR interest LG K-3View book detailsSeriesAmina Banana series
Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship
• Amina Banana and the Formula for Winning
by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya JaleelA Syrian third grader adjusts to life in America, despite language challenges. Black-and-white illustrations.Five to Nine
Ava Lin: One of a KindVicky FangWith the support of her family, friend, and teacher, an overthinking first grader explores what kindness requires and means. Black-and-white digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Brianna Banana: Helper of the Day (Orca Echoes series)Lana ButtonA third grader who struggles for acceptance and friendship is bewildered that her behavior often yields negative consequences. Amusing black-and-white illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Call Me GebyaneshArlene Rosenfeld Shenker, Gebyanesh Addisu, illustrated by Chiara FedeleAn Ethiopian Jew in an Israeli school reclaims her name after a teacher renames her. Realistic mixed-media and digital illustrations. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Henry’s Picture-Perfect Day (Henry series)Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika SongOn school picture day, Henry deals with uncomfortable clothes and problems in the classroom. Black, white, and purple drawings accompany this tenderhearted short chapter book.Five to NineATOS 2.7AR interest LG K-3View book details
No More ChairsDan GillA teacher remembers standing by his friend who was excluded from a birthday party because of racism. His lesson? All are welcome here. Mixed-media art.Five to NineView book details
Sarang Saves the SchoolKorena Di Roma HowleyWhen a girl’s rural South Korean school is in danger of closing because of diminishing enrollment, she finds an ingenious way to recruit new students. Colorful animated illustrations.Five to NineView book details
AstroManuel Marsol, illustrated by Manuel Marsol, Lizzie DavisA curious alien companion narrates an astronaut’s sojourn on a wild, mysterious planet. A poignant, philosophical tale paired with otherworldy mixed- media images. Also available in Portuguese and in Spanish.Five to NineView book details
The ArguersCorinna LuykenA community descends from petty squabbles into bitter feuds. Can they agree on anything? A striking modern parable. Ornate illustrations in watercolor, ink, pencil, and gouache.Five to NineView book details
The Blue Velvet ChairRio CortezFrom the vantage point of a chair in front of an upper story apartment window, a Black child observes the ever-changing cityscape. Richly hued digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Boar and HedgehogDavid ElliottCurmudgeonly, antisocial Boar tries, with decreasing success, to resist gentle Hedgehog’s gestures of friendliness, until the day that the latter needs help. Slyly humorous mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
CaringKobi YamadaA boy befriends an elderly gardener whose devoted lifelong work has spread beauty throughout the land. Swirling art awash in rich colors.Five to NineView book details
The FibPedro Iniguez, illustrated by Nathan KwanSecond grader Pepe learns how critical honesty can be after he lies about the existence of a mythical creature that comes terrifyingly to life. Vivid illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Freya and the SnakeFredrik SonckA girl is devastated after her father kills the snake she found in the rocks. Expressive, stylized line drawings with watercolor and digital collage.Five to NineView book details
The Grumpy Ghost UpstairsMamiko Shiotani, illustrated by Mamiko ShiotaniA specter tries every trick to frighten a scary little girl from his attic, but his visitor just wants to be friends. Hand-drawn illustrations using charcoal pencil.Five to NineView book details
The HoleLindsay BonillaA boy copes with the loss of his brother, symbolized by an ever present black hole in his life. Watercolor, pencil, and paper collage art, digitally assembled.Five to NineView book details
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the SeaJanice Milusich, illustrated by Chris RaschkaIn sensual language, a blind child narrates how she experiences the four seasons through her other senses. Swirling pastels and oil drawings.Five to NineLexile AD590LATOS 2.9View book details
I Know the WhaleRobin YardiA young girl, coming upon a beached whale, studies it, contemplating its life and death, as her father collects shells nearby. Undulating, mysterious, gentle illustrations. Semi-autobiographical.Five to NineView book details
The Language of BirdsJon-Erik LappanoMira, who feels a kinship with birds, befriends a new boy in school who expresses himself through artistic images of trees. Glowing earth-toned illustrations.Five to NineView book details
My Home Is in My BackpackEugenia PerrellaA young girl and her family are forced to flee their country but learn that there are many ways to define home. Graphite pencil, watercolor, and digital illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Other Side of the RocksNahid KazemiA wise fish encourages Froggy to explore a world outside her home. Afterward, Froggy returns home, forever changed by lessons learned from different creatures. Pastel illustrations. Inspired Persian poet Rumi’s works.Five to NineView book details
Picking Tea with BabaXu Bin, illustrated by Yu Yin, Shan ChenA young boy derives pleasure and a sense of pride from the work of harvesting leaves in his family’s tea garden. Vivid folk-art-style illustrations.Five to NineLexile 610LView book details
Rain and the Reading HorseMaria GianferrariSpending time reading to and caring for a gentle horse helps a child overcome anxiety and shyness. Gentle mixed-media art.Five to NineView book details
RockLaurel CrozaA seagull, dismayed to discover that the stone it tried to eat isn’t food, taunts and belittles it. A child, however, sees its beauty. Richly illustrated in mixed media.Five to NineView book details
The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and MoleCecilia Heikkilä, illustrated by Cecilia HeikkiläVexed by Mole’s selfishness, long-suffering Fox transforms into an unearthly shadow beast. Can Mole make amends before it’s too late? Eerie watercolor, gouache, pastel, and digital art.Five to NineView book details
Where Are You, Brontë?Tomie dePaola, illustrated by Barbara McClintockA gentle tale of love, joy, grief, and healing, perfect for all to prepare for life’s unavoidable losses. Engaging, comforting. mixed-media art.Five to NineView book details
BeansproutSarah Lynne ReulBen and his classmates are each allowed to pick a seed and plant it. His doesn’t grow, but he has an idea about what to do next. Mixed-media illustrations. Back matter includes information on plant germination.Five to NineView book details
Amazing Peace: A Christmas PoemMaya AngelouA family heads out on a snowy night to attend a Christmas tree lighting at the town hall and to celebrate peace and hope with their neighbors. Mixed- media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
The Biggest, Highest WaveKerry McQuaideA young Black surfer braves the famous swells of Nazaré, Portugal, and is victorious. Rhyming verse. Block print illustrations. Author’s note.Five to NineView book details
The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for HanukkahLaurel SnyderA family celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights on each day of the holiday. One night brings an unexpected “mess and a scramble.” Digital art. Back matter.Five to NineView book details
Cows and Sheep and Chicks That CheepDouglas FlorianA collection of humorous poems about life on a farm describing animal behaviors and the hard work of a farmer’s daily routine. Mixed-media illustrations.Five to NineView book details
Dear Acorn (Love, Oak): Letter Poems to FriendsJoyce Sidman, illustrated by Melissa SweetEight pairs of personified objects (including sky/bubble, river/pebble, and coat/button) exchange poems meditating on the relationship between big and small. Playful, profound imagery using inventive mixed-media collage.Five to NineATOS 3.8AR interest Lower Grades (LG K-3)View book details