GiantJudith McQuoidThe philosophical and fantastical underpinnings of C. S. Lewis’s later writings, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, are glimpsed in this warm portrait of his young life.Nine to TwelveView 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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Nine to Twelve
60 of 118 selections on this pageContinued from page 6Continues on page 8
GiantJudith McQuoidThe philosophical and fantastical underpinnings of C. S. Lewis’s later writings, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, are glimpsed in this warm portrait of his young life.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and LuliKarina Yan GlaserParallel stories of a boy from eighth-century China and a girl from 1931 Chinatown who must save their respective families and are united by a unique piece of silk and a Tang dynasty poet. Black-and-white spot illustrations.Nine to TwelveATOS 6.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto AlvarezMaría Dolores ÁguilaDuring the Great Depression, Mexican American Roberto, 12, becomes the lead plaintiff in a legal case battling segregation in a Southern California elementary school. Free verse. Grayscale spot illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 800LATOS 5.1View book details
The Secret of HoneycakeKimberly Newton FuscoEleven-year-old Hurricane has trouble finding her voice, but she definitely does not want to leave her ocean home to live with her Aunt Claire in the city. Set in the 1930s.Nine to TwelveView book details
Surviving Vesuvius: A Lucky Escape from the Tragic Fate of Ancient PompeiiChristopher HarissonIn 79 C.E, a rich, complex society in Southern Italy was leveled by a ferocious volcanic eruption. The events are known in detail thanks to a contemporary account. Painterly illustrations. Time line.Nine to TwelveView book details
We Are American, TooKristen Mei ChaseMei and her family celebrate her great-great- grandfather who, in 1898, was the second Chinese person born in Washington, D.C. Colorful illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
When Sally O’Malley Discovered the SeaKaren CushmanIn the summer of 1894, armed only with her gumption, Sally strikes out west across Oregon for the sea. Adventure? That’s easy. Learning to trust others? Not so fast.Nine to TwelveView book details
Will’s Race for Home: A WesternJewell Parker RhodesIn 1889 Will and his father, a Black sharecropper, leave Texas to stake a claim in Oklahoma. But people, animals, and the environment pose deadly threats. Full-page grayscale illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Days of Awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom KippurEric A. KimmelThree traditional folktales represent the important mitzvot of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur— repentance, prayer, and charity. Folk-art-style illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Future Me Saves the World (and Ruins My Life)Leah CypessFourth grader Ethan receives a seemingly simple assignment from his 39-year-old self—convincing his substitute teacher to continue teaching so she doesn’t become an evil dictator and destroy the planet. Cartoon-style black-and-white spot art.Nine to TwelveView book details
Into the Bewilderness: A Graphic NovelGus GordonLuis the bear and Pablo the mole leave their cabin in the woods for an adventure in the Big City. Things don’t go exactly as planned. Soft clear artwork.Nine to TwelveView book details
J vs. KKwame Alexander, Jerry CraftFormer fifth grade rivals (J who draws and K who writes) realize that, by joining forces, they just might win the school’s creative writing contest. Humorous black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveATOS 4.8AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Trial and ErrorRobin NewmanAn ant practicing as a lawyer wins case after case in a variety of legal situations. Black-and-white artwork.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Very Fine ClockMuriel SparkAlthough he has a warm connection with Professor Horace John Morris and his friends, Ticky refuses an honorary professorship out of regard for the other clocks. Black-and-white illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic NovelNatalie Babbitt, adapted, illustrated by K. Woodman-MaynardThis sensitive reimagining of the enduring classic incorporates many of the original’s memorable lines while imbuing it with fresh images. Back matter includes a dialogue with Babbitt’s daughter. Delicate artwork in a subdued palette.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Winter of the DollhouseLaura Amy SchlitzTiph feels such a strong connection with a valuable antique doll that she steals it, setting off a chain of magical events. Ingenious plot twists and insightful character development.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Cartoonists ClubRaina Telgemeier, Scott McCloud, illustrated by Raina Telgemeier, Scott McCloudFour middle schoolers and a school librarian create a club to learn the process of building visual storylines. Extensive back matter about comics and creating them. Full-color art.Nine to TwelveATOS 2.9AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Fresh StartGale GalliganOllie, a diplomat’s child accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle, has to adjust for the long term when the family puts down roots in Virginia. Bright, energetic panels.Nine to TwelveView book details
Mixed-UpKami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney WilliamsStella was looking forward to fifth grade but now has trouble reading. Peers and elders support her. Text and cheerful illustrations designed for dyslexic and neurodivergent readers. Back matter.Nine to TwelveLexile 390LView book details
Old SchoolGordon KormanDex lives at his grandmother’s retirement village, having been homeschooled by residents there all his life. Now he’s forced to go to middle school. Can he adjust?Nine to TwelveView book details
The Other Side of ImaniLisa SpringerImani, a Black eighth grader, loves fashion designing and wants to get a scholarship by winning a school contest. Then her classmate steals her design. Author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
SpeechlessAron Nels Steinke, illustrated by Aron Nels SteinkeMira eagerly goes to middle school, but social anxiety hinders her from speaking outside her home. She takes comfort in making stop-motion films. Brightly colored artwork. Resources. Author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Unlikely Heroes ClubKate FosterDuring spring break, Oli must attend daily socialization classes for autistic kids. Rescuing a stray dog provides unexpected opportunities for collaboration and friendship.Nine to TwelveView book details
What Fell from the SkyAdrianna CuevasSoldiers descend on Pineda’s small Texan town, supposedly for war games, but he suspects they’re really searching for the alien hiding in his barn. Author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
Zed Moonstein Makes a FriendLance RubinSixth grader Zed is terrible at making friends. He surreptitiously downloads an app for the perfect AI buddy. But “Matt” becomes super-possessive and not so perfect after all.Nine to TwelveView book details
Bad Badger: A Love StoryMaryrose Wood, illustrated by Giulia GhiginiA rare spotted badger, living a solitary but otherwise atypical life by the sea, discovers where he truly belongs through his friendship with a seagull. Full-page grayscale illustrations.Nine to TwelveLexile 660LATOS 4.3View book details
CurlFriends: Back in Business (CurlFriends series)Sharee MillerWith the help of her friends, a young Black girl wins the dance competition and helps her mom keep her hair salon. Cartoon-style illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Speak Up, Santiago! (Hillside Valley Graphic Novel series)Julio Anta, illustrated by Gabi MendezNew Yorker Santiago’s sudden immersion in a rural, multi-ethnic Spanish-speaking town exposes unexpected linguistic and cultural gaps. Back home, white classmates question his attending beginners’ Spanish classes. Action-filled panels.Nine to TwelveLexile GN390LATOS 3.1View book details
Black Diamond KingsCharles R. Smith JrTwelve players from the Negro Leagues sparkle as they catch, run, and slug their way to stardom. Short, energetic poems. Bold, dynamic illustrations that pop. Strong back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Boy Who Lived in a Shell: Snippets for Wandering MindsJohn HimmelmanAn imaginative free-verse world of impossible creatures and improbable children, by turns whimsical and wistful, touching and humorous. Amusing spot pen and ink illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Hopeful Heroes: More Poems About Amazing LatinosMargarita EngleLyrical portraits of Central and South American activists and artists from the early 1500s to the present. Colorful hand-painted watercolors. Short biographies in back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
This Is Not a Small Voice: Poems by Black Poetsillustrated by Jade Orlando, Traci N. ToddVibrant poems by 100 diverse Black poets paired with energetic bold watercolor illustrations illuminate the varied rich Black experience of culture, community, history, and protest. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Words with Wings and Magic ThingsMatthew Burgess, illustrated by Doug SalatiFar-ranging and whimsical rhyming poetry grouped into seven loose themes encourages kids to fly, to dream, and to live fully. Expressive illustrations of real and mythical creatures.Nine to TwelveLexile NPView book details
Cooking Up ChangeMichael PlattEnjoy one celebratory recipe for each month, accompanied by descriptions of milestone events and notable people in Black American history. Warmly hued digital illustrations. Short biographies, glossary, resources.Nine to TwelveView book details
An Abundance of Light: A Story of Matisse in MoroccoLauren StringerA visit to Tangier lifted the famous artist’s dark mood, reminded him of his childhood, and inspired his exuberant, colorful paintings. Mixed-media illustrations evoke his style. Unique, informative endpapers.Nine to TwelveView book details
How Sweet the SoundKwame Alexander, illustrated by Charly PalmerDiscover the history of African Americans through the music they created, from the talking drums of West Africa to spirituals to jazz to rock and more. Boldly colored illustrations. Free verse. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Liftoff!: How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art SoarNina CrewsA Black abstract painter created works inspired by the space flights of the late 1960s. Bold digital illustrations. Unique intersection of art and technology. Excellent back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
André: André Leon Talley—A Fabulously Fashionable Fairy TaleCarole Boston Weatherford, Rob SandersDespite prejudice and limited resources, Talley rose to prominence in the fashion world, due to education, drive, and his grandmother’s love. Abundant quotes. Intensely colored stylized illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a ShapeAmy Alznauer, illustrated by Anna BronAn amateur mathematician’s curiosity, creativity, and hard work advanced the knowledge of tiling shapes. Bright, elegant geometric art. Bibliography. Suggested activities.Nine to TwelveView book details
Harriet Tubman: Force of Nature: A Biography in PoemsCaroline Brewer, illustrated by Caroline BrewerThe life of a legendary runaway slave, freedom fighter, Union Army spy, and nurse shines through 30 emotive rhythmic poems and mixed-media biographically inspired collages. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams: The Woman Who Rescued a Generation of Children and Founded the World’s Largest Children’s LibraryKatherine PatersonAfter World War II, a German Jewish youth advocate established the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Retro-style color illustrations. Archival photographs.Nine to TwelveView book details
Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Whetstone (Beyond the Game: Athletes Change the World series)Andrew MaranissIn 2019 a talented Dakota runner ran the Boston Marathon with the names of missing Indigenous women painted on her body. Black-and-white drawings.Nine to TwelveView book details
Marjory’s River of Grass: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Fierce Protector of the EvergladesJosie JamesDouglas, a suffragist, wartime Red Cross volunteer, and author, had a lifelong mission to save an irreplaceable and diverse natural habitat. Detailed digital illustrations. Bibliography. List of wildlife protection organizations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Prince Among Slaves: The Remarkable True Story of an African Prince Enslaved in Mississippi and His Journey HomeN. H. SenzaiThe life of Prince Abdulrahman Sori from his beginnings in West Africa to his capture, enslavement in the United States, emancipation, and return to the continent of his birth. Descriptive text and emotive acrylic paintings. Detailed author’s note.Nine to TwelveView book details
Sarah Key Evans: The Power of Quiet CourageAmy Nathan, with Sarah Key EvansIn 1952 a Black Women’s Army Corps private was arrested for not changing her seat on a bus when it entered the South. She later sued, and won. Full-color illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Twist, Tumble, Triumph: The Story of Champion Gymnast Ágnes KeletiDeborah Bodin Cohen, Kerry OlitzkyA Hungarian Jewish athlete put her dreams on hold throughout the Holocaust. Many years later, she reunited with her partner and eventually achieved her goals. Evocative illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Endless SeaChi ThaiA family’s fraught sea escape from Vietnam is captured in muted illustrations, which, once the family is settled safely in their new homeland, then glow with color.Nine to TwelveView book details
I Was Supposed to Be at Schoolthe children of Maré, in collaboration with Ananda Luz, Isabel MalzoniWords and pictures taken from letters that children from a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sent to the government about how police raids affected them.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Crane and the Keeper: How an Endangered Crane Chose a Human as Her MateMeeg PincusA crane, who had bonded with people and therefore wasn’t breeding, encountered a clever, human caretaker who helped its lineage continue. Digital art. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
After the Clotilda: Africatown’s Hidden HistoryAnitra Butler-NgugiSurvivors from the last slave ship to the United States and their descendants built a thriving community, now threatened by pollution. Archival photographs and images. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown MassacreLivia BlackburneMounting xenophobia toward Chinese Americans, fueled by racist newspaper commentary, culminated in a brutal attack and 18 deaths. Powerful earth-toned ink and digital illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Hiding in Plain Sight: Kate Warne and the Race to Save Abraham LincolnBeth Anderson, illustrated by Sally Wern ComportAmerica’s first female detective uncovered a plot to assassinate the president-elect during his inaugural train tour. Suspenseful prose and scrapbook-like collage illustrations. Archival photographs, endpaper map. Extensive back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Is It Real?: The Loch Ness MonsterCandace FlemingFollowing descriptions of major sightings of Nessie, the reader is invited to investigate theories about its possible existence. Lively, interactive treatment. Black-and-white archival photos. Meticulous back matter.Nine to TwelveATOS 6.0AR interest Middle Grades (MG 4-8)View book details
Kaho‘olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her PeopleKamalani HurleyThe smallest of the main Hawaiian islands was occupied by the U.S. military in 1941 and used as a test bomb site until 1990. Activists have been working for decades to undo the damage. Powerful, colorful illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Secrets of the Dead: Mummies and Other Human Remains from Around the WorldMatt RalphsWhether lovingly prepared or preserved accidentally, the remains of the dead provide a tantalizing glimpse into lives lived long ago. Illustrations filled with historical details. Graphs, map. Glossary.Nine to TwelveView book details
The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the NazisErin McGuireBy keeping meticulous notes, a shy curator in Paris during World War II tricked soldiers and recorded the destinations intended for stolen treasures. Expressive, realistic illustrations.Nine to TwelveView book details
Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v. Vegetable ShowdownLindsay H. MetcalfIn 1892 a produce importer attempted to avoid tariffs on tomatoes, once classified as vegetables, by having them legally declared to be fruit. Cheery illustrations. Glossary, author’s note, sources.Nine to TwelveView book details
The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II RescueElizabeth Brown, illustrated by Melissa CastrillónIn 1940 Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes defied his government for 23 days, issuing visas to thousands of Jews fleeing the Nazis. Digital illustrations. Back matter.Nine to TwelveView book details
Drawing Is … Your Guide to Scribbled AdventuresElizabeth HaidleA visuals-forward primer on how to approach drawing, free up one’s creativity, and give oneself room to experiment, grow, and make serendipitous mistakes. Illustrated in a wide range of media.Nine to TwelveView book details
We Need to Talk About Divorce (We Need to Talk About series)Kate Scharff, illustrated by Annika Le LargeBright, cartoon-style illustrations accompany this therapist’s personal and professional advice for kids facing the challenge of family upheaval. Sensitive, reassuring, and practical.Nine to TwelveView book details