Children's Book Committee

The Children's Book Committee was founded more than 100 years ago to help parents, teachers, and librarians choose the books that children will find captivating and transforming.

One of the most comprehensive annotated book lists for children, aged infant-18. The Committee reviews over 6000 titles each year for accuracy and literary quality and considers their emotional impact on children. It chooses the best 600 books, both fiction and nonfiction, which it lists with annotations, according to age and category.

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Carole Boston Weatherford Claudia Lewis Award 2024 Acceptance Speech

Carole Boston Weatherford

Author Carole Boston Weatherford wins the Claudia Lewis Award 2024 for Kin Rooted in Hope from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.
David Elliott Claudia Lewis Award 2024 Acceptance Speech

David Elliott

Author David Elliott wins the Claudia Lewis Award 2024 for At the Poles from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.
Ellen Rooney Claudia Lewis Award 2024 Acceptance Speech

Ellen Rooney

Illustrator Ellen Rooney wins the Claudia Lewis Award 2024 for At the Poles from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.
Gary D. Schmidt Josette Frank Award 2024 Acceptance Letter

Gary D. Schmidt

Author Gary D. Schmidt wins the Josette Frank Award 2024 for The Labors of Hercules Beal

The Josette Frank Award

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The award has been given annually since 1943. Josette Frank, the editor of anthologies for children, served for many years as the Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America of which this committee was a part.
Jennifer Thermes Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2024 Acceptance Speech

Jennifer Thermes

Author Jennifer Thermes wins the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2024 for The Indestructible Tom Crean from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Established in 1994 to honor Flora Straus, who led the Children’s Book Committee for many years, this award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people. Flora Straus stood for the values of courage, hard work, truth, and beauty while adapting to a changing world. She believed that books about varying cultures enrich and help all children in their growth. She championed diverse opinions and points of view and was a person of high principles, unfailing courtesy, and deep understanding.
Susan Hood Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2024 Acceptance Speech

Susan Hood

Author Susan Hood wins the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2024 for Harboring Hope: The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark’s Jews Escape the Nazis from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Established in 1994 to honor Flora Straus, who led the Children’s Book Committee for many years, this award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people. Flora Straus stood for the values of courage, hard work, truth, and beauty while adapting to a changing world. She believed that books about varying cultures enrich and help all children in their growth. She championed diverse opinions and points of view and was a person of high principles, unfailing courtesy, and deep understanding.
The Best Children's Books of 2024: Summer Reading Guide

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee.

Notable titles that have captured the attention of our members as well as experts in the field of children’s literature, such as librarians, authors, teachers, psychologists, and editors. This is the perfect place to find a book that will delight young readers during the long days of summer.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2024 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee.

Includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2023. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider 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.
Janelle Washington Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2023 Acceptance Speech

Janelle Washington

Illustrator Janelle Washington wins the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2023 for Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked a Civil Rights Movement from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Established in 1994 to honor Flora Straus, who led the Children’s Book Committee for many years, this award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people. Flora Straus stood for the values of courage, hard work, truth, and beauty while adapting to a changing world. She believed that books about varying cultures enrich and help all children in their growth. She championed diverse opinions and points of view and was a person of high principles, unfailing courtesy, and deep understanding.
Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award and Educational Program

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

Developed by the Children’s Book Committee (CBC), the Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award honors the legacy of the late award-winning children’s book author and her brilliant contributions to the canon of children’s literature.
2023 Award Ceremony

Thursday, March 9, 2023 (via Zoom) 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET In partnership with KidLit TV

Introductory Comments

Cynthia Weill, Director, Center for Children’s Literature, Shael Polakow-Suransky, President, Bank Street College

Keynote Presentation

“Board Books in the Pediatric Exam Room: Something to Chew On” Dr. Perri Klass, National Medical Director, Reach Out and Read

Panel Discussion

“The Ones They Come Back To: What Makes a Best Board Book?” Moderator: Rachel Payne Panelists: Antonette Portis, I’m Up!; LeUyen Pham, Whose Knees Are These?; Anne Wynter, One Big Day; Steven Light, Black Bird Yellow Sun; Carole Boston Weatherford, Me and the Family Tree

Acceptance Speeches

Alisha Sevigny, Give Me A Snickle (for 0-18 months) Carole Boston Weatherford and Ashleigh Corrin, Me and the Family Tree (for 19-36 months)
Marilyn Nelson Claudia Lewis Award 2023 Acceptance Speech

Marilyn Nelson

Author Marilyn Nelson wins the Claudia Lewis Award 2023 for Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.
Ruta Sepetys Josette Frank Award 2023 Acceptance Speech

Ruta Sepetys

Author Ruta Sepetys wins the Josette Frank Award (for older readers) 2023 for I Must Betray You from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Josette Frank Award

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The award has been given annually since 1943. Josette Frank, the editor of anthologies for children, served for many years as the Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America of which this committee was a part.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2023 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

Includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2022. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider 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.
Angela Joy Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2023 Acceptance Speech

Angela Joy

Author Angela Joy wins the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2023 for Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked a Civil Rights Movement from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Established in 1994 to honor Flora Straus, who led the Children’s Book Committee for many years, this award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people. Flora Straus stood for the values of courage, hard work, truth, and beauty while adapting to a changing world. She believed that books about varying cultures enrich and help all children in their growth. She championed diverse opinions and points of view and was a person of high principles, unfailing courtesy, and deep understanding.
Angeline Boulley Josette Frank Award 2022 Acceptance Speech

Angeline Boulley

Author Angeline Boulley wins the Josette Frank Award (for older readers) 2022 for Firekeeper's Daughter from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Josette Frank Award

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The award has been given annually since 1943. Josette Frank, the editor of anthologies for children, served for many years as the Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America of which this committee was a part.
Christian Robinson Josette Frank Award 2022 Acceptance Speech

Christian Robinson

Illustrator Christian Robinson wins the Josette Frank Award (for young readers) 2022 for Milo Imagines the World from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Josette Frank Award

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The award has been given annually since 1943. Josette Frank, the editor of anthologies for children, served for many years as the Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America of which this committee was a part.
Diana Whitney Claudia Lewis Award 2022 Acceptance Speech

Diana Whitney

Editor Diana Whitney wins the Claudia Lewis Award 2022 for You Don't Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.
Matt de la Peña Josette Frank Award 2022 Acceptance Speech

Matt de la Peña

Author Matt de la Peña wins the Josette Frank Award (for young readers) 2022 for Milo Imagines the World from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Josette Frank Award

This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. The award has been given annually since 1943. Josette Frank, the editor of anthologies for children, served for many years as the Executive Director of the Child Study Association of America of which this committee was a part.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2022 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

Includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2021. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider 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.
The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish [2022 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

An annotated list of the best children's books in Spanish published or translated in 2021. In English and Spanish.

Spanish title: Los mejores libros infantiles en Español.
Warren Binford Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2022 Acceptance Speech

Warren Binford

Compiler Warren Binford wins the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2022 for Hear My Voice / Escucha Mi Voz from Bank Street College Children's Book Committee.

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Established in 1994 to honor Flora Straus, who led the Children’s Book Committee for many years, this award is presented annually for a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people. Flora Straus stood for the values of courage, hard work, truth, and beauty while adapting to a changing world. She believed that books about varying cultures enrich and help all children in their growth. She championed diverse opinions and points of view and was a person of high principles, unfailing courtesy, and deep understanding.
Asian American Pacific Islander Booklist

Children's Book Committee. Bank Street College of Education

For grown-ups of all races who are having conversations with children to expand inquiry and empathy among Asian and non-Asian peoples, we offer a selection of books from the Children’s Book Committee’s Best Books of the Year, organized by age with child development in mind.
The Best Children's Books of 2021: Holiday Gift Edition

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

Notable titles that have captured the attention of Children's Book Committee members just in time for the holidays!
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2021 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

Includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2020. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider 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.
The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish [2021 edition]

Bank Street College of Education. Children's Book Committee

An annotated list of the best children's books in Spanish published or translated in 2020. In English and Spanish.

Spanish title: Los mejores libros infantiles en Español.