Bank Street College Children's Book Committee | Center for Children's Literature

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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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.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2020 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 2019. 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 [2020 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 2019. In English and Spanish.

Spanish title: Los mejores libros infantiles en Español.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2019 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 2018. 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 [2019 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 2018. In English and Spanish.

Spanish title: Los mejores libros infantiles en Español.
The Best Children's Books of the Year [2018 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 2017. 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 Books of the Year [2017 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 2016. 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 Books of the Year [2015 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 2014. 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 Books of the Year [2016 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 2015. 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.
Reading Aloud With Children Twelve & Older

Children's Book Committee. Bank Street College of Education

The Children's Book Committee's list of great read alouds for older children. Includes selection considerations in choosing read-aloud titles and hints for reading aloud.