During the last days of 2024, and the first weeks of 2025, we shared the books that had appeared on a wide array of Best Kids’ Book lists for the year. At that time, we promised to return with one of the most respected of these annual lists. Bank Street College of Education publishes a deep and nuanced list of the previous year’s bests later in the season–and later is now!
What makes this compilation so significant? Many of the “bests” lists we discussed previously are chosen by committees, a method that adds to the diversity of expertise and viewpoints brought to list-making. So, too, does the Bank Street College of Education list: their committee of evaluators numbers close to fifty! Their affiliation with a renowned higher education institution dedicated to childhood learning and enrichment speaks to their knowledge base about the roles books can play in children’s lives. As the book’s foreword states forthrightly:
All children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in what they read, and from seeing characters with different identities, depicted accurately and without stereotypes, in texts and/ or illustrations. The [committee] values representations of characters who are change agents and advocates for social justice, inclusivity, and equity.
While these details provide background for the list user, the dynamic nature of the list is also significant. While the compendium (90 pages!) is sorted into familiar divisions, including suggested ages and genres, individual titles also carry keys indicate such attributes as material type or potential for sharing aloud. Titles considered particularly outstanding are also designated.
All these “extras”–large and diverse group of evaluators, size of ultimate list, potential for browsing by key, and immediate gloss on content–mean this list is truly worth the wait! And look at all our friends who appear on it! We know you’ll find some new friends here, too.
In addition to full bibliographic information, each title entry includes an annotation noting overall theme, art, and other significant details.
We’re delighted that Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books Committee recognized these three dozen titles (seven with stars indicating Outstanding Merit!) from 17 of our publishing friends! We think it’s important to note, too, that these 36 books come from both publishers with deep and broad numbers of annual releases and from those who published only a small number of highly curated manuscripts. Ten of the titles here are translations to English, with translators and original publication languages appropriately noted. This indeed is a list of Best Books that models exemplary respect for authors, illustrators, publishers, translators, and, most important of all, children. Descriptions below for each title are drawn directly from Bank Street’s annotations.
Starred for Outstanding Merit
A Gecko Press board book for babies, GOOD NIGHT, BELLY BUTTON, written and illustrated by Lucie Brunellière, shows a gentle bedtime routine that , through the use of flaps, covers a toddler from toes to chin. Older children, ages 7-10, also have a treat from Gecko Press: ONE WISE SHEEP, written by Ulrich Hub, illustrated by Jörg Mϋhle, and translated from German by Helena Kirkby, retells the Christmas story from the perspective of humorously characterized sheep. THE OBSERVOLOGIST, written and illustrated by Giselle Clarson, also published by Gecko Press, is recommended for STEM reading by 9-12-year-olds as a “playful, informative field guide.” From Nosy Crow, THE GIRL WHO PLANTED TREES, written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Anastasia Suvorova, offers picture book readers ages 4-6 the story of a village inspired by a child to reforest a barren mountainside. Also from Nosy Crow, concept learning support through a picture book arrives with D IS FOR DOG, written by Em Lynas with illustrations by Sara Ogilvie, is suggested for ages 3-6. Picture book readers 5-8 can find a “sanctuary for richly imagined world of wonder and enchantment” in THIS IS MY TREEHOUSE, written by Guillaume Guéraud and translated from the original French by Polly Lawson, with both spot illustrations and full page paintings by Alfred, and published by Floris Books. The same age group of 5-8-year-olds can take a series of adventures with children trying to deliver a cake to their grandmother in THE GREAT EXPEDITION, written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas and published by Pajama Press.
More for the Youngest Readers
Bank Street’s list recommends additional titles especially for infants and toddlers. “Delightful mixed-media illustrations” are featured in Child’s Play, CAT AND BIRD, a title in the board book series “So Can We!,” by author-illustrator Jo Empson. More author-illustrator board books come from Gecko Press in board book format: CAN I SIT IN THE MIDDLE? comes from Susanne Strasser, translated from German by Melody Shaw, and published by Gecko Press shows “how hard it is to settle down before story time” and LIONEL IS JUST LIKE DAD, from the “Lionel” series by Éric Veillé, translated from French by Daniel Hahn, shows the titular cub copying his father’s everyday tasks. From Nosy Crow, another author-illustrator board book series contribution is recognized: LITTLE LAMB, WHERE ARE YOU? from the “Baby Faces” series by Ekaterina Trukhan, includes mirrors and flaps. Also recommended for toddlers ages 1-2 years is BABY’S FIRSTS created by Flowerpot Press which uses photographs to show “milestones occurring in the initial twelve months of life.”
Preschoolers and children in the early grades are given of plenty of picture book recommendations, too. WHEN I BECAME YOUR GRANDPA, by Susannah Shane and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup, published by Nosy Crow, is recommended for ages 2-4. For ages 4-6, A HORSE CALLED NOW, by Ruth Dovey and illustrated with “soothing natural imagery” by Alexandra Finkeldey, is also published by Nosy Crow. With the same age range recommendation, PRETTY UGLY, by David Sedaris and illustrated by Ian Falconer, published by TOON Books, posits a young ogre who “turns herself adorable to scare her family.” The list’s Humor section includes BEAR’S LOST GLASSES, written and illustrated by Leo Timmers, translated from Dutch by David Colmer, and published by Gecko Press as a recommendation for ages 4-7. GIANT ON THE SHORE, by Alfonso Ochoa, illustrated by Azul López, translated by Shook from Spanish, and published by Transit Children’s Editions, appears in the list’s Magical Realism section with a 5-7 age range recommendation.
Picture Books Recommended for Depictions of Diversity
Bank Street’s listing of best books includes noting titles chosen for “diversity” and spells out exactly how that term is used:
Diversity encompasses the varied and unique identities, experiences, perspectives, and cultural communities of a book’s main and supporting characters, whose attributes include (but are not limited to): race, ethnicity, gender, abilities, sexuality, class, religion, family structure,[and/or] local and global challenges.
Among the picture books designated as diverse we see THE GIRL WHO PLANTED TREES, and BABY’S FIRSTS, noted in the sections above. In addition, picture books with this designation include MY BOOK AND ME, written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Chris Raschka, and published by Red Comet Press in which both text and images “celebrate the many ways to appreciate a favorite book” and recommended for ages 3-6. From Barefoot Books and recommended by the committee for ages 6-9, I’LL SEE YOU IN IJEBU, with text by Bunmi Emenanjo and illustrated by Diana Ejaita, is set in Nigeria and explores an extended family’s diverse traditions as they share them with each other. Also from Barefoot Books, MESSAGE IN THE MOONCAKE, and recommended for the same age range, takes us to China at the time of the Mongol threat in a story by Sapphire Chow illustrated by Xiaojie Liu. Lantana Publishing’s FREEDOM BRAIDS, written by Monique Duncan and illustrated by Oboh Moses, which the committee recommends for ages 6-9, takes the young protagonist, and with her the reader, into a women’s traditional space where she learns about the meaning of braids. Recommended for ages 7-10, THE BLUE BUTTERFLY OF COCHIN, written by Ariana Mizrahi and illustrated by Siona Benjamin, and published by Kalaniot Press, presents the 20th century migration of a traditionally Jewish community in India to Israel with “vibrant full page illustrations.”
Diversity Noted Beyond the Picture Book Format
Two books noted by Bank Street’s committee as depicting diversity in exemplary ways also share the format of graphic novel. NIGHT STORIES: Folktales from Latin America, written and drawn by Liniers and published by TOON Books, tells a trio of stories through a pair of siblings who recount them to each other; the list notes the book is available in both English and Spanish editions. From Udon Entertainment, GIGA TOWN: A Guide to Manga Iconography, written and illustrated by Fumiyo Kouno and translated from Japanese, provides both definitions and examples “of a wealth of symbols found in Japanese kids’ cartoons.” Another collection of folklore is recommended for ages 8-9 in ANIMAL STORIES FROM INDIA: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra, retold by Nikita Gill and with “lush illustrations” by Chaaya Prabhat, published by Nosy Crow. Bank Street denotes on the theme of Law & Justice and notes among them the picture book for older readers published by Red Comet Press: WE SING FROM THE HEART: How the Slants® Took their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court is written by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez.
Picture Book Biographies
Bank Street recognizes the power of picture books to convey nonfiction, as noted above and including the factual accounts of individual lives. FARMER EVA’S GREEN GARDEN LIFE, recommended for ages 7-9, is a part of publisher Readers to Eaters and author Jacqueline Briggs Martin “Food Heroes” series, this one illustrated by Christy Hale and sharing how Eva Sommaripa “turned her passion into community.” VIGDIS: A Book about the World’s First Female President, recommended for ages 6-9, written and illustrated by Rán Flygenring, translated from Icelandic by Jonas Moody, and published by Helvetiq, includes “detailed, whimsical” drawings as well as text sharing Vigdis’ array of achievements.
Ecology and STEM-themed Recommendations
SECRET GARDENERS: Growing a Community and Healing the Earth, written by Maija Hume and Lina Laurent, illustrated by Maija Hume, translated from Swedish by Sofiam Karlsson and Jen Pulju Porter, published by Pajama Press shows readers 6-9 a detailed story of urban gardening. HABITATS: A Journey in Nature, by Hannah Pang, illustrated by Isobel Lundie, and published by the 360 Degrees nonfiction imprint of Tiger Tales Books, uses split pages to show “how different animals exist in six varied habitats around the world,” and is recommended for ages 7-9. Two other books on the list, these for ages 7-10, also realize STEM themes. HOW DO YOU BECOME A MAD SCIENTIST?: A Book Full of Science Experiments from Flowerpot Press’ “How Do” series, is authored by Madeline J. Hayes and illustrated by Srimalie Bassani and shares projects that “nurture creativity and expand scientific knowledge.” Nosy Crow’s A WORLD OF DOGS: A Celebration of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Real-Life Stories for Dog Lovers is written by Carlie Sorosiak and illustrated by Luisa Uribe, and includes an index as well as a glossary. Note, too, that THE OBSERVOLOGIST, listed above, is noted by Bank Street’s list for its STEM supporting content.
More to Enjoy!
There are more books we love on this list as well! Recommended for ages 7-10 for its Humor, THE EGG INCIDENT is a featured graphic novel, written by Ziggy Hanaor, illustrated by Daisy Wynter, and published by Cicada Books. Noted under Reference and also putting a twist on a familiar tale, WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?! by Robin Newman, illustrated by Deborah Zemke, and published by Creston Books, readers 8-11 can chuckle while also learning “the components of great stories.”
There are books for older readers here as well. OUT OF THE VALLEY OF HORSES, by Wendy Orr, published by Pajama Press, brings 9-12-year-olds a Fantasy set in Australia. The same age range will find, listed under Poetry, Nosy Crow’s SHE’LL BE THE SKY: Poems by Women and Girls, edited by Ella Risbridger and illustrated by Anna Shepeta featuring themes of “nature, family, activism,” and more.
And of course we’ve brought only 5% of the volume’s list to your special attention here! You can download and explore your own copy of Bank Street College of Education’s THE BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE YEARS [2025 EDITION] right here! Keep reading, keep sharing books with children!