From Sliding Glass Doors to Playgrounds: Picture Books That Call Kids Outside By: Cora Astin In 1990 Dr. Rudine Bishop, OSU prof. of education, wrote that books are often viewed as a mirror, window, or sliding glass doors. Since then, her statement has resonated throughout the education and library communities, prompting ongoing conversations and encouraging …
Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) is pleased to announce the winners of the annual English CLEL Bell Awards. Now in its 12th awards cycle, the English CLEL Bell Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality children’s books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in children ages 0-5. The 2026 year features …
What’s with all this tracing in board books? By: Cora Astin Have you ever read a board book and noticed the raised or textured objects that little ones can trace with their fingers? Those elements aren’t randomly placed there by accident! They are actually designed to help support early pre-reading and pre-writing skills. As littles …
We are pleased to announce the shortlist titles for the annual English CLEL Bell Awards. Now in its 12th year, the English CLEL Bell Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality children’s books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in children ages 0-5. The 2026 year features a diverse array of titles …
By: Alexa Bynum Soto Have you ever wondered what being part of an award committee is like? Curious about applying for the Bells next year and want to know what to expect? Read on to learn what life on the committee looks like! When you are selected as a member of the CLEL Bell Award …
By: Justine Ferrara Do you want to incorporate CLEL Bell books into your storytimes? Are you looking for some caregiver tips, rhymes, songs, and activities to freshen up an existing storytime? Read on for some ideas to plan and execute an engaging storytime all about talking! CLEL Bell Award Winners, Shortlisters, and Nominees perfect for …
Books for Babies By Michelle Ballard, Springfield-Greene County Library District I get asked: Why should I read to my baby? The answer is more complex than one might think. Reading to a baby creates a stronger bond between the baby and the reader. The baby is gaining vocabulary knowledge, learning how to handle a book, …
By: Justine Ferrara, Union (NJ) Public Library Do you want to incorporate CLEL Bell books into your storytimes? Are you looking for some caregiver tips, rhymes, songs, and activities to freshen up an existing storytime? Read on for some ideas to plan and execute an engaging storytime all about singing! CLEL Bell Award Winners & …
We are pleased to announce the shortlist titles for the biannual Spanish CLEL Bell Awards. The Spanish CLEL Bell Awards are an biannual recognition of five high-quality children’s books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in children ages 0-5. This shortlist of 25 CLEL Bell titles, five for each early literacy practice – …
By: Kate Davis If you’re reading this blog post, you’re probably a picture book buff. An early literacy enthusiast. An alphabet aficionado. An illustration insider. A storytime superfan. And definitely a library loyalist. No matter how much we love picture books, it can be overwhelming to find the right book at the right time for …
