World Forum Sheds Light on Children’s Advocacy

Q&A with Melanie Borski-Howard, 2024 CLEL Bell Awards Committee Chair and Youth Services Specialist at Boulder Public Library, and Andrea Cleland, Early Literacy Librarian at Loveland Public Library In May 2023, Melanie Borski-Howard and Andrea Cleland, two stellar children’s librarians in Colorado, had the opportunity to present their “Let the Children March” presentation at the …

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Using CLEL Bell Titles in Storytime

by Karen Walker, Kids and Families Core Service Librarian, Jefferson County Public Library, Colorado, member of the 2024 CLEL Bell Awards committee “Have any of you been camping? ¿Alguien ha ido a acampar?” That was the question Rodney the Rat with his little backpack asked the kids at storytimes in May at one of my …

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How a CLEL Bell Award is Won

by Maureen Quinlan, 2024 CLEL Bell Awards Co-Chair Ever wonder how a CLEL Bell book goes from publication to winning the award? Here is the step-by-step process of how readers, books, and librarians all fit into the CLEL Bells puzzle. For a more in-depth analysis of our committee work, read on.  Book award committee work …

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2023 CLEL Bell “READ” Nominations pt. 3

The CLEL Bell Book Award committee is wrapping up their nominations and about to meet to create the 2023 Shortlist. At this exciting annual meeting, we look at each practice’s nominations and gush, debate, and celebrate until we are down to five books in each category? Want to be a part of the action next …

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2023 CLEL Bell “SING” Nominations pt. 4

The CLEL Bell Book Award committee is wrapping up their nominations and about to meet to create the 2023 Shortlist. At this exciting annual meeting, we look at each practice’s nominations and gush, debate, and celebrate until we are down to five books in each category? Want to be a part of the action next …

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2023 CLEL Bell “PLAY” Nominations pt. 4

The CLEL Bell Book Award committee is wrapping up their nominations and about to meet to create the 2023 Shortlist. At this exciting annual meeting, we look at each practice’s nominations and gush, debate, and celebrate until we are down to five books in each category? Want to be a part of the action next …

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2023 CLEL Bell “Write” Nominations pt. 4

The CLEL Bell Book Award committee is wrapping up their nominations and about to meet to create the 2023 Shortlist. At this exciting annual meeting, we look at each practice’s nominations and gush, debate, and celebrate until we are down to five books in each category? Want to be a part of the action next …

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2023 CLEL Bell “Talk” Nominations pt. 4

The CLEL Bell Book Award committee is wrapping up their nominations and about to meet to create the 2023 Shortlist. At this exciting annual meeting, we look at each practice’s nominations and gush, debate, and celebrate until we are down to five books in each category? Want to be a part of the action next …

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2023 CLEL Bell “PLAY” Nominations pt. 3

Our CLEL Bell Book Award committees are still hard at work nominating titles they think represent their given practice. Beyond the practice criteria, our committee also looks at things like the quality of production, uniqueness of story, and the ability to appeal to caregivers and their young children of diverse family situations. Here are the …

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2023 CLEL Bell “SING” Nominations pt. 3

Our CLEL Bell Book Award committees are still hard at work nominating titles they think represent their given practice. Beyond the practice criteria, our committee also looks at things like the quality of production, uniqueness of story, and the ability to appeal to caregivers and their young children of diverse family situations. Here are the …

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