Los Premios CLEL Bell al Libro Ilustrado en español son un reconocimiento anual a cinco libros ilustrados en español de alta calidad que brindan un excelente apoyo a habilidades de alfabetización temprana en niños pequeños. Se elige un ganador en cada una de las cinco categorías que promueven la alfabetización temprana: LEER, ESCRIBIR, HABLAR, CANTAR y JUGAR.
The Spanish CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality Spanish picture books that provide excellent support for early literacy skills for young children. A winner is chosen in each of 5 categories that support early literacy: READ, WRITE, TALK, SING, and PLAY.
2025 Awards
View Press Release – 2025 Spanish CLEL Bell Award Winners
LEER/READ Winner
de Matthew Rivera (Author) Editorial : VINTAGE ESPAÑOL INFANTIL JUVENIL.
By presenting topics such as science, plants, and conservation, the book invites young readers to ask questions, explore further (like visiting the library) and keep reading to learn more about the world around them.
Activity Sheet & Early Literacy Information – 2025 READ / LEER – El rescatador de plantas (PDF)
ESCRIBIR/WRITE Winner
Si yo fuera escritora
de Mrinalini Maldonado (Author), Doris Meng Yan (Illustrator) Editorial : Editorial Destellos
This book offers a wonderful narrative, providing children with a chance to imagine all the experiences they might one day have and stories they could write if they were authors. It also creates a lovely opportunity for parents and caregivers to connect through similar stories and perhaps even write their own. Furthermore, the book features beautiful colors and illustrations.
Activity Sheet & Early Literacy Information – 2025 WRITE / ESCRIBIR – Si yo fuera escritora (PDF)
HABLAR/TALK Winner
Grandma’s Hair Is Ankle Length / El cabello de Abuela le llega hasta los tobillos
de Adriana Camacho-Church (Author), Carmen Lop (Illustrator) Editorial : Pinata Books
Outstanding illustrations and poetic text honor a girl’s cultural ancestry through her grandma’s long hair. Some words may be difficult for young kids but it is perfect to start a conversation.
CANTAR/SING Winner
La Cucaracha: A Bilingual Book of Harmony
de Nayeli Reyes (Author), Citlali Reyes (Illustrator) — Editorial :Lil’ Libros Fecha de publicación.
This bilingual board book, written by a Mexican author and illustrated by a Mexican artist, brings a classic song with a twist to a new generation.
Activity Sheet & Early Literacy Information – 2025 SING / CANTAR – La Cucaracha (PDF)
JUGAR/PLAY Winner
El pañuelo de mamá
de Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author), Joelle Avelino (Illustrator) Editorial : Beascoa
There are great examples of PLAY throughout the story, lots of caregiver and child interaction, and models a child pretending to be like mama with imaginative play in a variety of ways. The book shows rich play action with multiple caregivers and extended family. It is a colorful, fun, and exposes readers to other cultures.
Activity Sheet & Early Literacy Information – 2025 PLAY / JUGAR – El pañuelo de mamá (PDF)
