The nominations are rolling in for the 2023 CLEL Bell Awards! Check out the first set of nominated titles for the category: WRITE. These books, published after November 16, 2022, model the importance of writing in everyday life and encourage early writing skills. Every Dog in the Neighborhood – By Philip C. Stead; Illustrated by …
Nominations for the CLEL Bell Book Awards have begun! We are starting this week with the first nominations in the “Talk” category, with many more coming soon. These are books published after November 16, 2021 that model or support the practice of talking with young children and babies. Many nominations come from title suggestions from …
The CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards are seeking applicants for their next selection committee! I have had the pleasure of serving on the CLEL Bells Award Selection Committee three times in the past 12 years. Each experience was a little bit different, depending on who was on the committee and what was happening in my …
The CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality picture books that provide excellent support of early literacy skills for young children in each of five categories: read, write, sing, talk, and play. Eligible books were published or distributed in the United States between November 16, 2020 and November 15, 2021. …
by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Published May 4, 2021 When Fred’s adults discover him dressed in his mother’s clothes, the whole family takes part in a dress-up session. This is a great example of adults following the child’s lead in play, as well as embracing nontraditional gender expression.
by Larissa Honsek (Familius) Published May 25, 2021 Follow along with the clay characters to move your body!
by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) Published January 12, 2021 The parent motivates the child to take a bath by making it a time for pretend play.
by Joseph Kuefler (Balzer + Bray) Published June 8, 2021 Two friends spend their sleepover discovering all the things a pillow can do and be. They play until they can’t anymore and forge a bond stronger than a pillow fort.
by Helen Yoon (Candlewick Press) Published October 26, 2021 A child enters her father’s office to investigate and turns her curiosity into a full play session. When she realizes she should leave before it gets worse, she is in for a hilarious surprise.
by Debora Vogrig, illustrated by Pia Valentinis, translated by Debbie Bibo (Chronicle Books) Published May 11, 2021 Different types of lines, scribbles and drawings encourage the reader to use their imagination. This books is great for making the connection between drawing and writing
