Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy 

2015 CLEL Bell Awards Winners

February 5, 2015

We are happy to announce the 2015 CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards for Early Literacy! 

The five winning books consist of one title in each of five categories selected from a shortlist of 25 titles. Each category represents an early literacy practice: Read, Write, Sing, Talk, and Play. The books, in their content, theme, or design, support caregivers’ interaction with their children through these five early literacy practices. Research has shown that engaging children in these practices builds language skills and prepares children to become successful readers.

Early Literacy Practice: Read

 

Books Always Everywhere by Blatt.  Follow along with a diverse set of babies and toddlers as they fill their days with playing, sharing, and reading. Books Always Everywhere encourages families to see that books and reading can be joyful parts of their daily activities.    

For Early Literacy Activities Sheet about this book, click here.

Early Literacy Practice: Write 

The Crayon: A Colorful Tale of Friendship by Rickerty.Two quirky creatures take turns scribbling with crayons, mixing and naming colors as they go, in this humorous story about friendship. For young children, the scribbles in the illustrations and the conversations in the text model age-appropriate written and oral language skills.

For Early Literacy Activities about this book, click here.

Early Literacy Practice: Talk

Froodle by Portis. A bird leaves the usual chirps behind in a quest to find just the right new thing to say. Full of unexpected but fun made-up words, Froodle is a celebration of language and self-expression. 

For Early Literacy Activities about this book, click here.   

Early Literacy Practice: Sing

I Got the Rhythm by Schofield-Morrison. From storefront to park, an exuberant girl rejoices in the sounds and music she hears during a busy city day. Her actions show children how to listen closely to the world around them. The story's rhythmic language and rhyming words help build phonological awareness skills. 

For Early Literacy Activities about this book, click here.  

Early Literacy Practice: Play

Tea with Grandpa by Saltzberg. A young girl and her grandfather spend a delightful time together singing, having a tea party, and chatting. Tea with Grandpa stands as a wonderful model of child-directed, open-ended play and presents a positive example of how technology can help children maintain critical family relationships. 

For Early Literacy Activities about this book, click here.  

Cathy