We are pleased to announce the shortlist titles for the annual CLEL Bell Awards. The 2025 year was historic in its submissions, representation, and unique expression of early literacy. The 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.
This shortlist of 25 CLEL Bell titles, five for each early literacy practice – READ, WRITE, TALK, PLAY, and SING – was chosen from 122 nominations put forward by our committee.
We encourage librarians, caregivers, and all children’s book lovers to vote on their favorites here until January 31, 2025. The winners will be announced in early February.
The Shortlist titles are:
READ
- Go and Get with Rex written by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka — published May 7, 2024 — Candlewick
- I Lived Inside a Whale written by Xin Li — published February 20, 2024 — Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- When You Love a Book written by Kaz Windness, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee — published May 21, 2024 — Flamingo Books
- Words Are Magic! written by Zaila Avant-garde — published January 2, 2024 — Random House Books for Young Readers
- You Can Read to Me! written by Francesco Sedita, illustrated by Arin Gentry and Clare Crosh — published May 1, 2024 — Blue Manatee Press
WRITE
- Between Two Windows written and illustrated by Keisha Morris — published January 2, 2024 — HarperCollins
- Feel Calm written by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller — published October 1, 2024 — Chronicle Books
- A Garland of Henna written by Varsha Bajaj, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan – published June 11, 2024 — Nancy Paulsen Books
- Leo and the Pink Marker written and illustrated by Mariyka Foster — published May 21, 2024 — Peachtree
- A Letter to My Best Friend written and illustrated by Yangsook Choi — published July 9, 2024 — Farrar, Straus and Giroux
TALK
- Bye Land, Bye Sea written and illustrated by Rene Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo — published April 30, 2024 — Roaring Book Press
- Chooch Helped written by Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz — published October 8, 2024 — Levine Querido
- ¡Hola, cara! Hello, Face! written by Aya Khalil — published April 2, 2024 — Barefoot Books
- Kadooboo: A Silly South Indian Folktale written by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Darshkia Varma — published February 6, 2024 — Page Street Kids
- Monster Hands written by Karen Kane and Jonaz Mc Millan, illustrated by Dion MBD — published May 7, 2024 — Nancy Paulsen Books
SING
- Adela’s Mariachi Band written by Denise Vega, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina — published August 13, 2024 — Charlesbridge
- The Belly Song written by Mother Moon, illustrated by Leah Giles — published July 2, 2024 — little bee books
- It’s Time to Hush and Say Good Night written by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat — published October 1, 2024 — Candlewick Press
- No Bear Anywhere written and illustrated by Leah Gilbert — published May 14, 2024 — Bloomsbury Children’s Books
- This Land is a Lullaby written by Tonya Simpson, illustrated by Delreé Dumont — published September 17, 2024 — Orca
PLAY
- AHOY! Written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall – published April 2, 2024 – Anne Schwartz Books
- All the Rocks We Love written by Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron, illustrated by David Scheirer — published July 16, 2024 — Rise x Penguin Workshop
- Gaga Mistake Day written by Emma Straub and Susan Straub, illustrated by Jessica Love — April 9, 2024 — Rocky Pond Books
- How We Play written by Dolisha Mitchell — published April 23, 2024 — Little Feminist Press
- What Can a Mess Make? Written and illustrated by Bee Johnson — published August 20, 2024 — Henry Holt and Company
