CLEL Bell Winners

The CLEL Bell Awards recognize the top book for our criteria in each early literacy practice category: READ, WRITE, TALK, SING, and PLAY. Winners are the top in each category from the final shortlist. The award-winning titles are announced each February.

View Press Release – 2025 CLEL Bell Award Winners

2025 READ Honors (Shortlist)

Go and Get with Rex

By David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka — May 7, 2024 — Candlewick

Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must go and get something that begins with a certain letter. It’s a rousing alphabetical exercise in thinking outside the box.

I Lived Inside a Whale

By Xin Li — February 20, 2024 — Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

This is a story of friendship and finding your own voice in a world that is “filled with too much of everything, everywhere.”

Words Are Magic!

By Zaila Avant-garde — January 2, 2024 — Random House Books for Young Readers

New readers will find joyful encouragement in this level 1 easy reader that sings out about the magic of words.

You Can Read to Me!

By Arin Gentry and Clare Crosh, illustrated by Kenyatta Davis — May 1, 2024 — Blue Manatee Press

A sweet, simple story featuring photographs of diverse families reading with their infants during the formative first months of life.

2025 WRITE Honors (Shortlist)

Feel Calm

By Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller — October 1, 2024 — Chronicle Books

This hands-on board book leads toddlers on a whimsical and reassuring journey from chaos to calm.

A Garland of Henna

By Varsha Bajaj, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan – June 11, 2024 — Nancy Paulsen Books

Nikita is from a long line of henna artists. But the first time Nikita tries to make henna art, the mehndi paste looks like an ugly blob, and she feels like giving up.

Leo and the Pink Marker

By Mariyka Foster — May 21, 2024 — Peachtree

Leo LOVES doodling away with his pink marker! A splash of pink would look great on that crunched-up convertible, and that magnet crane…and the family cat. Uh-oh! Leo got carried away. Will his moms be upset?

A Letter to My Best Friend

By Yangsook Choi — July 9, 2024 — Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Fueled by wonderful memories of his former home, Jihun uses his creativity to craft a letter for his best friend, Oto. The result is nothing short of extraordinary and opens a door for Jihun to make new friends.

2025 TALK Honors (Shortlist)

Chooch Helped

By Andrea L. Rogers, illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz — October 8, 2024 — Levine Querido

This is a universal story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, showing one Cherokee family practicing their cultural traditions.

¡Hola, cara! Hello, Face!

By Aya Khalil — April 2, 2024 — Barefoot Books

Hello, smiling face! From laughing to cooing, from sneezing to yawning, join baby in discovering what expressive eyes, noses, and mouths can do. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Kadooboo: A Silly South Indian Folktale

By Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Darshkia Varma — February 6, 2024 — Page Street Kids

Kadooboo! Golden brown, puffy, sweet, and crunchy, it’s fresh from the pan―a delicious treat! This modern retelling of a South Indian folktale is about friends, family, and food―the perfect recipe for a satisfying story time.

Monster Hands

By Karen Kane and Jonaz Mc Millan, illustrated by Dion MBD — May 7, 2024 — Nancy Paulsen Books

Two best friends use rhyming ASL to help vanquish their fear of the monster under the bed in this fun, interactive bedtime readaloud.

2025 SING Honors (Shortlist)

The Belly Song

By Mother Moon, illustrated by Leah Giles — July 2, 2024 — little bee books

With a QR code link to a song, irresistible illustrations, and a powerful message of love, acceptance, and kindness to our bodies, this board book is a great gift for any growing library.

It’s Time to Hush and Say Good Night

By Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat — October 1, 2024 — Candlewick Press

Lull a little one to sleep with gentle rhyming verses and a mesmerizing swirl of imagery from the natural world, as a loving parent takes a child on a dreamlike journey.

No Bear Anywhere

By Leah Gilbert — May 14, 2024 — Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Bruin is determined to spot a bear on his walk. He makes up a song for his adventure and learns to deal with the disappointment of finding no bears anywhere.

This Land is a Lullaby

By Tonya Simpson, illustrated by Delreé Dumont — September 17, 2024 — Orca

Written as a lullaby for the author’s daughter and featuring striking pointillism artwork, this lush lullaby of the land honors the beauty of the Prairies and the Plains and the spiritual connection between Indigenous children, ancestors and their Traditional Territories.

2025 PLAY Honors (Shortlist)

All the Rocks We Love

By Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron, illustrated by David Scheirer — July 16, 2024 — Rise x Penguin Workshop

This book is an appreciation of their versatility and appeal, paired with the presentation of real types of rocks and their play-worthy attributes.

Gaga Mistake Day

By Emma Straub and Susan Straub, illustrated by Jessica Love — April 9, 2024 — Rocky Pond Books

Gaga days are the best! That’s when this eccentric, mischievous grandma babysits her delighted granddaughter. These Gaga days are always full of the silliest “mistakes,” like swapping eyeglasses and walking backwards to the park.

How We Play

By Dolisha Mitchell — April 23, 2024 — Little Feminist Press

Play is powerful! Whether it’s inside or outside, quiet or loud, alone or with friends—there are so many ways to play.

What Can a Mess Make?

By Bee Johnson — August 20, 2024 — Henry Holt and Company

Two sisters spend their day playing at home and leaving joyful, cozy messes in their wake.

View the honor books on the 2024 Shortlist.

View the honor books on the 2023 Shortlist.

by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts (Chronicle Books)

This playful story follows a frantic family as they work together to get their chores finished before Grandma arrives! To do anything to avoid getting a bath, cat scrambles the list of chores on the fridge and hilarity ensues. The refrigerator magnets in the illustrations reinforce the idea that letters combine to represent the words we say.

Bathe the Cat Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

by Alain Serge Dzotap, illustrated by Delphine Renon (Eedermans Books for Young Readers)

A young leopard named Leo gets a pen for a gift and must figure out what it does. Reading and writing skills develop together, and with help from Leo’s caregivers and friends, he discovers the joy of creating a story.

The Gift Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

by Kari Percival (Rise x Penguin Workshop)

A group of curious children ask questions as they learn to plant and harvest a garden, with lots of play along the way! How to Say Hello to a Worm models the back-and-forth conversations that build vocabularies and comprehension skills

How to Say Hello to a Worm Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

by Buffy Sainte-Marie, illustrated by Julie Flett (Greystone Kids)

Open your heart to singing throughout your life with this original song by Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Cree singer-songwriter. The beautiful illustrations and rhyming text celebrate the connection between people and the land. Singing is an important part of the oral language foundation upon which print literacies are built.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

by Jessica Young, illustrated by Genevieve Godbout (Clarion Books)

This sweet story walks the reader through different activities to do with baby and gives the reader the opportunity to do them with the book itself. Children learn about the world—including words and their meanings—through play, and
from waving hello to kissing goodnight, every page of this story is gentle and interactive.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2022 Awards

View the honor books on the 2022 Shortlist.

READ

I’ll Build You a Bookcase

by Jean Ciborowski Fahey, illustrated by Simone Shin (Lee & Low Books)

Reading is a fun way to interact with your child no matter how old they are! This book encourages parents and caregivers to make a special time and place for reading. Includes bilingual text in Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese and more.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

WRITE

Line and Scribble

by Debora Vogrig, illustrated by Pia Valentinis, translated by Debbie Bibo (Chronicle Books)

Line and Scribble are very different, but they’re still the best of friends. On their own, each are creative, but together they can make incredible works of art. Look through the eyes of both as they dash and squiggle through the book.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

TALK

It Was Supposed to Be Sunny

by Samantha Cotterill (Dial Books)

When things go wrong on her special day, Laila talks through her feelings with her mom. Together they create an alternative party plan that is still fun. There are helpful parenting tips to reduce anxiety and disappointment included.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

SING

Bear Wants to Sing

by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dena Seiferling (Tundra Books)

After discovering, and licking, a musical instrument in the woods, Bear is excited to sing his song. Unfortunately, Crow, Snake and Tortoise come along and want to do the same thing. Readers will find joy in singing out each animal’s lyrics while also feeling empathy for the bear who feels ignored. Whimsical illustrations accompany text that encourages your child to find their own song.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

PLAY

Off-Limits

by Helena Yoon (Candlewick)

A slightly opened ‘off-limits’ room invites a curious young child in to explore its contents: office supplies. The playful and creative play that comes next acts as an inspiration for us all to seek out more fun in the everyday. Independent play supports language development, and the unstructured materials boost imaginative expression.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2021 Awards

View the honor books on the 2021 Shortlist.

READ

Help Wanted Must Love Books

By Janet Sumner Johnson, lllustrated by Courtney Dawson (Capstone Editions)

​Shailey loves bedtime stories. When her dad gets too busy with work to read to her every night, she fires him and attempts to hire a new reader. She interviews familiar fairy tale characters until she finds just the right person for the job.  Reading with adults who give their undivided attention can build a lifelong love of books.

Help Wanted Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

TALK

The Paper Kingdom

By Helena Ku Rhee, Illustrated by Pascal Campion
(Random House Books for Young Readers) 

A beautifully illustrated, own voices story about a young boy who accompanies his parents to their night job as office janitors. To keep the boy entertained, his parents tell him stories of an imaginary Paper Kingdom full of wonder and adventure. By telling our children stories, real or imaginary, we are building their language skills and vocabulary.

The Paper Kingdom Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

Watch a book talk (YouTube video)

---

WRITE

It’s Okay

By Shiow-Miin Tsai
(Reycraft Books)

Drawing is fun, but not when you make a mistake. Or is it? Join a child and his mother as they learn how to turn imperfections into art. Scribbles are the first step to a lifetime of drawing and writing!

It’s Okay Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

SING

Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones

By Susan Lendroth, Illustrated by Bob Kolar
(Charlesbridge)

Dinosaur-obsessed little ones will love going through a paleontologist’s motions of digging, sifting and cleaning bones. Set to the familiar tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush,” this engaging book will have everyone singing all the way to the dinosaur factoids at the end!  Singing helps children develop vocabulary and increases awareness of the smaller sounds in words.

Here We Go Digging Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

PLAY

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship

By Markette Sheppard, Illustrated by Charly Palmer
(Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

It’s too rainy outside, so it’s time for play inside! A young boy uses his creativity, imagination and help from his parents to make a super rocket ship out of everyday objects.  Play encourages children to build their imaginations, learn empathy and navigate the ups and downs of friendship.

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2020 Awards

View the honor books on the 2020 Shortlist.

READ

The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli

The Book Hog thinks he loves everything about books—the way they feel, the way they look—but when he discovers library storytime, he learns
there’s something else to love about them: the stories inside.

The Book Hog Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

It’s Grace’s birthday and she is having a party! The next day she enthusiastically gets out
her pens and pencils to write thank you letters to all of her guests.

The Thank You Letter Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer

While out on a walk, Daniel asks each of his neighbors to describe a good day, and hears a different answer from everyone.

Daniel’s Good Day Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Red House, Tree House, Itty Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Little Mouse sets off on an adventure around the world, inviting readers to find colorful objects: houses, underwater creatures, vehicles, and more.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Who Has Wiggle-Waggle Toes? by Vicky Shiefman, illustrated by Francesca Chessa

This book is an active romp showcasing the different parts of the body, including peekaboo
hands and out-there elbows.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2019 Awards

View the honor books on the 2019 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2019 awards (pdf)

READ

Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, illustrated by JT Morrow

While at school, Llama Llama begins to learn how letters make words, how words become sentences and finally how sentences become books. After a day of reading, writing, singing and even a trip to the library, Llama Llama shares his new reading skills with Mama as they walk home. Just like Llama Llama, children must master many individual skills to become good readers.

Llama Llama Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

WRITE

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Arfy is a dog who lives in a box in an alley. As he explores his neighborhood looking for a new home, Arfy write letters to everyone he meets describing the ways he’d be a great pet. This story models many different styles of writing and how writing is used to communicate with others.

Can I Be Your Dog Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

TALK

Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

When Grandma Mimi comes to visit her granddaughter, she always brings her magical purse! As they explore her purse together, the little girl learns about her grandma and what is important to her. Talking together with the adults in their lives helps children build vocabulary and think creatively as they start to understand the world around them.

Grandma’s Purse Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Kat Writes a Song by Greg Foley

Kat is feeling sad, so she decides to write a song to make herself feel better. When she sings it, the sun comes out and she wonders if her “Amazing Song to Make Things Better” will work for everyone. Singing is a great way to introduce children to sound recognition and listening skills.

Kat Writes a Song Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Crash! Boom! A Math Tale by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Chris Chatterton

A little elephant uses blocks to make a tower as tall as he is. When his first attempt goes Crash! Boom! he starts to experiment with different strategies to achieve success. This book models a variety of ways that adults and children can play with blocks, building language skills as they create plans, make choices, and talk about cause and effect.

Crash! Boom! Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2018 Awards

View the honor books on the 2018 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2018 awards (pdf)

READ

The Library Book by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark; illustrated by Chuck Goenink

A rainy day entices a girl to the library.  Sitting in her favorite chair, she is soon surrounded by literary friends including Winnie the Pooh, Madeline, Pinnocchio, and more. After a fun visit to the library, she checks out her favorite book to take home and read.  This book models a child’s love of reading and how it can be enhanced by a trip to the library.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

Little Plane Learns to Write by Stephen Savage

Little Plane loves flight school where he and the other planes are learning to write in the sky. His arcs and dives are excellent, but he can’t seem to get the hang of loopity-loops. Finally, tracing the round shape of the moon inspires Little Plane to write the perfect loopity-loops. Drawing circles, arcs, and lines helps children learn to form letters, just like Little Plane.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

Say Zoop! by Herve Tullet

Say Zoop! encourages children and caregivers to interact with the pages of the book by inviting them to place their fingers on different colored dots and make the sounds that the book describes for each dot. Making noises helps children practice the different sounds in words which will help them in acquiring language.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Motor Goose by Rebecca Colby, illustrated by Jef Kaminsky

Motor Goose is a compilation of classic nursery rhymes that have been rewritten with a transportation theme. Each page is a song centered on a different vehicle and set to familiar tunes such as Mary Had a Little Lamb or Itsy-Bitsy Spider. This book supports singing with children, whether it be classic nursery rhymes or modern children’s classics.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Things to Do with Dad by Sam Zuppardi

A boy and his dad start the day making pancakes together, but dad’s looming to-do list puts a damper on their shared fun. The boy alters the list, inventing imaginative ways he and his dad can complete the chores together. This book models a variety of ways that adults and kids can playfully interact during their daily routine.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2017 Awards

View the honor books on the 2017 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2017 awards (pdf)

READ

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley; illustrated by Kate Berube

Nick loves spending time with his cats, except when he wants to read. His cats lay on the pages of the books and make nuisances of themselves. Nick decides to teach his cats to read, so they can all enjoy books together. Just like Nick’s cats, some children will be enthusiastic learners and others will struggle. Nick finds a wonderful variety of activities to support both cats on their learning journey. Acting out stories and drawing illustrations are an excellent way to engage young children in storytelling before they learn to read.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

Alphonse, That is Not Ok to Do! by Daisy Hirst

Natalie loves to create art with her little brother, Alphonse. When she catches him eating her book, however, Natalie is mad and channels her anger into her art, drawing beasts and a tornado chasing Alphonse! Drawing and scribbling allows children to tell stories and express their feelings before they learn how to write words and sentences.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

Puddle by Hyewon Yum

Stuck inside on a rainy day, a mother coaxes her son to enjoy the day inside by drawing a picture of the rainy day together. After drawing and talking, they decide to go outside and splash in the puddles. The entire story is told through the conversation between mother and son and models how to engage children in rich conversation. By listening and adding details you build relationships and develop strong language skills.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Rock-A-Bye Romp by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Simona Mulazzani

This bedtime lullaby starts with the familiar lines of “Rock-a-Bye, Baby, in the treetop” only to veer off in an adventure, taking baby into a bird’s nest, through a farmyard, over a waterfall and onto the back of a flying hawk. All the lines of this bedtime romp can be sung to the tune of Rock-a-Bye Baby. Changing the words to a familiar song is a fun way introduce a child to new vocabulary and to make children laugh.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Box by Min Flyte

A box can contain a fun new toy, but even more fun is what you can do with the box after you open it! With lift the flaps and fold out pages this book is just as much fun to play with as it is to read. The dramatic play and imagination that an ordinary box inspires develops language, vocabulary, and narrative skills as children act out their own stories.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2016 Awards

View the honor books on the 2016 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2016 awards (pdf)

READ

Sloth Slept On, by Frann Preston-Gannon

A group of children discover an animal sleeping in a tree. They set out to discover what the animal is and where it comes from by reading books, comparing it to other animals, looking at a globe, and telling their own stories about the creature. The various examples of print and reading in Sloth Slept On show the importance of reading not only books, but also signs, newspapers, and globes to discover new and important information.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

Inside This Book: (are three books), by Barney Saltzberg

Three siblings create their own books from blank pages their mother stapled together. When the books are complete, they put them all together. Reading skills develop together with writing skills, and this story encourages children at all levels to explore reading, writing, drawing, rhyming, and storytelling.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

I Don’t Want to Be a Frog! by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

A curious frog tells his father that he doesn’t want to be a frog but would rather be the animals he observes and learns about in books. Talking with children helps them learn about the world, understand their experiences, and build comprehension skills. Responding to children’s questions in a patient and loving way creates opportunities for bonding and wires children’s brains for learning.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Hiccupotamus, by Steve Smallman, illustrated by Ada Grey

A small bird quickly learns that the jungle is a musical place. Hiccupotamus shows what wonderful songs can be created from everyday sounds with a little cooperation and imagination. Making music and singing songs together helps small children hear the different sounds that make up words and stimulates mathematical processes in their brains.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Tickle Monster, by Édouard Manceau

Page by page, children are invited to transform a monster by tickling it and turning each scary piece into everyday objects instead. Tickle Monster offers an irresistible opportunity for a positive reading experience by allowing children to engage directly with the actions of a story.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2015 Awards

View the honor books on the 2015 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2015 awards (pdf)

READ

Books Always Everywhere, by Jane Blatt, illustrated by Sarah Massini

Follow along with a diverse cast 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 a joyful part of their daily activities.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

The Crayon: A Colorful Tale about Friendship

Two quirky characters take turns scribbling with crayons, mixing and naming colors as they go. For young children, the scribbles in the illustrations and the conversations in the text model age-appropriate written and oral language skills.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

Froodle, by Antoinette 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.

Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

I Got the Rhythm, by Connie Schofield-Morrison; illustrated by Frank Morrison

From storefront to sidewalk 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.

I Got the Rhythm Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

PLAY

Tea with Grandpa, by Barney 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.

Tea with Grandpa Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

---

2014 Awards

View the honor books on the 2014 Shortlist.

Download the list of 2014 awards (pdf)

READ

Open This Little Book, by Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy Lee

Readers open the cover to discover five characters, each with their own little book, all within the pages of the first. Open This Little Book celebrates the pleasures of reading, sharing stories, and having a book of your own.

Open This Little Book Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

WRITE

The Things I Can Do, by Jeff Mack

Hand-written text and exuberant collages illustrate this story of a boy who takes great pride in his accomplishments. Reading skills and writing skills develop together, and the format of The Things I Can Do invites children to see themselves as authors as well as readers.

The Things I Can Do Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

TALK

Moo! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

A very vocal cow commandeers the farmer’s car and sets off on an adventure. The entire story is told with just two words: Moo! and Baa! The speech bubbles and the very limited vocabulary help children make the critical connection between the words we say and the print on the page.

Moo! Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)

SING

Nighty-Night, Cooper, by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

A small kangaroo requests song after song to help him fall asleep, and his mother obliges by making up her own words to familiar tunes. Singing songs together is a powerful way to build phonological awareness skills and vocabulary, and Nighty-Night, Cooper models how a parent can use songs to create a comforting bedtime routine with a child.

Nighty-Night Early Literacy Activity Sheet (PDF)