This committee is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to early literacy advocacy, gain experience working on an award committee, and build your resume!
We look for librarians or early childhood professionals who are passionate about books for children ages birth through 5 years old and sharing early literacy with children and their caregivers, and those who advocate, champion, and seek diversity in the books they share.
Apply for the Selection Committee
Apply now for the 2026 English CLEL Bells Committee. The application closes on March 21, 2025. All applicants will be notified by March 31, 2025.
Please send any questions to clelbellawards@gmail.com. Thank you!
As part of the CLEL Bell committee, there is community and camaraderie for the love of picture books and early literacy combined!
- Must be a current member of CLEL (Join here for free!)
- Affiliation with a professional or community role that promotes early literacy
- Cannot be affiliated with a publisher
- Access to a large sample of children’s books for ages 0-5
- Access to email and the internet
- Proficiency with Google Documents, Google Sheets, and Google Hangouts or Zoom
- Commitment of a few hours a week to reading, evaluating and suggesting new picture books
- Commitment to contribute to professional development resources around early literacy themes or the CLEL Bell titles for other librarians and/or caregivers.
- Minimum committee term is 2 years
What Our Committee Members Are Saying
Learn more from our committee members about their experiences:
- Community – “If you’re interested in lively, collaborative, in-depth discussions about early literacy, CLEL Bells is the place for you!”
- Book love – “Do picture books have a place in your heart and your work space? They fill mine!” “Be prepared to fall more in love with children’s books.”
- Dig into the details – “Get ready to think critically about early literacy and lean into great conversations.” “Flex those early literacy knowledge muscles!” “Where else can you dissect books with the lens of early literacy and storytime?”
- Build your expertise – “We have important conversations about early literacy and books for today’s kids.” “Time on this committee has deepened my knowledge of early literacy.”
- Worth your time – “I couldn’t have had this experience at my library.” “As a solo children’s librarian at my library, discussing books and literacy with colleagues has made me better at my job.”
- Feel supported – “This committee is well organized!! I was previously scared away from committee work, but this has been a positive experience.” “I learned so much from the experienced members on the committee.”
Do picture books have a place in your heart and your work space? They fill mine!”
Meet the English CLEL Bells Committee
Maureen Quinlan (she/her)
Past Chair – 2025 Committee
Maureen Quinlan is a librarian at the Green Valley Ranch Branch Library of Denver Public Library. She has worked in Massachusetts, Broomfield, and Greeley during her library career, all while championing early literacy, diversity in children’s literature, and making sure the library is a fun and welcoming place to be. She has served on CLEL Bells since 2021. Outside of the library, she can usually be found walking her Irish Setter, Rooney.
Mary Ann Lawler (she/her)
Chair – 2026 Committee (Co-Chair – 2025 Committee)
Mary Ann Lawler is a Children’s Librarian at Broomfield Public Library in Broomfield, Colorado. She worked in non-traditional educational settings varying from theatre and music to technology before returning home to a love of children’s books and libraries. Trained in Family Place Libraries, Mary Ann champions libraries as welcoming community spaces and teaching literacy and math skills through multi-sensory play-based experiences. She loves reading and sharing diverse books, supporting parents and caregivers, and encouraging kids’ curiosity and self-expression. This is Mary Ann’s fifth year on the CLEL Bells Committee.
Holly Van Hoy (she/her)
Co-Chair – 2026 Committee (Co-Chair – 2025 Committee)
Holly Van Hoy comes to youth services library work with fifteen years of experience in early childhood education. With a fierce belief that quality picture books are for and should represent everyone, Holly has delighted in being allowed to be the loudest librarian at Alamosa Public Library in Alamosa, CO. Storytime days are her favorite days and preschool people are her favorite people. Weekends spent camping, and her partner and two dogs come in at a very close second. This is her seventh year as a librarian and her fourth year with the CLEL Bells.
Michelle Ballard (she/her)
Michelle Ballard is a Youth Services Associate for Springfield-Greene County Library District. She has worked in libraries for over 30 years.
Her passions are early literacy and S.T.E.A.M. Michelle has been actively promoting ECRR since 2004. Michelle took an active role in creating Springfield-Greene County Library District’s own truncated version of ECRR.
Picture books can be a medium for laughter, healing, and dreaming. Picture books have been an important part of Michelle’s life starting with her earliest memories. This is her first year on the CLEL Bell Award committee.
Alexa Bynum Soto (she/her)
Alexa Bynum Soto is a Youth Librarian at the Reby Cary Youth Library in Fort Worth, Texas. She has worked in public libraries for five years. She has always been interested in promoting early literacy best practices in her community, and is always looking for new ways to assist caregivers. Alexa hosts three weekly story times, and works with patrons in her community who speak both English and Spanish. Alexa is excited to join the CLEL Bell Committee to find picture books that best amplify all voices and exemplify early literacy practices. When not at work, Alexa can be found training for a half marathon, reading, or spending time with her border collie and husband.
Lourdes Cabral (she/her/ella)
Lourdes Cabral is currently the bilingual Children’s Guide at Anythink Huron Street in Thornton, Colorado. She is passionate about early literacy, dancing and grooving with children during music and movement programs, and bringing more Spanish programming to the library. She has been a judge for the International Latino Book Awards for the past 5 years. Her mission is to create awareness to Spanish-speaking families and FFNs about all the free programs and resources offered at the library for all age groups. Outside of the library, she can be found doing various crafts, hiking, reading, eating, and watching movies.
Kate Davis (she/her)
Kate Davis has served as the Youth & Family Services Librarian at the Fort Lupton Public & School Library for the past five years. She loves developing early literacy programs and helping caretakers learn to incorporate ECRR elements into their routines. Kate reviews children’s picture books, beginning readers, middle grade fiction and chapter books for School Library Journal and was honored to be a member of ALSC’s 2022 William Morris Book Evaluation Seminar.
Justine Ferrara (she/her; they/them)
Justine Ferrara has worked in libraries for the past 11 years and has been in her current position as a Children’s Librarian at the Union (New Jersey) Public Library since 2021. Libraries played a vital part in her life growing up, and Justine realized her true passion for library work at age 15, when she began volunteering at her local library. When she is not at the library, you can find her volunteering with her city’s Mutual Aid Society or spending some quality time with her two cats, Zelda and Puff. This is her third year on the committee.
Andy Gallegos (he/him)
Andy Gallegos is the Supervisor of Early Literacy Services at Arapahoe Libraries. Born and raised in Arizona, he moved to Colorado in 2022 with his partner and 4 fur babies (2 dogs and 2 cats). Early literacy became an instant passion right out of school and storytime may be his all-time favorite activity in the world. When not doing library things, he can be found listening to music, baking something sweet, and planning his next trip to explore someplace new.
Mariann Gentile
Kristin Jardien (she/her)
Kristin Jardien is the children’s librarian at the Erie Community Library branch of the High Plains Library District. She has been involved with children’s services for ten years. Her undergraduate degree is in microbiology and she’s extremely grateful to have found her calling in librarianship. Kristin loves working with children and watching them learn and grow. She doesn’t even mind when babies drool on her! She doesn’t care for glitter but will occasionally allow it to save other parents from having to use it at home.
Ali Kubeny (she/her)
Originally from the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Ali Kubeny now lives and plays in the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not working her dream job as a Children’s Librarian at the Bellingham Public Library, you can often find her snuggled up with a stack of picture books or exploring the great outdoors.
Nadine Kramarz (she/her)
Nadine Kramarz is the Early Literacy and Children’s Coordinator for the Alaska State Library. She has been a student library aide, children’s librarian, reference librarian, and library director. She earned her MS in library and information science from Drexel University. Her goal is for everyone to know who she is through her actions.
Sharona Nible (any/all)
Sharona Whitley (AKA Mrs. Flamingo) is a children’s librarian, art teacher, non-profit executive director and founder. She is passionate about children’s literacy and art, and the places where the two meet. Sharona is currently working her dream job at Spanish Peaks Library District in Walsenburg, CO. She continues to teach art classes in the summer, and incorporate their art experience into storytimes. Her non-profit, The Flamingo Book Club, partners with local elementary schools and libraries to deliver free books to kids.
When Sharona is not reading or painting, she loves to hike, camp and be outdoors.
