2021 CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards

Check out the 2021 CLEL Bell Picture Book Award Winners!

Play Winner My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard, author, and Charly Palmer, illustrator E SHEPPARD https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/record/246718 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. Link to an early literacy activity sheet: https://3eb5774b-8797-472b-8efe-a12200b47e32.filesusr.com/ugd/afe171_11108441643046af963cd464d1012520.pdf Watch a book talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFBexs0S7_0 Here is a link to all of the books we have by this author: https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/results?qtype=author;locg=4;detail_record_view=1;_adv=1;query=Sheppard%20Markette Other Books on the Short List When My Brother Gets Home by Tom Lichtenheld (E LICHTENH) https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/record/249075 The Button Book by Sally Nicholls (E NICHOLLS) https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/record/248937 Where’s Baby? (a 2020 Geisel Honor Book) by Anne Hunter (E HUNTER) https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/record/246760 Libby/Overdrive: https://anytime.overdrive.com/media/19d7da15-dd38-482c-a15d-54fae7da5dab Alphonse, There’s Mud On the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst (E HIRST) https://elibrary.richland.lib.wa.us/eg/opac/record/249012

Read Winner Help Wanted: Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson, author, and Courtney Dawson, illustrator (E SUMNER J) Shailey loves bedtime stories. When her dad gets too busy with work to read to her every night, she decides 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. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to check out this e-book from Hoopla using your library card. Click here to download an early literacy activity sheet from the CLEL Bell Awards website. The following picture books were also on the shortlist for this award. You can click on each highlighted title for more information and to place a hold at the Richland Public Library.

• A Book for Escargot by Dashka Slater (E SLATER)
• How to Read to a Grandma or Grandpa by Jean Reagan (E REAGAN)
• Library Babies by Puck (EB PUCK), also available here on Hoopla
• Eek! A Noisy Journey from A to Z by Julie Larios (EC LARIOS)

Talk Winner The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, author, and Pascal Campion, illustrator (E RHEE) 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. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to download an early literacy activity sheet from the CLEL Bell Awards website. Click here to watch a book talk about The Paper Kingdom. The following picture books were also on the shortlist for this award. You can click on each highlighted title for more information and to place a hold at the Richland Public Library.

• I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown (E BROWN)
• Can I Play Too? by Samantha Cotterill (E COTTERIL)
• Layla’s Happiness by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie (E TALLIE)
• Mama Baby by Chris Raschka (E RASCHKA)

About the Award The Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) Bell Picture Book Awards are awarded each year to five high-quality picture books that provide excellent support of early literacy skills for young children. One picture book is selected annually in each of five categories: read, talk, write, sing, and play. To be eligible to receive a 2021 CLEL Bell Award, a suggested picture book must have been published or distributed in the United States between November 16, 2019, and November 15, 2020. For more information about this award, the judging criteria, and a list of the 2021 winners, visit the CLEL Bell Awards website. Click here for a video that introduces the award winners. Click here to see the books that were on the shortlists this year.

Play Winner My Rainy Day Rocket Ship by Markette Sheppard, author, and Charly Palmer, illustrator (E SHEPPARD) 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. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here for a list of all books we have by this author. Click here to download an early literacy activity sheet from the CLEL Bell Awards website. Click here to watch a book talk about this book. The following picture books were also on the short list for this award. You can click on each highlighted title for more information and to place a hold at the Richland Public Library.

• When My Brother Gets Home by Tom Lichtenheld (E LICHTENH)
• The Button Book by Sally Nicholls (E NICHOLLS)
• Where’s Baby? (a 2020 Geisel Honor Book) by Anne Hunter (E HUNTER), also available here as an e-book on Libby/Overdrive
• Alphonse, There’s Mud On the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst (E HIRST)

Write Winner It’s Okay by Shiow-Miin Tsai, author and illustrator (EB TSAI) 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! Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here to download an early literacy activity sheet from the CLEL Bell Awards website. The following picture books were also on the shortlist for this award. You can click on each highlighted title for more information and to place a hold at the Richland Public Library.

• When I Draw a Panda by Amy June Bates (E BATES)
• Love, Sophia On the Moon by Anica Mrose Rissi (E RISSI)
• Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry (E FERRY)
• Fern and Otto: A Story About Two Best Friends by Stephanie Graegin (E GRAEGIN)

Click here for a book talk about one of the shortlist books, Love, Sophia on the Moon.

Sing Winner Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones by Susan Lendroth, author, and Bob Kolar, illustrator (E LENDROTH) 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. Click here to place a hold on this book at the Richland Public Library. Click here for a list of all the books we have by this author. Click here to download an early literacy activity sheet from the CLEL Bell Awards website. The following picture books were also on the shortlist for this award. You can click on each highlighted title for more information and to place a hold at the Richland Public Library.

• The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish by Lil Miss Hot Mess (E HOT MESS)
• Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music by Michael Genhart (E GENHART)
• Wolf Cub’s Song by Joseph Bruchac (E BRUCHAC)
• Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (E THOMPKIN), also available here on Hoopla