Announcing the 2016 Shortlist!

[Melody]

The CLEL Bell selection committee has narrowed this year's nominations down to the five best books for each early literacy practice. The number of excellent titles this year made this a very difficult task. While only one book from each category will go on to win the CLEL Bell Picture Book Award, our shortlist titles are all exemplary books that model and support the early literacy practices. I hope they all find their way into your libraries, storytimes, and homes.

Without further ado, the 2016 CLEL Bell Picture Book Award Shortlist:

READ:
Duncan, the Story Dragonby Amanda Driscoll
Books for Me!by Sue Fliess
Sloth Slept on by Fran Preston-Gannon
Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
The Boy & the Book by David Michael Slater

WRITE:
Knit TogetherKnit Together by Angela Dominguez
How to Draw a Dragon by Douglas Florian
By Mouse and Frogby Deborah Freedman
Around the World: A Follow-the-Trail Book by Katie Haworth
Inside This Book: (are three books). by Barney Saltzberg

TALK:
One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck
A Fish to Feed by Ellen Mayer
I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty
BAH! Said the Baby by Jennifer Plecas
Can You Whoo, Too? by Harriet Ziefert

SING:
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop!by Michael Ian Black
Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy!by Tim Harrington
Hiccupotamus by Steve Smallman
Mother Goose's Pajama Party by Danna Smith
Music Class Today! by David Weinstone

PLAY:
Bob and Flo by Rebecca Ashdown
Little Baby Buttercup by Linda Ashman
Book-O-Hats: A Wearable Book by Donald Lemke
Tickle Monsterby Edouard Manceau
On the Ball by Brian Pinkney

The winning titles will be announced February 5, 2016

Which are your favorites?