Fire Up Early Literacy with Award-Winning Books: The CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards, by Melissa Depper

This session is part of the Follett Growing Readers Series

"The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." -Becoming a Nation of Readers

Research shows that shared picture book reading throughout the preschool years develops a range of critical early literacy skills, including print awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary, phonological awareness, background knowledge, and comprehension skills. Reading with children is one of five foundational practices, including talking, singing, writing, and playing, that prepare children to be successful readers.

But how do you select with confidence the most engaging books to share in your classrooms? Which are the titles that best support early literacy standards? In this webinar, Melissa Depper, an experienced children's librarian, will introduce a new picture book award, The Bell Picture Book Awards, developed by Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, (CLEL) a group of  librarians with early literacy experience and a strong understanding of developmentally appropriate book selection. Melissa will walk you through how the awards can be used as a resource for ECE professionals, librarians, parents, and caregivers.

Each year five picture books will be recognized, one representing each category of Read, Write, Sing, Talk, and Play. Information materials for each title will be provided, including how the books model or support early literacy practices and providing activity ideas related to each book appropriate for classroom exploration. The first awards will be announced February 5, 2014, and a "Silver Bell" honor list of 25 titles was released in September 2013.

The Bell Aw

ards and the Silver Bell books provide curriculum support easily incorporated into all ECE classrooms. The related information materials can be used as staff development tools or ready-to-go tips and messages to be shared with parents and families.

We will discuss:

• How reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing together with children supports early literacy development.

• Twenty-five high-quality picture books specifically selected for their potential to support early literacy practices.

• Free support materials available from the Bell Awards librarians outlining activities related to each title & their connections to early literacy skills.

• Strategies for using the Bell Awards books and materials to connect parents to early literacy information.

You can read more about School Library Journal's take on the Bell Awards here!

Attend this session and you will be entered to win a CUSTOM Door prize from

Follett Early Learning!

When you attend the Growing Readers Series webinars, you will automatically have a chance to win a collection of books and/or other resources customized to your specifications with the personalized expert guidance of the literacy specialists at Follett Early Learning. All sessions are 1.5 hours long, and include a brief announcement from our sponsor. 2:oo PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time. See the schedule of upcoming webinars.