*Originally published at In the Writer's Web. Updated 2026.* Most of us have heard of the Caldecott and Newbery medals – children’s book awards that have been around for, well, a VERY long time. But have you heard of the CLEL Bells? No? Take a seat, I’ve got a story to tell.   I’ve been a librarian, as of this summer, for 27 years. And in those 27 years, my job has changed quite a bit – in good ways and bad. But one incredibly satisfying way in which it’s changed is in the

2025 was... weird. For many reasons. The country, and indeed, the world, was a big source of stress for most of us, and writing for children didn't always seem like the most important thing to be doing. But we know books, especially books for children, ARE important and our stories are worth telling, so somehow, we persevere. Here's how my year looked: Queries : 2025 was a lighter year for me in terms of queries - only 12 sent. I think that was due to a combination of factors

Before children learn to read on their own, the are building the foundation they will need TO learn to read. One of the things they're developing is their print awareness . Children are beginning to notice words all around them - on signs, in books, on boxes, - and that words have meaning. They're learning, too, how books and print work. There are lots of ways to help your child develop this skill. You can point out words and say what they mean. You can look for signs and ex

Did you know learning about math begins early? I'm not talking learning to add and subtract, I'm talking about foundational math skills ,...

Recently I was attending a webinar overview of a new online product with digital books for kids. Overall, the product was nice, and will...

Some recent YA and MG graphic novels worth reading!

I love middle grade fiction. Next to picture books, I read these the most. I have a long commute, so I get a lot of reading done in the...

Look, it's well into February and I'm finally getting around to writing about my favorite books of the previous year! Let's just say that...

In my 30s I was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I'm not sure what triggered it, although I was an anxious kid and so always...