*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

Sharing picture books is a great way to grow social-emotional skills like empathy. Reading a story offers a great opportunity to put...