It’s Almost Time for Battle of the Books!

Photo Credit:   

Krista Brinkmeier Photography

Dear Youth Librarians,

In case you missed it, I am excited to be a contributor to the YSS blog this year. My name is Tiffani Roltgen, and I am the library director/teacher librarian at New Century School and Verona Area International School in Verona, WI. 

As a school librarian, one of the most fun and engaging reading activities my students participate in each year is Wisconsin’s very own Battle of the Books organized annually by the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA). Elementary, middle school, and high school students compete by forming teams and reading from a list of 20 books in a wide variety of genres. In February, they take a school-level quiz to test their knowledge. The top teams from around Wisconsin complete the state-level test and are then ranked. The Battle booklists, released annually on June 1, often overlap with Wisconsin’s Golden Archer Award program where only students (no grown ups allowed!) vote on their favorite books in primary, intermediate, middle, and senior levels. The winning books are rewarded with a Golden Archer award seal on the cover and the admiration of young adoring fans. 

Photo from wemta.org

There are many ways public libraries can support these initiatives from displaying and promoting books from the Battle and Golden Archer lists to offering book clubs featuring the books with related activities. You can even form Battle teams, facilitate Golden Archer voting for students who are not participating through their schools, or provide book trailer creation opportunities for the annual contest. For additional ideas on how public libraries can support these programs, see this helpful list compiled by WEMTA. As a school librarian, Battle and Golden Archer have helped build a strong culture of reading among my students and pushed them into genres they may not explore on their own. We have shared countless laughs, literary connections, and community building moments. Every year we look forward to celebrating with over 500 readers from across our district during our Battle of the Books field trip day that includes a Zoom session with one of the authors, Kahoot competitions, a take-home craft, lunch at the high school, and a friendly game of Pictionary. All students in grades 4-12 in our district are invited to be part of Battle, and those who say “yes” to the challenge are already winning regardless of the final test scores! 

Cheers,

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

ALA Youth Media Awards

This year's ALA Youth Media Awards are in!! The ALA released their top picks for children and young adults. This includes the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards as well as recognizing the honor books that were considered. Here are some highlights from the awards:

• John Newberry Medal: All the Blues in the Sky, written by Renée Watson

  

  When thirteen-year-old Sage's best friend dies, Sage struggles with grief and feels that she is at fault, but when she joins a grief group, she slowly learns to heal.

  
  
• Randolph Caldecott Medal: Fireworks, illustrated by Cátia Chien and written by Matthew Burgess
  

  

  Part poem, part portable fireworks display with a vertical gatefold, this picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Catia Chien highlights the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly await a spectacular fireworks display. POP!

  
  
• Coretta Scott King Author Book Award: Will’s Race for Home, written by Jewell Parker Rhodes

  

  During the land rush of 1889, African American Will and his father journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to stake their claim.

  
  
• Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award: The Library in the Woods, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey

  

  A Black family maintains a farm in North Carolina until, after the crops are destroyed two years running, Junior’s father moves his wife and son into town. Although the library there excludes Black residents, Junior discovers a log cabin in a forest clearing, where he can borrow three books per visit. This library’s collection includes many books by Black writers.
  

• Coretta Scott King—John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: Under the Neon Lights, written by Arriel Vinson

  

  Sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman lives for Saturdays at WestSide Roll, the iconic neighborhood roller rink. On these magical nights, Jae can lose herself in the music of DJ Sunny, the smell of nachos from the concession, and the crowd of some of her favorite people: old heads, dance crews, and other regulars like herself. Here, Jae and other Black teens can fully be themselves.

• Michael L. Printz Award: Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Set at a classic drive-in restaurant that seems to exist in every Native community, this anthology unites the stories of teens from all kinds of backgrounds through the shared theme of Native joy, with stories and poems reflecting hope, healing, humor, love, friendship, romance, and joy. 

• Schneider Family Book Awards
• Young Child: Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe, written by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to study the stars. But when she lost her sight, she had to find a new way to work. Through the use of sonification, which turns data into sound, she was able to make a path for herself and other scientists with disabilities.

• Middle Grade: Where Only Storms Grow, written by Alyssa Colman

  

  During the worst storm of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma, twins Howe and Joanna must put their differences aside and work together to save their farm from ruin.

  
  
• Young Adult: Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen, written by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea

  

  From Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for middle-grade readers (and adults, too)-inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes. Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James's point of view, allowing them to see the world through his disabling eye conditions.

  
  
• Pura Belpré Awards
• Children’s Author Award: The Pecan Sheller, written by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

  

  In 1930s San Antonio, after her father's death, thirteen-year-old Petra must quit school to work at a pecan shelling factory where dangerous conditions and low wages push her to take a vital stand for change.

  
  
• Young Adult Author Award: On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres





Death waits for Estrella (Noche) Villanueva. In her human form, she is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes. At night, she is a Lechuza who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante's soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go.

• Stonewall Book Award: Halfway to Somewhere, written and illustrated by Jose Pimienta



Ave must adjust to a new country, a new school, and a new family dynamic when their mom and younger brother move to Kansas while their father and older sister stay in Mexico during the parents' divorce.

• William C. Morris Award: All the Noise at Once, written by DeAndra Davis

  

  Aiden has always dreamed of playing football like his star quarterback brother, Brandon. After struggling with an overstimulation meltdown during summer tryouts, Aiden gets a second chance when a spot unexpectedly opens on the team. However, not all teammates are happy with his inclusion, worried about how Aiden's autism will affect the game.
  
  
  

  
  
• YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown, written by Candace Fleming

  

  A chronicle of one of American history's most notorious cults, a book including first-person accounts follows Jim Jones from humble origins to "Jonestown" in Guyana, South America, and traces his transformation of Peoples Temple into a nefarious experiment in mind control.
  
  
  

To see all the complete list of award winners and honor books, stop here. [American Library Association announces 2026 Youth Media Award winners. ALA website. January 26, 2026.]

Join the 2026 CLEL Bells Committee!

If you're interested in lively, collaborative, in-depth discussions about early literacy, CLEL Bells is the place for you!

Be part of advocating for quality children’s books that support early literacy. The English CLEL Bells Committee is recruiting new members for the 2026 award season!

What are the CLEL Bells? One of the two early literacy book awards from CLEL, the English CLEL Bell Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality children’s books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in young children ages 0-5. The five winners are selected from a shortlist of 25 honored titles.

Come join the committee! Here’s more from our members:

• “Be prepared to fall more in love with children's books.” 

• “Do picture books have a place in your heart and your work space? They fill mine!” 

• “Get ready to think critically about early literacy and lean into great conversations.” 

• "I couldn't have had this experience at my library."

• “Where else can you dissect books with the lens of early literacy and storytime?” 

  
  

Apply now for the 2026 English CLEL Bells Committee. The application closes on March 28, 2025. All applicants will be notified by March 31, 2025.

Please contact clelbellawards@gmail.com with any questions.

Best regards,

Mary Ann Lawler

Chair, 2026 English CLEL Bells Committee

Vote on the CLEL Book Awards Shortlist!

 2024 CLEL Bell Award Shortlist Announcement 

We are pleased to announce the shortlist titles for the 10th annual CLEL Bell Awards. The 2024 year was historic in its submissions, committee involvement, and display of diversity. The way the award has evolved in the past 10 years speaks to how early literacy librarians have a voice in ensuring all our patrons are being reflected in the books we put on our shelves. 

This shortlist of 25 titles, five for each early literacy practice – READ, WRITE, TALK, PLAY, and SING – was chosen from 91 nominations put forward by our committee. 

We encourage librarians, caregivers, and all picture book lovers to vote on their favorites here until January 30, 2024. The winners will be announced in early February. 

The Shortlist titles are: 

READ 

● Benita and the Night Creatures — By Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Cocoretto — September 5, 2023 — Barefoot Books 

● Once Upon a Book — By Grace Lin and Kate Messner — February 7, 2023 — Little Brown and Company 

● Sam with Ants in His Pants — By April Reynolds, illustrated by Katie Kordesh — June 20, 2023 — Anne Schwartz Books 

● This is the First Book I Will Read to You — By Francesco Sedita, illustrated by Magenta Fox — May 2, 2023 — Viking Books for Young Readers 

● This is a Story — By John Schu, illustrated by Lauren Castillo — March 14, 2023 — Candlewick 

WRITE 

● From Here to There: A First Book of Maps — By Vivian French and Ya-Ling Huang — May 16, 2023 — Candlewick Press 

● A Garden in My Hands — By Meera Sriram, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat — April 18, 2023 — Knopf Books for Young Readers 

● The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure — By Savannah Allen — May 2, 2023 — Viking Books for Young Readers 

● Scroll — By Hui Li — September 19, 2023 — Christy Ottaviano Books (Little, Brown and Company) 

● The Wheels on the Bus: Touch and Trace Nursery Rhymes — Illustrated by Emily Bannister — August 1, 2023 — Silver Dolphin Books

TALK 

● A Day with No Words — By Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove — May 9, 2023 — Wheat Penny Press 

● I Love You Mucho Mucho — By Rachel Más Davidson — September 5, 2023 — Beaming Books 

● Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar — By Mojdeh Hassani, Samira Iravani, illustrated by Maya Fidawi — February 28, 2023 — Dial Books 

● More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean — By Roz Maclean — September 5, 2023 — Henry Holt and Co. 

● My First Learn-to-Talk Book: Things that Go — By Stephanie Cohen, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott — December 6, 2022 — Sourcebooks Explore 

PLAY 

● Bath Time Physics — By Jill Esbaum — May 2, 2023 — MIT Kids Press

● The Fairest in the Land — By Author: Leslea Newman, illustrated by Joshua Heinsz — May 2, 2023 — Harry N. Abrams 

● Let’s Go Puddling! — By Emma Perry, illustrated by Claire Alexander — April 25, 2023 — Candlewick 

● Quiet Time with My Seeya — By Dinale Dabarera — March 7, 2023 — Roaring Book Press 

● You Are a Raccoon! — By Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Jay Fleck — April 11, 2023 — Dial Books 

SING 

● ¡1, 2, 3 Merengue! — By Delia Ruiz and Graziela Andrade — September 5, 2023 — Soaring Kites Books 

● If Mama Sings — By Laura Wittner, illustrated by Maricel R. Clark — July 25, 2023 — Crocodile Books 

● Music is in Everything — By Ziggy Marley, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska — December 22, 222 — Akashic Books 

● Sugar Pie Lullaby: The Soul of Motown in a Song of Love — By Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud — February 7, 2023 — Sourcebooks eXplore ● We Belong to the Drum — By Sandra Lamouche, illustrated by Azby Whitecalf — May 16, 2023 — Orca Book Publishers

WLA Announces 2023 Children's Book Award Recipients

 Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award  -  Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei

Named for notable Wisconsin librarian Elizabeth Burr (1908-1996) and made possible by Worzalla, a Wisconsin-based publisher, this annual award is bestowed upon the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator.

Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is part of a family hockey empire. His grandfather and father played for the NFL, so as a college freshman, he’s feeling the pressure to make it. With five older sisters, continuing his family’s hockey legacy is on his shoulders. Mickey has led a privileged life, and expectations are high to earn the number one draft pick. Unbeknownst to his family, however, Mickey is struggling with depression and his family’s expectations. In the midst of his mental struggles, a rival hockey player joins his college team. Jaysen Caufield, an African American teen, is giving Mickey some real competition for the number one draft pick. He also doesn’t like all the attention and handouts Mickey gets. As their rivalry intensifies, their relationship gets more complicated as they realize their mutual attraction to each other. From debut author A.L. Graziadei comes this fresh new take on the complexity of young adulthood, through a stunning combination of romance, mental health, and the sport of hockey. About the Author: Debut author A.L. Graziadei was born and raised in Buffalo, New York on Buffalo Sabres hockey and video games. Now living in Wisconsin, A.L. uses these interests as inspiration for their writing. Icebreaker is their first book and was named a 2023 Printz Honor Book.   The Wisconsin Notable Author annual award honors Wisconsin authors,  past and present, for their literary contributions. Charly “Carlos” Palmer was born in 1960 in Fayette, Alabama. When he was four years old, his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During his formative years, Palmer focused his attention on art and attended the Magnet Program at the Art Museum taught by Carolyn White Travanti. Travanti recognized Palmer’s talent and potential and ultimately encouraged his art journey.  After graduating from Custer High School, Palmer enrolled in the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. He initially struggled during this time with undiagnosed ADHD. Today, he states this is his superpower that allows his “mind to be everywhere always.” He eventually transferred to the American Academy of Art where he earned his bachelor’s degree.  Palmer has received numerous commissions, including the 1996 Olympics and the Atlantic Convention and Visitor's Bureau. His artwork can be found in esteemed institutions such as the McDonald's Corporation, Miller Brewing Company, Coco-Cola Company, and in various private and public collections. His piece, In Her Eyes, was on the July 6, 2020, cover of TIME and his art piece, His Story, belonged to the Maya Angelou estate until auctioned in 2015. He also designed the cover of John Legend’s Bigger Love and has paintings in Lambeau Field Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In addition, he has lectured at several American colleges and universities, including Spelman, Morehouse, Brown, UCLA, and most recently Fisk. The objective of Palmer’s work is to uplift Black individuals by celebrating and embracing their uniqueness, strength, and contributions to the world outside of the mainstream gaze.  As an illustrator, Palmer has made an impact in the children’s literature world. He received the 2018 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for his illustrative work, Mama Africa! His goal is to create literature and illustrations where children of color can see themselves in everyday situations, allowing them to see themselves in relatable narratives. His debut as a children's author, The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale, which he also illustrated, addresses the stories of unsung basketball players whose skills were so magnificent only tall tales could adequately capture their greatness. When asked if he has been successful in his life and career, he stated, “Success is a journey, it’s not a destination. So for me it’s never been ‘I’ve gotten there.’ It’s like I’m trying to get there, and I will be trying to get there for the rest of my life.” Palmer currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Dr. Karida Brown, and two pugs named, Blu and Pugsley. He will be a theater speaker at ALA’s LibLearnX in Baltimore, Maryland in 2024. In addition, ten noteworthy honor titles written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators were selected for Outstanding Achievement Award in children’s literature: Rhino & Dino in: Lemonade by Erin Kant Barnard Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson Something Beautiful by Lita Judge A Friend for Ghost by Suzanne Kaufman Inaugural Ballers: The True story of the First US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team by Andrew Maraniss Torch by Lyn Miller-Lachmann Vermilion Emporium by Jamie Pacton The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale by Charly Palmer Lolo’s Light by Liz Garton Scanlon COMMITTEE MEMBERS | 2023 Briony Zlomke, Chair Hanna Collins Murray Johnson Amy Commers Lizzy Lowrey Dawn Tevis Katrina Wulff Please visit the Children's Book Awards website for more information on the awards as well as past winners.

Apply to be on the CLEL Book Selection Committee

We recently shared this year's CLEL book award winners on the blog.

Did you know that you too could serve on this early literacy award committee?

Applications are now open for the 2024 CLEL Bells award selection committee.  This is a great opportunity to take a deep dive into ECRR, and connect with Librarians from across the country.  Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply. Stop here to apply.

CLEL Membership is 100% FREE and open to anyone interested in early literacy. Membership is NOT limited to Colorado residents.

Involvement in the CLEL Bell Award Committee requires:

• Membership in Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.
• A two-year commitment to serving on the CLEL Bell Award Committee 
• Access to email and the Internet (for routine communication, editing shared Google documents and attending virtual meetings). 
• Access, via your library, interlibrary loan and/or bookstores, to a large sample of picture books published during the selection year.
• A commitment of several hours a week securing access to, reading and evaluating as many new picture books as possible.
• A commitment to attend a virtual meeting in the spring.
• A commitment to attend, virtually or in the Denver area, an 8-hour shortlist selection meeting in December.
• Please note that due to the potential conflict of interest we are unable to select a committee member who is professionally affiliated with a publishing company, including employees of the company, independent sales consultants, or authors publishing children’s books in the selection year.

Throw your hat in the ring and celebrate picture books!