It’s been just under two weeks since the 2025 Youth Media Awards (YMAs) announcements and the library world (and beyond!) is still buzzing with excitement.
As you review and celebrate this year’s list of winners and honorees, don’t forget about one of the newer awards, the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media (EELDM) award.
Some Background
The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media recognizes the producer of the most distinguished digital media created for an early learning audience (ages 2-8). Past winners include television series, apps, and podcasts. The committee also considers websites, enhanced ebooks, and more.
This ALSC blog post from 2019 (the first year EELDM was awarded) provides more information about award. For the 2025 EELDM committee’s take on this year’s winner and honorees read ALA’s press release.
2025 Winner — “Carl the Collector”
Producer Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures is the 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award for the television series “Carl the Collector.”
Here’s how PBS describes the show: “Carl the Collector follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who enjoys collecting things and loves his friends and family in Fuzzytown.”
The show’s art might seem familiar, especially if you’ve read Wolfie the Bunny (written by Ame Dyckman, 2015) or Who Wet My Pants (written by Bob Shea, 2019) for the story time crowd.
Illustrator and author Zachariah OHora, the show’s creator and executive producer, intentionally features autistic actors, writers, and neurodiverse people on all levels of production. Watch this quick video for a behind-the-scenes look at the show.
Most of the show’s 14 episodes (28 segments) are titled after Carl’s collections, from plushies, stickers and bouncy balls to fake mustaches, lint, and remotes.
Connecting Families with Carl
Many families rely on the library not just for reading recommendations, but other types of media as well. Here are some ways you can use the EELDM Award and this year’s winning media, “Carl the Collector,” to support families at your library.
- Throw a “Carl the Collector” party! Keep it simple with printable activities, including coloring pages and drawing/writing prompts. Add in activities inspired by Carl’s collections, such as a create-a-pet-rock craft, adopt a plushie pal station, or a fake mustache disguise station. And of course, show some clips of the show.
- Help grownups find resources to expand learning and play beyond the screen. PBS Kids for Parents offers recipes and other activities related to the show’s subjects.
- “Carl the Collector” focuses on social emotional learning. Connect grownups with articles like “Building Your Child’s Confidence, One Step at a Time” and “Helping Your Child Navigate Social Situations with Confidence and Kindness” and more.
- Explore “Connecting with Carl: Teaching Resources” for guides on understanding neurodivergence, building empathy and friendships, and teaching strategies to promote inclusivity.
- Plan a series of weekly or monthly events exploring topics alongside Carl and his friends, such as the life cycles of butterflies or understanding emotions and big feelings. PBS Learning Media For Teachers provides lesson plans and printables that can be adapted for use in the classroom, at the library, or at home.
Now What?
There are so many ways to bring Carl and his Fuzzytown friends to the children in your community. What will you try first?
Leave a comment below with ideas and plans for featuring “Carl the Collector” and share your thoughts on this year’s EELDM award winner.
Emily Haage is a member of the Children and Technology committee and former co-chair of the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media committee. She is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Scott County Library System in Eldridge, Iowa. Reach her via email at emily.haage@scottcountylibrary.org.
The post Don’t You (Forget About Me): the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award appeared first on ALSC Blog.
It’s been just under two weeks since the 2025 Youth Media Awards (YMAs) announcements and the library world (and beyond!) is still buzzing with excitement. As you review and celebrate this year’s list of winners and honorees, don’t forget about one of the newer awards, the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media (EELDM) award. Some Background The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media recognizes the producer of the most distinguished digital media created for an early learning audience (ages 2-8). Past winners include television series, apps, and podcasts. The committee also considers websites, enhanced ebooks, and more. This ALSC blog post from 2019 (the first year EELDM was awarded) provides more information about award. For the 2025 EELDM committee’s take on this year’s winner and honorees read ALA’s press release. 2025 Winner — “Carl the Collector” Producer Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures is the 2025 recipient of the Excellence in…
The post Don’t You (Forget About Me): the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award appeared first on ALSC Blog. Read More
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