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CHICAGO – Committee for Children is the 2021 recipient of the Award for the podcast "The Imagine Neighborhood." The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±app (), during the Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition, held virtually January 22 - 26.

The Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award is given to the producer of the most distinguished digital media for an early learning audience produced in the United States during the preceding year. Award and honor Media recipients will receive their awards in Chicago, during the Annual Conference in June.

"The Imagine Neighborhood" podcast invites children and their grownups to engage in social-emotional learning through interactive storytelling, imaginative play, music, and mindfulness activities. Each episode features host Scotty Iseri and a cast of wacky characters, such as Count Vacula and Tantrumus Maximus, as they explore big feelings through the lens of imagination and invite families to play along.

“The committee found The Imagine Neighborhood exceptional for its delightful storytelling backed by rigorous social-emotional learning standards, and for providing children and grownups opportunities to share in meaningful media experiences together,” said Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award Committee Chair Madeline Walton-Hadlock.

One Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Honor title was named:

"Sesame Street Family Play: Caring for Each Other," produced and published by Sesame Workshop.

Developed as a shared play experience for caregivers and young children, the Sesame Street Family Play app provides over 130 screen-free activities that encourage kids to stay busy, move their bodies, and calm themselves. Customizable game ideas and a simple design invite families to play together at home using everyday objects. The app is available in both English and Spanish.

The members of the 2021 Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award Committee are Chair Madeline Walton-Hadlock, Sacramento, California; Maria Paz Alegre, Allen-Stevenson School, New York, New York; Becky Fyolek, Crystal Lake Public Library, Crystal Lake, Illinois; Jennifer Minehardt, New York Public Library, New York, New York; Dr. Tess Prendergast, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; Celeste Swanson, The Lane Libraries, Hamilton, Ohio; Brittany A. Tavernaro, Willowbrook Elementary School, Bentonville, Arkansas; Janet Weber, Tigard Public Library, Tigard, Oregon.

ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers, and educational faculty, ALSC members are committed to engaging communities to build healthy, successful futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC, visit their website at .

For more information on the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award and other Youth Media Awards, please visit .