Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

All Seasons

Elementary

Seasonal - Winter

Vooks A to Z

It’s Chinese New Year, a holiday that’s like "Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day all bundled together!" When PoPo (grandmother) arrives to visit from China, she teaches her curious granddaughter all about celebrating an authentic Chinese New Year. PoPo’s Chinese-American granddaughter is excited to join in, even if it means being extra nice to her baby brother. Follow along as the young girl learns about and joins in on the traditions and vibrant customs of Chinese New Year.

This warm cross-generational story brings the traditions of Chinese New Year to life through the eyes of an excited young girl and the wisdom of her grandmother. PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year is written by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Reneé Benoit and published by Sleeping Bear Press.

When PoPo comes to visit from China, she helps her granddaughter have an authentic Chinese New Year.

PoPo's Lucky Chinese New Year

Mindfulness

Seasonal - Fall

New Books

Nature

Up in the garden, a girl stands and plans. Her hands are full of seeds and her head is full of dreams. But before she and Nana can get started on tending their garden—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, and ripening fruit—they have to wait. Down in the dirt, things need to warm up and dry out. There’s a busy world under their feet, full of earthworms, pillbugs, and more.

Planning, planting, and harvesting will take all year. But there are two sides to the story—what happens above, and what happens below. Come meet the incredible creatures who make our gardens their home, bring the world to life, and help the greenery around us grow.

A story of patience, care, and coexistence, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt shows us the cycle of our seasons. It also introduces us to a cast of insects and animals who make our world vibrant and green. Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, and published by Chronicle Books.

For the garden to flourish, the leaves and sprouts depend on a busy, hidden world below.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

Chelsea is so excited to be celebrating Chinese New Year with her family. That means she gets to stay up late, have a big feast, watch fireworks, and even see a parade with a dragon! The whole family joins in on the fun, and Chelsea explains each step of the celebration, including the rich traditions and meaning behind different parts of the holiday.

This fun, fact-filled story introduces and celebrates Chinese New Year in a way everyone can connect with. Chelsea’s Chinese New Year is written by Lisa Bullard, illustrated by Katie Saunders and published by Millbrook Press, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Enjoy learning all about Chinese New Year, as Chelsea celebrates with her family!

Chelsea's Chinese New Year

Familius Presents

Friendship

Everyone's Reading

Be Resilient

In the City

Be Brave

Camp Vooks

Animals

Luis is a charming alleycat. Tabitha is a sophisticated show cat. They live in two different worlds - their love thwarted by a thick glass door and by Tabitha’s owner. After all, Luis is an outside cat, Tabitha is an inside cat and that’s just the way it is. But, these two lovestruck kitties will do anything to be together. For Luis, that may mean even risking his own safety to save the life of the cat he loves.

This star-crossed feline love story is bursting with charm. You might say: it’s purrfect! 

  Luis and Tabitha is delightfully written by Stephanie Campisi, beautifully illustrated by Hollie Mengert and published by Familius, a values-driven publisher on a mission to teach, inspire, and bring families together.

Follow two kitties who come from different worlds, but will stop at nothing to be together.

Luis and Tabitha

Slumberkins Presents

Family 

Be Caring and Kind

Otter’s story reminds little ones that families are connected by the love they feel in their hearts. This sweet story introduces the concept of family bonds and acceptance—teaching children that loved ones are held in their hearts. 

Social and emotional development topics include:
Family Bonding
Family Transitions
Acceptance

Slumberkins is on a mission to provide parents and caregivers with resources that promote early emotional learning skills for young children, while strengthening the parent child bond. Each Slumberkins book uses an interactive story time approach infused with therapeutic techniques and skill-building exercises.

Be on the lookout for even more Slumberkins storybooks on Vooks!


A loving story of family bonding and acceptance. A family is something you hold in your heart.

Slumberkins Presents: Otter

Dream Big

Storytime Favorites

Early Childhood

Build Confidence

What happens when kindness and love are shared freely? Do they grow into something even more wonderful? Or, does the special gift eventually go bare? Little Miss is determined to find out. When she plants a kiss, and it grows into something extraordinary, she wants to share it with everyone she can—even if that means she won’t have any left for herself.

Plant a Kiss is an incredible story of unselfish giving. Filled with hope and optimism, the epic journey reminds us all of the power behind sharing joy with others. From acclaimed writer and illustrator team Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds, Plant a Kiss is sure to spread love to all who see it.


When a kiss grows into something dazzling, Little Miss wants to share it with the world!

Plant a Kiss

Foundational Reading

Mommies are a wonderful thing and there are so many reasons to love them! Celebrate mommies with this heartwarming book, all about the special bond between a mommy and child.

I Love Mommy is written by Laura Gates Galvin, illustrated by Helen Graper, and published by Kidsbooks®.


Mommies are a wonderful thing and there are so many reasons to love them! 

I Love Mommy

Everyone knows Daddies are great! They spend time with us, show us new things, and they love and care for us. There are so many reasons to love daddies!

I Love Daddy is published by Kidsbooks®.

From spending time, to showing new things, to caring for us—everyone knows Daddies are great!

I Love Daddy

Bedtime

There are few things as powerful to a child as the kind and affirming words from a loved one. In I’ll Love You For Always, little ones are encouraged to carry these words with them wherever they go. Whether in sunshine or in shadow, in peaks or in valleys, in places unfamiliar or in places well-known—nothing can stop the love of a parent or guardian for their child.

This beautiful title encourages parents, guardians, or loved ones to not only speak words of affirmation to their child, but to write them down as well—to put their words into physical form, however simple or elaborate they may be.

I’ll Love You For Always is written by Peter Hinckley and illustrated by Lu Green, and is published by Familius, a values-driven publisher on a mission to teach, inspire and bring families together.

"Where'er you go, whatever you do... My love will keep surrounding you. It does. It always will."

I'll Love You For Always

Kid at Heart

Biographies

Women Who Changed the World

S.T.E.A.M.

Be Creative

Celebrate Black History

An incredible true story of determination, hard work and big dreams, Sweet Dreams, Sarah tells the inspirational story of Sarah E. Goode—entrepreneur, inventor and among the first African-American women to be awarded a US patent. Sarah grew up a slave and dreamed of so much more. After the abolition of slavery, Sarah moved to Chicago to build a life for herself and her family. She built furniture and opened a shop to serve her local community. Sarah listened to her customers, and soon realized they needed something brand new: a piece of furniture that was innovative and space saving. Through grit and determination Sarah achieved things she previously had only dreamed of—sweet dreams that became a reality.

Sweet Dreams, Sarah is written by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Chris Ewald and published by Creston Books. 


The true story of Sarah E Goode, who was among the first African-American women awarded a US patent.

Sweet Dreams, Sarah

From a young age Laura Wheeler Waring loved art. Growing up, she didn’t see any artists who looked like her, or even any paintings of people who looked like her. Using her family members as models, Laura painted and painted, filling the walls of her room like the walls of a gallery. Using her paints, she was fascinated by all the rich colors that combined to create the beautiful shades of brown she saw in her family members. While studying art in Paris, she was inspired by famous painters who captured the people around them. She decided she too wanted to paint who she knew best, people with beautiful brown skin that she never saw in paintings as a child. Today, Laura’s artwork hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. Now everyone can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.

A wonderful true story of creativity and being true to one’s self, Beautiful Shades of Brown is both inspirational and educational. Beautiful Shades of Brown is written by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Felicia Marshall, and published by Creston Books.


Laura Wheeler Waring discovered an entire rainbow within the beautiful shades of brown she painted.

Beautiful Shades of Brown

Vooks at a Glance

From Abraham Lincoln to Rosa Parks, Courageous People Who Changed the World is a perfect introduction to historical figures who stood up to make a difference in the world. The heroic true stories are told through simple text and engaging illustrations, sure to become an instant favorite for young audiences. Featured are William Wilberforce, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai. Each story will inspire courage, determination, and a belief that anyone can change the world.

Courageous People Who Changed the World is written by Heidi Poelman, illustrated by Kyle Kershner and published by Familius.

The perfect introduction to historical figures who stood up to make a difference in the world.

Courageous People Who Changed the World

Stories from seasons throughout the year.