Poetry

Vooks A to Z

Animals

New Books

This is the story of the hiccupotamus: A hippo with a never-ending case of the hiccups. One day, the hippo sees an elephant. He tries to say hello, but his hiccups get in the way. Soon, instead of a new friend, he’s got an angry elephant chasing after him—right through a poor centipede’s newly poured cement. When a flossing rhinoceros gets involved, it’s decided: The hiccups must come to an end.

Come along for a wild, wacky, unexpectedly startling quest to rid the hippo of his hiccups. Will the elephant, centipede, and rhinoceros find a solution? What if there is no cure? Maybe fixing the problem will be easier than they think. Or maybe the hiccups are here to stay.

The Hiccupotamus is an adorable story about making new friends, working together, and using both creativity and critical thinking to solve a challenging problem. Written and illustrated by Aaron Zenz and published by Dogs in Hats Children’s Publishing.

What’s worse than always having the hiccups? How about being a hippo who falls on his bottom every time he’s got ‘em?

The Hiccupotamus

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

Friendship

Build Confidence

Be Caring and Kind

Be Resilient

Have you ever created a special cheer to encourage yourself? Like your very own personal pep talk?

This is what lovely Lili the Lioness does! Clever Lili invents her own power cheer because as Jungle School’s head girl, she has so much to do for her friends! Unfortunately, Lili is roaring her power cheer far too often, and loses her voice! This is very worrying because Lili has a special announcement for the students of Jungle School very soon!

Oh dear…what will she do?

A note from the creators at Love, Bonito:

Written, designed and produced at Love, Bonito, this impactful read highlights the importance of community and cheering each other on through life’s ups and downs – a reflection of what Love, Bonito stands for. The physical book is available for sale globally, while stocks last. Through the creation of this picture book, Love, Bonito is supporting the education of girls in historically low-income communities in Asia for a year — at a target goal of USD $30,000 — helping them to build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. In partnership with Vooks and Finding Pictures, we've launched the animated video version of the book, exclusively available on Vooks' platform, to help raise awareness for girls' education.

When head girl Lili the Lioness loses her voice, her friends at Jungle School help her find strength and courage in adversity.

Lili the Lioness & Friends

Foundational Reading

Everyone's Reading

From the moment he wakes in his owner’s bed, to the moment he collapses for an afternoon nap, this dog just wants to play fetch. So, the dog and his owner play. They play while the girl gets dressed. They play until she walks out the door. But while the girl is at school, the dog is distraught. He tries to play fetch with the mom, and the cat, and even the baby, but none of them seem to understand.

When the dog finally dozes back off in bed, his dreams are haunted by balls in space, balls on cakes, balls stuck down the endless tubes of giant toilets. Will the little girl ever return to play fetch? Can he possibly wait until she does?

The silly story of a dog and his beloved ball, Ball imagines the emotional journey of a pup waiting for his next chance to play fetch. Written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan, and published by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

When this dog’s owner goes to school and there’s no one to play ball with, what is he to do?

Ball

Elementary

Language and Vocabulary

Like all dogs, this dog wants a treat. In fact, he’s desperate for one. When he sleeps, he dreams of treats—steamy hot dogs and fistfulls of cereal, sugary cupcakes and dripping ice cream bars. When he wakes, he wanders in search of tasty bites. He begs, and performs, and whines. But the toddler doesn’t share her food. The older brother is too busy drawing. Grandma is snoozing and grandpa is flossing and no one seems to understand what this dog needs!

Finally, sadly, the dog returns to his dreams of sweet, unreachable treats. Does the family even care that he hasn’t had a treat all day? Will he ever get one? Come along to find out!

A relatable story about dogs, treats, and the frustration that comes with not being understood, Treat is for anyone who's ever thrown a dog a bone. Written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

This dog is desperate for a treat—but no matter how hard he begs, he can’t seem to get his paws on one.

Treat

There’s a duck on Alligator’s lawn, and Alligator isn’t happy about it. Worse, when Alligator tries to get Duck to go away, the bird says they’re nobody’s duck. But how can that be? Surely, this is someone’s duck. Starting to grow impatient, Alligator sets off to find whoever is responsible for this quacky individual.

From the library to theater, to the race track, to a leap from an airplane, Alligator and Duck search all over town. Will they ever find out whose duck this is? And will some of Duck’s sunny attitude rub off on Alligator along the way? Whatever happens, one thing is sure: This duck knows how to have a good time.

A silly adventure about being uptight, learning to let go, and grasping the idea of friendship, Nobody’s Duck shows us that sometimes the thing we’re looking for has been right in front of us all along. Written and illustrated by Geisel Honor winner Mary Sullivan, Nobody’s Duck is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

There’s a duck on Alligator’s lawn, and Alligator isn’t happy about it. Just whose duck is this, anyway?

Nobody's Duck

It’s morning in the rainforest, and Toucan is out to say “good morning” to every creature she can find. First, Toucan meets Sloth, who can hang upside down from a tree. Toucan flies off as she hears someone else waking up: It’s Chameleon, who blends into his surroundings. Around the rainforest Toucan goes, greeting tree frogs, monkeys, and hard-shelled turtles. Everyone is happy to see Toucan.

Can you guess who’s waiting in a nest at the end of Toucan’s journey? Come along for a trip through the treetops of one of the wettest forests on earth: the rainforest!

An easy-reading primer, Good Morning Toucan introduces just a few of the many, many animals that live in the rainforest. It also reminds young readers to greet each other with a friendly “Good morning,” and that breakfast comes after that. Written by Harriet Ziefert Inc., illustrated by Harriet Ziefert Inc., and published by Blue Apple Books.

It’s morning in the rainforest, and Toucan is out to say “good morning” to every creature she can find.

Good Morning, Toucan

Food and Cooking

In the City

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Meet Chip, the boss of a bodega in New York City. What’s a bodega? It’s a grocery store—but it’s also more than that. It’s a place to see friends, have fun, and grab the best Dominican food in the city. Throughout the day, Chip is there to make sure nothing gets missed, and everyone feels welcome. Sometimes, that means counting bottles of soap. Sometimes, it means playing hide-and-seek with the regulars.

Come see the world through the eyes of a kitty who never rests… unless he’s chasing pigeons with his human brother Damian or taking a nap on a bag of potato chips. Day or night, in a rush or on a delivery, Chip will never let you down.

Bodega Cat is an ode to New York’s feline friends and the people who give the city heart. The slice-of-life narrative explores themes of diversity, inclusion, community, and the richness to be found in shared experiences. Written and illustrated by Louie Chin, the book is published by POW! (a division of powerHouse Packaging & Supply, Inc.). Chip is based on a real, playful orange tabby named Simba.

Chip is the boss of a bodega in New York City. He also happens to be a cat. How does a feline keep the place humming?

Bodega Cat

Familius Presents

Be Brave

Camp Vooks

All Seasons

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

Early Childhood

The cat in this house has some quirky habits—and those habits tend to cause a mess. Such as hiding under the socks and napping in the sink. Or scratching coats and cushions to keep its claws sharp. Or howling at dogs, getting stuck in trees, pouncing on the mailman, and hunting through the garbage for scraps.

Join this silly feline as it tears around the house on a quest to cause a bit of mischief. Wherever it goes, a trail of broken dishes, stolen food, and shredded papers seem to follow. With so many wild escapades, a person can’t help but start to wonder… who exactly is this cat?

Who’s That Cat follows the silly—and sometimes outrageous—daily habits of household felines, while acknowledging that some relationships just come with a mess attached. Written by Steph Clarkson and illustrated by Erica Salcedo, Who’s That Cat is in the same beloved series as Who’s That Dog. Published by Rainstorm Publishing, an imprint of Kidsbooks Publishing.

From napping in the sink to scratching up the couch, this cat has some quirky habits—and they’re causing a mess!

Who's That Cat?

Nature

It’s a rainy day outside and kitty is nowhere to be found. Join a little girl and her mother as they embark on an exciting outdoor adventure to find their missing pet. Along the way, many questions arise—what makes a duck waterproof? Where do butterflies go to stay dry? What is rain? This adorable fiction/non-fiction story helps little ones discover what different animals do to enjoy (or avoid) a wet and rainy day. Part cute kitty mystery, part science and exploration, Where Does Kitty Go in the Rain? is sure to inspire curiosity and wonder!

Where Does Kitty Go in the Rain? is written by Harriet Ziefert, beautifully illustrated by Brigette Barrager and published by Blue Apple Books. 

A rainy day adventure searching for kitty & learning about rain and why animals enjoy or avoid it.

Where Does Kitty Go in the Rain?

Creative Play

5 Minutes or Less

Get ready to giggle. This silly tale shows that what's on the outside can sometimes be deceiving. You see, Samson the Smellyphant has a big problem: his unusually stinky odor (or "pong"). The other elephants just don't understand. So, whatever will Samson do?

Written and illustrated by Gavin Buckley. 

The Smellyphant is a scared chap, with a knot in his trunk and a pong (a stinky smell) at the back.

The Smellyphant

Bedtime

Try not to laugh as you neigh like a horse or croak like a frog, purr like a kitten or squeak like a mouse. That's the name of this game: to be as silly as you can, but absolutely, 100%, no laughing. Not one single giggle. (Well, until the end maybe!)

Specially crafted to engage young children and ‘get the giggles out’, this book is perfect for winding down before sleep, or even anytime some good giggling is needed! The 'game' slowly progresses from energetic to quiet and still, helping little ones naturally calm down, while having some fun doing it.

The Giggle Game is written and illustrated by A.J. Cosmo, and published by Thought Bubble Publishing

Try not to laugh as you neigh like a horse or croak like a frog, purr like a kitten or squeak like a mouse.