Creative Play

Animals

Camp Vooks

Elementary

Everyone's Reading

Vooks A to Z

Can you guess what each animal does with their eyes, ears, nose, feet, or tail? You might be surprised! A nose for digging? Ears for seeing? Knees for hearing? Explore the many amazing things that make these critters unique, as you journey through their fascinating animal world.   

This Caldecott honor winning picture book is written by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? is published by HMH Books for Young Readers. 

Can you guess how each animal uses their eyes, ears, nose, feet, or tail? You may be surprised! 

What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?

New Books

Mr. Wuffles ignores every toy his people buy for him. You might think he’s just a lazy, uninterested cat, but you’d be wrong. Mr. Wuffles is not lazy, he’s just very picky—once he finds the right plaything, he’ll stalk, chase, leap, pounce, and bat it around.
 
Finally Mr. Wuffles has found the perfect toy and he’s ready to play… but it’s not really a toy at all. In fact, it’s something much more interesting—an alien spaceship piloted by small, green aliens! 
 
When Mr. Wuffles plays a little too roughly with the tiny ship, the aliens must risk everything and venture into the cat’s territory to make emergency repairs. All seems lost until the aliens team up with some unlikely allies.
 
A nearly wordless book featuring a made-up alien language, Mr. Wuffles! is a 2014 Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by David Wiesner. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Mr. Wuffles the cat finally finds a toy that he’s interested in. But little does he know, it’s actually an alien spaceship!

Mr. Wuffles!

Foundational 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

Friendship

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

Kid at Heart

Mindfulness

All Seasons

Happy Holidays

Nature

Above the snow, a girl and her father glide on skis in a world washed in white. They see a story in the snow—of a deer on her way from a napping spot, or a bushy-tailed fox hunting for dinner. Below, a secret kingdom hides beneath the winter blanket. Cuddling deer mice and slumbering frogs, hungry beavers and tunneling voles, drowsy bears and busy squirrels.

The girl and her father aren’t here to stay—they’re headed home, to marshmallows and hot dogs, to blankets and beds. But the world under the snow is waiting. Dreams of summer feasts and warm ponds fill each mind as they snuggle deep and drift off to hopeful promises of spring.

Over and Under the Snow tells a story of slowness, patient cycles, and how the whole world bends to the changing of seasons. The narrative also shows how different insects and animals react to cold weather, some hibernating, some adopting a new way of living beneath the snow. Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, and published by Chronicle Books.

Over the snow is a story of tracks—while a secret kingdom lies beneath, where the smallest creatures stay warm.

Over and Under the Snow

Be Creative

Familius Presents

Be Caring and Kind

Build Confidence

Every great story has a beginning. In this wondrous prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice first learns how truly magical her world can be. Alice lived at the dreariest boarding school, void of color or cheer. But after discovering a secret garden, and filling it with her love and care, her circumstances begin to change in magical ways!

Alice’s Magic Garden tells the story of Alice before the rabbit hole, before wonderland. This delightful story is brimming with charm, whimsy, and a heartfelt message about friendship and kindness. Alice’s Magic Garden is written by Henry Herz, illustrated by Natalie Hoopes, and published by Familius.


Curiouser and curiouser! This is the story of Alice before the rabbit hole.

Alice's Magic Garden

Bedtime

Storytime Favorites

Early Childhood

5 Minutes or Less

Sick Day Stories

All Rabbit wants to do is play. All Sloth wants to do is sleep. This hilarious book will have kids young and old laughing along, as Rabbit continues to up his silly antics, in an attempt to wake up Sloth. Perfect for any time of the day, But First, We Nap shows the humorous side of what can be a common nap-time struggle.

But First, We Nap is written by David W. Miles and published by Familius.

*For those with photosensitive epilepsy concerns, there is a sequence containing flashing lights at 2:45.

Rabbit wants to play. Sloth wants to sleep. Who will win in this laugh-along nap-time struggle?

But First, We Nap

Animals live all over the world, in all kinds of interesting places. Travel the globe to six very different habitats, on an adventure to find camouflaged critters hiding in their native landscapes. Visit scorching deserts and steamy rainforests, muddy ponds and salty oceans, lush savannas and dense forests. Have fun learning interesting facts about all kinds of animals and the places they live.

I See a Kookaburra! is a fun and informative scavenger hunt that teaches little ones about animals and the environments they live in. Created by award winning duo Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, I See a Kookaburra! is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Travel the world to find all kinds of animals, and learn a little about the places they live!

I See a Kookaburra!

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

Be Brave

Be Resilient

Join Little Grey Donkey on a brave journey of overcoming fear as he searches for his missing friend.

Written by Nicole Snitselaar and illustrated by Coralie Saudo.

Every day, a little girl called Serafina came to visit Little Grey Donkey. Until one day...

Little Grey Donkey

There’s a wall in the middle of this book—and that’s a good thing. The wall keeps the friendly knight safe from the other side. Most importantly, it protects the knight from the ogre. If the ogre ever caught the knight, the ogre would eat him up. But the ogre is over there, on the other side, so the knight is perfectly safe. Nothing can harm the knight if he stays where he is.

Until something happens—something that’s, well, not supposed to happen. There’s a danger on the knight’s side of the wall. What can he do? Is the knight doomed? Or will he learn a valuable lesson about stepping over the walls we’ve built between us?

The Wall in the Middle of the Book is a beautiful metaphor. It shows readers that walls don’t just keep out danger, they can also keep us in. The story also demonstrates how assumptions can sometimes keep us from discovering exciting new things. Written and illustrated by Jon Agee. Published by Penguin.

There’s a wall in the middle of this book—and that’s a good thing. What else will keep one side safe from the other?

The Wall in the Middle of The Book

Family 

When her father brings home a baby seagull, Elisapee falls in love with the tiny bird. She names it Nau (short for Naujaaraq). Elisapee and her brother feed Nau sculpins, seal fat, and small krill. Nau grows bigger and her feathers turn white. Eventually, Elisapee and her brother teach Nau to fly. To be sure they know which bird is theirs, Elisapee ties a pink bow onto Nau’s leg.

Every day, Nau flies with the other seagulls, then comes back to sleep on the roof of Elisapee’s shed. But then one day, Nau is ready to leave home for good. Will Elisapee have to say a final goodbye? Or will Nau’s spirit and memory live on, no matter where the arctic winds lead her?

Elisapee and Her Baby Seagull is a charming story about learning to care for animals, and also learning to let them go. The story focuses on Nunavut culture, along with themes of kindness, compassion, and doing what’s best for others. Written by Nancy Mike, illustrated by Charlene Chua, and published by Inhabit Media.

When her father brings home a baby seagull, Elisapee helps the tiny bird grow—and eventually, teaches it to fly.