Animals

Be Kind

Friendship

Everyone's Reading

Early Childhood

Elementary

Curious George®

Vooks A to Z

George is thrilled to get a thank-you card in the mail from his friend Betsy. It makes him want to send thank-you cards to everyone he knows. Who can he thank? The mail carrier? The librarian? It will be fun! But, when George undoubtedly gets into some of his usual mischief, saying thank you might just be easier said than done. This lighthearted lesson in good manners shows that saying thank you never goes out of style!

Margret & H.A. Rey’s Curious George Says Thank You is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, written by Emily Flaschner Meyer and Julie M. Bartynski, and illustrated by Anna Grossnickle Hines.

Curious George® Says Thank You. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Based on the character of Curious George®, created by Margret and H.A. Rey. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Curious George® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Giving thank you cards might be easier said than done for everyone's favorite curious little monkey.

Curious George Says Thank You

New Books

Kid at Heart

Henry and Bea are the best of friends. Then one day, Henry stops talking to Bea. He won't joke with her in class, and he won't sit with her at lunch. Bea can tell something's wrong, and she's determined to find out what it is. When their teacher announces that the class is taking a field trip to a farm, Bea hopes it’ll be a chance for the two to reconnect.

But at the farm, Henry is still distant. Will he ever tell Bea what’s going on? Or is their friendship simply over? Come along as Bea helps her friend work through the difficult emotions that come with grief, loss, and finding closure.

An age-appropriate look at grieving the death of a pet, Henry and Bea portrays the complicated emotions that come with losing something (or someone) you love. Themes of rejection, closure, and relational turbulence feature in the story. Written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley and published by Neal Porter Books.

Henry and Bea are best friends. Then suddenly, Henry stops talking to Bea. She knows something’s wrong. But what?

Henry and Bea

Spooky Season

Be You

Seasonal

While digging for unicorn horns in the yard, Iz and Norb find a treasure chest. What could be inside? The name “Boo” is engraved on the lock. Who is Boo? Did they own the chest? Will they have the key? Iz and Norb set out on a quest for answers.

But the more they ask about this mysterious Boo, the more uncertain they become. Is Boo a speedy yellow fellow or a sweet wee lad? Is he red as rage with claws galore, and jaws the size of dinosaurs? When Iz and Norb finally find where Boo lives, Norb is almost too afraid to knock on the door. Maybe Boo will live up to the rumors—or maybe he’ll be something entirely different than they expect.

Who Is Boo? is a charming story about how gossip can distort our ideas of people we may have never even met. The narrative also alludes to the idea that rumors say less about their subject and more about the individuals spreading the rumor. Written and illustrated by Jonathan Sundy, Who Is Boo? is a Vooks Original.

When Iz and Norb find buried treasure, they set out on a quest to find the key—and the chest’s original owner.

Who is Boo?

5 Minutes or Less

“No matter how big, no matter how small, everyone is someone, we need to love all.”

It’s simple, yet powerful, rhymes like this, paired with beautiful illustrations, that help us remember that we matter—no matter who we are. 

When so much seems to separate us, Everyone is Someone, written by Bob Dalton and illustrated by Ritchie Collins, teaches children that we’re all in this together and we’re more similar than we are different. When we simply treat people with kindness and respect, we make the world a much better place.

“No matter how big, no matter how small, everyone is someone, we need to love all.”

Everyone is Someone

Back to School

Family is a special thing and family isn’t always just your relatives. Family can be those you love and who love you, the people who would do anything for you and love you no matter what. This heartwarming story helps little ones understand the special bond between their classroom family–and that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s ok to make mistakes and it’s important to be a friend to others. Now more than ever, no matter where that ‘classroom’ might be, it’s important that students understand the message that their class is a family.

Our Class is a Family is authored by Shannon Olson, a teacher, elementary education blogger and business owner focused on creating resources to use in the classroom. With its warm love filled story and engaging artwork from illustrator Sandie Sonke, Our Class is a Family is sure to be a hit in classrooms around the globe.

Family isn't just who you're related to. It can be another special group who love and care for you.

Our Class is a Family

Main Carousel

Be Brave

Familius Presents

Unicorn is a unicorn. And Horse is, well... not. Grab a pink cupcake and laugh along with this hilarious story about two very different animals - one seems magical and perfect and the other... well... doesn't. But, outside appearances don't always tell the whole story.

Unicorn (and Horse) is a funny yet endearing lesson on envy with one important truth: We are sometimes unicorns. We are sometimes horses. But, it's our differences that make us all unique. And, friendship can come in all shapes and sizes.
Readers of all ages will love giggling along with this silly yet heartwarming story. Unicorn (and Horse) is written by David Miles, illustrated by Hollie Mengert and published by Familius.

Unicorn is a unicorn. And Horse is, well... not. But appearances don't always tell the whole story. 

Unicorn (and Horse)

Sam has a new pet. It’s a Temper, and he found it on the playground. At first, the Temper is great company—it shoves, trips, pinches, and stomps until the playground is cleared out just for Sam. But when it follows Sam home, the Temper soon becomes hard to handle. Sam starts to wish it would leave him alone.

When his Temper takes things too far at school, Sam knows he has to do something. But how does a person get their Temper to calm down? Can it be controlled, or will he simply have to live with it? Come along as Sam wrestles with his emotions and tries to rid himself of his pet Temper for good.

This funny yet touching story by Sangeeta Bhadra explores the concepts of handling frustration, taking responsibility, emotional learning, and recognizing that anger isn’t a part of our identities. Illustrated by Marion Arbona, Sam’s Pet Temper was published by Kids Can Press Ltd. in 2014.

Sam found a new pet on the playground. It’s a Temper—and before long, Sam starts to wish it would leave him alone.

Sam's Pet Temper

Vehicles

When the new day begins, there are lots of ways for Excavator and the other construction trucks to be kind. There are holes to dig. There are loads (and even friends) to carry up, up, and out of tough situations. There are trucks to wash, and pull, and help along the way. There are even games to play—like digging for hidden treasure.

With so many ways to be kind to each other, we can’t squeeze it all into one day. Tomorrow, there will be more holes to dig, more friends to help, and more loads to carry. Come back in the morning to lend Crane, Backhoe, Bulldozer, and the other trucks a hand!

Written by Michele Robbins and illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko, I Dig Being Kind touches on the many ways we can help one another—with talents specific to us as individuals or simply being present enough to see another’s needs. I Dig Being Kind brings back the adorable cast of trucks from I Dig Bathtime. Published by Familius.

Digging holes, carrying loads, playing games, helping friends—can you name all the ways a truck can be kind to others?

I Dig Being Kind

Be Creative

Science

Mindfulness

All Seasons

Sometimes bees can be a bit rude. They fly in your face and prance on your food. And yet… without bees, we might not have strawberries for shortcakes or avocados for tacos!

The Thing About Bees is equal parts love letter from a father to his two sons and step-by-step guide to understanding the bees that pollinate the foods we love. A visual and poetic masterpiece written and illustrated by Shabazz Larkin, this profound yet effortlessly approachable story promotes a message of love and respect for the things we might not otherwise fully understand.

The Thing About Bees is published by Readers to Eaters, whose mission is to promote food literacy through a better understanding of what and how we eat.

Sometimes the things we fear are simply the things we don't fully understand.

The Thing About Bees

Biographies

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

Camp Vooks

When Earth gets a bit lonely, it decides to visit its friends in the solar system. They’re all talented in their own, special ways: Mercury is crazy fast, racing around the sun four times faster than Earth. Uranus is super cool, with sweet shades and temperatures that can reach -371° Fahrenheit. Jupiter is not only big, but it's also light on its feet when it dances.

So, what makes Earth special? It’s not the biggest, or fastest, or coldest. Does that mean it’s the most boring? Or is there something else that makes Earth a special place—even if it looks like just a tiny blue marble to everyone else?

Written and illustrated by Jonathan Sundy, Earth Yay! explores Earth by celebrating what makes every planet unique. With playful themes of friendship, self-expression, and celebrating differences, Earth Yay! is a loving ode to the planet we all call home. This title is a Vooks original.

While visiting the other planets, Earth learns its friends are all good at something. But what’s special about Earth?

Earth Yay!

October: Orchard, Harvest & Fall

Dream Big

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

These storybooks all feature kindness in various forms: from love and respect, to fairness, acceptance, empathy, self-sacrifice, and more.