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Wangari, grew up in Kenya, surrounded by beautiful trees. Years later, after returning home from college, she is shocked to see entire forests cut down. The land is barren and the people in the villages are suffering. She knows that if trees could return, then the land and people would flourish once again. Starting small, Wangari plants nine seedlings in her own backyard. Soon, women from her village, and beyond, are joining in! The movement grows. Despite being mocked, and even thrown in jail, Wangari’s determination and vision inspire change across Africa and even the world. 

Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa, is a message of strength, determination and responsibility for the environment around us. The empowering true story of Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is sure to inspire future generations. Through Wangari’s example we learn that one person can truly make a difference and impact the world. 

Wangari's Trees of Peace is written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.


Through Wangari’s example we learn that one person can truly make a difference and impact the world.

Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa

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5 Minutes or Less

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“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Nazari has many fantastic ideas for her future. Could she be an astronaut? A farmer? Maybe a scientist? A dentist? An engineer? Or maybe, she can be all of them! Nazari has the courage and confidence to dream big, not putting any limits on what is possible! 

Party Nazari’s Fantastic Future is written by Nate Carter and illustrated by Sam Niemann.


Nazari has many fantastic ideas for her future, and the courage and confidence to dream big!


Party Nazari's Fantastic Future!

Dreamscape

In the City

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Family 

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. 

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations.

Join young CJ on a memorable ride as the 2016 Newbury winner comes to life in this dynamic video!

Last Stop on Market Street

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Little Craig loves birthday parties, even though he doesn’t get invited very often. That is until Craig gets invited to TWO birthday parties, on the same day. Joey’s the new kid in school, and he invited Craig to his party first. But Dan is Craig’s good friend, and he invited Craig to his party second. Little Craig is torn between keeping his word to Joey, or going to his friend Dan’s party instead. Craig’s mom reminds him “You’re only as good as your word,” and leaves the choice up to him. Little Craig has a tough decision to make, but with his mom’s encouraging words, he just might learn a valuable lesson that will guide him the rest of his life.

Based on a true story, this Little Craig book teaches the lesson of keeping your word. That’s the lesson Craig Robinson learned in real-life, when he was invited to two birthday parties on the same day. Craig’s mom Marian Robinson, always full of wisdom, helped him learn the valuable lesson that he still remembers to this day. The adorable illustrations bring Little Craig’s world to life, and a heartwarming retro-inspired soundtrack takes you back to the real-life era the story comes from. Little Craig: Balloons and Cake is the first book in the new Little Craig series, which teaches important lessons that kids can take with them for life.

A Vooks Original, Little Craig: Balloons and Cake teaches the lesson that keeping your word is important, even if it’s the hard thing to do. Based on a true story and a real-life lesson learned, the book is written by Craig Robinson and Leslie Harter, and Illustrated by Skylar Hogan.

Little Craig loves birthday parties! But when he gets invited to two parties on the same day, he has to make a tough decision.

Little Craig: Balloons and Cake

S.T.E.A.M.

Inspired by real-life makers Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie, this beloved book is a rollicking celebration of curiosity, the power perseverance, and the importance of asking “Why?”

Ada Twist’s head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie, Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.

Ada has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Inspired by real-life makers such as Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie, this champions girl power and women scientists.

Ada Twist, Scientist

Can one girl's curiosity change the world? It did a few hundred years ago, when Maria Sibylla Merian advanced science by drawing super-detailed pictures of insects and plants. And it did almost a thousand years ago, when Hildegard of Bingen figured out that water must be cleaned before people can drink it. And it did again with Jane Cooke Wright, and again with Linda Buck, and again with Barbara McClintock, and again, and again, and again. 

What scientific question do you have? And what’s your best guess—your hypothesis—for what you think might be the answer? Your curiosity might lead you somewhere incredible. Who knows? It might even change the world.

Introducing the basics of biology with topics like cells, DNA, genes, research, experiments, and more, Women in Biology is the first book in the “Science Wide Open” series. The story answers complex ideas in a way that’s both accurate and approachable, challenging readers to begin their own journey of discovery and wonder. Written by Mary Wissinger, illustrated by Danielle Pioli, created and edited by John Coveyou, and published by Science, Naturally!

Can one girl's curiosity change the world? It’s not really a question of if—it’s a question of how.

Women In Biology

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

Seasonal - Summer

Animals

Mindfulness

Main Carousel

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

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

Poetry

We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. 

An evocative poem and iconographic animation come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life.

People know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. This video honors a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life.

Before She Was Harriet

Every kid in Little Craig’s town wants the exact same thing: a shiny, yellow 10-speed bike! After lots of chores and lots of homework, Craig's dreams come true and his mom buys him the prized bicycle. He's off to the races, wheeling around town as happy as can be. Until, a fateful encounter finds a police officer questioning Craig about where he got his new bike. Things suddenly take a turn for the worse, and he is accused of something he didn't do.﻿

Based on a true story, this Little Craig book teaches the lesson of rising above. That's the lesson Craig Robinson learned in real-life, when a police officer assumed he'd stolen his new bike. Craig's mom Marian Robinson, always protective and supportive of her son, helped set the record straight—eventually getting an apology from the officer—and helped Craig learn the hard reality of prejudice and racism, and the importance of rising above. As Craig Robinson explains in an author's note at the end of the book: ﻿"No one can make you feel bad if you feel good about yourself."﻿

A Vooks Original, Little Craig: The Yellow Bike teaches about rising above what other people might think. Based on a true story, the book is written by Craig Robinson and Leslie Harter, and Illustrated by Jonathan Sundy.

Little Craig has a new bike and loves riding it around town! But when he's accused of something he didn't do, he learns an important lesson.

Little Craig: The Yellow Bike

Sweet people can be found all over the globe—from Canada to Congo to Cuba, from Afghanistan to Australia, from Ireland to Iraq—there are sweet people in the thirty-seven places listed in these pages, and all over the entire planet. Take a trip through the lines of this large-hearted poem by Alice Walker and meet some of them!

An ode to humanity, Walker’s heartening message is celebrated through Quim Torres’ deeply felt illustrations. Walker’s beautiful poem locates the “sweet people” who can be found all over the world. The poem addresses a young boy getting his first passport, then taking the boy—and the reader—on a journey around the globe in a powerful celebration of humanity and generosity of spirit that is inspiring, timely, and timeless.

Sweet People Are Everywhere features a poem by Internationally renowned writer and activist Alice Walker. She was the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel The Color Purple. The best selling book is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Quim Torres, and published by Tra Publishing.

Take a journey around the globe to discover different countries and the sweet people in them.

Sweet People Are Everywhere

Honor the history and achievements of African Americans with this collection of biographies and stories featuring African, Afro Brazilian, and African American children and families.