Creative Play

Early Childhood

5 Minutes or Less

Vooks A to Z

Be Brave

Elementary

Animals

Camp Vooks

Foundational Reading

Friendship

Build Confidence

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

Everyone's Reading

There are all the “normal” pets—cats, dogs, hamsters, and the other animals you’d find in a pet store. But then there are pets who do fantastic, superb, extraordinary things. Pets with wild hairdos. Pets who make noises like a trumpet. Pets who can walk super tall, lay eggs, and slither around. Even pets that are huggable or waterproof.

If you could wish for any animal as a pet, which would you choose? And what would make your pet unique? A friend to the end, a pet all your own. You’d just have to make a wish, find a leash, and walk them home.

Pairing kids with the creatures who fit their unique style, A Pet Like No Other embraces all the ways people (and their pets) can truly be one-of-a-kind. Gorgeously illustrated by French artist Barroux, A Pet Like No Other is written by Harriet Ziefert and published by Blue Apple Books.

Lots of people have a pet cat, or a dog, or a hamster. But what if you could have a pet that was totally unique?

A Pet Like No Other

June: A to Zoo

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?

Nature

Vooks at a Glance

New Books

Vooks Originals

Today is the perfect day to hike up to Pancake Peak. The air is fresh, Julia is prepared, and she’ll be traveling by herself—just the way she likes it. She plans to trek past Muffin Meadow, through Black Coffee Cave, across Bacon Bridge, over Hashbrown Hill, and finally to the tip-top of Pancake Peak. By the time she gets home, she’ll be just in time for a tasty dinner.

However, Julia doesn’t realize that someone will be following her hike. And atop Pancake Peak, she might pick up a few extra travelers with no way of getting back down. Will Julia’s solo journey be ruined? Or will these tagalongs turn out to be some of her new best friends?

A Vooks Original, The Tagalongs touches on themes of independence, self-reliance, and getting out to enjoy the natural world. The narrative also shows the value of diverse strengths, helping strangers, sharing what we have, and including others—even if we didn’t start out on the same team. Written and illustrated by Megan Marie Myers.

Today is the perfect day for a solo hike to Pancake Peak—but Julia won’t be making the trek alone.

The Tagalongs

Dream Big

Be Caring and Kind

Read Along With Vooks

Be Resilient

Meet Iz and Norb. They're cute, they're fun, and they're best buds! These silly friends love to play and go on adventures. But, sometimes play is more than just fun and games.

Two imaginative and silly friends learn the value of perseverance, inner strength, and friendship!

Where Are You?

Dreamscape

Food and Cooking

Family 

Celebrate Black History

Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It was Saturday! But sometimes, the best plans don't work out exactly the way you expect...In this heartfelt and universal story, a mother and daughter look forward to their special Saturday routine together every single week. But this Saturday, one thing after another goes wrong—ruining storytime, salon time, picnic time, and the puppet show they'd been looking forward to going to all week. Mom is nearing a meltdown...until her loving daughter reminds her that being together is the most important thing of all. Oge Mora's highly anticipated follow up to Caldecott Honor Thank You, Omu! features the same magnificently radiant celebration of sharing so beloved in her debut picture book.

In this tender story from a Caldecott-winning author, a mother and daughter embark on a journey that reminds them of what's best about Saturdays: precious time together.

Saturday

Read these stories to get inspired and create your own creature!