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5 Minutes or Less

Elementary

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?

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?

Early Childhood

Two fuzzy friends are in the middle of a playdate, when a new pal suddenly joins in. The trio tries playing together, but each friend feels left out at times, even trying to sabotage the newcomer. Will the new addition to the group be a third wheel? Or, will all three learn an important lesson: that they can all be friends and have fun playing together? 

This silly and heartfelt tale about (not) being friends features the characters from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small. We Are (Not) Friends is written by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant and published by Two Lions. Keep an eye out for other books in the fun-filled (Not) series on Vooks!

Fun fact: Christopher Weyant (illustrator) and Anna Kang (author) lend their voices to characters in We Are (Not) Friends!


Two friends are having a playdate when along hops a new pal. Can they all be friends, or not?!

We Are (Not) Friends

Main Carousel

Animals

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

Be Creative

When two fuzzy creatures build a sandcastle on the beach, they agree that it’s pretty much perfect. But then two new friends show up—and they see some room for improvement. It needs a bigger wall. And then a wider foundation. More friends arrive with more suggestions. The castle could also use more towers, and arches, and (of course) windows. And what about a gatehouse and stairs? And a drawbridge—and a moat?

The whole crew decides to work together to make this sandcastle the absolutely most perfect sandcastle ever. But will it actually be perfect? Or will the entire project turn out quite a bit different than anyone expects?

It Is (Not) Perfect deftly explores how trying to change yourself to please others can end in disaster—while also showing how collaboration and a shared vision can bring friends together. Written by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant, It Is (Not) Perfect brings back the endearing characters from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small. Published by Hachette Children's Group.

When two fuzzy creatures build a sandcastle on the beach, it might (not) be as perfect as they think. Or is it?

It Is (Not) Perfect

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

“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

Curious George®

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

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)

Little Sock lives in a drawer. He may look like the other socks, but he has a secret. Sometimes, late at night, he escapes to a marvelous place where everything is new and exciting: Sock City! But when Little Sock starts to wish he had someone to share all the fun with, he’ll have to do something truly brave. He’ll have to figure out… just how exactly does a sock make a friend?

The fuzzy hero from Little Sock returns for a new adventure beyond the dryer, into the magical world where all socks dream of going. Socks might not get there in pairs, but who’s to say they can’t make a friend once they arrive?

Written by Kia Heise and Christopher D. Park, Little Sock Makes a Friend is a sequel to the much-loved Little Sock. Published by Sleeping Bear Press in 2021, the book includes themes of friendship, overcoming social anxiety, and learning how to fit into a new community.

Little Sock loves to visit Sock City—but sometimes, he gets a bit lonely. Will he be able to find a new friend?

Little Sock Makes a Friend

All Seasons

Mindfulness

Bedtime

Little Red the fox and Hazel the gray dormouse are the very best of friends. They play together every chance they get. Fall is the perfect time to play hide-and-seek. Yet as winter approaches, Hazel starts to get ready for hibernation. Little Red doesn’t want their fun to end. He wants to play all winter long, not wait until Hazel wakes in spring.

Can Little Red find a way to keep her up? To make the sun stay high, or make the forest hold its fruit? Maybe he can trick her into staying awake by telling her a story. Come along as two friends settle in for sleep—even if they might prefer to play the season away.

A tender story of friendship and the joys of playtime, Before We Sleep is a metaphor for the ritual of going to bed each night. Throughout the narrative, reluctant sleepers are reassured that their loved ones will be there when they wake. Written by Giorgio Volpe, illustrated by Paolo Proietti, translated by Angus Yuen-Killick, and published by Red Comet Press.

With winter on the way and hibernation around the corner, a fox and a gray dormouse prepare for the long sleep.

Before We Sleep

Storybooks that feature, promote and teach friendship.