Camp Vooks

Storytime Favorites

Elementary

Early Childhood

Friendship

5 Minutes or Less

Everyone's Reading

Vooks A to Z

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

Seasonal - Spring

Dream Big

All Seasons

Nature

Build Confidence

Be Caring and Kind

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

Be Resilient

Be Brave

Free Access

Familius Presents

Animals

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)

Storybook Genius Publishing

For Jack the cat there is nothing better than sitting in his favorite chair and listening to his favorite music! But, today something is different. Someone else is sitting in Jack’s favorite seat! Walrus has decided it is his favorite seat, too. Neither Jack nor Walrus want to share, so they race off to find a brand new best seat. The duo try every possible seat in the house, but will they ever be able to find the very best seat? And, in the process, will they discover something even better?

Giggle along as Jack and Walrus race to find the very best spot to nap. Even more than a fun-filled, silly race to relaxation, The Best Seat is a story of an unlikely duo finding common ground, learning to share, and forging a new friendship through shared experiences. The Best Seat is written by Zach Hamilton and published by StoryBook Genius Publishing.


When someone is in Jack’s favorite seat, it will be a race to find an even better “best seat!”

The Best Seat

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

Kid at Heart

New Books

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

Slumberkins Presents

Mindfulness

Family 

Otter’s story reminds little ones that families are connected by the love they feel in their hearts. This sweet story introduces the concept of family bonds and acceptance—teaching children that loved ones are held in their hearts. 

Social and emotional development topics include:
Family Bonding
Family Transitions
Acceptance

Slumberkins is on a mission to provide parents and caregivers with resources that promote early emotional learning skills for young children, while strengthening the parent child bond. Each Slumberkins book uses an interactive story time approach infused with therapeutic techniques and skill-building exercises.

Be on the lookout for even more Slumberkins storybooks on Vooks!


A loving story of family bonding and acceptance. A family is something you hold in your heart.

Slumberkins Presents: Otter

Main Carousel

Language and Vocabulary

“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

Foundational Reading

Do best friends need a reason to love each other? Nope, not really. But there are so many reasons to love your best friend. Like how it feels safe to hold your best friend’s hand. And how your best friend runs beside you, not ahead of you. And how your best friend is always kind.

Best friends cheer each other up, and share secrets, and build things, and play. They dream, and snuggle, and share, and laugh. There are too many reasons to love your best friend—you just can’t list them all out. But it feels good to try, doesn’t it?

A touching ode to the simplicity of being friends, I Love You Because... reminds us that true companionship isn’t a math equation—it’s a bit more like magic. The story has subtle themes of fairness, sharing, affection, and being emotionally supportive. Written by Susie Linn and illustrated by Gavin Scott, I Love You Because... is published by Imagine That.

There are so many reasons to love your best friend—it’s hard to list them all out. But it still feels good to try!

I Love You Because...

Celebrate Black History

Vooks Originals

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

Read Along With Vooks

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

Bedtime

There are few things as powerful to a child as the kind and affirming words from a loved one. In I’ll Love You For Always, little ones are encouraged to carry these words with them wherever they go. Whether in sunshine or in shadow, in peaks or in valleys, in places unfamiliar or in places well-known—nothing can stop the love of a parent or guardian for their child.

This beautiful title encourages parents, guardians, or loved ones to not only speak words of affirmation to their child, but to write them down as well—to put their words into physical form, however simple or elaborate they may be.

I’ll Love You For Always is written by Peter Hinckley and illustrated by Lu Green, and is published by Familius, a values-driven publisher on a mission to teach, inspire and bring families together.

"Where'er you go, whatever you do... My love will keep surrounding you. It does. It always will."

I'll Love You For Always

A collection of storybooks featuring love and friendship.