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Kid at Heart

Sick Day Stories

Vooks A to Z

Once, we were part of Outside, and Outside was part of us. Now, so many of us have forgotten that Outside is there. But Outside doesn’t mind. It reminds us that it’s here, waiting, just beyond the window, reaching in with shadows, sunsets, and slow magic tricks. Outside sings to us with chirps, rustles, and tap-taps on the roof. It beckons us with smells: sunbaked, fresh, and mysterious.

From the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the animals that snuggle in our spaces, Outside continues to cherish and sustain us. I’m here, Outside whispers. I miss you. And what will you answer in return? 

Outside In is a touching love letter to the world beyond our windows: the oceans, fields, and forests that amaze and sustain us. The story tenderly—and poignantly—shows readers how our indoor spaces rely on the outside world, even if the two feel disconnected. Written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby, and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Once, we were part of Outside, and Outside was part of us. Now, Outside is kept out—so it reaches in.

Outside In

Be Caring and Kind

Storytime Favorites

Friendship

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

All Seasons

New Books

Animals

Above the snow, a girl and her father glide on skis in a world washed in white. They see a story in the snow—of a deer on her way from a napping spot, or a bushy-tailed fox hunting for dinner. Below, a secret kingdom hides beneath the winter blanket. Cuddling deer mice and slumbering frogs, hungry beavers and tunneling voles, drowsy bears and busy squirrels.

The girl and her father aren’t here to stay—they’re headed home, to marshmallows and hot dogs, to blankets and beds. But the world under the snow is waiting. Dreams of summer feasts and warm ponds fill each mind as they snuggle deep and drift off to hopeful promises of spring.

Over and Under the Snow tells a story of slowness, patient cycles, and how the whole world bends to the changing of seasons. The narrative also shows how different insects and animals react to cold weather, some hibernating, some adopting a new way of living beneath the snow. Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, and published by Chronicle Books.

Over the snow is a story of tracks—while a secret kingdom lies beneath, where the smallest creatures stay warm.

Over and Under the Snow

Poetry

Vooks at a Glance

Celebrate Black History

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

Elementary

Build Confidence

Everyone's Reading

One day, while walking through the forest, Steve finds a beautiful gold horn. Instantly, he knows he has found the path to being exceptional. (That means special.) Steve ties the horn to the top of his head and prances off to show his friends. Everyone but Bob is impressed—and many are so inspired, they start tying items to the top of their heads as well.

But when Steve finds his horn has gone missing, he’s devastated. (That means really bummed.) Frantically, he searches to find it. Because without his beautiful gold horn, Steve can’t be an exceptional horse. Can he? Come along with Steve as he sets out to find an answer, and a valuable life lesson along the way.

Narrated by the exceptional Rainn Wilson, A Horse Named Steve is a story about how you can be special whether you’re different or whether you’re just like everyone else. It also celebrates the child-like impulse to be and do what feels fun in the moment. With light vocabulary-building elements, A Horse Named Steve is written and illustrated by Kelly Collier, and published by Kids Can Press.

One day, while walking through the forest, Steve (voiced by Rainn Wilson) finds a beautiful gold horn. It just might make him exceptional.

A Horse Named Steve

Free Access

Be Brave

Dream Big

Read Along With Vooks

Biographies

Be Resilient

Vooks Originals

Ronnie Lott has always been tough. As a kid, when he fell down, he felt something inside him start to rumble. That something was a voice called Grit. On the court or off the field, no matter where he went or what he played, Grit was there. When he tumbled, Grit said, “Get back up!” When he fumbled, Grit said, “Let’s try again!”

When Grit helps Ronnie become a professional football player, he’ll have a shot at achieving his dreams. But just how far can Grit take him? Join Ronnie as he pushes his limits and answers the question: Is Grit living in all of us? If so, how can we learn to hear its voice?

Ronnie and his Grit is based on the true-life story of NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. A tribute to the power of courage, respect, self-restraint, and unflinching resolve, Ronnie and his Grit is a 2021 Vooks Original. Written by Ronnie Lott and Leslie Harter and illustrated by Jonathan Sundy.


Ronnie has an inner voice named Grit, and it pushes him to achieve his dreams. But just how far can Grit take him?

Ronnie and His Grit

Familius Presents

Early Childhood

Bedtime

Family 

Foundational Reading

Of all the children that ever could be, you are the one made just for me. From a child's first uttered "Dada" to his or her first unsteady steps, nothing can adequately convey the joy and awe of watching the birth and growth of a new child. Filled with adorable illustrations and the refrain, "You are the one made just for me," Made for Me is a winning presentation of tender moments that tie a father and his new child together—forever.

Made for Me is written by Zack Bush and illustrated by Gregorio De Lauretis. The bestselling book is published by Familius.

Of all the children that ever could be, you are the one made just for me.

Made for Me

The summer sun has faded, and gentle breezes blow in. Leaves turn brilliant colors before falling to the ground, and critters store food and prepare their burrows. It’s Autumn in the forest and beautiful changes are everywhere.

Cozy up with this delightful walk through Fall’s brilliance, and explore leaves in all of their wonder. Originally created as a deluxe pop-up book, Leaves is bursting with scenery and facts that jump off the page. This informative title from Jumping Jack Press – a division of Up With Paper – is sure to delight curious minds! Leaves is written by Janet Lawler, with illustrations by Lindsay Dale-Scott, and paper engineering by Yoojin Kim.

Cozy up with a delightful walk through Fall’s brilliance and explore leaves in all of their wonder.

Leaves: An Autumn Pop-Up Book

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by...

Robert Frost’s classic poem, The Road Not Taken, comes to life like never before with this beautiful and touching companion presentation. Heartwarming illustrations accompany the original text, as we follow a young boy on his journey through a yellow wood. When a fork in the road arises, the boy is faced with a choice–the first of many in life. By journey’s end, the boy (now an old man) reflects on the sweet satisfaction of a life fully lived. 

The first children's book ever made of Frost's famous poem, this moving presentation is wonderfully illustrated by Vivian Mineker and proudly published by Familius, a values-driven publisher on a mission to teach, inspire, and bring families together.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by…

The Road Not Taken

Camp Vooks

Women Who Changed the World

S.T.E.A.M.

How We Work

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

Papa is a soldier. And because he’s a soldier, sometimes Papa has to go away for a while, so Little Bear can stay and play in safety. But it’s not easy for Little Bear to be left behind. He misses the way Papa holds his hand, and touches his hair, and kisses his face and eyes. He misses Papa’s strong, warm arms.

Little Bear starts to wonder: What would it be like to stow away in Papa’s backpack? So he could stand side-by-side with Papa, and they could face the storms together. So Little Bear could whisper in Papa’s ear and see the things that Papa sees. So that he could be sure that Papa finds his way back home.

A tender, heartfelt story about the difficulties of separation, Papa’s Backpack abstractly works through the complicated emotions that come with a parent leaving for deployment. In an age appropriate way, the narrative approaches the subject with sensitivity, avoiding specifics on the complexities of a soldier’s duties. Written by and illustrated by James Christopher Carroll and published by Sleeping Bear Press.

A tribute to the bond between a child and military parent. Papa Bear is a soldier. When Papa has to go away, Little Bear wonders… what would it be like to go with him?

Papa's Backpack

Food and Cooking

When Filbert P. Horsefeathers walks into George Crum's restaurant, he tells the waitress, “I have a hankering for a heaping helping of potatoes.” Talented cook that he is, George prepares a serving of his most scrumptious, succulent, and sublime potato wedges—only to have Filbert send them back. “Too thick,” he says. “Too bland.” So, George makes thinner, saltier wedges. 

But this picky customer isn’t satisfied with the new dish. He sends them back again. Feeling a bit mischievous, George decides to make the thinnest, most overcooked, most salty potatoes of his entire cooking career. What happens next surprises everyone—and leaves the whole world clamoring for more.

Though a work of fiction, Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament is based on a real George Crum (of mixed Native American and African American descent), who is said to have created the first potato chip in response to a demanding customer. The playful writing is filled with vocabulary words, along with themes of persistence, creativity, and using cleverness to handle challenging social situations. Written by Anne Renaud, illustrated by Felicita Sala, and published by Kids Can Press.

The pickiest customer of Crum’s career might lead him to a breakthrough: The invention of the potato chip!

Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament

You might not technically be a kid anymore, but you’re never too old to enjoy a good story!