Animals

Early Childhood

Language and Vocabulary

Vooks A to Z

Do animals sleep in beds? Does a Baboon? Or, what about a polar bear? Maybe a bumble bee, or a horse? People sleep in beds, but what about animals? Explore the whys and hows behind beds, and the ways animals and humans sleep, in this fun and informative book!

Does a Beaver Sleep in a Bed is written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Emily Bolam, and published by Blue Apple Books.


Do animals sleep in beds? Does a Baboon? Or, what about a polar bear? Maybe a bumble bee or a horse?

Does a Beaver Sleep in a Bed?

Does a goat wear glasses? What about a rainbow fish? Or, an earthworm? People wear eyeglasses, but what about animals? Explore the whys and hows behind glasses of all kinds, in this fun and informative book!

Does an Owl Wear Eyeglasses is written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Emily Bolam, and published by Blue Apple Books.


Does a goat wear glasses? What about an earthworm? People wear eyeglasses, but what about animals?

Does an Owl Wear Eyeglasses?

Elementary

New Books

Like all dogs, this dog wants a treat. In fact, he’s desperate for one. When he sleeps, he dreams of treats—steamy hot dogs and fistfulls of cereal, sugary cupcakes and dripping ice cream bars. When he wakes, he wanders in search of tasty bites. He begs, and performs, and whines. But the toddler doesn’t share her food. The older brother is too busy drawing. Grandma is snoozing and grandpa is flossing and no one seems to understand what this dog needs!

Finally, sadly, the dog returns to his dreams of sweet, unreachable treats. Does the family even care that he hasn’t had a treat all day? Will he ever get one? Come along to find out!

A relatable story about dogs, treats, and the frustration that comes with not being understood, Treat is for anyone who's ever thrown a dog a bone. Written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

This dog is desperate for a treat—but no matter how hard he begs, he can’t seem to get his paws on one.

Treat

Does an ox wear an overcoat? Does a duck wear a diaper? What about a bear in boots? People wear clothes, but what about animals? This fun and informative book takes a lighthearted look at clothing, why people wear the things they do and why animals don’t. 

Does a Bear Wear Boots is written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Emily Bolam, and published by Blue Apple Books.

Does an ox wear an overcoat? Does a duck wear a diaper? People wear clothes, but what about animals?

Does a Bear Wear Boots?

Read Along With Vooks

Brightly Storytime Presents

Anna Dewdney’s beloved Llama Llama is growing up and learning to read! Throughout the school day, the teacher helps Llama Llama and the other children practice their letters, shows word cards, reads stories, and brings them to the library where they can all choose a favorite book. By the end of the day, Llama Llama is recognizing words and can’t wait to show Mama Llama that he’s becoming a reader!

Read along with Ms. Linda! Llama Llama is recognizing words and can’t wait to show Mama Llama that he’s becoming a reader!

Llama Llama Loves to Read

Be Creative

Foundational Reading

When you close your eyes, the world goes black. When you open them, everything comes back. You might see your reflection in a mirror. From your window, you might see tiny cars and people moving around down below. Or maybe you’ll use a magnifying glass to see bugs up close. You might stand on your head just to see the world upside down.

What do you see when you stop to look around? Do you see things like the sights in this story, or is the world around you different? Come along for a journey through the wonderful sense of sight, filled to the brim with colors, shapes, shadows, creatures, and people all around us.

What Do You See? is a classic vocabulary primer, as well as an introduction to the sense of sight. The story alludes to inherited traits, such as the need for glasses. It also references the sights that come with living in (or near) a busy city. Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Luana Rinaldo, and published by Brain Food Kids.

When you open your eyes, what do you see? Cars, people, all kinds of colors, and a whole lot more.

What Do You See?

When you cover your ears, you can’t hear a thing. Uncover them, and you might hear a bird sing. Or maybe you’ll hear daddy yawning, or mommy cooking, or the cat meowing at the window. You might also hear the phone ringing, cars honking, sirens wailing, music playing, and a whole lot more.

What sounds do you hear when you stop to listen? Are they like the noises in this story, or are they different? Come along for a journey through the wonderful sense of sounds, where each squeak and clank is a clue about the world—and the people—living all around us.

What Do You Hear? is a classic vocabulary primer, a simple introduction to the sense of hearing. The story features multigenerational families and the noise of living in (or near) a busy city. Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Luana Rinaldo, and published by Brain Food Kids.

When you uncover your ears, what do you hear? Birds singing, cats meowing, cars honking, and a whole lot more.

What Do You Hear?

Poetry

Food and Cooking

There is a gaggle of hens that live on Jack’s farm. They’re fluffy and feathered, and they lay eggs in the chicken coop every day. Jack’s kids collect those eggs and bring them home in a basket. What do they do with those eggs?

Well, the eggs get cooked in a bunch of different ways—scrambled, fried, sunny-side up. The yolks can be separated from the whites, and the whites get whipped into a meringue. (That’s a kind of dessert.) The eggs are used as an important ingredient for cake and other pastries. And the eggshells get crushed and used to feed the soil. And isn’t there something else that eggs are used for—a holiday that’s all about eggs?

The Hens That Live on Jack’s Farm explains the many uses for our foods, from nutrition to fertilizer to holiday fun. It also helps connect the circle of consumption, showing gratitude for the plants, animals, and people who nurture our lives. Written by Margo Linn, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald, and published by Blue Apple Books.

What can you do with the eggs from the hens that live on Jack’s farm? Dye them, hide them, fry them, and more!

The Hens That Live on Jack's Farm

When the lion comes, the tiger goes. The toucan is up in a tree, while the anteater is down on the ground. The flamingo is sure she’s nicer than the gorilla—who is really pretty grouchy. And did you know the giraffe is tall? He knows it. He’s happy to lean over the arctic exhibit to let the penguins know how short they are.

In this zoo, the animals are opposites in a whole lot of ways. If the elephant is big, what does that make the lizards? And if the cheetah is fast, what does that make the turtle? Come along for a tour through the exhibits as we find out just how different these creatures can be.

In this lighthearted book about opposites, the playful artwork hints at the emotional quirks and differences that sometimes accompany our physical traits. Written by Harriet Ziefert, You and Me: We’re Opposites is illustrated by Ethan Long and published by Blue Apple Books.

If the elephant is big, what does that make the lizards? And if the cheetah is fast, what does that make the turtle?

You and Me: We're Opposites

Sometimes, you might feel excited, like when you ride your bike. Sometimes, you might feel shy, like when new people come to visit. There are times you might feel sad, or sick, or curious. You might also feel brave, such as when you jump in the pool. Or proud, like when you win a medal for performing in a sport.

There are many ways to feel—and those feelings make us behave in silly, thoughtful, worried, frustrated, and angry ways. All emotions come and go, and they affect each of us differently. But no matter how you feel, it’s most important that you feel loved.

I Am offers a judgment-free exploration of the many ways people can feel in various situations. The narrative reinforces the idea that even though emotions are temporary, love is not. Written and illustrated by Chris Lensch, and published by the Experience Early Learning Company.

Sometimes, you feel excited. Sometimes, you feel shy. No matter how you feel, it’s most important that you feel loved.

I Am

Vehicles

In the City

A red light says: stop! A green light says: go! Have fun learning all about “stop” and “go” in different situations; also, how “green,” “yellow” and “red” can mean different things too. Follow along as a mommy and daughter drive through the city. To get home, they’ll follow all the signs, and of course they’ll “stop” and “go!”

Stop and Go! is written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Steve Mack, and published by Blue Apple Books.


A red light says: stop! A green light says: go! Have fun learning all about “stop” and “go!”

Stop and Go!

Numbers and Counting

Ten funny, not-too-scary monsters have a problem. They each need one more. One hungry monster needs an extra cookie. One sad monster would love one more balloon. One grumpy monster needs another apple to juggle, while a candy-loving monster could really use one more jelly bean. One monster longs for one more strawberry—and one grouchy monster needs another cracker.

Will each and every monster get their wish? What about the monster who not only wants one more teddy bear, but also needs one extra goodnight kiss from its mom-ster? Come along for the count and find out.

Silly and educational, Monster Needs One More! is a rhyming primer that introduces the concepts of counting and addition. Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Natalie Marshall, and published by Blue Apple Books.

What do these monsters have in common? From jelly beans to teddy bears to goodnight kisses, they all want just one more.

Monster Needs One More!

Stories with simple phrases and repetitive text that support early language development. Great for beginning readers, English Language Learners, Speech or Language Therapy, and Reading Intervention. Topics include: opposites, prepositions, basic vocabulary, shapes, colors, descriptors/adjectives, and actions/verbs.