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5 Minutes or Less

Elementary

Friendship

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Vooks A to Z

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

All Seasons

Early Childhood

Foundational Reading

Storytime Favorites

Curious George®

When he wakes up in the morning, George finds a surprise: a new flag at the foot of his bed. Today is Parade Day! To prepare, George begins by baking an apple pie for him and the man with the yellow hat to share at the park. Counting kites and trees during their picnic—playing Frisbee and hoops and hopscotch—spinning on the merry-go-round—a day like today is never dull when a monkey is around.

But when the parade begins, something goes wrong. George accidentally spooks a horse, and the Lady Liberty float is ruined. Will George be able to fix things before the fireworks start? Or will Parade Day turn into a big disaster?

Celebrating festivities and fun-filled traditions, Curious George Parade Day is a lighthearted story about participating in—and taking responsibility for—a community event. The narrative also highlights American icons like Lady Liberty. Based on Margret and H. A. Rey’s timeless character and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. This animated book stays true to the original watercolor and charcoal style.


Baking, playing, picnicking at the park—Parade Day is a blast. But when a horse gets loose, can George save the parade?

Curious George Parade Day

Familius Presents

Seasonal - Summer

Sing-alongs and Music

Dream Big

America the Beautiful is one of the most popular patriotic songs in the United States of America. Based on the original lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates, My America, the Beautiful is a modern day take on the classic tune. This catchy sing-along celebrates diversity, unity, freedom and the greatest ideals of the American dream.

Follow a single piece of thread as it weaves through history and various quintessential scenes of Americana, as people of different cultures and creed join together in celebration of unity. My America, the Beautiful is published by Familius, who’s mission is to teach, inspire, and bring families together.

Celebrate diversity and unity with this sing-along based on the song America The Beautiful.

My America, the Beautiful

This monochromatic adventure takes us diving into the deep blue sea…it’s true! Sing along with the whales, dolphins and the fishes. 

Sing along with this fun musical title by Ants Ants Ants. 

Blue

Free Access

Read Along With Vooks

On the Farm

Vehicles

Everyone knows that Old MacDonald has a farm. But did you know he and Mrs. MacDonald also have an excavator—for a dig dig here, and a dig dig there? And a front loader, for scooping just about everywhere? They’ve got a bulldozer for pushing, and a motor grader for scraping, and a dump truck for dump thumping. They’ve even got a steamroller and a cement mixer.

Just what are Old MacDonald and Mrs. MacDonald building on their farm with all these trucks? Come along for a sing-along involving cows with hardhats, goats with streamers, chickens with shovels, and pigs with screwdrivers. Things are about to get wild!

A hilarious retelling of the classic children’s rhyme from 1706, Old MacDonald Had a Truck is ideal for the truck enthusiasts among us. Written by Steve Goetz, illustrated by Eda Kaban, and published by Chronicle Books LLC.

Old MacDonald has a farm. He also has an excavator, a bulldozer and a dump truck. Just what is he building?

Old MacDonald Had a Truck

New Books

Vooks at a Glance

Build Confidence

Unicorns can run on rainbows, so why can't they scribble?
 
This story is about a little girl who keeps hearing, "Never let a unicorn scribble!" But in her heart believes that people just don't understand how beautiful scribbling can be. She keeps trying to teach her unicorn to scribble, but soon realizes this is more difficult than she anticipated. Instead of giving up, she uses her imagination to come up with a creative way to get her unicorn to scribble. At first it looks like it was a complete disaster, but ends up being truly magical!

A fun and imaginative book, Never Let a Unicorn Scribble! is written and illustrated by Diane Alber. Published by Diane Alber Art LLC.

Everyone says to never let a unicorn scribble…but what could possibly go wrong?

Never Let a Unicorn Scribble!

Vooks Originals

Lil Poo is a delightfully quirky and undeniably fun adventure story that will help get young kids excited about potty training and ready to take the potty plunge!
 
Where does Lil Poo live? In a nest? A cave? The desert? A mountain top? No place seems right, no matter where he looks. Luckily, as frustration sets in, Lil Poo meets a friend, Toilet Paper, who shows him where he belongs. When he arrives, there’s a “potty” and a celebration underway to welcome him home! 

A Vooks Original, Lil Poo is a story to help young kids get excited about potty training. Written and illustrated by Jonathan Sundy. 

Lil Poo is on a quest to find his home. He looks high and low, far and wide, but nowhere seems to fit! Luckily, a friend shows up right on time to help Lil Poo find his way. 

Lil Poo

Kid at Heart

Family 

Sick Day Stories

Spork sticks out. In his kitchen, utensils have a single purpose. Even though he tries to act more spoonish or look more forkish, he never gets picked at mealtime. Instead, he sits and watches while the forks twirl knots of noodles and the spoons scoop up mountains of peas. They even get to enjoy a bubbly bath in the sink when dinner is over.

He seems destined for a life in the drawer … until one day, a messy guest arrives. This guest doesn’t seem to care about cutlery customs. Spork wonders—could this be his chance to find his way to the table? Could his uniqueness make him the best solution for this problem?

A metaphor-rich celebration of hybrid identities, Spork is a “multi-cutlery” tale for anyone who’s ever felt like a misfit. Exploring themes of purpose, conformity, diversity, and finding your place in the world, Spork is written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. Published by Kids Can Press.

Spork never gets picked during mealtime. He seems destined for a life in the drawer… until an unexpected guest arrives.

Spork

Biographies

Camp Vooks

Be Brave

In the City

How We Work

Be Resilient

When Irving’s home is burned, his family is forced to flee to America. The trip across the ocean isn’t easy—but when Irving glimpses the Statue of Liberty, the whole boat sings her a grateful song. In New York City, Irving begins a new life. More songs begin to fill his head. Songs that sound like the clank of a railcar, shouts of laughter, the hum of a city full of life.

Come along with Irving as his creative spirit grows into something much bigger than himself. Melodies might be enough to lift his family out of poverty. One might even go on to inspire an entire country—an anthem of gratitude and hope for the land that became his new home.

Following songwriter Irving Berlin’s remarkable life, this story underscores the power of hope, hard work, and limitless creativity. Though his songs were celebrated and performed by countless talented musicians, Irving is best known for his ode to his new home, “God Bless America.” Written by Nancy Churnin and illustrated by James Rey Sanchez, Irving Berlin is published by Creston Books, LLC.


When Irving must flee his home in Russia, he starts a new life in America. What comes next begins with a song.

Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing

Nature

Poetry

Norb is about to have a snack but a speedy critter swipes his grub! Iz thinks it was a Blub. What are Blubs? As they search for these squishy little mysteries, Iz and Norb learn how their actions impact others, how to take care of nature and the importance of generosity. This is the third book in the Iz and Norb Series.

Iz and Norb go on a journey to learn more about a mysterious group of adorable creatures that live in the woods.

What Are Blubs?

Mindfulness

Up in the garden, a girl stands and plans. Her hands are full of seeds and her head is full of dreams. But before she and Nana can get started on tending their garden—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, and ripening fruit—they have to wait. Down in the dirt, things need to warm up and dry out. There’s a busy world under their feet, full of earthworms, pillbugs, and more.

Planning, planting, and harvesting will take all year. But there are two sides to the story—what happens above, and what happens below. Come meet the incredible creatures who make our gardens their home, bring the world to life, and help the greenery around us grow.

A story of patience, care, and coexistence, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt shows us the cycle of our seasons. It also introduces us to a cast of insects and animals who make our world vibrant and green. Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, and published by Chronicle Books.

For the garden to flourish, the leaves and sprouts depend on a busy, hidden world below.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

Bedtime

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

One of us is a wind bird, a sky skipper, a diamond dipper, dancing on your string. Another is red, delicious—with a quick twist of your wrist, you free it from the tree. You gasp when one of us roars, mane exploding, sizzling—a lion of the sky. Two of us are knitted twins, soft as kittens, warm as hugs, waiting to hold your hands.

Who are we? Do you think you might already know? Come along for a colorful guessing game that features all four seasons. The answers hide in haikus, masked in riddles. Some are easy, some are hard to guess—but each one loves to be discovered just as much as the rest.

Beautiful and creative, Lion of the Sky manages to make poetry, haikus, and riddles accessible to young readers. The book explores all four seasons with striking visuals, adding an extra hint for each riddle’s answer. Written by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Mercè López, and published by Millbrook Press.

ANSWER KEY: 
SPRING: kite, umbrella, nest, flower bud, earthworm, puddle
SUMMER: dandelion, mosquito, sandcastle, baseball, fireflies, fireworks
FALL: school, pencil, apple, leaf pile, jack-o'-lantern, squirrel
WINTER: mittens, snow, ice skates, snow angel, star, snoozing bear

Sky skippers, tasty treasures, cold confetti, meadows of stars, and more—can you guess who we all are?