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Kid at Heart

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

Early Childhood

It’s a new day, and Molly is waking up. She doesn’t feel sad, or worried, or sleepy, or angry. Today, Molly will be going to the beach, so she feels happy. At breakfast, Molly’s little brother is upset in his high chair. Molly thinks about what might make him feel happier—like a bottle or his rattle. When her mom takes Molly and her little brother to the beach, Molly makes a friend. This makes her happy too.

Will Molly’s emotions change throughout the day? Can her choices make her feel better about what’s happening around her? Come along with Molly as she thinks about all the things, places, and people who make her feel happy. 

A simple conversation starter about emotions, Happy Day subtly introduces young readers to the idea that feelings can be subjective. More importantly, it shows how Molly’s choices play a role in the happiness of herself and others. Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Marilyn Janovitz, and published by Blue Apple Books.

Come along with Molly as she thinks about all the things, places, and people that make her happy.

Happy Day

What do construction workers do? Let’s join a field trip to the construction site. While you’re there, you’ll meet Mr. Moore, the boss in charge of building the new school. Mr. Moore and the construction workers use a lot of trucks. Some have strong arms. Others have big metal teeth. Construction workers operate the machines, guiding all the heavy loads.

Following the plans that the architects drew, Mr. Moore will be sure everyone stays safe—by wearing hardhats and orange vests—and that leftover materials get recycled. When Mr. Moore and his team are done, it’ll be a “green” school. Can you guess what that means? Come along and find out if you’re right!

A thorough overview of how construction projects are managed from start to finish, Let’s Meet a Construction Worker includes important details—like staying outside the fence of a construction site, always taking safety precautions, and responsibly cleaning up messes. The narrative also introduces the topics of recycling and solar energy. Written by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Mike Moran, and published by Millbrook Press.

What do construction workers do? Let’s ask Mr. Moore, the construction worker who’s helping build the new school.

Let's Meet a Construction Worker

There’s no end to the many things that Lizzie Lou can do. She can play with all of her many toys—like her blocks, her horse, and her noisy drums. She can sing up high (or sing down low) while she pretends to perform her own rock show. She can play dress up in a pretty princess gown, wearing a crown and waving her sparkly wand around.

Sharing tea, jumping around, laughing and snacking and diving deep down—there are so many things to be done, and so many ways to have fun. As you come along for an exciting day with the wonderful Lizzie Lou, how many of the things that Lizzie does are things you love to do too?

Lizzie Lou Can Do celebrates the fun-filled daily activities of childhood in easy, rhyming verse. Written by Laura Gates Galvin, illustrated by Susan Cornelison, and published by Rainstorm Publishing, an imprint and trademark of Kidsbooks, LLC.

Playing, singing, dressing up and making a splash—there are so many things that Lizze Lou can do. How about you?

Lizzie Lou Can Do

Be Kind

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

Spooky Season

Seasonal

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!

Science

What do doctors do? Let’s join the field trip to the clinic. While you’re there, you’ll meet Dr. Zambil, a doctor who helps kids feel their best. When a kid is sick or hurt, he figures out what’s wrong and makes a plan to help them get better. He also checks up on kids who feel fine—by listening to their heart, making sure they eat well, and encouraging them to exercise.

When he isn’t at the clinic, Dr. Zambil teaches at the hospital. To become a doctor, you have to go to grade school, high school, college, and medical school—and you also have to do training. Can you guess how many years Dr. Zambil went to school? Come along and find out!

Let’s Meet a Doctor is an age-appropriate look at what pediatricians do, making doctors a bit less scary for young readers. The narrative highlights the role exercise and diet play in our overall health, and touches on the topics of broken bones, checkups, and shots. Written by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Mike Moran, and published by Millbrook Press.

What do doctors do? Let’s join a field trip and ask Dr. Zambil, a doctor who’s just for kids.

 Let's Meet a Doctor

Charlie is tired of being a small bird. He’s tired of being scared, and he’s tired of wishing he was someone else. He longs to be big. So, he sets off to learn the “big” secret from every large animal he can find. First is Moose. Perching on Moose’s antlers makes Charlie feel big—but when Moose runs fast, Charlie can’t hold on. Next, Charlie meets Fish. Fish is big, but only because his pond is so small.

Eventually, Charlie meets Dog. Dog has an idea of how Charlie can be big. But to do as Dog suggests, Charlie will have to be very brave and fly very high. What will happen when Charlie reaches for the sky? Let’s find out.

I Want to be Big reminds readers that all of us are big in our own way. It also demonstrates the importance of perspective, and how viewing things through a different lens can change how we see others and ourselves. Written by Margo Linn, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald, and published by Blue Cat Books.

Charlie is a small bird who longs to be big. So, he sets off to learn the “big” secret from every animal he can find.

I Want To Be Big

Everyone's Reading

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

Aneel loves when his grandparents visit. Most of all, he loves their stories. Today, Dada-ji tells Aneel the story of a lad from a village far, far away. The lad could wrestle water buffalo, tie two hissing cobras in a knot, spin trumpeting elephants by their tails, and touch the sky with his feet. The source of the lad’s tiger power? Hot, hot roti, prepared by Aneel’s Badi-ma herself!

Aneel asks his mother, father, Dadi-ma, and sister for help making roti for Dada-ji. But when no one can help, Aneel is left to make the recipe on his own. Will the roti turn out alright? And if it does, can it still give Dada-ji the power of the tiger? There’s only one way to find out!

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji tells the story of a bond between grandson and grandfather. The narrative features themes of cultural heritage, traditions, belief in one’s self, and the expression of love through cooking. Written by F. Zia, illustrated by Ken Min, and published by Lee & Low Books.

There once was a lad who could tie two cobras in a knot and touch the sky with his feet. His secret? Hot, hot roti.

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Biographies

Meet Pelé, the greatest soccer player in history. Born in Brazil, Pelé was just a kid when his dad taught him to play soccer. They didn’t have much money—their ball was a sock stuffed with newspaper, tied up with string. Yet even as a boy, people were amazed by Pelé’s talent. By fifteen, he joined his first professional team. At sixteen, he was invited to play for Brazil’s national team.

In the years to come, Pelé would score over 1,000 goals and win three world championships for his home country. And what does his story teach us? That it doesn’t matter where your journey begins. With skill, hard work, and a dream, anything is possible.

Told in English and Spanish, The Life of Pelé follows the true-life story of renowned soccer star Pelé, who is widely considered the greatest player of all time. A tribute to overcoming the odds, The Life of Pelé is a Lil' Libros Bilingual Biography. Written by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes, and published by Lil’ Libros.

Pelé is the greatest soccer player in history. Where does his story begin? With newspapers, a sock, and a bit of string.

The Life of — La Vida de Pelé

Beyond the clouds is a faraway place—a place called outer space. There you’ll learn all kinds of wild things about our solar system. There’s Mercury, which is probably a lot smaller than you think. And Venus, who shimmers so hot and bright. Rusty Mars has a big red mountain you can see from afar, and Jupiter has 78 different moons to keep it company.

Come ride along with Ellen Ochoa—a real-life inspiration, and the first Latina astronaut—as she goes for a spin around our sun, moon, and planets. With all the incredible details she’s learned about our corner of the galaxy, you might be surprised to hear which planet is her favorite.

The Solar System with Ellen is a fun-filled introduction to our solar system, told in both English and Spanish. The story shares interesting facts about our planetary neighbors, while celebrating Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina woman to travel into space. A Lil' Libros Bilingual Biography, The Solar System with Ellen is written by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes, and published by Lil’ Libros.

Buckle up and ride along with Ellen—the world’s first Latina astronaut—as she goes for a spin around our solar system.

The Solar System with — El Sistema Solar con Ellen

A collection of all the latest books released on Vooks, with many more great titles coming soon!