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Nothing ever happens to poor Delia. Her life is dull, dull, dull. And yet, if Delia decided to look up or turn around, what do you think she’d notice? Probably not elephants marching through her house. And it’s unlikely she’d catch a pirate sitting behind her on the school bus. Really, what are the odds that a submarine would surface just as she gets out of the pool?

Come join Delia for the dullest day you’ve ever read about. There definitely won’t be any hot air balloons, astronauts, ostriches, tight-ropers, dinosaurs, or blasts of butterflies coming out of her tuba during band class. At least, none that Delia will see.

A (incredibly dull) story about how our perceptions shape our reality, Delia’s Dull Day reminds us that when we forget to pick our head up, we miss so many of life’s most exciting moments. Written and illustrated by Andy Myer, Delia’s Dull Day is published by Sleeping Bear Press.

According to Delia, her life is dull, dull, dull. But if Delia looked up, she might be surprised by what she’d see.

Delia's Dull Day

Family 

Build Confidence

Friendship

In a little house in the very middle of a small Inuit town where winter is always longer than summer, a little girl named Nalvana lives with her mother. Everywhere she goes, she wears her superhero outfit: a yellow blanket-cape and snowmobiling goggles. Nalvana doesn’t know what her superpower is yet—but she’s determined to find out what it is.

As she goes to school and plays with other kids, Nalvana discovers that many of her friends have superpowers. But Nalvana still hasn’t discovered one of her own. Is it possible Nalvana doesn’t have a superpower? Or is her superpower hidden in plain sight?

What’s My Superpower is a celebration of those who use their words and abilities to lift up the world around them. Filled with references to Inuit language and culture, the narrative focuses on themes of positivity, community, and embracing the things that make us who we are. Written by Aviaq Johnston, illustrated by Tim Mack, and published by Inhabit Media Inc.

In the middle of a small Inuit town where winter is always longer than summer, a girl discovers her superpower.

What's My Superpower?

Animals

When her father brings home a baby seagull, Elisapee falls in love with the tiny bird. She names it Nau (short for Naujaaraq). Elisapee and her brother feed Nau sculpins, seal fat, and small krill. Nau grows bigger and her feathers turn white. Eventually, Elisapee and her brother teach Nau to fly. To be sure they know which bird is theirs, Elisapee ties a pink bow onto Nau’s leg.

Every day, Nau flies with the other seagulls, then comes back to sleep on the roof of Elisapee’s shed. But then one day, Nau is ready to leave home for good. Will Elisapee have to say a final goodbye? Or will Nau’s spirit and memory live on, no matter where the arctic winds lead her?

Elisapee and Her Baby Seagull is a charming story about learning to care for animals, and also learning to let them go. The story focuses on Nunavut culture, along with themes of kindness, compassion, and doing what’s best for others. Written by Nancy Mike, illustrated by Charlene Chua, and published by Inhabit Media.

When her father brings home a baby seagull, Elisapee helps the tiny bird grow—and eventually, teaches it to fly.

Elisapee and Her Baby Seagull

There’s a wall in the middle of this book—and that’s a good thing. The wall keeps the friendly knight safe from the other side. Most importantly, it protects the knight from the ogre. If the ogre ever caught the knight, the ogre would eat him up. But the ogre is over there, on the other side, so the knight is perfectly safe. Nothing can harm the knight if he stays where he is.

Until something happens—something that’s, well, not supposed to happen. There’s a danger on the knight’s side of the wall. What can he do? Is the knight doomed? Or will he learn a valuable lesson about stepping over the walls we’ve built between us?

The Wall in the Middle of the Book is a beautiful metaphor. It shows readers that walls don’t just keep out danger, they can also keep us in. The story also demonstrates how assumptions can sometimes keep us from discovering exciting new things. Written and illustrated by Jon Agee. Published by Penguin.

There’s a wall in the middle of this book—and that’s a good thing. What else will keep one side safe from the other?

The Wall in the Middle of The Book

Be Creative

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Everyone's Reading

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!

Happy Holidays

Max and his little sister Sarah are playing hide-and-seek. Sarah is good at the game. She’s so good that Max has to search the entire house—and he still can’t find her! Finally, Max gives up. The pair decide to play a different game. They want to head out into the snow to build snow siblings—one for Max, and one for Sarah.

What do Sarah and Max need to do to get ready for the snow? Ski pants, boots, and hats, for starters. Come along as two siblings keep each other entertained during the winter months, both inside and out.

A simple vocabulary primer, Max and Sarah Build a Snowman shows two siblings playing games and having a little fun. Written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan, and published by Brain Food Kids.

After playing hide-and-seek, Max and his little sister Sarah decide to head out into the snow.

Max and Sarah Build a Snowman

S.T.E.A.M.

How We Work

What does a veterinarian do? Today, Dr. Kate is visiting the school—and she’s going to give Henry, the class guinea pig, a checkup. Veterinarians help keep animals healthy. She checks Henry’s eyes and ears. Then she shows the students some of her tools. One is a hairbrush. Veterinarians groom their patients by trimming beaks, washing hooves, and even brushing teeth.

Of course, Vets have many tools for solving pet-related problems. She even uses some of the same tools that people doctors use, like a stethoscope for listening to the heart, and an x-ray for looking at bones. Before she leaves, can you guess what Dr. Kate prescribes for little Henry?

Let's Meet a Veterinarian gives young readers a look at how veterinarians care for the animals in our homes, on our farms, and at our zoos. By showing the simple ways we can care for the animals we love, the story shows the basic similarities between human and animal health. Written by Gina Bellisario, illustrated by Cale Atkinson, and published by Millbrook Press.

Dr. Kate is a veterinarian. Today, she’s visiting the school to give Henry, the class guinea pig, his routine checkup.

Let's Meet a Veterinarian

Kid at Heart

Mindfulness

All Seasons

Nature

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

Vooks Originals

Ocean

Free Access

Zayn loves going on adventures with his dad. After a particularly great day, he asks his dad what made the day so perfect. “We had Free Fun,” his dad answers. Zayn’s dad tells him that Free Fun is a magical thing, something that you must find on your own. So, off Zayn goes on a quest to find Free Fun for himself.
 
After a day of searching in every place he can think of, Zayn worries he might never find Free Fun. He awakes the next morning with his dad’s words buzzing in his brain: “Every answer in life can be found while looking at waves.” That’s it—the ocean! Zayn and his dad grab their surfboards and race to the beach. When a powerful wave crashes down, forcing Zayn below the surf, he opens his eyes underwater and finally finds what he’s been looking for.

A Vooks Original, Finding Free Fun is a mindful, meditative story about slowing down and finding fun in life’s everyday moments and places. Written by Yogi Roth and illustrated by Roxanne Rainville.

Zayn is on the hunt for Free Fun, but where could it be? What does it look like? Is it short or tall, yellow or green? Is it inside or outside? How do you find Free Fun?

Finding Free Fun

Which mammal has three kinds of teeth that are all about the same height? Here’s a hint: You’re one of them! Humans have incisors, canines, and molars. Some animals have larger teeth than ours. Animals with large incisors eat plants, chewing up hard nuts and seeds. Long canines are for eating meat—and tall molars are for grinding up grass and other leafy plants.

What kind of animals have two incisors that grow out of their mouth, pointing up at the sky? And which mammal has canine teeth that stretch down toward their belly? Come along for the story of how our mouths evolved with the foods we eat, one pair of teeth at a time.

A scientific exploration of what our teeth tell us about our preferred diet, Tooth by Tooth educates readers on what each type of tooth is best suited to do. Written by Sara Levine, illustrated by T.S Spookytooth, and published by Millbrook Press.

Which mammal has three kinds of teeth that are all about the same height? Here’s a hint: You’re one of them!

Tooth by Tooth: Comparing Fangs, Tusks, and Chompers

How do police officers keep us safe? Officer Gabby is a school resource officer—and she’s here to talk all about it. To protect the school, Officer Gabby stops cars at the crosswalk. She also warns kids about dangers, such as taking rides from strangers. To do her job, Officer Gabby went to a police academy. There, she learned to talk in shorthand and use special tools.

Some police officers have dogs as partners. Others patrol highways. By working together with other towns, cities, states, and counties, they all help keep kids safe. What can you do to help protect your community? Let’s find out!

An in-depth look at how police officers work in a community, Let’s Meet a Police Officer talks about public safety, traffic laws, and doing our part in a community. The story also highlights themes of working together for the safety of everyone. Written by Gina Bellisario, illustrated by Cale Atkinson, and published by Millbrook Press.

How do police officers keep us safe? Officer Gabby is a school resource officer—and she’s here to talk all about it.

Let's Meet a Police Officer

Mr. Wuffles ignores every toy his people buy for him. You might think he’s just a lazy, uninterested cat, but you’d be wrong. Mr. Wuffles is not lazy, he’s just very picky—once he finds the right plaything, he’ll stalk, chase, leap, pounce, and bat it around.
 
Finally Mr. Wuffles has found the perfect toy and he’s ready to play… but it’s not really a toy at all. In fact, it’s something much more interesting—an alien spaceship piloted by small, green aliens! 
 
When Mr. Wuffles plays a little too roughly with the tiny ship, the aliens must risk everything and venture into the cat’s territory to make emergency repairs. All seems lost until the aliens team up with some unlikely allies.
 
A nearly wordless book featuring a made-up alien language, Mr. Wuffles! is a 2014 Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by David Wiesner. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Mr. Wuffles the cat finally finds a toy that he’s interested in. But little does he know, it’s actually an alien spaceship!

Mr. Wuffles!

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