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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

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Be Resilient

It's time for the annual Race-a-thon, and Steve the horse is excited. He already knows he'll win, because he wins every year. (With long legs, a long neck, and strong bum muscles, Steve is totally built for running.) Then Steve finds out the rules have changed. This year’s race will be a relay, which means all the runners must compete in teams—and Steve’s teammates are the slowest in the forest.

Is Steve about to lose his first Race-a-thon ever? Come along as Steve prepares his team to handle rain, brambles, flooding, and more. By the time he’s done, the only runner who will be able to defeat Team Steve might be Steve himself.

Steve the horse is back in Team Steve, narrated by the exceptional Rainn Wilson. The story digs into the meaning of teamwork, good sportsmanship, and how self-confidence can help you succeed—but overconfidence can be an embarrassing oversight. With vocabulary enrichment woven throughout, Team Steve is written and illustrated by Kelly Collier and published by Kids Can Press.

It's time for the annual Race-a-thon, and Steve is excited. At least, until he finds out the rules have changed.

Team Steve

Be Creative

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

5 Minutes or Less

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

Be Brave

Be Caring and Kind

Familius Presents

Friendship

Vooks at a Glance

Unicorn is a unicorn. And Horse is, well... not. Grab a pink cupcake and laugh along with this hilarious story about two very different animals - one seems magical and perfect and the other... well... doesn't. But, outside appearances don't always tell the whole story.

Unicorn (and Horse) is a funny yet endearing lesson on envy with one important truth: We are sometimes unicorns. We are sometimes horses. But, it's our differences that make us all unique. And, friendship can come in all shapes and sizes.
Readers of all ages will love giggling along with this silly yet heartwarming story. Unicorn (and Horse) is written by David Miles, illustrated by Hollie Mengert and published by Familius.

Unicorn is a unicorn. And Horse is, well... not. But appearances don't always tell the whole story. 

Unicorn (and Horse)

All Seasons

Camp Vooks

Women Who Changed the World

Celebrate Black History

Biographies

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

Bilingual Books

Early Childhood

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

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

Dream Big

On the Farm

Mindfulness

Nature

Jadav lives on an island in the middle of a river. When floodwaters begin destroying the island’s trees, Jadav starts planting bamboo. The shoots grow into a thicket—but Jadav fears it’s not enough. He collects supplies and seeds from neighboring villages. He tends the plants each day. And slowly, acre by acre, animal by animal, the thicket grows into something remarkable.

Follow the true-life story of Jadav, the boy who grew a forest. His 1,300-acre sanctuary—that’s over 900 football fields of forest—stands as an important reminder of a powerful truth: A single person can make an incredible difference.

The Boy Who Grew a Forest traces the story of Jadav Payeng, a Mishing tribesman whose life demonstrates the importance of personal responsibility, patience, care, and hard work. Winner of numerous awards, the book was written by Sophia Ghotz, illustrated by Kayla Harren, and is published by Sleeping Bear Press.

The trees are disappearing from Jadav’s island. What does he decide to do about it? Plant a forest, of course.

The Boy Who Grew a Forest

Family 

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

Read Along With Vooks

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

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

In the City

Luis is a charming alleycat. Tabitha is a sophisticated show cat. They live in two different worlds - their love thwarted by a thick glass door and by Tabitha’s owner. After all, Luis is an outside cat, Tabitha is an inside cat and that’s just the way it is. But, these two lovestruck kitties will do anything to be together. For Luis, that may mean even risking his own safety to save the life of the cat he loves.

This star-crossed feline love story is bursting with charm. You might say: it’s purrfect! 

  Luis and Tabitha is delightfully written by Stephanie Campisi, beautifully illustrated by Hollie Mengert and published by Familius, a values-driven publisher on a mission to teach, inspire, and bring families together.

Follow two kitties who come from different worlds, but will stop at nothing to be together.