Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Storytime Favorites

Family 

Brightly Storytime Presents

Vooks A to Z

When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true–she’s finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make . . .

With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson have crafted a moving ode to family, to dreamers, and to finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Join Ms. Linda in reading! Carmela is finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, until Carmela finds a lone dandelion. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish.

Carmela Full of Wishes

Back to School

Vooks at a Glance

Celebrate Black History

Friendship

Vooks Originals

Everyone's Reading

Elementary

Storyteller

Be Caring and Kind

Kid at Heart

Free Access

Little Craig loves birthday parties, even though he doesn’t get invited very often. That is until Craig gets invited to TWO birthday parties, on the same day. Joey’s the new kid in school, and he invited Craig to his party first. But Dan is Craig’s good friend, and he invited Craig to his party second. Little Craig is torn between keeping his word to Joey, or going to his friend Dan’s party instead. Craig’s mom reminds him “You’re only as good as your word,” and leaves the choice up to him. Little Craig has a tough decision to make, but with his mom’s encouraging words, he just might learn a valuable lesson that will guide him the rest of his life.

Based on a true story, this Little Craig book teaches the lesson of keeping your word. That’s the lesson Craig Robinson learned in real-life, when he was invited to two birthday parties on the same day. Craig’s mom Marian Robinson, always full of wisdom, helped him learn the valuable lesson that he still remembers to this day. The adorable illustrations bring Little Craig’s world to life, and a heartwarming retro-inspired soundtrack takes you back to the real-life era the story comes from. Little Craig: Balloons and Cake is the first book in the new Little Craig series, which teaches important lessons that kids can take with them for life.

A Vooks Original, Little Craig: Balloons and Cake teaches the lesson that keeping your word is important, even if it’s the hard thing to do. Based on a true story and a real-life lesson learned, the book is written by Craig Robinson and Leslie Harter, and Illustrated by Skylar Hogan.

Little Craig loves birthday parties! But when he gets invited to two parties on the same day, he has to make a tough decision.

Little Craig: Balloons and Cake

Nature

Seasonal - Fall

S.T.E.A.M.

Sick Day Stories

Seasonal - Spring

This stunning New York Times Bestseller introduces the kind, nature-loving Miss Maple, who celebrates the miracle in each seed—perfect for fans of Miss Rumphius!

What happens to seeds that don’t sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them. Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths by which they might find their new homes. And come spring, she sends them off to take root out in the wide world and to sprout into the wonderful plants she knows they’ll become. Celebrate every season with Miss Maple, from Earth Day to graduations to harvest festivals.

Join Ms. Linda to find out what happens to seeds that don’t sprout. Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them. Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house.

Miss Maple's Seeds

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

Dream Big

Early Childhood

All Seasons

Build Confidence

What happens when kindness and love are shared freely? Do they grow into something even more wonderful? Or, does the special gift eventually go bare? Little Miss is determined to find out. When she plants a kiss, and it grows into something extraordinary, she wants to share it with everyone she can—even if that means she won’t have any left for herself.

Plant a Kiss is an incredible story of unselfish giving. Filled with hope and optimism, the epic journey reminds us all of the power behind sharing joy with others. From acclaimed writer and illustrator team Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds, Plant a Kiss is sure to spread love to all who see it.


When a kiss grows into something dazzling, Little Miss wants to share it with the world!

Plant a Kiss

5 Minutes or Less

A Little Golden Book version of the timeless fairytale of a princess and her sleepless night.

Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Princess and the Pea is a timeless story beloved for its bold princess and a little pea that ends up causing a big problem. Featuring beautiful illustrations filled with a bright array of colors, this charming Little Golden Book makes for a perfect bedtime read.

Read along as Ms. Linda tells the timeless fairytale of a princess and her sleepless night.

The Princess and the Pea

Enjoy this retelling of a true classic, where a young woman learns that sometimes those who have nothing, actually have the most to offer.

Cinderella was a sad servant girl who dreamed of going to the ball. Will her dream ever come true?

Cinderella

Animals

Be Creative

Louie is a dog. His young owner is an artist. To improve his skills, Louie’s owner paints each day—and Louie is there as his audience. But then it’s time for Louie’s owner to go to school. Louie watches him go, feeling upset. He doesn’t like to be alone.

One day, after Louie’s owner leaves for school, Louie feels inspired. After watching so many pictures come to life, maybe he could try his own paw at the canvas. Maybe Louie is an artist himself. Will Louie make a big mess of his owner’s studio? Or will he prove that anyone can capture a spark of genius—even an enthusiastic pup like Louie?

A charming tale about a child and his pet, My Dog Thinks I’m a Genius celebrates the idea that to become an artist, one must simply choose to be one. The story touches on concepts of self-confidence, self-expression, and supporting one another’s art. Written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by renowned artist Barroux, My Dog Thinks I’m a Genius is published by Blue Apple Books.

Every day before school, Louie’s owner paints a picture. Today, Louie might like to try his own paw at the canvas.

My Dog Thinks I'm A Genius

Read Along With Vooks

In the City

Be Brave

Be Resilient

For Little Sock, every day is the same. He gets worn, he gets dirty, he gets washed. His friends don’t seem to mind the routine, but Little Sock dreams of something new. So one night, Little Sock decides to leave his drawer in search of adventure…to find the fabled land known as Sock City!

Follow Little Sock on this adorable journey about bravery and aspiration. Little ones will discover that sometimes in order to fulfill a dream we have to be courageous and try things that might seem a bit scary at first.

Written by Kia Heise and Christopher D. Park (with illustrations by Christopher D. Park as well), this light-hearted tale published by Sleeping Bear Press is sure to delight!


For Little Sock, every day’s the same—until, one night, he leaves his drawer in search of adventure.

Little Sock

Little Sock lives in a drawer. He may look like the other socks, but he has a secret. Sometimes, late at night, he escapes to a marvelous place where everything is new and exciting: Sock City! But when Little Sock starts to wish he had someone to share all the fun with, he’ll have to do something truly brave. He’ll have to figure out… just how exactly does a sock make a friend?

The fuzzy hero from Little Sock returns for a new adventure beyond the dryer, into the magical world where all socks dream of going. Socks might not get there in pairs, but who’s to say they can’t make a friend once they arrive?

Written by Kia Heise and Christopher D. Park, Little Sock Makes a Friend is a sequel to the much-loved Little Sock. Published by Sleeping Bear Press in 2021, the book includes themes of friendship, overcoming social anxiety, and learning how to fit into a new community.

Little Sock loves to visit Sock City—but sometimes, he gets a bit lonely. Will he be able to find a new friend?

Little Sock Makes a Friend

Curious George®

George is thrilled to get a thank-you card in the mail from his friend Betsy. It makes him want to send thank-you cards to everyone he knows. Who can he thank? The mail carrier? The librarian? It will be fun! But, when George undoubtedly gets into some of his usual mischief, saying thank you might just be easier said than done. This lighthearted lesson in good manners shows that saying thank you never goes out of style!

Margret & H.A. Rey’s Curious George Says Thank You is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, written by Emily Flaschner Meyer and Julie M. Bartynski, and illustrated by Anna Grossnickle Hines.

Curious George® Says Thank You. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Based on the character of Curious George®, created by Margret and H.A. Rey. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Curious George® is a registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Giving thank you cards might be easier said than done for everyone's favorite curious little monkey.

Curious George Says Thank You

Nothing seems to be going right for Sammy today. At school, he got in trouble for kicking a fence. Then the cafeteria ran out of his favorite pizza for lunch. After having to walk home in the pouring rain, Sammy finds his neurodivergent little brother Benji is having a bad day too. On days like this, Benji has a special play-box where he goes to feel cozy and safe.

But while Sammy lovingly cares for Benji, Sammy doesn’t have a special place where he can feel protected. And he's convinced no one cares how he feels—or even notices him at all. But somebody is noticing, and they might have an idea of how to help Sammy feel a bit better.

A touching, heartfelt story about the ways we process frustration and emotion, Benji, the Bad Day, and Me explores the power of familial relationships—especially between siblings. The story tenderly handles topics like neurodiversity and autism, sensory therapy, caring for loved ones, and honoring one’s feelings without judgment. Written by Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Ken Min, and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.

For Sammy and his neurodivergent little brother Benji, today is a very bad day. Could anything help it get better?

Benji, the Bad Day, and Me

Familius Presents

Foundational Reading

Every creature on Earth has a dance all its own. The hippos are down with hip-hop. The wallabies perform a waltz. The camels are known to cancan in a chorus line, and the sloths slow dance one toe at a time. But when all the tapping tigers have pranced, and the ballerina bears have finished their final spin, is any dance quite as remarkable as the flamingo’s flamenco?

Clap your hands, wings, and claws. Tap your shoes, hooves, and talons. The flamingo is about to show the animal kingdom how it’s done.

A silly celebration of the traditional Spanish flamenco, Flamingo Flamenco lightly touches on themes of self-expression and diversity. Written by Brooke Jorden and illustrated by Alex Zhdanov, the story is published by Familius.

Every creature on Earth has a dance all its own—but is any so well known as the flamingo’s flamenco? Let’s find out.

Flamingo Flamenco

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

When one fuzzy creature takes a break from the comfiest seat in the house, another fuzzy creature claims the spot. Soon, an argument breaks out over who gets the chair. One tricks the other. Then the other resorts to tickling. Tempers boil over into an all-out shouting match. In the end, will they be able to agree on who gets the chair? Or will their friendship reach a terrible, (un)-friendly end?

Join two—and possibly three—fuzzy creatures as they fight for the cushiest cushion around. It might be better if they both share the chair. Or maybe they should just take a break and let someone else have a turn.

This simple, giggle-inducing tale about (not) sharing and (not) being a good friend explores the complex feelings that can come with an argument, and how we might go about resolving them. Written by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant, That’s (Not) Mine 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 want to sit in the same comfy chair, an argument ensues. How will they decide on a winner?

That's (Not) Mine

Camp Vooks

Two fuzzy friends are in the middle of a playdate, when a new pal suddenly joins in. The trio tries playing together, but each friend feels left out at times, even trying to sabotage the newcomer. Will the new addition to the group be a third wheel? Or, will all three learn an important lesson: that they can all be friends and have fun playing together? 

This silly and heartfelt tale about (not) being friends features the characters from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small. We Are (Not) Friends is written by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant and published by Two Lions. Keep an eye out for other books in the fun-filled (Not) series on Vooks!

Fun fact: Christopher Weyant (illustrator) and Anna Kang (author) lend their voices to characters in We Are (Not) Friends!


Two friends are having a playdate when along hops a new pal. Can they all be friends, or not?!

We Are (Not) Friends

Two fuzzy friends take a trip to the amusement park and one thing is for sure: they are definitely not scared! After all, there are much scarier things out there than a roller coaster. Like snakes! Or hairy spiders! Or aliens with pink eyes and furry teeth! The friends soon discover that sometimes being scared isn’t quite as “scary” as it seems–and it’s even pretty normal too. With endearing illustrations and hilarious dialogue, I Am (Not) Scared is sure to be a hit with the entire family!

This giggle-inducing, silly tale about (not) being scared features the characters from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small. I Am (Not) Scared is written by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant and published by Two Lions. Keep an eye out for other books in the fun-filled (Not) series coming soon to Vooks!

Hairy spiders! Aliens! Hot lava! A ROLLER COASTER! Absolutely nothing to be scared of here…right?!

I Am (Not) Scared

One day, Bunny decides to impress his friends. But how can he make them think he’s funny? First, he tries swirling and twirling around like a ballerina. His friends aren’t impressed. Next, he tries wearing silly hats and wigs. Still, his friends aren’t amused. He puts on costumes—first a superhero outfit, then a solar system suit. Still, nothing seems to work.

Why don’t Bunny’s friends think he’s funny? Should he try harder to impress them? Or is there something else going on that Bunny doesn’t see? Come along as Bunny learns a vital lesson about the difference between playing, performing, and simply being yourself.

That’s Not Funny, Bunny! is a simple story that probes the difference between expressing yourself and accepting yourself as you are. Themes of self-love, self-knowledge, and friendship are woven into the narrative. Written and illustrated by Bethany Rose Hines, and published by Imagine That.

When Bunny tries very, very hard to impress his friends, he finds the task much more difficult than expected.

That's Not Funny Bunny

Main Carousel

Seasonal - Summer

On the Farm

How We Work

In the village, everyone is sleeping. Well, everyone except for Paul. Paul is a farmer. Out in the fields, he mows, and rakes, and sows, and draws water. Paul works until he’s exhausted. Every day, he watches, checks, and inspects. He does everything he can to give his seeds a chance to flourish. And soon, beautiful plants and flowers begin to spring up around him.

But what happens when the dry season arrives, and the sun beats down without mercy? Will the rain come fast enough? Will the plants wither in the heat? Join Paul as he does the careful work all farmers must do: tending, nurturing, watching, and—most importantly—waiting.

Taking a look at the unseen work (and worries) a farmer undertakes with their land, The Farmer shows the cycle of both nurturing and trusting the earth. Written and illustrated by Ximo Abadia and published by Holiday House, the narrative emphasizes the importance of perseverance.

In the village, everyone rests except for Paul. He mows, rakes, digs, and waters. And then, the plants begin to grow.

The Farmer

A boy's lost mitten is discovered by a group of curious woodland animals in this sweet retelling of the classic Ukrainian folk tale. Follow along and see what happens as each animal attempts to make the mitten their new home. Charming illustrations of snow covered hills and gentle falling snowflakes, conjure feelings of winter outings on cold crisp days. The festive music is sure to put anyone in the holiday mood. And, the merry cast of critters will surprise and delight imaginative young minds.

Animated from a deluxe pop-up book, The Mitten combines elements of the pop-up style with unique three dimensional puppet-show like visuals. The Mitten: A Classic Pop-up Folktale is written by Jessica Southwick, Illustrated by Pippa Curnick, constructed by award-winning paper engineer Yevgeniya Yeretskaya and published by Jumping Jack Press.

A lost mitten is discovered by a group of curious animals in this retelling of the classic tale.

The Mitten: A Classic Pop-Up Folktale

Women Who Changed the World

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and Zoe is excited. She’s about to have a fun-filled day with her mom. But when they go to the library, Miss Foster says Zoe isn’t allowed to talk loud. And when they go to the park, Mr. Jones says she’s not allowed to walk on the grass. Then at Grandma’s house, Grandma says she can’t wear wet shoes in the house. And at the store, a sign says kids aren’t allowed to play inside.

Is Zoe ever allowed to do fun things? Or is climbing, playing, yelling, and splashing in puddles always off-limits? According to Zoe’s mom, it’s all about knowing when and where to have fun. Then, you can be as wild as you want.

Written by Mandy Archer and illustrated by Shane Crampton, Stay Wild My Child demonstrates an important lesson for both kids and adults: Though some rules must be followed, everyone needs a space to be messy, expressive, and unrestrained. Published by Rainstorm Publishing, an imprint of Kidsbooks.

There are a lot of rules for Zoe to follow. But according to her mom, there are also times when the rules don’t apply.

Stay Wild My Child

Stories with strong narratives that engage all children.