Free Shipping!

Barefoot Books is now offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $60 or more, from now through December 24th! How cool is that?!

There are some great new releases too, that I can't wait to share with you and your children...

And guess what? If you do all your holiday and birthday shopping with me, if you fill the shelves of your classroom or library, if you do a Barefoot Fundraiser for your favorite group through me...I might just be the grand prize winner of their challenge... twelve monthly payments on a new "green" electric or hybrid car! Only one grand prize winner *globally*. Wouldn't I look great in a new eco-friendly car? :)

Barefoot Books on Good Morning America

Barefoot Books was featured on this morning's Good Morning America during a story about working from home, direct selling. Mentioned was one of Barefoot's top Ambassadors, Chaunci Pirhalla. (click here to see the clip)

Chaunci was on my Sales Team before branching out to form a wonderful team of her own. I remember she won a sales incentive I offered (Barefoot Books & sales aides) in half the time period I suggested! What a wonderful success story!

Contact me about signing up to be an Ambassador too! Visit my web-site: www.BarefootBooksStoryteller.com

I'm still offering sales incentives, and offering a free book and marketing materials to anyone who signs up this month mentioning that they saw Barefoot Books on GMA!

A reminder that everyone who signs up between now and September 30th is also entered into a drawing for a free Apple iPad from Barefoot Books!

Plus, I have another offer for folks signing up here in my state of Maine... whether to sell Barefoot Books for extra household income, to raise funds for your school or group, or just be able to get beautiful children's books for your own personal library at a reduced price.

Free books, marketing materials... "on the job training" for those who wish to start a business from someone with over fifteen years in retail. If you're looking to enrich the lives of your children with Barefoot Books at home, I have over twenty years experience and on-going education in child development and creativity for children, helpful in suggesting ways to make the most of what Barefoot offers.

Contact me for more information!

More New Releases!

I am very very happy to to bringing you these newest releases from Barefoot Books! The first, The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories is of course bound to be a new favorite of mine! This gorgeous collection will enchant young dancers with stories from eight cultures, including the Polka in the Czech Republic, Limbo in the West Indies and the Waltz in Germany. Book with CD editions include stories read by actress Juliet Stevenson. $23.99 The next, Tales of Mystery and Magic , is a bewitching world of mystery and magic! Meet singing elves with magical feet; skeletons that move of their own accord; and a heroic blackbird who outwits a powerful king. Master storyteller Hugh Lupton is at his exceptional best as he shares the most mysterious tales in his repertoire. Book with CD editions include stories read by Hugh Lupton. $19.99 And finally, Who's in the Forest? small children are invited to peek through the holes on every other page to answer the repeating refrain, “Who’s in the forest, dark and deep?” The playful, energetic, rhyming text introduces all sorts of creatures that make their home in the forest. $14.99 (This is a wonderful companion to Who's in the Garden? with the same peek through holes)

Celebrate Bees!

Celebrate our friends this weekend, as August 21st is National Honey Bee Awareness Day! You can read the wonderful Barefoot Book The Beeman , (order on-line or pick up at The Maine Farmland Trust Gallery in Belfast and The Maine Farmland Trust will get 20% of the proceeds!) and have lots of fun with a Folkmanis Bee Puppet

Then, if you get a chance, please visit this link about a project of a young Boy Scout who wishes to reinstate the Beekeeping Badge. http://www.experienceproject.com/beepetition

Hooray for bees!

Back to School...Barefoot

Packing Backpack, Lunchbox, and Confidence: Tips for Sending Children Off to School

It happens every autumn. Millions of young children start school for the very first time. They carry backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils, sometimes a grin on their face, but more often, a look of trepidation about what school will really be like. They wonder: Will my teacher be nice? Will I have friends? What if I can’t find my way? Who will sit with me? What will I do? What if I don’t like it? What if I miss home? What if it’s too hard?

As parents guiding our children off to start school for the first time, or to begin a new school year, we want to do all we can to ensure that they have a great experience. At the same time, we want to encourage their independence as they set off on a new journey in their development.

Kathryn White, early educator and mom of five children, as well as author of Ruby's School Walk, shares her tips to ease children's start-of-school anxiety and make this an enjoyable milestone:

• Read with your child and talk about the school experience. Share with them stories about your memories of school, both the good and the less so. School is an adventure, and like all adventures, it has its ups and downs.

• Help spark your child’s imaginations about school to encourage them to talk about their concerns and face their fears. You can do this through stories, books, drawings and other art forms. Ask them questions such as what they think school will be like, what they are excited about and worried about, what they think they will learn, etc. These conversations can also be had with grandparents and other favorite people in your child’s life.

• Build a community in your neighborhood. It is amazing what a familiar and friendly face can do to help a child overcome their fears about going to school. As your family journeys to school each day you might see this friendly neighbor, or only see them occasionally, but it will help your child feel comfortable and safe on their trip to school.

• Sit down together and create a fun map to school. Note interesting landmarks and have your child color them in or place numbers at each point. On that first morning to school, your child will be preoccupied with checking off the landmarks on their special map. The school can be drawn with welcome signs, making it a great triumph upon their arrival.

• Walk with your child to school whenever possible. If you don’t live nearby, take public transport, bike or drive and get out a few blocks away and walk together. The walk will become a meaningful way to spend time together and help get the day off on the right foot.

• Create traditions. Take pictures of your child in front of your home or on their way to school. Each year you can reflect back on these first day of school photos and see how much your child has grown in every way.

• Know that if the first day went well or didn’t go well, there are many more days of school throughout the year and peaks and valleys along the way.

We hope your child’s first experience with school is part of their magnificent journey of growing up!

New Releases

Now available in paperback/chapter book format, two of my (and my son's) favorites from Barefoot Books: Arthur of Albion, and, The Adventures of Odysseus Each retail for $12.99

Arthur of Albion is also available on-line and in person as a hard cover, which includes a pull-out full color map, $24.99

The Adventures of Odysseus is currently available on-line and in person as an audio CD read by Hugh Lupton for $19.99, and I have a few hard cover copies of the book available for $19.99

Sing Along!

Sing along as you view this new video from Knick Knack PaddyWack!

Sign up, and you could win an Apple iPad

Sign up to be a Barefoot Ambassador between now September 30th and your name will be placed in a random drawing to win an Apple iPad 16GB! Contact me to learn more about joining my team and becoming an Ambassador!