Partnership with Floyd Warriors

I recently learned about an amazing woman in my community, who turned her experience with cancer into a terrific organization.  Lisa Morahan is a breast cancer survivor, mother of a young child, and the founder of Flyod Warriors.  Floyd Warriors supports cancer patients and their families by connecting them with volunteers who help with chores, childcare, errands, meal preparation, and other tasks that are difficult to manage when dealing with an illness.  She's also currently working on Project Easter Bunny, and collecting donations for Easter baskets to be distributed to organizations like NY Hematology Oncology and the Oncology Centers at Saratoga and Glens Falls Hospitals.

Lisa has placed a Barefoot Books logo on the "Help - Sponsor Site" page on the Floyd Warriors website.  I'm donating 20% of all sales made through this link to this great organization.

I Heart Free Shipping

I enjoy internet shopping, but I hate paying for shipping.  As a result, I'm a sucker for a free shipping offer. 

Clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way, and Barefoot Books knows it.  They're offering FREE shipping on all internet orders of $60 or more through the end of April.  What a great opportunity to stock up on books for Earth Day, Easter, spring birthdays, and summer reading!  Plus, I donate 20% of all online sales to my nonprofit of the month.  (This month it's the wonderful Children's Museum at Saratoga.)  Visit http://www.amym.barefootbooks.com/ or click on the Barefoot Books Shop page to indulge in some (practically) guilt-free shipping!

Paperbacks

I love a beautiful hardcover book, but my daughter has not yet mastered the concept of  "gentle".  As a result, the jackets on all of her hardcover books have tears of varying sizes.  I've learned my lesson, and now remove the jackets before she gets her little mitts on them.

As a result, I'm very excited that Barefoot Books has created paperback versions of two great books that were previously available only in hardcover, "We're Roaming the Rainforest" and "Up and Down the Andes".

This beautiful book is about three children who embark on a day-long trek through the Amazon rainforest, discovering all sorts of exotic creatures in their natural habitats.  The charming, rhyming text highlights an adjective for each creature.  There are educational endnotes about all of the creatures and the people of the rainforest.  English and Spanish versions of this book are available, and both make wonderful Earth Day presents.

This colorful book takes readers on a lively trip through the Andes of Peru, using rhyming, cadenced text.  There are nine pages of educational endnotes about Peru and its people.  English and Spanish editions of this book are also available.

We Made It!!!

I'm always happy to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring, but I've been anticipating the vernal equinox more than usual this year.  We've had much more than our fair share of snow and cold temperatures here in upstate NY this winter.  It'll be a few more weeks before I break out the short sleeves and sandals, but I'm celebrating this important milestone today!

Happy Spring, Everyone!!

National Wildlife Week

Here's a disturbing statistic: Children are spending about half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago.  A significant portion of the additional time indoors is spent in front of the television, computer, and other media devices.  It's no wonder the childhood obesity rate has doubled in the same time period!

Although children who spend time outdoors are more likely to be active and lean, there are other benefits to outdoor play.  Studies have shown that spending time outdoors enhances imagination and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance.  Also of note, children who regularly spend time in nature tend to be better stewards of the environment as adults.

Check out the National Wildlife Federation's customized resources and activities for celebrating National Wildlife Week at home, school, and play.

These are some of my favorite Barefoot Books products for teaching children about wildlife:

Back At It!

I joined Barefoot Books in early October, and jumped right into the holiday events action.  I couldn't even keep track of all the craft fairs and shopping events that were happening, let alone attend all of them!  Then, starting in late December, things quieted down - a lot.  I imagine that there are a number of factors that contributed to this, including holiday shopping hangovers and winter hibernation.

It still feels a lot like winter here in upstate NY, but the end is in sight.  The snow is slowly receeding, the days are getting longer, and the spring events are on the calendar.  I attended my first one of the year yesterday, a fundraiser for the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall, NY, and am looking forward to a Saratoga area shopping event next Saurday, and a fundraiser at the Children's Museum at Saratoga the following weekend.  I'm so excited for the beginning of a new event season!

Here are some of my Barefoot Books favorites that I'll be featuring at spring events:

 

Read Across America Day

Today is Read Across America Day, the nation's largest reading event.  Teachers, parents, students, libraries, and businesses across the nation are engaging in activities to bring awareness to the fun and importance of reading.  Studies have consistently shown that children who read more have larger vocabularies and do better in school. 

I have loved reading for as long as I can remember, and I'm proud and pleased that my daughter already seems to share this love. 

Happy reading!!

March Nonprofit of the Month



Each month I designate a "nonprofit of the month", and donate 20% of the month's online sales to that organization.  This month's recipient is the Children's Museum at Saratoga. 

I know firsthand what a wonderful resource this organization is for families in, and visitors to, the Saratoga area.  The Children's Museum is "dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination, and nurtures discovery."  That sounds a lot like Barefoot Books! 

A variety of Barefoot Books products are now available for sale in the gift shop, and I'll be doing a book fair fundraiser there on Saturday, 3/19.  And of course, 20% of all online sales in March will be donated to the Museum.