Royal Reading

I'm definitely not a fan of the current princess trend, and I really hope my young daughter never develops an interest in it.  Fortunately, Barefoot Books offers some terrific books that satisfy both the princess-loving girl, and the princess-wary parent.  They highlight strong princess characters - both classic and unique - and minimize the emphasis damsel-in-distress stories. 

Meet seven very strong and special princesses in this collection drawn from sources from around the world. Each faces challenges and trials, and each finds a way to triumph with bravery, compassion, ingenuity and a little bit of luck. Hardcover and paperback editions include a CD with the stories read by Margaret Wolfson.

Practice your math skills while enjoying this quirky take on "The Princess and the Pea." The King and Queen and their three sons are on the search for a real princess, but it is only the Queen who knows the secret. After the story, there is an opportunity for readers to test their counting skills with fun number games. Paperback edition includes a CD with the story read by actress Juliet Stevenson.

Ride along with the beautiful princess and the majestic white bear on a voyage in the snowy north. When the young princess inadvertently betrays the mysterious white bear, she must prove her loyalty and strength through a series of trying tasks, in order to regain her lost chance at happiness. Includes a CD with the story read by actress Miranda Richardson.

Discover a multilayered, exuberant collection in the first English translation for children of Haft Paykar, the Persian poem composed in the twelfth century by the great Sufi poet Nizami. Detailed notes add a valuable commentary on the Sufi symbolism that suffuses the tales.

And for the younger crowd...

Meet a young prince who refuses to go to sleep! The entire kingdom comes out to lend a hand in this rhyming bedtime adventure. There is a hullabaloo of activity—jugglers juggling, magicians hypnotizing, dancers dancing—but it is the wonder of a good story that finally does the trick. Paperback edition includes a CD with the story read by actor Jim Broadbent.

All Good Things...

Amazingly, the final week of April is upon us.  Temperatures are finally becoming consistently warmer, despite the dusting of snow we woke to on Saturday.  As April ends, so does Barefoot Books' free shipping offer.  This is the final week to have your online order of $60 or more ship for free. 

This is also the final week to have your purchase support my April nonprofit of the month, Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature).  I'm donating 20% of all April online sales to this wonderful land trust and conservation organization. 

Need a little more incentive?  Use discount code AMBTWY to save 20% on your order.



Winner!

The winner of the spring bunny gift set giveaway is Always Creating Something!  Please send me an email with your full name and contact info.  Congratulations!



Earth Day

One of the things I love most about Barefoot Books is the company's commitment to respecting and caring for our planet.  Their products teach children about the interconnectedness of all living things in an age-appropriate and respectful manner.  And their actions back up their words; all of their books are printed on ancient forest friendly paper, using soy and vegetable based inks and water based adhesives. 

Here are some terrific picks to share with the children in your life on Earth Day and every day:

Learn how different cultures around the world set out to live in harmony with the natural world. The seven folk tales are each followed by a hands-on activity that promotes green living and reinforces the eco-messages of the stories.

Three children embark on a day-long trek through the rainforest, discovering all sorts of exotic creatures in their natural habitats. The charming, rhyming text highlights an adjective for each creature. The story is complemented by educational endnotes about the creatures in the story, and the peoples of the rainforest.  Available in English and Spanish.
 

Learn memory and matching skills with this classic matching game, featuring 24 pairs of animals and plant life. Game pieces are printed on recycled, laminated board.

Dig underground with moles, soar high into the mountains with eagles, and travel down a tropical river with crocodiles. This rhyming selection explores the homes of many different creatures, and includes educational endnotes about the animals and their habitats.

Share the message, hear the song, and see Whole World come to life! We are donating ten percent of sales from Whole World to benefit global conservation. Sing around the planet, from high in the mountains to low in the valleys, in every town and every city, and with all the fish and birds, trees and flowers! Includes eco-tips on how to live green and a catchy singalong CD, sung by Fred Penner.

Enjoy some eco-fun with the games, puzzles, art activities and quizzes in this earth-friendly activity book. The fun is enhanced by tips on how to look after the environment, and the pages are printed on 100% recycled paper.  On sale for $3.99 this month!

Try out each of the fifty poses and games in this interactive deck to feel connected to the Earth's elements. Written by Yoga Ed., each of the cards is in line with one of the planet's natural elements: air, earth, fire, water and space.  On sale for $10.99 this month!

Spring Bunny Gift Sets

I had a wonderful time at the Albany Children's Book Festival yesterday!  What a great event for young readers - author and illustrator signings, a parade of kids wearing costumes from their favorite books, and fabulous vendors.  :)

Kids of all ages were drawn like magnets to my spring bunny gift sets.  I paired the large board book, "Who's in the Garden?" with a Folkmanis bunny finger puppet, and tied them together with carrot ribbon.

Perfect for Easter baskets and Earth Day celebrations!  Contact me if you'd like one of these sets for a little bunny in your life.



Three New Products!

Barefoot Books has just released three new products!  Two are paperback versions of favorite books - "The Sounds Around Town" and "Shakespeare's Storybook Young Fiction Chapter Book". 

           

The third new item is the "Children of the World Memory Game".  It uses the same adorable children from all over the world in the popular singalong book, "If You're Happy and You Know It", to encourage memory and matching skills.  The game's object is to match the boy and girl pairs according to the traditional dress, country name, and color featured on each card. 



National Poety Month

From A. A. Milne and Mother Goose, to Lewis Carroll and Shel Silverstein, poetry has entertained, delighted, and spoken to children for generations and plays an instrumental part in children's literacy development. Here are some great Barefoot Books picks to help you celebrate National Poetry Month with the children in your life:


Featuring Clare Beaton's beautiful fabric artwork:
Clare Beaton's Action Rhymes
Clare Beaton's Nursery Rhymes
Playtime Rhymes for Little People


The Sun in Me: Poems About the Planet (On sale for $9.99 this month!)
Someone I Like: Poems About People (On sale for $12.99 this month!)
First Morning: Poems About Time (On sale for $12.99 this month!)
The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems

April Nonprofit of the Month: Saratoga PLAN



I'm very excited to announce that Saratoga P.L.A.N. (Preserving Land and Nature) is my April Nonprofit of the Month.  Saratoga P.L.A.N. is a not-for-profit land trust offering comprehensive land conservation services to landowners, developers, organizations and government partners, while striving to achieve regional coordination and cooperation on land use, open space and recreational trail planning. It has protected over 3,303 acres of farmland, natural habitats, trail corridor, historic places and water resources in Saratoga County.  As a (relatively) recent transplant to this area, I greatly appreciate the work this wonderful organization does, maintaining the natural beauty of the Saratoga region.

Twenty percent of my online sales this month will be donated to Saratoga P.L.A.N., helping it conserve farmland, natural areas, trail corridors and historic places in Saratoga County.