Young Fiction Line

I have a tendency to highlight my favorite Barefoot Books items for younger children because my daughter is 19 months and a big fan of the board books.  However, Barefoot Books also has a Young Fiction Line for older children, which includes five chapter books, three of which are included in the May sale. 

As Odysseus fights to find his way back home after the long and brutal Trojan War, he has to endure harrowing ordeals and adventures, and come to terms with devastating losses. Storytellers Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden’s graphic retelling breathes new life into this great classic.  Regular $12.99, May sale $8.99.

This vivid retelling brings together the best-known stories about Arthur and his court, exploring the relationships between the main characters in the legends. Magnificent illustrations by Pavel Tatarnikov add to the atmosphere of Arthurian England.  Regular $12.99, May sale $8.99.

Experience this coming-of-age tale that brings to life the time of the Cultural Revolution. A young boy growing up in the hutongs of China discovers the heartache of loving and having to let go when he captures a bird, only to discover that she will not sing in confinement.  Regular $16.99, May sale $11.99.

Discover some of the secrets to Shakespeare's inspiration. The seven stories in this collection each influenced one of Shakespeare's plays during his creation process. Included before each of the stories are fascinating facts and insights into the local traditions and political issues that shaped the plays.  $12.99

Traipse to a small village in the snowy north, where Maria stumbles upon a mysterious gray bundle, covered in wintry snow — an abandoned wolf cub! Grandfather is hesitant to support his granddaughter’s plan to nurse the cub to health, but soon Maria and Shadow warm the hearts of almost every villager.  This touching story explores the delicate balance between humans and nature, and between the individual and community.  $16.99

All of these make great additions to older childrens' summer reading lists.  Sale prices are effective through tomorrow, 5/31.  Also through tomorrow, 20% of all online purchases will be donated to my nonprofit of the month, Jakes Help From Heaven. 

Put the "Book" Back into Your School's Book Fair

Are you looking for ways to help raise funds for your children's school?  Are you tired of the shameless corporate marketing and non-book products sold at school book fairs?  Check out the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's Guide to Commercial-Free Book Fairs. 

Why have a commercial-free book fair?

• Raise funds for your school in a manner consistent with its educational mission
• Promote reading without promoting TV shows and movies
• Enrich classroom and library book collections
• Support a local business

Barefoot Books is one of only two national booksellers recommended by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.  Contact me to learn more about scheduling a Barefoot Books book fair at your school or nonprofit organization.

New Products!

If you've already taken a look at the new catalog, you know that Barefoot Books is adding lots of new products throughout this year.  This is a big month for new product releases, and here are some of the highlights:

Books:

Join Bear as he celebrates his birthday in this latest addition to the bestselling Bear series. Help Bear count backwards from 10 to 0 and find out who is making his balloons disappear.

What would you like to be today? Join two children as they use their imaginations to become everything from astronauts to aliens. Includes instructions on how to make masks out of recycled materials.

 

CDs:

 

 

Doze off into dreamland with this collection of classic and contemporary acoustic songs. The eleven songs on this CD are accompanied by a mini storybook for parents to read at bedtime.

Embrace the soothing sounds of this collection of songs perfect for practicing yoga or meditating. The fourteen songs on this CD feature a wide array of world renowned musicians.


Sticker Collection:

Construct your own sticker stories on the African landscape. Includes 120 stickers, full-color map and glossary.


Gift Sets:

Leap, stomp and shake along to our bestselling paperback edition of The Animal Boogie with music CD, the paperback edition of The Animal Boogie Fun Activities and The Animal Boogie Mini Cube Puzzle--all packed in an eco-friendly, reusable green tote bag with gift tag.

Share the fuzzy friends created by artist Clare Beaton with this collection of animal adventures. Featuring board book editions of Elusive Moose, How Big is a Pig?, There's a Cow in the Cabbage Patch, Hidden Hippo, I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur and Secret Seahorse. This set is packed in an eco-friendly, reusable green tote bag with gift tag.

Singalong Sale

The Barefoot Books warehouse is doing some spring cleaning!  Through tomorrow, the following singalongs are on sale for 50% off the regular price:

The Animal Boogie (paperback with music CD) - only $4.99!

Up, Up, Up! (hardcover with music CD) - only $8.49!

If You're Happy and You Know It (paperback with music CD) - only $4.99!

Several other singalongs are on sale this month, including Creepy, Crawly Calypso, The Farmyard Jamboree, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, and Driving My Tractor.

These make great additions to children's summer reading list, as well as wonderful presents for upcoming birthdays and holidays.  Stock up now and save big!

Gift Card Winner!

The winner of the $25 Barefoot Books gift card is Melanie! Please send me an email at barefootupstate@gmail.com with your full name and mailing address.  Thanks to everyone who participated! 

Hot Off the Presses!



The Barefoot Books 2011 - 2012 catalog is now available, and it's chock-full of new books, music, games, puzzles, and puppets!  To celebrate, I'm giving away a $25 Barefoot Books gift card.  To enter, take a look through the catalog and post a comment about which new (2011 release date) product(s) you're most excited about.  I'll draw the winner on Monday, 5/9/11.

May Nonprofit of the Month: Jake's Help From Heaven

I'm very pleased to announce that the Jake's Help From Heaven Foundation is my May nonprofit of the month.  Founded in 2011, this non-profit foundation is dedicated to supporting children and families with multiple medical challenges and disabilities. Their goal is to assist children and their families affected by debilitating illnesses including neurological impairments, mitochondrial and genetic disorders, and pediatric orthopedic problems by:

•Providing grants and other financial assistance to offset costs of necessary or convenient equipment, transportation to and from treatment centers, temporary lodging near the place of treatment, patient and family member counseling and such other similar costs

•Providing non-medical ancillary support services, such as peer social support groups and outreach programs to raise awareness among the lay community about leukodystrophies, and providing a clearinghouse for information relating to such disorders

•Supporting research, whether it be historical, scientific or some other medium, regarding leukodystrophies and other rare disorders

•Providing a storeroom and exchange opportunity for families requiring adaptive equipment

The foundation is named in memory of Jake Alexander Straughter who earned his angel wings on December 8, 2010. Jake was born on May 4, 2006 a healthy, vibrant baby boy. He suffered a seizure at 8 months old and this began his very complicated medical journey. While his family never received an official diagnosis for Jake's illness - at the time of his death it was thought that he had a type of leukodystrophy, a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain. Through his short life, he battled epilepsy, liver disease, osteopenia, femur fractures, hip dislocation and more. He faced each hurdle with strength and courage and taught those around him how to persevere.

Twenty percent of my online sales this month will be donated to this wonderful organization.