A Barefoot Books Ambassador Blog
Bare-Footnotes will comment on the many amazing and exciting aspects of children's books and Barefoot Books, an independent publisher of children's literature, celebrating art and story! "Step inside a story", today!


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Make a Footprint Ornament!

Get in the Spirit of Barefoot Books and Make Your Own Footprint Ornament
I have been going through our Family's Christmas ornaments.  We have the handprints of our  kids when they were little.  They were made out of plaster paris in school.  If I had know then I would become a Barefoot Books ambassador I would have surely made this Christmas Baby Mistletoe Ornament.

Christmas Baby Mistletoe and Holly Craft
From the

The Good Stuff Guide

 

Christmas Baby Mistletoe and Holly Craft
Submitted by Angeliina Lawson
Angeliina Lawson created this Christmas decoration or tree ornament for her 10-month-old son David's 1st Christmas present for his relatives; and, she was nice enough to share the directions so you can make one too. Materials Needed:

  • 2 packs of oven baking clay in green
  • 3 red stem balls
  • 10-inches of red string to fold over
  • 1 straw
  • 1 hot glue gun
  • 1 glue stick
  • 1 sharp knife
  • 1 baking sheet
  • 1 Sharpie pen
Instructions:
Preheat the oven as directed on the oven baking clay packaging. Take clay out of packaging and flatten with hands to the size of your child's foot. Make sure the surface is smooth so the footprint comes out visible. Place your child's foot on the clay, pressing down on the heel, top of foot, and all the toes for a good impression. Lift straight up and check out the impression. You can use your fingers to fix areas or make them deeper to see better.
Take a sharp knife and cut along the footprint. Smooth out the edges and if you need to reshape the toes a little to make them more recognizable. Take a straw to make a hole at the heel for the string to go through after they are baked.
Place in the oven for 30 minutes. Let cool. Decide how wide you want the feet to be and line up the holes at the heels and use hot glue gun to glue together. Double the 10-inch string so its 5-inches long and string it through the holes at the heels. Tie a knot then tie another knot at the very end of the string so you are left with a small loop to hang the mistletoe.
Lastly, you take the 3 stem balls and with the wire attached to each red ball twist them together and use the now single wire to string through the holes in the heels. Take the wire and wrap it around thee front holly so that it secures them but also hides the wire. Write the child's information on the back so you remember who, when, and how old. Then hang the mistletoe where you would normally hang mistletoe for a kiss. This is great for gifts to the family and friends!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

Illustrations from The Barefoot Book, Tales of Mystery and Magic , retold and narrated by Hugh Lupton, illustrated byAgnesse Baruzzi. Now on sale for only $12.99!  Click on card to view!  Share with your friends!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

School Is Back!

Celebrate the new school year with our Ruby's School Walk.  It is now available in paperback for only $7.99.  Wonderful  way to deal with those going back to school jitters.  Ruby's Walk will help calm those feelings. 

Shop


Ruby's School Walk

Ruby’s morning walk with Mom on her first day back to school is far from ordinary. With a tiger ready to pounce and mighty beasts that loom and lurk, getting to school seems like an impossible task. Will she find the courage to make it there and begin her real adventure?
Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Kathryn White
Illustrated By: Miriam Latimer

http://store.barefootbooks.com/ruby-s-school-walk-4036.html/bf_affliate_code=000-032x

Friday, July 27, 2012

Let The Games Begin!


The Summer Olympics, with the athletes’ dramatic personal stories, unbelievable athletic prowess and excitement about thousands of people from hundreds of countries unified through sport, inspire children’s imaginations like no other global event. But the Olympics aren’t just about watching amazing athletes and rooting for your favorites. It’s also a great opportunity to turn children onto world culture and geography.

With 204 countries competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics, there are many important and fun things to teach children that go far beyond the speed at which a human can run, the awe of a gymnast performing multiple flips on a four-inch wide beam, and the number of paces a horse needs to take in order to successfully clear a high jump.
Here are 10 ways to spark children’s imaginations with the many multicultural aspects of the Olympics.
1.  Enjoy some food from the country of your child’s favorite Olympic athlete.
2.   Have a World Atlas app or book handy while you watch the games and learn one fun fact about each country in the competition.
3.  Make flags representing the countries competing in your child’s favorite competition.
4.  Get out that world map and mark it with medal counts as you watch the Olympics together.
5.  Learn how to say “Hello” in the different languages of the countries represented in your child’s favorite sport. ( The Barefoot Book, If You're Happy and You Know It  with CD it is wonderful for this.)
6. Read books with your children about the nations and cultures represented in the Olympics.
7. Have your child pick an athlete from any country then research their training conditions.  Discuss why the land the athlete comes from helps contribute to their athletic abilities (i.e., marathoners from Africa train in desert heat and higher elevations, making London streets easier for them, etc.)
8. When the medals are handed out and the flags go up, the winner’s national anthem is played. Find out what the words of the national anthem mean and sing it with your child.
9. Learn the capital cities of the countries of the athletes participating in your child’s favorite Olympic sport.
10. Figure out what time it is in the home country of the winning athlete and in London and encourage your child to calculate the best time for the athlete to call home and share the exciting news with their family.
Are you planning to use the Olympics as a teaching opportunity in your family?  Share with us your ideas!
*This article has also been featured on www.incultureparent.com.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wear Your Fairy Wings

On Saturday, July 21st I will be sharing Barefoot Books at the 2nd Annual Woodbury Faerie Festival held at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury, Ct.  This wonderful day is sponsored by the Woodbury Junior Women's Club.  Event runs from 10:00am-3:00pm.
Sunday, July 22nd is the rain date.
 
Faerie Festival Link
For more about Fairies check out these Barefoot Book Titles:


The Barefoot Book of Faeries

Delight in the wonder of faerie lands with the poems, stories and legends in this colorful collection. Humor, fantasy, magic and wit all come together to introduce readers to the faerie realm. Book with CD editions include stories and poems read by Tanya Robyn Batt.
Ages 4 to 9 years
Retold By: Tanya Robyn Batt
Illustrated By: Gail Newey
Click here to buy 
The hard cover on sale now for only $14.99


The Faerie's Gift

Enter a magical forest where a woodcutter is granted one wish after saving the life of a fairy. The woodcutter must make a difficult decision when faced with the needs of his wife, his father, and his mother. His ingenious and touching choice is at the heart of this traditional tale. Book with CD edition includes story read by actress Niamh Cusack.
Ages 4 to 9 years
Retold By: Tanya Robyn Batt
Illustrated By: Nicoletta Ceccoli
Narrated By: Niamh Cusack
format
Hardcover w Story CD ($17.99) 

Perhaps you and your children will be inspired to build your own fairy house for the garden. (Source blog:  kookoo in the hoohoo) How to below:

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Summer Reading Barefoot Style

I didn't mean to take such a long vacation from my blog.  Many posts are in my head, but never found their way to posting.  To start fresh and celebrate Summer, let's promote Summer Reading.  Barefoot Books is partnering with PBS and Jet Blue to Soar With Reading this Summer!  Click below and you can view the Barefoot Books Summer Reading list. and find activities for your favorite Barefoot Books.  Make sure you post your favorite children's book and for every post Barefoot Books is donating a book to a child in need.     In the coming weeks I will be highlighting some of my favorites from the list.  Please go to http://marshamiles.barefootbooks.com if you wish to buy any of these amazing titles and Soar into Summer with a Barefoot Book.  Now you can grow wings while going Barefoot!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Welcoming Bare feet Into Spring!

Spring has certainly sprung early in Northwest Ct.  The dainty crocuses and the showy daffodils have already gone by.  The tulips are ready to burst.  I really need to plant my new Lenten Rose now that the cold snap has past.  Also the Elephant Ear bulbs are calling from the basement that they are ready for the warmer soil.  Spring has also sprung with Barefoot Books.  We have new, beautiful titles to bring out your green thumbs and appreciation for the Earth and its' creatures.  You and your family will fall in love with Grandpa's Garden or My Mama Earth.  For the little ones Who's in the Farmyard or Farmyard Rhymes might be just the perfect books to cuddle up and read with.  Celebrate this Spring with a new Spring wreath for your door and a new Barefoot Book for someone you love.  Welcoming all those Bare feet!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

It's Here!

The new app is available for the Barefoot World Atlas.  Don't forget to buy your own hard copy of Barefoot World Atlas.  Click below to shop. 


 Click Here to Buy


Barefoot Books World Atlas

Embark on a mind-expanding journey across the planet. Your guide is earth enthusiast and TV presenter Nick Crane. Your map-maker is artist David Dean. Divided by geographical region, the Barefoot Books World Atlas looks at the way in which communities and cultures across the world have been shaped by their natural environment, and at the ideas and initiatives which are shaping the future. An atlas for the twenty-first century, it shows how all parts of the planet are interconnected and looks at the challenges which face us all in creating a sustainable future.


The Barefoot World Atlas app for iPad is now available!




For all ages
Written By: Nick Crane
Illustrated By: David Dean
format
Hardcover ($19.99)













Saturday, January 28, 2012

Starlight, Starbright


     Awhile ago, I came across this video on the Barefoot Books Blog.  As I watched and listened I was completely enthralled with this presentation of Starlight Sailor.  I felt like I had just stepped into something very magical.   I had already loved this book because of Jackie Morris' gorgeous illustrations, but now after listening it has taken on a new closeness for me.  The tour of the yurt and the storyteller's voice are amazing.  James Mayhew's lyrical  lines seem like they are gently floating on water along with the whales, turtles, mermaids, boats.  Please listen and enjoy.    Click on book below if interested in having your own copy. As an added bonus Starlight Sailor is currently on sale through Feb. 15th  for only $12.99, a $4.00 savings! 
     Take some time and preview another favorite, Barefoot Book of Classic Poems also illustrated by Jackie Morris.  To see both of these books in person join me at the Terry Nursery School Vendor Fair.  Saturday, February 4th, 10am-3pm. 233 Main St. Terryville, Ct.  06786  Snow date is Feb. 11th.  Mention this post and receive a 10 percent discount on your purchase.
Click to Learn More

Starlight Sailor

Drift to dreamland after this imagination adventure. A young boy and his dog set sail to distant lands in the enchanting dream landscape, where singing mermaids, majestic whales and flying dragons are brought to life by the lilting, rhyming prose and ethereal illustrations.
Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: James Mayhew
Illustrated By: Jackie Morris
format
Hardcover (NOW $12.99)
Click to Learn More



The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems

Become inspired by this breathtaking collection that brings together seventy-four of the finest poems in the English language, celebrating all manner of human experience. Features introduction from UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
For all ages
Illustrated By: Jackie Morris
format
Hardcover ($19.99)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Barefoot Books Winter Sale!

Our Barefoot Books Winter Sale is in full swing.  Shop and Save up to 50% off on selected titles now through Feb. 15th, 2012.  Free shipping on online orders $60.00 and over.