If You're Happy And You Know It! Free Song Download!

A new favorite children's book in our house is one of Barefoot Books' more recent titles If You're Happy And You Know It! by Anna McQuinn with sing-a-long CD, sung by Susan Reed. This lively book puts a fresh and multicultural spin on the traditional preschool tune. Illustrations by Sophie Fatus depict children from all over the world as you sing and dance through the movements (great for an early lesson on following instructions). This book also includes two full page spreads: one showing the children saying "hello" in 36 different languages (the CD will help you with pronunciation), the second naming all the children in the book and giving their country of origin. My kids have had a lot of fun flipping around the book and playing matching games; for example, they discovered that Mehmet from Turkey says "Merhaba" and is on the "Touch Your Nose" page. Illustrations also show many villages full of plants and animals. I really couldn't ask for a better introduction to global cultures!

Now for a limited time, Barefoot Books is offering a Free Download of the song. Enjoy!

Also a reminder that we still have a few days left in our 20% off Sale!
In celebration of our new website,
Barefoot Books is offering
20% off all orders through July 16th!
Enter the Special Offer Code "HAPPY" at check out.

New Barefoot Books Website Launches!

I am thrilled to announce the launch of the new Barefoot Books website! I hope that you will enjoy browsing the lovely books and choosing new literature for your children (or anyone who needs a beautiful gift) to read this summer.

You can also find information on hosting events, holding a fundraiser, becoming an Ambassador, or finding my events in the community. There are plenty of book reviews to read and you can even add your own!

Please come by for a visit and share with your friends!

http://livingbarefoot.barefootbooks.com

Share a Barefoot Book for Father's Day on June 21st

It's time to think about Father's Day! Share the gift of reading with your child and select from the great Barefoot Books on Special Offer this month! Sale titles this month honor our dads and grandfathers with great stories and colorful illustrations.

For the hero in your life, choose Grandfather Mountain. A collection of stories from around the world about wise men and strong role models.

If you are going on a summer road trip with a little one, they will surely enjoy A Journey Home from Grandpa's. This sing along book that highlights colors and vehicles is great inspiration for I-spy games on the road.

Shopping with Dad is a silly adventure about Dad at the grocery store and a great lesson learned about accepting responsibility and handling a problem.

And what would Father's Day be without a little yoga? My Daddy is a Pretzel is also on sale so you can share a new skill with your child in a fun and approachable way for beginners! If you are already a Yogi, try the Yoga Pretzel Activity Deck or Yoga Planet Activity Deck for more poses and games! (50 poses in each deck!)

Find more Father's Day themed books on sale at Barefoot Books.

Barefoot Books Free Shipping Extended!

Now through December 16th, Barefoot Books is offering FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS and a FREE BOOK with orders over $50! It is a great time to complete your holiday shopping and pick up some TEACHER GIFTS! Simply click on the image below for the online catalog and free shipping will automatically be applied to your order.

If your order is $50 or more, you will receive a free hardcover copy of The Prince’s Bedtime (a $16.99 value)! The modern fairytale follows the struggles of a prince that can’t fall asleep and the King and Queen call on the entire kingdom to help. When the doctor, cooks, maids, musicians, dancers, and others all fail, a little old woman tries a simple solution. Imaginative illustrations and flowing fonts help encourage a child learning to read, while the rhyming verse makes it a fun read for parents too.

I hope you will have the opportunity to share this fun title with the children in your life.

A Perfect Fall Day... Listen, Listen

Each October, my family uses Columbus Day weekend as an excuse to squeeze in one last little taste of Summer. My in-laws in Northern California and the kids' beloved Lee cousins have the same days off from school, so we have formed a tradition of meeting them in Southern California when prices and crowds are low. While I savored those moments this weekend in the sun by the pool, it was also nice to return home to the seasons of the Midwest.

It was a perfect Fall day today. Sunny and crisp, but still warm enough to be comfortable without a jacket. After school, I dressed my boys in matching shirts (hoping for that holiday card picture, of course) and took them to the preschool pumpkin patch to pick out our future Jack-o-Lanterns and snap a few photos. We returned home to the leaves I had raked into a pile earlier in the day. Kids seem to know instinctively what to do with this... Ryker, still under two years, was the first to jump in. While I don't think that I got the "perfect" photo, we had a blast and certainly succeeded in digitally capturing some moments that I will treasure. It is far too seldom that I remember to tote the camera along with me and the boys.

The drastic contrast of seasons in the last two days, the idealistic autumn afternoon, and the thought of holiday cards, prompted me to take out a special Barefoot Book for bedtime this evening: Listen, Listen. The rhythmic verse by Phillis Gershator reminds us to appreciate the delicate sounds of nature that surround us each season. The art by Alison Jay, created with oil paint and a crackle varnish, evokes an especially nostalgic feel, invites the reader to explore the details, and perfectly complements the movement of the words.

"Listen, listen... summer's gone. Good-bye insects, autumn's come. Plop, plop, acorns drop. hurry, scurry, squirrels hop."

We always spend a lot of time when we sit down with this book. It wouldn't be right to rush through when the theme is just the opposite. There are all sorts of tiny things to spot in the illustrations. There are even smells, if your imagination is tuned in. It's the kind of book that reminds us to breathe and remember what is important in life. It is even a book about ecology. I promise to help my boys recall these lessons, linger a bit, and appreciate the treasures around us as we step outside each day.

Listen, Listen is available in hardcover and the newly released lap book version. The lap book is a larger format board book, ideal for the classroom setting or younger children. See Barefoot Books for more details.