Living Barefoot Is...

Last week, Barefoot Books asked its Stallholder Community to submit a photo and a quote as a contest to create a new e-campaign. Our guidelines seemed simple enough: a photo of a barefoot child in an autumnal setting and a quote to describe what Living Barefoot means to us. AH! That should be easy for me; I have so many thoughts on Living Barefoot! It’s the title of my blog. I could spout off forever. But here’s the catch: our quotes had to be 40 words or less – so I could not spout off forever after all. 40 words is actually quite short. I'm a better formal writer and not much of a journalist. I was sure I would just throw in the towel and write a nice long gratuitous blog post instead. But I stuck with it and kinda like my slender 40 words. In the end, I did not win the contest, but here is my quote; along with my wonderful photo of Ryker “Living Barefoot”.

Living Barefoot is a global consciousness. Just as feeling the earth beneath our feet connects us to the importance of maintaining a healthy planet; reading Barefoot Books connects children to world cultures, creating a future global community with greater understanding.

BTW, don't forget Barefoot is offering 30% off on all web orders through Monday, November 3rd. Use special offer code SCLB30 at checkout!

Save 30% on Barefoot Books!

Barefoot Books is offering 30% off all web orders October 29th - November 3rd!
Click on the following image to redeem the offer.

Barefoot Books in Madison, WI WEAC October 30th and 31st

Attention Wisconsin and Teacher Friends!

I will be bringing Barefoot Books to Madison next Thursday and Friday, October 30th and 31st for the WEAC (Wisconsin Education Association Council) Conference at the Alliant Energy Center!

Barefoot is virtually unknown in Wisconsin, and I am hoping to introduce the teacher community to these award-winning children's books. Barefoot is committed to nurturing a love of reading in a way that encourages children to explore their creativity and discover the diversity of the world's many cultures and traditions. Shouldn't Wisconsin be taking advantage of this incredible literature?

I hope that you will help and support me by letting Wisconsin teachers know about me and my participation in the conference. Barefoot will be at Booth #325.

Additionally, I am happy to meet anyone who is interested in learning about the company, picking up a few books (and saving the postage fees), or talking about becoming a Stallholder in an area with wide open opportunity! I'll be staying at the Sheridan and able to meet anyone there between the hours of 6pm to 9pm on Thursday, October 30th. Please give me a call at 847-863-6512 to schedule.

Pass it on!

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.

Barefoot Books opens at FAO Schwarz: New York City Event for Kids on October 4th, 2008

If you are in New York City this weekend, don't miss a stop into FAO Schwarz on October 4th to celebrate the official opening of the Barefoot Books store! This grand opening weekend is marked with special celebrity guests and events such as stories, yoga, and sing-a-longs, running from 11am - 4pm.

In this exciting partnership, Barefoot will now provide it's beautiful products in a stunning boutique within FAO's flagship Manhattan store. If you can't make it this weekend, stop in anytime. Talented toy soliders will share Barefoot Books at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3pm daily from the Storyteller Throne.

Additional events are also planned: on October 18th, there will be a special visit from Arthur of Albion author John Matthews for storytelling and book signing. Please continue to check the Barefoot Website for an updated schedule!

Barefoot Books Offers Free Shipping September 27th - 30th

I am pleased to announce that Barefoot Books is offering Free Shipping on all orders from Saturday, September 27th through Tuesday, September 30th.

I hope you will explore the wonderful new Fall products. This is a great opportunity to stock up on birthday gifts or even do some early holiday shopping!

Simply click here and enter Special Offer Code SCSHS8 at checkout... And please share with your friends!

Back to School Announcement

I hope your school year has gotten off to a great start!

As we put the beach gear away and turn our attention back to academics, I have made an exciting business decision.

Effective immediately, I will be able to offer my customers Usborne Books. While the beautiful art and story of Barefoot Books will remain the primary focus of my business, Usborne will supplement my offerings with non-fiction and reference books.

For many years, Usborne Books have had their own place in our home library; filling my boys' needs for science books, foreign language picture dictionaries, activity books, and atlases. I have also had customers ask for math, flashcards, textured board books, more princesses, and crafts. Therefore it seems quite natural to be able to offer these items myself. I am proud to now be providing a broader range of materials to help you meet your children's educational needs. And while I am a lover of literature and the printed word, I feel that the Internet Link aspect of many of the Usborne books adds an important dimension to the learning experience of a young researcher. The two companies really complement each other very well.

My e-commerce site for Usborne is as follows:

www.ubah.com/X2507

I hope you will spend some time browsing the online catalog and PLEASE share with your friends.

To place an order, please join into my web launch eShow by clicking on www.ubah.com/HOS124320. My Business Launch eShow will run through midnight on December 5th - perfect for your holiday needs. (this eShow will help me track my sales and gauge the success of an Usborne side to things)

Tips to Maximize your dollar:

With the holidays right around the corner, you may also consider signing on as a consultant. The sign up offer for September is wonderful: for $35 and free shipping, you get $99 worth of books, a 6 month e-commerce site, and an entry into the lottery for a trip to Rome! It doesn't need to be a "business". You can purchase for your holiday gift giving needs, share the discount with family, and get a discount/commission as well!

Keep in mind that Barefoot offers an affiliate program too... it's FREE and no starter pack purchase is required. You can immediately start buying the books you want for a discount and put a free banner ad on any website to earn commission on web sales!

Alternatively, you can also just earn free books, from either company, by hosting an event. Feel free to call or email me with any questions.

More on Barefoot in an upcoming newsletter! In the meantime, please consider Usborne for your non-fiction needs!

Thank you again for your continued support,
Leonore