Founder and CEO of Barefoot Books- Nancy Traversy- Work It, Mom!

With Mother's Day on the way, I wanted to share this mom interview with you and then some fabulous books that moms and grandmas will enjoy reading with their kids and grand-kids!

"In this honest and revealing interview, Nancy talks in depth about the inspiration for creating her company, the many challenges that she and the team have faced over the past 15 years and what has helped her overcome them, and why she thinks that having a mom who is an entrepreneur has been a positive influence on her kids."

Founder and CEO of Barefoot Books
"Nancy Traversy is the founder and CEO of Barefoot Books, a wonderful and independent publisher of children’s books and gifts that operates in the UK and the U.S. She has managed to create and run the company for the past 15 years while being a mom to four (yes, four!) kids, who are now 10, 11, 13, and 14! In this honest and revealing interview, Nancy talks in depth about the inspiration for creating her company, the many challenges that she and the team have faced over the past 15 years and what has helped her overcome them, and why she thinks that having a mom who is an entrepreneur has been a positive influence on her kids."
Company Website:

http://www.barefootbooks.com
Date company was founded : We began working on the idea in 1992, launched officially in the UK in 1993, and opened a U.S. office in New York in 1998, which we moved to Cambridge, MA in 2001.
Number of employees : Total of 33 - 23 in the U.S. and 10 in the UK.
Financing sources : Friends, family, and founders.
Can you tell us a little bit about your company?
Barefoot Books is a pioneering, award-winning, and very independent publisher of illustrated children’s books and complementary gift products. We were founded in 1992 in the UK and now have offices in Bath, England, and Cambridge, MA, with a small team of 33 fantastic and committed individuals. Since we started our Barefoot journey, we have published over 400 titles and our publishing program now consists of books and gifts for preschoolers, young readers aged 4 through 12 and children of all ages. We believe in the importance of building communities of like-minded individuals who have children in their lives and who also share our core values. These include an understanding and acceptance of global cultures and traditions, an awareness and appreciation of our environment, imagination in a world of too much information, literacy and, perhaps most importantly, a simple love of beautiful art and a captivating story."

http://www.workitmom.com/interviews/detail/16

"In an industry dominated by Barnes & Noble and Borders, Barefoot Books has thrived by saying no to the major chains. Mom-turned-entrepreneur Nancy Traversy explains the success of her children's publishing house."


http://www.inc.com/inctv/2007/04/barefoot-books.html
For Moms, Grandmothers, Kids and Grand-kids

The stories in this anthology illustrate many of the qualities of the wise woman, offering readers of all ages a new perspective on the grandmother character that is usually presented in fairy tales as either menacingly evil or dim-witted and useless. With spirited grandmothers from as far afield as Senegal and Sweden, all of these tales are rich with humor, action and suspense. A fresh and witty retelling is complemented by finely detailed and mesmerizing illustrations.

Awards and Honors:
NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000
Recent praise:
"Mutén retells eight folktales with the purpose of restoring the image of the wise woman 'as a benevolent, resourceful, independent, informed guide, who is respected in her community,' in place of the images of evil hags or silly fools. The stories come from Senegal, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, and Sweden, and are a mixture of the familiar and the lesser known.... Her smooth retellings are enhanced by Bailey's jewel-toned, gouache illustrations. Detailed border scenes unique to each story appear along the bottom of each page. The lively vignettes and occasional full-paged art make this collection especially accessible as a read-aloud or read-alone." - School Library Journal
"All [the stories] are accompanied by beautiful and ethnically appropriate illustrations.... The collection is a wonderful way to introduce views and images from other cultures." - Booklist
"Retold by Mutén with freshness and wit, these eight stories examine the intriguing character of the Wise Woman. Siân Baily's mesmerizing illustrations transport readers to exotic settings and places as they learn the fascinating lore that surrounds the old woman figure in different cultures." - NAPRA Review

Hardcover $19.99
Illustrator: Sian Bailey:

Retold By: Burleigh Muten

* Mother Goose Remembers

Compiled and Illustrated by: Clare Beaton
"Beaton's work evokes the cozy domesticity and unhurried days of a bygone era, and many adults may find it refreshing to find a Mother Goose untainted by zingy modern ironies."—Publishers Weekly
$19.99 Hardcover and CD

* Motherbridge of Love
Illustrated by: Josée Masse
Silver Winner in the 2008 Nautilus Book Awards
$16.99

* Baby's First Book
The perfect book to share with a baby. Introduce them to their first letters, numbers, and shapes!
$19.99

* My Granny Went to Market
A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme
Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Christopher Corr
"Each page delights the senses and opens young eyes to the world around them."—School Library Journal

* Gift Card- $25
Imagine...the perfect gift!
** FREE SHIPPING on all orders through MAY 10th-2009 **
Order books here:

http://www.mybarefootbooks.com/LadyD