Babies Journal and Lullabies

Baby's First Journal

Capture the precious memories of your baby's first year in this spiral and cloth bound journal. With special sections for your baby's "firsts" and favorites, photographs, captions and more, all the important moments will be saved for years to come. Includes six colorful pockets for holding mementos and keepsakes.

For babies to 2 years
Illustrated By: Clare Beaton

Hardcover $24.99
Place an order My Market Place

Another wonderful site you might want to browse is all about lullabys!
Lullaby Link
Here's an example:

Baby Music Ideas

Top 10 Baby Music Ideas
1) Humm. Humming does not have to have any kind of a melody. With an infant this is especially effective if you and your baby are skin to skin and heart to heart on your chest. With a toddler just snuggle up and start!
2) The sound of the heart is an “Ahhhh.” Hold your infant on your chest with your own head to the right so that you are heart to heart. Focus on the love you have for your child and say/sigh “Ahhhhh.”
3) Sing them a lullaby
4) Talk with them in a sing-song voice that rises and falls in an exaggerated way.
5) Sing their name to them over and over.
6) Play the musical face game (4-5 months and up) Assign different parts of their face a sound. For example: cheek-squeek, nose-sliding sound, forhead-pop). Then touch and “play” the different parts.
7) Make up a diaper changing song.
8) Mimic sounds around the house. For example: humm with the refrigerator, whish with the washing machine, vrooooommm with the cars passing by…
9) Mimic the sounds of nature. For example: birds singing, water rippling in a brook, rain falling…
10) Tap a rhythm gently on your baby’s back either while you sing or as you listen to music. Sway to rhythms that you hear throughout the day.
By incorporating music and rhythm into your day with your baby you are creating “sound” memories that will last a lifetime.
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
Take off your shoes and go barefoot!

What is the Business Story Behind Barefoot Books?

What is the business story behind Barefoot Books?

How did it grow from an idea to an award-winning independent children's book publisher whose books are read by millions of families around the world?

Find out our history by listening to Nancy Traversy's inspiring interview.

How does a woman with a background in banking start and grow a children’s publishing business based on 5 core values, move continents and inspire literacy and responsibility for our planet all while raising 4 young children? In this interview, Nancy Traversy shares how creating Barefoot Books has made a difference in the lives of children around the world and discusses the Ambassador Program, the newest segment of her business which lets moms have their own business selling magnificent children’s books, puzzles and more. Nancy shares with us how she created a business that empowers children through art and story, to protect and preserve the earth for future generations.

You can listen to the interview at http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/inspired-entrepreneurs/

Learn about Fun First Steps

Learn about so much more from this wonderful company... about building community with acceptance and a library of beautiful books. Plus, inspiring creativity in children to discover their talents and gifts.
I love hearing Nancy's vision and outreach for Ambassador's spreading the word on quality Barefoot Books.

Visit my market place at http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

Bella Luna Toys Giveaway

Head over to Bella Luna Toys. Do yourself a favor and look at absolutely everything. Not to worry… you’ll have a blast. Put together a wish list. Then come back to Wee Folk Art, and list your 3 favorite things. If you would like, tell us why you made your selections. It is that simple.
The contest runs from today, Wednesday, February 24, to Sunday, February 28 at 9:00 p.m. EST. At that time 2, yep, 2 winners will be drawn at random and each will receive a $25.00 gift certificate towards the purchase of items on their wish list. How awesome is that?
Want to up your chances of winning? And who wouldn’t, right? Just link to us on Facebook, Twitter, your blog or where ever you can get the word out about this super cool Bella Luna Toys Give Away, and you’ll get an extra entry for each posting. Make sure you create a new comment for each additional entry, including linking information. Then sit back and keep your fingers crossed!

http://weefolkart.com/

What I discovered at Wee Folk Art was an amazing site filled with recipes, free felt patterns and wonderful tutorials on making toys, bookmarks and many more things. Head on over and take advantage of their giveaway that ends soon!

Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

Children's Book of Irish Stories

Tales from Old Ireland

Celebrate the wonder of Ireland with the seven enchanting stories in this captivating collection. The rich traditions of Irish storytelling are honored with larger-than-life characters, myths and legends around every bend, and plenty of magic. Book with double CDs include stories read by Grammy-nominated singer Maura O'Connell.

Ages 6 and up
Retold By: Malachy Doyle
Illustrated By: Niamh Sharkey
Narrated By: Maura O'Connell

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Barefoot Books (September 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1846862418
ISBN-13: 978-1846862410

Hardcover $19.99 Now $5.99
You can order the book at http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Amazon.com Review

Tales from Old Ireland contains seven classic stories, beautifully retold by Malachy Doyle in 90 big pages. Some of the tales will be instantly familiar: "Fair, Brown, and Trembling," for example, is a straightforward version of the Cinderella story right down to the lost shoe. Others are much less well known, like the tale of the fisherman, Jack Doherty, who always wanted to meet a Merrow (a man who lives beneath the sea). Niamh Sharkey's delightfully quirky illustrations (also seen in Jack and the Beanstalk and The Gigantic Turnip) are simple and striking; a few take up a full page, and smaller ones are scattered throughout the text. While culturally specific (and complete with a pronunciation guide for names and a few unusual words), Tales of Old Ireland has universal appeal and should occupy shelf-space in every child's imagination. (Ages 5 and older) --Richard Farr --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Northern Ireland native Doyle (Jody's Beans) celebrates his country's centuries-old oral legacy in this collection of seven stories. Traditional tales, such as "The Twelve Wild Geese" (which parallels the structure of the Brothers Grimm's "The Six Swans") and a Cinderella retelling, "Fair, Brown and Trembling," share space with some highly original individuals (e.g., the title characters in "Son of an Otter, Son of a Wolf"), and all retain a lyrical turn of phrase ("Will you do nothing to lighten our sorrow?" one of the cursed offspring asks the evil queen in "The Children of Lir"). Doyle, a conversational raconteur, wisely includes a pronunciation key for proper names that appear in the stories as well as notes on the background of the entries. Sharkey's (Jack and the Beanstalk) playfully stylized oil and gesso paintings complement the fanciful quality of the tales. Spot art breaks up the pages, and each story features one full-size painting that captures the heart of the taleAfor "The Twelve Wild Geese," 12 quilt-like squares show the birds around the edges, while a quartet of interior squares show the key characters and knitting needles for the birds' sweaters. The artist also distinguishes each tale with a unique border and its own sophisticated, muted palette. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Anyone interested in Irish culture and folk-lore will enjoy this book. I especially like the pronunciation guide in the front for Irish names and words, which can be very difficult, and the reference page at the end that explains the origins of each story

Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

Celebrate Art and Story

Image via Wikipedia

Barefoot Books is the home of wonderfully enchanting books, cds, puppets, puzzles, and more, that celebrate art & story... nurturing your child's imagination...

The Mission: At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art and story that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further, and explore their own creative gifts. Taking our inspiration from many different cultures, we focus on themes that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and sharing of the world’s diversity. Interactive, playful and beautiful, our products combine the best of the present with the best of the past to educate our children as the caretakers of tomorrow. Literacy is an integral part of Barefoot Books' mission. We have partnered with Reading Is Fundamental, Reach Out and Read, and First Book and are diligently striving to become more involved with other national and local literacy organizations.

A message from the founders: We’re convinced that art and story play a vital part in children’s lives. We hope you are, too! Our aim is to prepare the children of today to be the caretakers of tomorrow. We believe that high-quality art and story can play a vital role in fostering youngsters’ creativity and capacity for independence, encouraging them to express themselves with confidence and to see and explore the world around them from different points of view. These, it seems to us, are essential skills in our beautiful yet fragile world. Every country needs creative people – in business, in the arts, in medicine and science, and in government. But creativity doesn’t happen all by itself: the seeds are in all of us, but the way we raise our children, and the emphasis we place on their imaginative development, is what helps those seeds to grow. We often incorporate cross-cultural themes into our books, and we set out to create content that offers high educational value and is lots of fun at the same time. We focus on engaging each child’s imagination, and on presenting themes that can open into group or parent-child discussions, performance, art sessions, dance routines and a lot more. So we offer books, CDs and gifts that are thoughtfully written, beautifully designed and illustrated, and have high educational value. They are lots of fun and they are designed to last, but above all, they are meant to be shared and enjoyed. We hope you enjoy your Barefoot journey!

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

Folkmanis Puppets

Another wonderful gift giving idea that you'll find at my market place are puppets.
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Many of the items that I sell besides children's books and puzzles include the Folkmanis Puppets. People are always commenting on how beautiful they are and are interested in getting some themselves! I have been offering Folkmanis Puppets for sale at the farmer's market, home parties and school fundraisers! You can purchase a selection from me at most events I do, and through this web-site,

http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

or contact me for pricing on a puppet I may not have in stock and I'll probably be able to order it for you!

Here's a list of puppets that are in stock:

Fairy Rose Finger Puppet $9.99 (out of stock)

Tooth Fairy Finger Puppet $9.99

White Rabbit Hand Puppet $9.99

Lady Bug Puppet $12.99 (out of stock)

Bee Puppet $14.99

Tiger Cub Hand Puppet $22.99

Standing Polar Bear Hand Puppet $19.99

Princess Hand Puppet $17.99

Prince Hand Puppet $17.99

Lion Stage Puppet $19.99

Zebra Stage Puppet $19.99

Giraffe Stage Puppet $19.99

Woolly Sheep Puppet $19.99

Red Dragon Puppet $19.99

African Wildlife Finger Puppet $21.99 (out of stock)

Panda Puppet $27.99

Donkey Puppet $27.99

Scarlet Macaw Puppet $27.99

Llama Puppet $39.99
Goat Puppet $29.99

The puppets are very life-like and so adorable!

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
~ LadyD

Large Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

There are four wonderful children's board books that I recommend for gift giving. They are large board books that are called lap books.
1. I Took The Moon for A Walk

I Took the Moon for a Walk

Embark on a dreamy, nighttime jaunt with a young boy and the moon. Overcoming a fear of the dark and discovering the world at night lives at the heart of this poetic tale. Includes notes about the moon and plants and animals that thrive in the wee hours.

Ages 1 to 7 years
Written By: Carolyn Curtis
Illustrated By: Alison Jay
Price: $14.99

2. I Spy the Sun in the Sky

I Spy the Sun in the Sky

Set sail for a distant island with a young boy in search of a friend in this I-spy adventure. The rhyme and repetition encourage easy learning, and the surprise at the end will delight young readers.

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Nicoletta Ceccoli
Price: $14.99

3. Listen, Listen

Listen, Listen

Listen to all the wonderful sounds of the seasons. Birds chirp, leaves crunch, fires crackle and seagulls squawk in the rhythmic verse that features iconic images and sounds for each season of the year. Includes end section with fun hide and seek spreads for each season.

Ages 1 to 7 years
Written By: Phillis Gershator
Illustrated By: Alison Jay
Price: $14.99

4. You and Me

You and Me

Imagine yourself in a variety of situations along with the boy and girl in this simple rhyming text. As they play an imaginary game of opposites and contrasts, the children explore valleys and hills, light and dark, and hot and cold, but find that in the end, it's best when "You're you, and I'm me."

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Giovanni Manna
Price: $14.99

You can order books on my site:
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

Tips on Reading with Your Child

One of my daughter's taught in elementary school many years ago and now has her own, almost four year old son, who she enjoys reading to. Having her own book business, volunteering with story time at the library, and tutoring as well, my daughter has discovered some tips that make reading time fun!
The following was provided from the Barefoot Books website:

Here are some tips on making the most of reading with your child.

Choose a time and a place where you can be quiet and give your child lots of attention. Make the occasion a special one.
Turn off any distractions such as the TV, music or the computer.
When you are reading aloud, show your child that you are having fun!
Involve your child. Let yourself be interrupted with questions; talk about what you think of the story and the pictures.
When your child has started learning to read, follow the text and encourage him or her to point to the words as you go along.
Establish a routine. Try to devote some time every day to reading.
Take your child to your local library and involve him or her in choosing books.
Notice what kinds of stories your child enjoys and look out for ones with similar themes.
When you are reading aloud, praise your child for listening well and sitting still. When your child is learning to read to you, give praise and encouragement too, but be sure to gently correct your child when he or she makes mistakes.
Help build your child's vocabulary and memory skills by supplementing reading sessions with audio books on car journeys and after meals or at bedtime. Audio books are especially helpful in building memory skills and supporting the learning of dyslexic and autistic children.

Sharing your child's journey into reading can be one of the most rewarding experiences of parenthood. You owe it to your child, and to yourself, to make it a priority in your daily life.

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

New Titles from Barefoot Books!

I am looking forward to ordering these new arrivals myself! Have a look at these new titles!

Octopus Opposites

Empty, full; push, pull; young, old; hot, cold! The creatures in this vibrant book range from friendly elephants to exotic kookaburras, each with a pair of opposites to share. A companion to Alligator Alphabet and Counting Cockatoos, Octopus Opposites will encourage youngsters to find opposites all over the place in their own worlds. The learning continues at the end, where readers find out where each of the animals makes its home.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Stephanie Bauer

Another new Title: ( I love the illustrations in this one! )

Who's in the Garden?

In this delightful peek-a-boo book, children are invited to look through the holes on every other page to answer the repeating refrain, “Who’s coming to see how my garden grows?” The energetic, rhyming text introduces all sorts of creatures that are busy in the garden.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Phillis Gershator
Illustrated By: Jill McDonald

Looking forward to writing a review for these great new books!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

We're Riding on a Caravan: An Adventure on the Silk Road by Laurie Krebs

We're Riding on a Caravan

An Adventure on the Silk Road

Join the caravan for an exciting yearlong trek along China's ancient Silk Road. Following the rhyming, treasure-filled story are informational end notes about the history of the Silk Road, the story of silk, important cities of China, and a full-spread map.

Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Helen Cann

Amazon Reader Review:

"In "We're Riding on a Caravan", readers are introduced to the Silk Road, an important trading route that connected Asia and Europe centuries ago. It tells the readers about the caravan journey of a family as they make this yearlong trip over the Chinese leg of the trip. We see how they began in Xi'an, stopped in the cities in Lanzhou and Dunhuang, rested in Hami, traded in Turpan, and finally arrived in Kashgar where they sell their remaining silk at the market before setting out on the return journey home. The trip is then presented on an illustrated map in the end notes, giving readers a better idea of the distances between the stops on the journey.

In addition to the map, the traditional story of how silk was discovered is recounted in the endnotes. It also devotes a couple pages to the history of the Silk Road, which should be useful to readers who might not have been introduced to the subject in school yet. For readers who are uncertain about pronunciation of the Chinese names, the end notes offer a pronunciation guide as well as a paragraph or so of information about each location..."

A very educational paperback book for $7.99
The paper in the book is ancient - forest friendly.

Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
~ LadyD

You and Me by Stella Blackstone and Giovanni Manna

You and Me

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Giovanni Manna

livingbarefoot says:

Opposites Attract! I LOVE this book!

Easy to read, Well-written, Colorful, Bedtime, Great illustrations

This is so much more than a book of opposites. It sends a loving message that what sets us apart from one another is also what makes us compatible. I love how the two children, on opposing pages for each set of opposites, are always looking at each other from across the binding of the book. You and Me is also a book about imagination, as it personifies shapes, weather, animals, and states of being. In the end, the comforting message is about our individuality and friendship.
Giovanni Manna's illustrations make this a perfectly dreamy book! Snuggle up!

LadyD says:

The words on the pages are so very simple to read but the over all concept of opposites is brilliant! Plus each sturdy, durable page has a detailed border encompassing gorgeous detailed pictures of rich colors to see. You and Me is a very special picture book that will captivate pre-school audiences but will also attract plenty of adult fans, too. This sweet book makes a perfect gift for all. Enjoy celebrating the differences in the story line while reading this beautiful lap book together!