Kiwi Magazine Review: Kids Garden by Whitney Cohen

 What a perfect title for spring... Kids Garden!
 Kids Garden by Whitney Cohen
Illustrated By: Roberta Arenson
Ages 8 and up
Product Description:
40 fun outdoor activities and games
Get outside and grow with some child-friendly fun with gardening! Kids’ Garden includes forty activities and games and an eight-page booklet that contains information on gardening tools, year-round plant care and garden safety. These step-by-step instructions are enhanced by colorful collage artwork on each double-sided card and they create a fun and easy way for budding green-thumbs to plant, investigate, learn and experiment.
Kiwi Magazine Review:
http://www.kiwimagonline.com/bookclub/reviews/kids-garden-by-whitney-cohen/#more-4571
"This is an oversized deck of 40 cards for great games, ideas, and activities centered around the garden. Barefoot recommends these cards for ages 8+, but, with a parent or caretaker supervising, these cards would be appropriate for ages 5+. The mix of activities ranges from indoor to outdoor and active planting to improving observational skills, so there is something for everyone. These cards are great for year-round fun and education."
As you can see, my garden continues to grow green!
Thinking of a Mother's Day gift? Perhaps you've found it with these outdoor garden activity cards.
They're available for purchase at:
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com
Your comments are welcomed and encouraged! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
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How To Bake Greek Roast Lamb

 How To Bake Greek Roast Lamb (ami psito) 

I remember as a child when Greek Easter came along, my mom would serve lamb for dinner. First we would go to the market the day before and purchase one leg (buti) of lamb with the bone not broken. She was so proud to make the purchase and to return home to prepare a delicious meal for her family.



Lamb has been the meat of sacrifice in Greece since time immemorial. They would sprinkle it with oregano and thyme that grew wild on the mountainside and prepare it with olive oil and lemon juice before roasting it over the fire.


Way back in time women were not allowed to prepare this meat. The men were the chefs and would step into the kitchen to prepare the meat properly. I am glad that over time some traditions have changed because I love to bake lamb in my own kitchen. It is my pleasure to share our family recipe with you. Yasou!



Just as spaghetti sauce tastes different in each village by the Italians, so it is with the Greeks. One thing that seems to be in common with lamb recipes is the garlic. Don’t skimp on the garlic, that’s for sure!



Greek roast lamb is served well with pasta, rice or potatoes. I enjoy a Greek salad as well with my meal. The secret is to bake the lamb in a very hot oven at first and then lower the temperature. I sincerely hope you enjoy this recipe and may happiness and joy surround your table.
Yasou!

Ingredients: 

1 leg of lamb (9 lbs. or larger)
3-5 to 12 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved
1/2- 1 Tablespoon of salt
1/8 - 1/4 Teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon of oregano or more
1 Teaspoon of thyme
1 Tablespoon of spearmint flakes (optional) I use a little
2 Lemons, juice only
3 cups boiling water

Wipe meat and place in a shallow baking pan. With a small knife make four or more incisions all over and insert sliced cloves of garlic. Rub with salt, pepper, oregano and mint. Roast meat at 425 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F. and continue baking 2 hours longer, adding water in the pan. Add lemon juice the last half hour and baste lamb with juice. Skim some of the floating oil that accumulates in the pan and use the remaining liquid for gravy. If desired, remove the lamb from the pan and add parboiled potatoes, pasta or rice to juices in pan and continue baking the potatoes. Enjoy!


Barefoot Books offers:


The Adventures of Odysseus

Travel back in time to experience one of the greatest epic stories of all time. Once the Trojan war ended, Odysseus thought his journey home would begin. But what he assumed was the end of his adventure was truly only the beginning.

Also available in full-length story CD read by Hugh Lupton.
Ages 8 and up
Retold By: Daniel Morden, Hugh Lupton
Illustrated By: Christina Balit

 Dvd/Cd Sale $4.99 Was $19.99
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
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Discover Books To Help The Planet

These books show children what they can do to help the environment.




The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales

Learn how different cultures around the world set out to live in harmony with the natural world. The seven folk tales are each followed by a hands-on activity that promotes green living and reinforces the eco-messages of the stories.
Ages 5 to 11 years
Compiled By: Dawn Casey
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson
Now $16.99

Whole World

Connect with the whole wide, wonderful world with this green book that rejoices in the marvels of our environment. The catchy rhyme in this new take on a traditional spiritual begs to be sung aloud. Includes lots of facts about the Earth's eco systems and tips on how to be eco-conscious. Include CD sung by acclaimed children's performer Fred Penner.

We are donating ten percent of sales from Whole World to benefit global conservation.
Ages 3 to 7 years
Illustrated By: Christopher Corr
Sung By: Fred Penner
Hardcover Book $16.99

Whole World Gift Set

A great way to teach children about the planet

Sing along and experience the eco-excitement with the hardcover edition of Whole World with music CD and the paperback edition of Whole World: Fun Eco Activities book, packed in a reusable green shopper tote with gift tag to personalize.
Ages 3 to 7 years 
$20.00

Yoga Planet

50 Fun Activities for a Greener World

Try out each of the fifty poses and games in this interactive deck to feel connected to the Earth's elements. Written by Yoga Ed., each of the cards is in line with one of the planet's natural elements: air, earth, fire, water and space.

Founded by Tara Guber, Yoga Ed. develops and produces health and wellness courses, trainings and products for teachers, parents, children and health professionals that improve academic achievement, physical fitness, emotional intelligence and stress management. To find out more about Yoga Ed., please visit www.yogaed.com
For all ages
Written By: Leah Kalish, Tara Guber
Illustrated By: Sophie Fatus
Now $12.99


Products available for online purchase at:
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com
Explore the outdoors and celebrate Earth Day!
I'll be in the garden caring for my vegetables!
How will you celebrate Earth Day?
Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
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Top Ten Travel Books from Barefoot Books

 Barefoot Books offers many great books of all kinds. They are famous for their children's books. I seem to spend a great deal of my time reading picture books to my grandson. But then, have I mentioned to you that barefoot also has quite an assortment of travel books?! Here's some, to name a few...
1. We're Sailing Down the Nile

A Journey Through Egypt

Set sail along the mighty Nile River to experience the wonders of Egypt. The lilting, rhyming story text is followed by eleven pages full of educational information about ancient Egypt, gods and goddesses, a helpful map, and much more.
Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson
This travel and adventure book was $7.99, now on sale for $6.99
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

2. 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 endnotes 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
 This travel along the silk road paperback book was $7.99, now $6.99. Order online at:
http://ladyd.barefootbook.com

A Counting Journey Through Tanzania

Learn to count in Swahili while discovering African animals on an exciting safari through the grasslands of Tanzania. Facts about Tanzania, Swahili counting, the Maasai people and a map are included at the end.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation, to aid in their wildlife conservation and community building efforts in Tanzania.
Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Julia Cairns
 Travel through Tanzania with this wonderful paperback children's book... $7.99
http://store.barefootbooks.com/we-all-went-on-safari-2.html

4. Up and Down the Andes

A Peruvian Festival Tale

Surround yourself with the colors and wonders that await on this lively trip through the Andes mountains of Peru. The rhyming, cadenced text is supplemented by nine pages of educational notes about Peru and its people.
Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Aurélia Fronty
This hardcover travel book is on sale for $15.99
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

5. Off We Go to Mexico!

An Adventure in the Sun

Travel to Mexico and discover its many wonders, from the amazing monarch butterflies in the Highlands to a mariachi show in the village square. The rhyme and lyricism of the text is complemented by endnotes about the history of the country, national fiestas, and a glossary of simple Spanish vocabulary.
Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Christopher Corr
An adventure to Mexico  is a great kids book. Paperback for $7.99
http://store.barefootbooks.com/off-we-go-to-mexico-2.html


6. My Granny Went to Market

A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme

Fly away with Granny and count with her from one to ten as she spins around the world on an unforgettable shopping trip. This colorful, rhyming story is followed by a counting page for reinforced learning.
Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Christopher Corr
  
This educational book is on sale . Was $6.99 and now $5.99 
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

7. We're Roaming in the Rainforest

An Amazon Adventure

A trio of children embark on a daylong trek through the rainforest, discovering all sorts of exotic creatures in their natural habitats. The charming, rhyming text highlights an action verb for each creature, from chattering monkeys to crouching jaguars. The story is enhanced by nine pages of educational endnotes, including information about the Amazon, the creatures featured in the story, the peoples of the rainforest, and a full-page, full-color map of South America.
Ages 4 to 10 years
Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson
 A new hardcover, educational book from Barefoot Books can be purchased for $16.99 at
My Marketplace


8. Indian Tales

A Barefoot Collection

Venture to a country that is bursting with color, life and contrasts in these lively folk tales. The eight stories in this anthology, each from a different Indian state, feature educational facts and information about the cultures from which they are chosen.
Ages 8 and up
Retold By: Shenaaz Nanji
Illustrated By: Christopher Corr
 A great travel book of another culture with educational facts on sale. Was $19.99 Now $18.99
My Book Store

9. A Calendar of FestivalsS

Celebrations from around the World

Discover festivals from eight different cultures in this multilayered collection. Each of the stories tells of the origins of a different celebration and is preceded by factual and cultural information about the way the holidays are observed in modern times.
Ages 8 and up
Retold By: Cherry Gilchrist
Illustrated By: Helen CannL
Paperback kids book about holidays around the world. $12.99
http://store.barefootbooks.com/a-calendar-of-festivals-2.html

10. Up, Up, Up!

This airborne adventure takes readers ballooning over lands near and far, all the way to the stars. The charming singalong song on the accompanying CD keeps spirits high, while the rhyming and playful text introduces all sorts of settings and vocabulary-building words. Book with CD edition includes song sung by Susan Reed.
Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Susan Reed
Illustrated By: Rachel Oldfield
 This new music book sells for $16.99 This children's hardcover book will take you near and far. A travel book for children in a balloon!
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com


Indeed there are more travel books offered from this great children's book company. I have offered a few here for your viewing. What do you think? Where would you like to travel to next? I've often heard that books will take you any where you want to go... so true!

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
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Green Elephants Garden Sculptures: Who's In Your Garden?


Green Elephants Garden Sculptures
Originally uploaded by epSos.de


My husband loves the idea of planting seeds,because he assures me that in the end they will sprout more quickly and endure and surpass starter plants in size and the overall quality of the plant. I suspect that many of you, like me, find the lure of instant gratification would be too hard to resist and that we would be at Home Depot buying our tomato starter plants right away! For those of you who have outdoor spaces, which philosophy do you adhere to? Seeds or starter plants?

From around the world there have been many unusual yet so beautiful are the gardens!

"Topiary Gardens at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear, U.K. The greenery in Washington Old Hall, an English manor house that was an ancestral home of George Washington, is formed in a charming lattice pattern the appears to curve up and under perfectly—a nice change from the typical teddy bear and elephant topiaries."
"Quai Branly Museum, Paris
Designed by vertical garden innovator Patrick Blanc, the façade of this lovely Parisian museum features Japanese plants and irises, Helxine (a moss-like creeper with delicate foliage), and a host of other lush greenery. Metal constructs prevent it from reaching the windows, creating a wild—yet clean—effect for passersby, who often stop to touch the plants at the ground level."




Barefoot Books offers a large format board book for $14.99 called Who's In The Garden written by Phillis Gershator and illustrated by Jill McDonald.

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.



So in my garden I have mushroom compost.


You'll also find a field of brightly colored Poppies and vegetables just waiting to take off.


I'll keep you posted with my garden growing. So how about you... what's in your garden?


Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
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My Putumayo CD Collection of Children's Songs

Being a piano teacher and having 2 wonderful grandsons and another grandchild on the way keeps me ever in the loop of listening for more quality children's music. I have a wonderful collection of children's songs from around the world and I thought I would take the time to share some with you. Perhaps you also have many of them in your music library. Do you have a favorite Putumayo Cd? Mine would be Africa and Mali. For more information,  please visit their website: http://putumayo.com/
 About Reggae Playground
This joyous collection for kids and their families from Putumayo Kids features a festive selection of tunes that reflect the crossover appeal and worldwide influence of reggae – a genre that is beloved all over the globe.
As Jacob Edgar, Putumayo’s resident ethnomusicologist notes,“Reggae is one of the most adaptable and influential styles. People can really blend the reggae vibe with their local music to create something that is influenced by reggae but has its own unique flavor.”
Reggae Playground presents renowned artists from reggae’s birthplace of Jamaica. Judy Mowatt, a former backing vocalist for Bob Marley and respected solo artist, invites listeners to get moving with her rousing “Let’s Dance.” We hear about the importance of respecting our differences and the need to work together in Rita Marley’s classic anthem “Harambe.” The Jamaican reggae arrangements of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by the legendary Toots & the Maytals and the Burning Souls’ rendition of “Here Comes the Sun” demonstrate the adaptability of this infectious beat to almost any tune.
Other artists from diverse musical traditions who have adopted the reggae style and made it their own are also featured on Reggae Playground. For example, Johnny Dread, an artist of Cuban heritage who now lives in Miami, sings about “Rootsman Dread,” a colorful figure beloved by children. Marty Dread represents the huge popularity of reggae music in Hawaii, and Jessica, from the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, displays the popular blending of traditional sega music with reggae.The popularity of reggae in places as diverse as the United States (Eric Bibb), Brazil (Kal dos Santos), Morocco (Mousta Largo), and even Indonesia (Tony Q Rastafara) is also demonstrated here.
Asheba, an artist who hails from Trinidad and is known for his Caribbean songs for young children, performs a soothing “Reggae Lullaby.” Even parents will be lulled by the refrains of “Oooh Baby,Don’t Cry / Rest now and wipe your weeping eye.” Asheba will tour US, Canadian and Caribbean retailers and festivals as a Putumayo Kids representative during the spring and summer of 2006. “Reggae had a huge influence on my childhood days and shaped my musical career,” Asheba says.“To me, reggae is a comfort food.”
Reggae Playground is the sixth release in the award-winning Playground series from Putumayo Kids. A division of Putumayo World Music, Putumayo Kids is committed to introducing children to other cultures through fun, upbeat international music. Since the 1999 release of World Playground, Putumayo Kids has become one of the premiere children’s music labels in the world. Aside from the Playground CDs, Putumayo Kids offers multicultural activity kits used in thousands of elementary school classrooms.
 
 
Putumayo invites listeners to turn down the lights and relax to the tranquil melodies of beautiful lullabies and soothing songs from Africa, Europe, North and South America and Asia. More than simply a bedtime album for children, Dreamland: World Lullabies and Soothing Songs, features beautiful, universally appealing songs that will create a calm ambiance for people of all ages. Dreamland is the fifth recording in the acclaimed World Playground series of music and multicultural activity kits from Putumayo Kids.


Awards:
2004 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2004 ALA/ALSC Notable Recordings for Children Award
2004 Parents’ Choice Recommended Award
"DiscoverySchool.com" 5-star Award of Excellence
NAPPA Gold Award 2003 

 About African Playground
Download a free African Playground Teaching Guide, the African Playground Map, and a Fun Craft Activity that relates to Song 12, "Barco di Papel" by Tété Alhinho!

Download song lyrics
Putumayo's award-winning Playground series of world music CDs for children travels to Africa, a continent that is exuberantly rich in music and culture. African Playground is filled with great songs by artists from Senegal to South Africa, including a previously unreleased track by world music superstar Angelique Kidjo. Children and their families will love the upbeat rhythms and appealing melodies on this musical tour. Parents and educators will appreciate the accessibly presented cultural information and musical fun facts.
African Playground includes entertaining and informative multi-lingual liner notes, song lyrics, cultural information, a music glossary and colorful illustrations.
Awards:
2004 ALA/ALSC Notable Recordings for Children Award
2003 Parents’ Choice Gold Award
"DiscoverySchool.com" 5-star Award of Excellence
NAPPA Gold Award 2003
In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, we will be donating 100% of our proceeds from the sale of this CD to The Red Cross throughout 2010.
Download Song Lyrics (PDF)
Putumayo Kids invites children and families on a fun musical cruise to the Caribbean with Caribbean Playground, part of the label’s award-winning Playground series. Filled with upbeat songs, informative liner notes and colorful artwork, Caribbean Playground is a festive carnival.
Caribbean Playground features diverse music such as zouk from the French Caribbean, soca from Trinidad, reggae from Jamaica, bomba from Puerto Rico and more. International stars Taj Mahal, Desmond Dekker and the Wailers are featured alongside some of the Caribbean’s most popular artists such as Kali, Atlantik and Luc Leandry, as well as other exciting new discoveries.
Caribbean Playground includes full-color liner notes in English, Spanish and French with song descriptions and cultural information. 
The Playground series has won Parents’ Choice Awards, NAPPA Gold and ‘Best of’ from Scholastic publications.
Awards:
2004 NAPPA Gold Award
These wonderful cds are available for purchase at My Market Place
I'm thinking of purchasing their new one Jazz Playground. I recently read a  good review on this one: New York Kids

Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoy your stay at Barefoot Books-LadyD
Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
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