If you are a fan of Camelot, check out Arthur of Albion

The ultimate book on King Arthur! Combining the best-known stories about Arthur and his court with fascinating research on who Arthur really was and where Camelot was built, and the relationships between the main characters in the legends, this magnificent edition has been designed and illustrated to the highest standards. This is a great gift for any age with it's classic storytelling and beautiful artwork. You can purchase hit in hardcover at Barefoot Books.

All possessed great magic, which some used to help the king, and others to hinder him, each according to her will.


National Parenting Publications Gold Award Winner

Is that a CAMEL Puppet?

YES! That is a camel puppet! Barefoot Books also has llama, zebra and dragon puppets.

My dad has always been a fanatic for anything from Ancient Egypt, and when I was 16, we were lucky enough to go to Egypt for a family vacation. But I really didn't know anything about Egyptian culture until I was actually there. I knew about the pyramids and everything, but I was really surprised by all the people who live in Cairo. Here's "We're Sailing Down the Nile", which is a great introduction to Egypt for kids ages 10 and under. And seriously, when do you ever see a camel puppet? And I can assure you from personal experience... they aren't the most comfortable to ride, they drool like crazy, but I'm usually the only person in the room who has ridden a camel.

There is so much in store on this incredible journey - enormous statues and temples, the legendary Sphinx, tombs and mummies, and of course the Great Pyramids. With seven exciting destinations, a god or goddess on each page, and informative notes at the end, you will be an Egypt expert in no time!

"Six smiling Egyptian children invite readers to accompany them on a sight-seeing jaunt down the Nile River" - Publishers Weekly

Climb aboard the river boat! We're sailing down the Nile. We'll visit Abu Simbel in just a little while.

"As in Off We Go to Mexico and her other travelogues for youngsters, Krebs keeps the rhyming couplets simple and concise as she introduces a sampling of attractions... The artists presents a variety of settings, from farmers toiling along the shores to Cairo's colorful skyline, and reinforces the role of the Nile as central to Egyptian life, past and present." - Publishers Weekly

For the vegetarian in your life...

I'm a meat-eater. This isn't going to change. But I have friend named Melinda Jane who eats what I call "Rabbit Food". Whenever I see this book, I always think of her. This is Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon available in paperback for $7.99. You can even wrap it as a gift with Herb wrapping paper for $4.99.

All the dragons in the forest of Nogard like nothing better than raiding Castle Dark and carrying off princesses to eat - all the dragons, that is, except one. Herb is at his happiest tending his vegetable patch, for Herb is a vegetarian. So it is unfortunate that he is the one captured by the castle's knights in armor. Treacherous Meathook and his dragon cronies will only help Herb if he agrees to eat meat - will he give in to their blackmail? Jules Bass's lighthearted story combines with Debbie Harter's jaunty illustrations to make this a hilarious picture book that also offers young readers plenty of food for thought.



As this was happening, Herb was cooking a new soup made of butter, leeks, onions and potatoes. "Mmmm," he smiled, licking his lips. "Very tasty. I must give it a new name - 'Herb's Famous Lakewater Veggie Slurp'."




"Can frightened citizens, unrepentant carnivores and a peaceful herbivore find a way to coexist? Jules Bass, author of Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, is the weaver of this whimsical tale of learning to live together in harmony. Accompanied by vibrant and often hilarious illustrations, Herb's story amuses readers while encouraging tolerance for personal choice." - Delicious! Magazine

"Lush with growing plants and green grass, the artwork is filled with details that readers will pore over." - School Library Journal




"The book's case for vegetarianism and understanding of differences is further enhanced when accompanied by the author's Cooking With Herb: A Cookbook for Kids.... Amusing illustrations characterize both works; the recipes and safety tips in the cookbook will help kids enjoy cooking while learning good kitchen habits." - NAPRA Review

"A magical read for all new readers, young and old; Herb's story tells the tale of the future." - Sir Paul McCartney

Awards Won: IRA-CBS Children's Choice, 2000Parents' Choice Award, Approved Winner, 2000

Everyone seems to love Leonardo DaVinci...

... but it's rare to see him illustrated in children's books. This is from The Genius of Leonardo, which can really be appreciated by both children and adults. It was awarded as the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book of the Year, Recommended Winner in 2000.

Bimba Landmann's richly colored iconographic illustrations both illuminate this stunning life of Leonardo and create an air of mystery around this far-reaching genius. At once instructive and entertaining, the story is told by ten-year-old Giacomo, who comes to respect, love, and learn from Leonardo, his wise and eccentric master. The many facets of this towering genius of Renaissance Italy are explored in a book that will inspire everyone to search for their own greatness within.



"With innovative illustration complementing the fascinating story, this truly beautiful book is appealing to all age groups." - National Gallery, London




"Thought-provoking and utterly fascinating, The Genius of Leonardo is also a stunningly beautiful book. Giacomo, da Vinci's young assistant, tells of his time with the artist, subtly drawing attention to the extent to which he was startlingly ahead of his time." - Guardian



Leonardo smiled, and he explained that a person's life is just a moment in infinity. During that moment, no one can do and know all that they would like.





The book is available for $16.99 at this site. You can also get unframed prints from the book for $14.99, as well as notecards for $12.99.

The Boy Who Grew Flowers...

Rink's grandmother was raised by wolves, his Uncle Dud tames rattlesnakes, and Rink grows beautiful flowers all over his body when the moon is full. Townspeople just don't understand the Bowagons. But one day a new girl named Angelica arrives at Rink's school, and he soon discovers she has some unique qualities too. Using humor and metaphor to promote acceptance, this touching story shows us that what makes us different makes us beautiful.

The Boy Who Grew Flowers, written by Jen Wojtowicz and illustrated by Steve Adams, was a Book of the Year Award Finalist in 2005 by ForeWord Magazine.

Here are a few sneak peaks of the beautiful illustrations in the book:

The Bowagons were the only folks who lived on Lonesome Mountain. The townspeople argued as to whether it was because they were such strange folk that they lived there, or whether it was because they lived there that they were such strange folk.





You can purchase The Boy Who Grew Flowers here.

Learn more about Barefoot Books....

And purchase Barefoot Books here.

A fantastic story about adoption...

I don't know about you, but I know several people in my life who either adopted a child, were adopted or are thinking about adoption. This book called Motherbridge of Love tells the story of having two mothers, each special in her own way. You can watch and hear the whole poetic story narrated by Amy Tan by clicking here.

Here's what Time Magazine had to say about this book: "Got a girlfriend who just adopted a kid? You're going to want to get them this book, although the illustration is so gorgeous, you could give it to anyone. The text was submitted anonymously to the charity Mother Bridge of Love, which seeks to connect kids adopted from China with their homeland...it does explain quite lyrically how two mothers can each have a part in making one whole child"—Time Magazine.

The magazine also listed it as #3 of their list of Top 10 Books for Children for 2007.

You can also feel great about purchasing this book because the royalties from the sale of this Barefoot book will be donated to Mother Bridge of Love, a charity that reaches out to Chinese children all over the world in order to develop a connection between China and the West, and between adoptive culture and birth culture.



To purchase click here.

Welcome to my new blog...

Many of you are followers of my daughter's blog, "This, That and the Other Thing" by Sadie Angelica. It started out as a way for friends and family to watch Sadie grow and understand her view of the world from Day 1. She's had commentary on everything from taking her first steps, to the agonizing experience of teething, and most emphatically, her disgust of peas.

Since then, I've decided to branch out to discussing the many toys, products, and most importantly, books that I come across in my day to day life. Like any parent, I really look at these products and their long term effects on how my daughter thinks about herself and her world.

As an anthropologist and a former employee at the National Museum of the American Indian, I'm very aware of cultural and gender stereotypes in children's literature. I finally found books that agree with my line of thinking when I found Barefoot Books. Now I've become one of their stallholders, which means everytime you purchase a book from Barefoot Books, Sadie's college fund gets bigger.

In this blog, I plan to not only look at Barefoot Books a little closer, but also review some of Sadie's favorite products and funny stuff I come across by just being a parent. I hope to update often, so check back!