CONGRATULATIONS TO LAUREEN**** WINNER of a FREE copy of.......

Earth Tales published by Barefoot Books!


Buy a Book, Plant a Tree!

Throughout the month of April Barefoot Books independent children’s book publisher will continue to plant a tree with Eco-Libris for every copy of Earth Tales sold. So in honor of Earth Day, buy a copy of Earth Tales for yourself and one for your friends!

Thanks to eveyone who posted to my blog with their great ideas about saving the EARTH! I also appreciated your sharing your favorite Barefoot Books with me! If asked for my favorite Barefoot Book, I would be hard pressed to answer since I love just about all of them. My answer will usually depend on the last Barefoot Book that I have read. In this case in just happens to be one of our lastest releases, the book featured here - Earth Tales.

About Earth Tales:
In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story

About Eco-Libris:
Eco-Libris is a green business that enables people to do something reasonable, affordable yet with an impact: plant one tree for every book they read. By working with individuals and publishers to plant trees in developing countries, Eco-Libris makes sure that each tree is planted where it provides significant value for both the environment and the local communities.

*****Laureen - please contact me at barefootlibrarian@gmail.com so I can get your FREE copy of Earth Tales to you! Again, congratulations!

Buy a Book, Plant a Tree!


Barefoot Books independent children’s book publisher is thrilled to announce that for every copy of Earth Tales sold in April, they are planting a tree with Eco-Libris! To celebrate this new fantastic partnership with this amazing eco-business, the Barefoot Librarian (aka Eve Panzer) will be giving away a copy of Earth Tales right here on my blog! Enter to win a copy of Earth Tales (complete with a fancy Eco-Libris sticker!) by following the instructions below.

Earth Tales Give-Away
My giveaway will be running from March 23rd - April 10th and the winner will be announced on the following Monday.
Comment about the questions to win your copy of Earth Tales!
1. What is your favorite Barefoot Book? (Browse the Barefoot Catalog)
2. What are you doing to conserve?
3. Post about this giveaway

About Earth Tales:
In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story

About Eco-Libris:
Eco-Libris is a green business that enables people to do something reasonable, affordable yet with an impact: plant one tree for every book they read. By working with individuals and publishers to plant trees in developing countries, Eco-Libris makes sure that each tree is planted where it provides significant value for both the environment and the local communities.

Share A Story - Shape A Future
March 9 - 13, 2009

Share a Story – Shape a Future is a week-long event from March 9 to 13, 2009 where blogging librarians, teachers, parents, authors, illustrators, and other people passionate about literacy will be writing about different aspects of reading. Each day has its own theme, with a host blogger and several guests. Their goal is to offer tons of practical advice about reading that is free of statistics and educational jargon. The organizers also have several giveaways planned, including a number of books related to reading. There will also be lots of free, downloadable content that includes ideas for making bookmarks and templates; links to book lists, children's book reviewers, and resources for selecting material; and tips for reading with kids and getting involved with your community.

Click here to find out more: Share a Story - Shape a Future

PBS Series - Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers

Check it out!

PBS Series on reading for parents, educators & all who have children in their lives.

Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers is an engaging nine-part public television series on reading. It was created for parents, grandparents, teachers, caregivers, and anyone else who touches children’s lives. Based on the latest research findings, each half-hour program examines a stage young children go through in developing their reading skills. http://www.pbs.org/launchingreaders/

(Check your local PBS station’s listings for dates and times when these programs air.)

 Program 1: "The Roots of Reading" looks at the earliest stages of literacy in such locations as a baby speech lab and a Head Start center. The program examines how parents, childcare providers, and kindergarten teachers can get children started on the road to literacy.
 Program 2: "Sounds and Symbols" focuses on how children learn the relationship between sounds, letters, and words as an initial step before being able to decode the printed word.
 Program 3: "Fluent Reading" explores the ability to decode quickly and achieve fluency. The program also demonstrates how early testing and intervention can help struggling readers.
 Program 4: "Writing and Spelling" examines the connection between reading, writing, and spelling. The program features successful methods for encouraging children to write and build their vocabularies.
 Program 5: "Reading for Meaning" highlights effective strategies to help kids understand — and care about — what they read, which is the ultimate goal of learning how to read. A special just for kids: "Reading Rocks!" uses wacky humor and stories of hope to encourage struggling readers to keep trying. The program also helps parents and teachers understand the emotional impact of reading troubles and offers ways to motivate struggling readers at home and school.
 Program 6: "Empowering Parents" visits schoolsin Huntingtown, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, to help families identify early signs of reading problems and find ideas for getting their kids the help and support they need.
 Program 7: "Becoming Bilingual" examines the challenges of teaching children to read in a new language. This show visits schools and programs in six cities across the country to learn about the different ways schools are working to create bilingual readers.
 Program 8: "Reading and the Brain" explores how brain scientists are working to solve the puzzle of why some children struggle to read and others don't. Startling new research shows the answer may lie in how a child's brain is wired from birth.
 Program 9: "A Chance to Read" looks at the reading challenges facing kids with disabilities and what schools across the country are doing to help them find success.
 Program 10: "Toddling Toward Reading" examines what it takes to give our preschoolers the early literacy skills they need to become successful readers

The new novel Little Leap Forward is a Big Leap forward for Barefoot Books!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

If you attended the American Library Association conference in Anaheim and came by the Barefoot Books booth, you most likely heard about Barefoot Books’ latest title, Little Leap Forward. This is Barefoot Books’ first chapter book geared for children ages 9 -12 years. This novel continues Barefoot Books’ emphasis on exquisite artwork, rich language and multiculturalism. Little Leap Forward’s release is very timely and relevant as it takes place in Beijing, this year’s host city for the Summer Olympics. This book, along with other Barefoot Books (Motherbridge of Love, The Great Race, Tenzin’s Deer, Stories of the Silk Road and We’re Riding on a Caravan to name a few), will be wonderful introductions to units of study about this region. As the beginning of a new school year approaches, I will be posting lots of ideas of how to use Little Leap Forward in many cross curriculum units – including science, social studies, art, and music.

“Check out this exclusive Barefoot video featuring Guo Yue. Listen, as he brings his experiences, during China's cultural revolution, to life. These memories became the basis for our newest title, Little Leap Forward, co-authored by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow.

Watch it here!


http://www.barefoot-books.com/us/site/pages/learn_explore.php

An interesting tidbit about this video: Guo Yue provides the beautiful flute music that accompanies his spoken account.
Little Leap Forward is Barefoot Books' very first Young Adult novel!” I hope you enjoy both the video and will buy the book by clicking on this link: http://www.barefoot-books.com/us/site/pages/productone.php?pid=2261


Elizabeth Kennedy also notes the release of Little Leap Forward in her blog.
http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/whatsnewhot/a/June_2008_news.htm
If you do not know about Elizabeth Kennedy and her children’s books blog, forum and newsletter, I highly recommend you check them out! http://childrensbooks.about.com/b/2008/06/26/whats-new-hot-next-in-childrens-books.htm
Here is what Elizabeth says about her online resources: “I want this site to be a resource for parents, teachers, caregivers, librarians, writers, illustrators, and others who work with children and value children's literature.”
This is a little bit about Elizabeth from her online bio: “Elizabeth Kennedy has an extensive background in education, having worked as an early childhood educator, elementary school teacher, museum educator, and PreK-12 arts-in-education program director over the past thirty-five years. As a writer, her work has been recognized with first place awards from Kansas Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women.”

Keep posted for much more about Little Leap Forward!

Happy Barefoot Booking!

Hello to all my new ALA convention friends

ALA Anaheim 2008 convention is now history! My first ALA convention will be a memorable one because of all of the great friends I met! A big THANK YOU to everyone who came by the Barefoot Books booth. Sarah and I enjoyed chatting with you all, getting to know you and sharing with you our Barefoot Books story and books! Good luck to everyone who entered the drawing for the King Arthur book of legends coming out in the fall.

Many of you graciously agreed to not only visit this blog, but also to contribute your creative ideas about programs, activities and uses for Barefoot books in your libraries and classrooms. I am looking forward to this blog being your number one resource for exchanging and getting ideas about the multitude of ways Barefoot Books can fit into children's library programming and into classroom curriculum units.

Those of you who want to buy Barefoot Books for the children in your personal lives please don't forget to visit my website www.barefootlibrarian.com to do your shopping. And be sure to take advantage of the Summer Sale now through July 15!

I hope everyone will feel free to email me at barefootlibrarian@gmail.com to request book suggestions, talk Barefoot Books, swap library shop talk, or just say hello and let me know what is new in your life.

I am taking a few days off for the July 4th holiday, but will post next week.

Until then - Happy Barefoot Booking and Happy 4th of July!

Eve - The Barefoot Librarian

This blog is coming to you from the American Libraries Association National Convention in Anaheim,CA. This convention is like a Disney Land for librarians. It starts as the barren landscape of a convention hall and in one day's time, magically a city of books is created. Well, maybe not magically - it took my mentor from the Barefoot home office and me a lot of time and sweat to create a Barefoot Books oasis out of 3 tables and a curtained backdrop! I will be writing more about the ALA convention as time and my energy allow.

Barefoot Books is taking a big leap into the chapter book world with a beautiful and timely title called Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing, due out in July. With the summer Olympics just weeks away, Beijing will be seen on television screens around the world. Get a glimpse into the communist world of this city, as musician and now author Guo Yue, tells the story of an eight year old boy, much like himself, who lived in bustling Beijing during tumultous 1960's.




If you are a librarian or educator attending the ALA come by Barefoot Book's booth 1012. You will get a copy of Little Leap Forward if you agree to give Barefoot feedback on the book. In the weeks to come I will be posting about the many educational levels in this book and ways to utilize it in your curriculum for science, music, art, history and more.




Also, come by our booth to get a free signed copy of the Barefoot Book of Knights and get your name entered into a drawing for a free copy of the new King Arthur coming out in the Fall.