Character Counts

Tomorrow morning our family will rise and arrive at school just a little early for a small award ceremony. My Kindergarten daughter is receiving a Character Counts award for Responsibility. Like many parents I am thinking, "My kid is responsible? and enough to get an award?" Actually as 6 year olds go she actually is pretty responsible!
Every month the whole school learns about a Character trait. Of course lessons are geared toward their specific grade level.

Oh so many studies support Character education, earlier today I heard it invoked on the radio as helping to deter cheating in high school students.

The highlight of the month is always the little morning gathering where 2 children from every class are recognized for displaying the trait of the month! And so we will hustle ourselves out the door, take pictures, applaud and hoot and holler for our responsible little girl!

The Challenge Begins...

... Or maybe it is just continuing? I sure know it's not come to an end!

Without too many details, for the first time since we began our realtionship with this school system, we have had a "holiday issue" at school. On a half day, hours of Christmas videos and stories! And its only December 9th!

And so my message to the school is this: "As an interfaith family it is extremely difficult to maintain balance this time of year."

Message received, teacher has apologized!

If you are shaking your head and just not getting why this is so hard for our family, maybe reading this blog post by my husband will help.

My Interfaith Family

When I met and fell in love with my dear sweet adorable husband I was not thinking clearly! When I accepted his proposal for marriage I was swept up in a summer of walks on the beach and day trips to museums. When we decided to have children I was drunk with the idea of tiny feet and hands and that magical smell that comes from baby heads.

Had I stopped to think, we might not have the wonderful family we have now. Had I read the countless books my mother in law sent, I might have gone running out the door. But, luckily, I let love lead the way.

My husband grew up in a culturally Jewish household, I grew up in a mostly Catholic one. This is not always an issue. The guilt factor, for example, is about even.

This time of year is full of challenges and compromise! When will we put up the tree? Does it interfere with Hanukkah? Who gets what presents when? Who will attend community functions that while labeled "Holiday" really mean "Christmas"? Who gets to answer the phone when an angry parent calls because one of our kids spilled the Santa beans?

Not to say that there are not benefits! There is never a question about where we need to spend Christmas. And as you may have guessed from the example above, we don't play the Santa game.

It is difficult though to make it through the season without bloodshed or tears. And we almost always have to explain to friends how we are approaching things and why.

Over the next couple of weeks I hope to write more about our family and how we tackled this difficult season! Maybe it will cut down on my personal tears!

Who doesn't love a good book?

Last night at a charity shopping event, a woman approached my table. She asked about Barefoot and even commented on how beautiful and wonderful the books were. And then she floored me! "I'm shopping fr my young grandchildren and no child wants a book for Christmas."

I was speechless! (truly an event in itself!) I did recover in time to say as she walked away..."well my kids love books as gifts and I give books all the time!"

So here's the thing, plenty of kids don't read or don't like to read or don't like books. I know that. Its not the way things are in my house but I know its there, its out there. I know that the right book can change that, too. Witness the Harry Potter, Series of Unfortunate Events and even Twilight phenomenons!

I still remember receiving books like Rebbecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the Wizard of Oz from my Godfather one Christmas and the joy of putting the exact Nancy Drew Mysteries I needed on my list to Santa. And today I know my Mother in Law will always give me a good book, no special occasion needed!

More than a few years ago, my dear husband was working for a company developing a digital reader, to read books on your laptop or a device not unlike the very hip Kindle. At the office holiday party the CEO asked me what I thought about the product as a teacher and I commented that I was somewhat addicted to "books." She asked me what about "books" did I like. It took me a while to answer, but after giving it some thought I said it was the feel, the weight, the texture of the pages as I turned them, the comfy feeling of falling asleep with one on my chest and the comfort of holding one as I walked to the coffee house. I love the smell of new ink, and old pages, I love the delicacy of a binding or the durability of a good one. Books are so much more than the words written inside to me. Books can at times be my best friend or biggest challenge, comfort or obsession, bring joy or empathy, enlighten or inspire.

Today I ask you to share your memories of books given, received or found as an adult or a child.

PBS Parents has gone Barefoot

Continuing on our theme of exciting partnerships, we’re thrilled to announce a brand new Barefoot Stallholder - PBS Parents! As you are probably aware, PBS Parents is an organization committed to providing valuable educational resources for parents and caregivers. The PBS Parents web site is a trusted resource for millions of people, and they receive 200,000 unique visitors each month. PBS shares our commitment to inspire a love of learning and foster the exploration and appreciation of our amazing and diverse world, and we are so excited to be working with them!

I find this to be a most exciting opportunity especially paired with news of the PBS Raising Readers initiative and interactive website!

I grew up on PBS, and my kids have been big fans! Its great to see the melding of 2 things I love!

OH and I almost forgot! Now through December 4th you can help Barefoot celebrate by receiving 20% off all online orders! WOW!

Books for Africa

Barefoot Books is delighted to partner with non-profit Books For Africa, dedicated to bringing books to needy children in schools across Africa. The books we have selected to send all have African themes, and will make a huge difference in the lives of children across the African continent.

For a few dollars, you can put a Barefoot Book in the hands of an African child. We hope you will be a part of this wonderful partnership.

About the Organization
The mission of Books For Africa is to end the book famine in Africa. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped more than 20 million books to 42 African countries and put books int0 the hands of those who need them the most: children who are hungry to read, hungry to learn, hungry to explore the world in ways that only books make possible.

Watch the Books For Africa Video!

Look for more ways to help at local market events....
Like Free Copies of We All Went on Safari with $50 purchase
and New Book Marks you can buy to make a donation!

Zig Zag Zebra and FREE Shipping

When the UPS truck rumbles up to our house my kids go bonkers! Mostly because 9 times out of ten that means a new box (or 6) of Barefoot Books! This fall Barefoot unveiled a collection of activity books. For the active children in our family these where eagerly awaited. They did not disappoint!

Every child who is free to play at drawing is preparing to learn how to read and write at the same time. Dotty Spotty Doodles and Zig Zag Zebra each contain 22 activities for kids: mazes, coloring pages, seek-and-finds and more! Perfect for my 6 year old!

The Whole World and Pirates Fun Activities are chuck full of games, mazes and puzzles designed to keep the slightly older child challenged and entertained. A real boredom buster for my almost 8 year old!

Needless to say we have ordered several extras and given them as Birthday (and will give them as holiday gifts) with our favorite Barefoot Books!

Now I really want to share these books with you...so lets make it a little easier and help you save some money this season! All online orders placed between now and November 25th receive FREE shipping PLUS a FREE copy of Zig Zag Zebra with all orders over $50!

One Man Band for Kids

Last night at the Village Marketplace I met a wonderful, funny and friendly performer named Peter McCory. Peter is a one man band! So cool, entertaining and family friendly.

He played a mix of folk, classic rock and the occasional kids favorite (but not so much that it was annoying). He even took requests!

When children approached he had shakers, bells and tambourines for them to play along. And of course they had a blast dancing and singing along!

Check out his website and if you can catch one of his shows!

A Book Lover in the Making

At the Village Market tonight I meet a great 10 year old. He was helping his mom, another vendor, set up but then had very little to do during the market.
While he was browsing my display I suggested several titles, Little Leap Forward, Barefoot Book of Pirates. He was drawn to The Boy Who Grew Flowers and settled in on my rug to read it. Mom commented that his teacher wanted him to read at a higher level and he was always choosing picture books below his reading level. I pointed out that just because these books had pictures didn't mean they were below his level. Next he picked up the Barefoot Book of Monsters, and didn't put it down.
The next thing I knew he was counting his money in his wallet to buy it! He read all evening, camped out on the rug!
Mom was ecstatic! She had never seen him read like that!
Next they want to buy some books for his little sister and their teachers!

To Market, To Market to buy a Great Book!

I'm off for my first day at a new vendor venue in Fairfax, VA. If you are in the area, looking for dinner, music, fun and a good book come on by!


Or if you would rather curl up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate (Yummmmm!) Stop by the Barefoot Books Website where you can order 3 books and get the 4th one FREE!

Watch out! I'm Baking!

My friend and fellow stallholder Michelle over at Lionden Landing has motivated me to get in gear with the holiday baking! Making dough really and freezing. Maybe freezing a couple of quick breads!

I have taken out my favorite Cookie Cook Books

• Rosie's Chocolate-Packed, Jam-Filled, Butter-Rich, no-holds-barred Cookie Book by Judy Rosenberg
• Rose's Christmas Cookies by Rose Levy Beranbaum
• Past Cookie Issues from Gourmet Magazine

I'll also keep my eyes open in the Washington Post for their special cookie edition of the Food section!

A Barefoot Life is a Whole Life

As we at Barefoot Books reflect on what it means to Live Barefoot, we invite you to do the same.

What is it about Barefoot Books that fits so well into your life?

To help we invite you to take advantage of an awesome offer! Order any 3 books from the website and get your fourth for FREE!

Great Place to Shop

This time of year I get very discouraged walking through the Malls and Big Box Stores! I just keep seeing the same old stuff. Call me quirky but I love to look for the unusual gift, the gift that will let my loved ones know I was really thinking about them when I purchased it.

Add to that the fact that in this economy I'm not exactly excited to hand money money over to the big corporations! I would rather support small business owners, crafts people, artisans...you know the little guys like me!

Hoooray for a perfect place to get that all done right here in my backyard! Downtown Fairfax now has open a wonderful Village Market Place filled with local people showing their wares! Check out their website and come on down on Friday and Saturday evenings. Lots of nice restaurants in the area as well, so make a night of it!

I'll be there with Barefoot Books several times through out the season. See ya there!

November is National Adoption Month!

Many thanks to Nancy McCullough for opening my eyes to National Adoption Month!

Order the fantastic book Motherbridge of Love from Barefoot books using the button below and receive 20% off your entire order!

And in the meantime....enjoy Amy Tan reading from Motherbridge of Love!

Starting with a Bang!

This week only Barefoot Books is offering a FREE Yoga Planet Activity Deck with every purchase over $50!

Yoga Planet is a wonderful companion for My Daddy is a Pretzel and Yoga Pretzels

From the Barefoot Books Website

"Yoga Planet is a great way to get kids (and adults) moving, laughing and most importantly thinking about the world around them" —Tobey and Jennifer Maguire

Whether you are seven or fifty-seven, whether you already practice yoga or want to learn, these informative and attractive cards are the ideal answer. They give detailed step-by-step instructions on how to perform the poses, but also increase environmental awareness with tips on how to reduce our impact on the fragile planet.

Founded by Tara Guber and directed by Leah Kalish, Yoga Ed. develops health and wellness courses and materials that educate children, teachers and parents about the benefits of yoga! Our friends Tara and Leah co-wrote our Yoga Planet Deck, an exciting, educational addition to our Yoga Pretzels collection! Please visit the Yoga Ed. website to find out more about how to bring Yoga Ed. to your school or community!

Welcome

Welcome to Barefoot JJ! I am JJ and will be your host for this story, journey and adventure! I am a Mother, educator, storyteller, artist and Stallholder!

I hope to explore each of these titles with you and share the beauty of books and story!

So Kick off your shoes and join the journey!