Win Barefoot Books for Yourself and Your Library

Multicultural Book Giveaway to Build Your School Library or Your Own

Twelve lucky winners (6 in US and 6 in Europe) will receive $1000 worth of books; half for them and half for their school library! 2 winners will be drawn every week for the next 6 weeks. Even if you don’t win, you win. Anyone who enters will receive a coupon for 30% off your next purchase at Barefoot Books.

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I read these great Barefoot Books over Thanksgiving weekend…

Little Red Riding Hood by Lari Don, Celia Chauffrey and Imelda Staunton

An old fashioned fairy tale gets a modern spin with a “Don’t Talk to Strangers” message in this beautifully illustrated picture book. It also comes with an audio CD narrated by the author.  [picture book, ages 2 and up]

My Mama Earth by Susan B. Katz, illustrated by Melissa Launay

A lovely rhyming picture book whose message does double time as a message of unconditional love of a mother to her child and secondly of the beauty and wonder that is mother nature. [picture book, ages 1 and up]

Animal Stories: The Tortoise’s Gift, A Story from Zambia retold by Lari Don, illustrated by Melanie Williamson

The tortoise in creation myths or fables always seems to fare well and it’s the same in this Zambian Folk Tale where animals must wake a sleeping tree to feed them during a long drought. The illustrations are playful and the story reads like an animal story of hubris that kids can relate to.  Apparently, slow and steady wins the race in Zambian mythology as well! [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Animal Stories: Never Trust a Tiger, A Story from Korea retold by Lari Don, illustrated by Melanie Williamson

Koreans have been subjugated for centuries by invaders so it’s not surprising that they are jaded when it comes to doing good deeds. In this folk tale, a merchant rescues a tiger who then wants to repay the favor by eating him. Judges are called into assist this disagreement. The ox thinks that life is just not fair. The pine tree has had only good karma so objects to a bad deed following a good deed. The hare is the final arbitrator and cleverly comes up with a plan that makes it all square. The message from this book, then is a cautionary tale to beware of bad guys. I like that the ending is what you’d expect. [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]

The Adventures of Achilles by Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden and Carole Hehaff

I am a huge fan of the classics, especially of Greek Mythology and this advanced picture book gives detailed lesser known stories about The Trojan War. I think it also works well as a book for reluctant boy readers who can listen to the audio CD that comes with it while enjoying the full color illustrations on every page. [advanced picture book, ages 8 and up]

The Raiders: The Inuk Quartet Volume II by Jorn Riel and Helen Cann

Three teenage Inuit children from Iceland land in Greenland and start a peaceful life of farming until Raiders — Viking Raiders — arrive destroying threatening they way of life. It’s not historical fiction but reads like it, and it’s also not mythology but it has that flavor as well. Kids who like action adventure series like Percy Jackson should give this series a try! [chapter book series, ages 8 and up]

The Twelve Dancing Princesses retold by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Miss Clara

I had forgotten about this classic fairy tale about twelve partying princesses who disappear every night only to return with their dancing slippers in tatters. The king offers one of his daughter’s hand in marriage to anyone who can solve this mystery. A poor and injured soldier who does a kind deed to a disguised fairy dares to try. Perhaps this tale has stood the test of time because all fathers worry about their daughters running off with boys! [chapter books, ages 8 and up]

Robin Hood by David Calcutt and Grahame Baker-Smith

The original Robin Hood chapter book might be intimidating for kids who need a thinner book  with large type and illustrations in order to attempt it. This version makes the classic more accessible with plenty of dialogue to draw in readers and four color illustrations throughout the book. All the details of the classic story are included as well. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]

Barefoot Books sends me a small pile of wonderful books once a year and I am grateful for their patronage because I love multicultural books. I was not compensated for this post but wanted to share because what is not to love about it?