Beautiful Barefoot Books

I love the message Barefoot Books newest title, The Barefoot Book of Children. It’s about opening the hearts and minds of children to spark their curiosity to learn about people around the world. It’s about examining differences to find connections and similarities, thus discovering the humanity in each and every person.

Author Kate DePalma and senior editor at Barefoot Books would like to thank you personally for learning more about The Barefoot Book of Children.

The Barefoot Book of Children by Tessa Strickland and Kate DePalma, illustrated by David Dean

What can you see or hear or smell from where you are?

Which [languages] do you recognize?

Does [your name] have a meaning?

With gentle questions, this beautifully illustrated book helps kids see their place in the world as well as make connections to others who are different from them. It’s a book to encourage children to ask questions about how children live around the world. Each illustration vignette shows a child from a different culture but doing similar things: taking a bath, in their special getaway place, at a place of worship, and in their own home. Pair this book with the World Atlas. [large format picture book, ages 2 and up]

Other Favorite Barefoot Book Titles

Barefoot Books was one the first children’s book publishers to devote their catalog to multicultural and diversity books for kids. Not surprisingly, they are based in Cambridge, Massachusetts which also has a rich multi-ethnic population. Over the past decade, I have enjoyed many of their books with my kids. These are some of our favorites. How about you? What Bareboot Books do you recommend? Thanks for sharing!

World Atlas by Nick Crane, illustrated by David Dean

The world is a joy to explore in this colorful atlas that entices with Lift the Flaps facts about each region. Pair this with The Barefoot Book of Children to match the geographic region with the kids in each vignette. It’s like putting a place to a face! [nonfiction geography book, ages 4 and up[

Lola’s Fandango by Anna Witte, illustrated by Micha Archer

Lola discovers a pair of dancing shoes in Mami’s closet and convinces her Papi to teach her to dance the Flamenco. They practice secretly because Mami doesn’t seem to want to be reminded of her dancing days. Together they also cook up a very special surprise for Mami’s birthday. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Girl With A Brave Heart: A Tale from Tehran by Rita Jahanforuz and Riotah, illustrated by Vali Mintzi

For a multicultural take on Cinderella, this Middle Eastern version sends a message that beauty is truly from within. Shiraz’s father remarries when her mother dies and her life changes to one of constant chores, accompanied by a cruel step mother and step sister. One day, when a ball of yarn lands in a neighbor’s yard, Shiraz meets an old woman who requires her to complete three chores in order to get her yarn back. Shiraz reinterprets the chores, from destruction to beautification. In following the old woman’s instructions about washing in the clear and dark pools, she emerges more beautiful than ever. When her step sister attempts the same routine, she has very different results. [picture book, ages 6 and up]

The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz, illustrated by Steve Adams

Rink, a boy with hidden talents, lives with his uniquely talented family in isolation on Lonesome Mountain. On a full moon, he can grow flowers all over his body. Still, this doesn’t keep him from attending school, but his perceived strangeness is a barrier to making friends. When a new girl, Angelina, joins his class, everyone is drawn to her kindness. Rink decides to make her a special gift, and discovers that they have much more in common than anyone realized. Together, their gifts literally blossom, and Lonesome Mountain changes from a desolate place to a garden of flowers.

For kids who feel that they are different from other children, this book will bring comfort that there is someone out there that will appreciate and even share their unique gifts. Pair this book with Grace Lin’s chapter book Where The Mountain Meets the Moon to continue the theme of a desolate place changed by the actions and bravery of a child. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Yoga Pretzels cards by Tara Guber and Leah Kalish, illustrated by Sophie Fatus

We are starting our own Family Yoga class; just the five of us. It’s my husband’s idea. He’s done a litle yoga but has bad shoulders from a lifetime of competitive golf. Grasshopper and Sensei is recovering from her fourth concussion, so Family Yoga will ease her back into athletics. She hopes to return to her club volleyball team in a few months. PickyKidPix finds yoga calming, and my son will strike a yoga pose for fun. We use these cards to play with yoga poses. For a complete zen experience, use Yoga Pretzel cards with these picture books on mindfulness. [deck of yoga cards, ages 2 and up]