workshops : performances : creations : art & theater : workshops : performances : creations

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Barefoot Books and PBS Kids

Like many of you, I grew up enjoying the playful and educational programs on PBS KIDS®. Now Barefoot Books is working together with PBS to create the PBS Parents Collection, a special collection of our favorite books for young children. Barefoot Books and PBS share a commitment to inspire a love of learning and foster the exploration and appreciation of our amazing and diverse world. Happy reading!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Books for Africa

In this season of giving, Barefoot Books could not think of a better time to announce the partnership with Books For Africa, a truly inspiring organization whose mission is to bring the enduring gift of literacy, education and hope to underprivileged children and their communities in Africa.

Books For Africa is the largest shipper of donated books to the African continent. Since 1988, they have sent over 20 million books to 44 African countries and into the hands of rural schoolchildren. Many of these children are taught in primitive schoolrooms without running water, electricity or the basic materials and tools needed to learn. By collecting, sorting and shipping books to these communities, Books For Africa provides these children with the fundamental tools they need to learn, grow and improve their individual lives and the world around them. To learn more, we encourage you to visit the Books For Africa web site and watch this inspiring video on their mission.


This Wednesday Barefoot Books launched a new Books for Africa page on our US website that will allow customers to donate a selection of African-themed books to Books For Africa by "purchasing" them at well below retail value. These donated books, available for either $5 or $3, will be set aside at our warehouse in Wisconsin and picked up in bulk by Books For Africa for shipment to the African continent.

For $5, customers can donate these hardcover titles: We All Went on Safari Mama Panya's Pancakes We're Sailing Down the Nile or Hidden Hippo
For $3, customers can donate these board book titles: How Loud is a Lion or Zoe and her Zebra


As Barefoot's gift to you, if you spend $50 or more on your entire order, you will recieve a free copy of We All Went on Safari.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

First Book


Good News!!! First Book is strengthening its volunteer Advisory Board network and putting more books into the hands of children from low-income families throughout Maine. During the two years of the grant, First Book will establish at least 2 new Advisory Boards, register 50 new Recipient Groups, and distribute a minimum of 100,000 new books.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Arts for Hunger

A local effort to help those less fortunate in our community through arts, crafts & music, the second annual Arts for Hunger, organized by the Unity Area Rotary Club to raise awareness and funding for local hunger relief efforts, is underway in the Art Gallery at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts in Unity. The Art Gallery is full of a wide variety of arts and crafts including paintings, pottery, photography, baskets, quilts, woodworking, stained glass, jewelry and much more ~ all donated by local artists and citizens.

In addition, Tree by Leaf will return again this year to perform a benefit concert as part of Arts for Hunger on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the concert. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at http://www.unitymaine.org/

100% of the proceeds generated from the Art Sale and Benefit Concert will be donated to the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry (serves 11 towns in Waldo County), Open Door and People to People.

Thank you for supporting the hunger relief efforts in OUR community.


Sunday, September 28, 2008

Free Hugs

Humanity's Team teammates around the world are invited to participate in the Global Free Hugs event on October 19th : A Celebration of Oneness.

Humanity's Team is excited to announce their recent collaboration with the Positive Focus organization that initiated the Global Free Hugs event. This is a momentous occasion for Humanity's Team because our involvement marks the first partnership with a like-minded organization for a global spiritual activism event.

Humanity's Team teammates' participation in the Global Free Hugs event provides two opportunities:


1. Global Spiritual Activism eventWe have found each other, we have gathered, we have organized, and now it is time to move as One. The Global Free Hugs event allows Humanity's Team teammates and others the opportunity to practice moving as One. Furthermore, participation in this simple spiritual activism event gives us the opportunity to practice aspects of the New Spirituality in the global community. In essence, we are uniting to illustrate our oneness by embracing "others" (our Self) with a hug. Think about it. Our first global movement as One is a nurturing hug to our Self (an embracing hug that expresses unconditional Love and our Oneness with each other).

2. Another way to obtain signatures for the Oneness Day PetitionPositive Focus is already promoting the Oneness Day Petition on their website and newsletters, and all participants of this event will be given the opportunity to sign the Oneness Day Petition. We are recommending two methods of signing the Oneness Day Petition at the Global Free Hugs event. Please ask all participants to sign the Oneness Day Petition. Either of these methods will accomplish this task:
Sign the Oneness Day Petition Document: Click here to see a printable version of the Oneness Day Petition and sign up sheet "kit." You will need to print it off and take it to the event with you. Some people still do not like using computers and will prefer this method. Sign the Oneness Day Petition Online: If possible, have a teammate of the group bring a wireless laptop computer to the Global Free Hugs location. (Make sure you are able to make an internet connection at the chosen location.) Then ask all participants if they are willing to sign the Oneness Day Petition online. Click here to Sign the World Oneness Day Petition now

Please start planning now to organize this event in your area. You must visit the Positive Focus website to obtain sign up and participant information: http://www.positive-focus.com/


Watch the Global Free Hug Invitation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7y0Uj4coZw


Send us a picture or two of your favorite hugs to be included in the Global Free Hugs video that they will be creating and will post on YouTube. To send your best pictures or if you have any questions, please contact us at freehugsinfo@humanitysteam.org

Monday, September 22, 2008

Local Children's Book Author in Competition

Wendi Richards, of Fairfield, is a national finalist in the ABCs Children's Book Competition! Please see my Mothers Moon blog for more information.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Puppets for Peace Day : September 29th

International Puppets for Peace Day was initiated seven years ago after 9/11. The inspiration for it was the image of many hearts and hands around the world focusing on the good. You are invited to join the many others on six continents and celebrate Peace through Story and Puppetry. There can be puppet shows big and small, in public venues, in the quiet of your home, in classroom, school community, well practiced, or spontaneous. They all contribute to the powerful joy-bringing healing of the world. Sharing puppet stories that let goodness shine out, that bring to life cooperation between people, that warm our hearts and make us laugh with the wonder of life, can become story seeds that help us understand the world, and all that is unique and universal in it's people. It is held on Michaelmas Day, September 29th, a day to remind us we can be courageous in the face of chaos, and the "dragons" of the world. (with all due respect to my friend Herb...they're talking about the un-friendly type)

And speaking of Herb, and puppets, please see my special offer below, or for more information, visit my other Storyteller blog!

Wishing you Peace and Happy Puppetry,
Dawnella - The Barefoot Storyteller

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Autumn Newsletter

The Autumn Newsletter (first draft) is ready now on The Barefoot Storyteller web-site with a general idea of what books I'll be reading and stories I'll be performing, plus the news that turnip soup will be returning, and there's a peach of a field trip planned, plus we'll be embarking on a new yoga adventure. Of course I still need to add information about the new releases becoming available at Barefoot Books ... so in the meantime you should visit my Barefoot Books web-site and check them out! But while you are at The Barefoot Storyteller web-site you really must take a look at the the blog there to see the picture of the Storytellers Throne.

Peace,
Dawnella

Pre-order Special Offer

One of my favorite Barefoot Books is being re-released this autumn in hard cover edition, Herb the Vegetarian Dragon. If you personally pre-order your copy through me for pick-up at one of my regular storytelling locations (The Inside Out Playground, Back Door to the Moon, or Blessed Baby Boutique) before September 30th, I will include a silk dragon stick puppet! TheBarefootStoryteller@Barefoot-Storyteller.com

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Go Greener, for less

Barefoot Books on-line offer: Order by December 31st and receieve 10% off* your purchase of Yoga Planet Cards - 50 Fun Activities for a Greener World. (a great companion to the Yoga Pretzel Cards!) *Use code SCYPP



These cards 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. Sure to make their way into the Barefoot Storyteller's yoga classes this autumn! For more information on the classes, please see http://barefootstoryteller.webs.com/yogaclasses.htm

Thursday, April 10, 2008

A Barefoot Books Special Offer


In celebration of Earth Day, all on-line orders placed between now April 30th and receive a free Whole World Mini Edition ( a $9.99 value) as featured on Oprah's O List! No coupon code, no minimum purchase :)
May I suggest our book of environmental poems, The Sun in Me, or check out one of our beautiful poetry collections during National Poetry Month!

http://www.barefootbooksstoryteller.com/

Peace, Dawnella

National Library Week

April 13th through 19th is National Library Week! Visit a library with your child! To find a local library here in Maine, see http://www.mainelibraries.com

Peace, Dawnella

Monday, April 7, 2008

Story Telling - Passing on Great Stories

The Barefoot Storyteller was given kudos upon the "Life's Journey in Words" blog. The following review can be found on the Showcase page:

"I am so inspired by people who want to "pay it forward", I am inspired by people who come up with great concepts and ideas. I absolutely love when the passing of ideas involves changing children's lives in the long-run. The Barefoot Storyteller does just this. Based out of her home, this 39 year old mom has deversified herself by homeschooling children and yoga classes in the home, maintaining a blog or two, and workshops, classes, parties, and even book exchanges! Her concepts and ideas create an atmosphere of emotional and intellectual development. Reading stories infused with art, movement and music. She travels around instilling the love of stories to children, passing on the passion for stories and book reading. Going beyond storytelling, children use self expression by doing art projects, and movement is art in yoga. Older children from ages 12-16 years old can attend the five day workshop, upon completion of this five day workshop they will build up their skills so that those kids can go back out into the community and bring literacy to other children. I hope that you will visit her web-site, and be as inspired as I was and perhaps you can contact her, and start your own storytelling network too! Now that's paying it forward!"


Thanks! I'm doing what I love!

Monday, March 31, 2008

The Barefoot Storyteller at the Belfast (Maine) Library

Well the drawing board (literally) was in chaos for the past week as my Chief Story Advisor (my six year old son) and I worked through negotiations as to which story to choose for The Barefoot Storyteller's debut at the Belfast Library.


"Jack and the Beanstalk" is too over-done.
"The Boy Who Grew Flowers" seems more for an elementary school audience.
"What's This?: The Story of a Seed" would have thought to have been an obvious choice, given the age level and subject matter, but the Chief Story Advisor felt it did not make enough of an impact as an introductory performance.


The final choice fell between "The Gigantic Turnip" and "Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon", both favorites, both with their merits....and let me tell you, an enormous vegetable and a pacifist dragon arguing their cases against each other is not something for the light-hearted!


In the end, an executive decision was made for the more easily performed over the better read aloud, in spite of the really neat activities that always follow the latter.

The Chief Story Advisor is prepared to launch a formal complaint, but I am sending the matter through mediation and stated that if I am invited back to the Belfast Library simply to read, that a particular dragon will undoubtedly accompany me.

So without further adieu, The Barefoot Storyteller proudly announces a scheduled telling of "The Gigantic Turnip" at the Belfast Library, 11am May 16th, 2008 for children ages three through five, and the adults who love them.

Please join us!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Jungle Day

Barefoot Books Fundraiser Standard Banner


The Barefoot Storyteller presents Jungle Day at the Inside Out Playground April 24th! Jungle-themed story times at 11am and 2pm will be followed by animal crafts and jungle games. Children are encouraged to wear a jungle animal costume for a chance to win a free book from Barefoot Books. All week long I'll have Barefoot Books, puzzles, puppets and more available for sale at the Inside Out Playground, with the Playground earning 15% of every purchase! The Inside Out Playground is located at 5 Appleton Street, Waterville Maine

Pssst...April 24th is also The Barefoot Storyteller's Birthday (40 years!) so there may be cake too! :)

Friday, February 29, 2008

Raising Readers


Through my doula practice, I am very proud to be part of the raising readers program. When a mother chooses me as her doula, I get to present her with a beautiful canvas tote with a selection of books, a growth chart, and information about the raising readers program. And, if I am lucky, I have the chance to read a little something from them to the new child or older siblings!

The raising readers program promotes reading aloud to children in Maine ages birth to 5 years, by providing beautiful new books to give to children. For newborns, raising readers has canvas totes with books available through Maine hospitals who provide birthing services, birth centers, midwives who attend home and birth center births, and adoption agencies. raising readers is a community partnership and works with other child health and community literacy initiatives, with a statewide advisory committee to help coordinate these activities, a collaboration of Maine's two largest health care delivery systems, MaineHealth and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, and is generously funded by the Libra Foundation.

Friday, February 15, 2008

February

As a storyteller, being around kids, I need to be a roll model too. Most of the time this means teaching through parables and fables. It means teaching politeness as they must sit quietly through certain portions of the program, self-esteem as they are asked to be involved. February is National Dental Health month...and dental health is very importaint!


In March, Barefoot Books releases "Emily's Tiger" from which I have borrowed the above illustration. "Emily's Tiger" is now available as a pre-order on my Barefoot Books web-site. The books was written and illustrated by Miriam Latimer : Whenever Emily doesn’t get her way, she growls and roars like a tiger. She roars when her mother tries to cut her hair, she roars when she doesn’t get picked to be the assistant to the clown at a birthday party… what are her mom and dad going to do with their tiger-daughter? Then Grandma comes to stay — and she knows a thing or two about tigers and tempers!


There are many other new books coming for Spring, such as:

Bear at Work Written by Stella Blackstone, Illustrated by Debbie Harter : In the newest addition to the best-selling Bear series, we find Bear hard at work as a postman. Follow Bear as he delivers letters, parcels and packages all over town, meeting other bears, all busy working at their different jobs.

Playtime Rhymes for Little People Compiled and illustrated by Clare Beaton : Award-winning artist Clare Beaton presents this exquisite, hand-sewn anthology from her treasure trove of fabrics and bric-a-brac. We’ve paired it with a collection of forty popular action rhymes includes favorites such as “I’m a Little Teapot” and “The Wheels On The Bus,” as well as less familiar ditties such as “Fishes Swim in Water Clear” and “My Ship Sailed From China.”


The Sounds Around Town Written and Illustrated by Maria Carluccio : What do you hear when you walk outside? This story follows a baby through his day in the city, focusing on the many sounds that he hears. From birdsong in the morning to the hubbub of traffic on the streets and the sounds and smells of the market and café, this simple, interactive picture book will open up your ears!

The Real Princess: A Mathemagical Tale Written by Brenda Williams, Illustrated by Sophie Fatus : A classic with a twist, this number-crunching take on “The Princess and the Pea” features not just one princess, but three, not to mention four horses, five dogs, six grooms, seven gardeners, and all kinds of chances for young mathematicians to put their adding and subtracting to the test!


The Beeman Written by Laurie Krebs, Illustrated by Valeria Cis : Told from the viewpoint of a child whose Grandpa is a beekeeper, this rhyming text offers an accessible and engaging introduction to the behavior of bees, including: where they live, how honey is made, and what a beekeeper does.

and more! All available now for pre-order. These are also the last days of the Annual Winter Sale at Barefoot Books (until February 18th) so drop by my web-site to do some shopping...and don't forget to brush those teeth!!!

Friday, January 18, 2008

Support Maine Music

Did you hear that the Prairie Home Companion will be in Bangor, Maine in May??? Often the show will feature an artist from the state they are going to, and I'd love to see our own Carol Noonan be a part of this! Isn't she, after all, following in Mr. Keillor's footsteps a bit with her Stone Mountain LIVE variety show?

You can read a bit more about Carol and follow the link to her site by visiting here: http://www.freewebs.com/mothermoonmusic/stonemountainarts.htm and then, please let the folks at Prairie Home Companion you'd like to see Carol at their show in Bangor later this Spring. Email them at: phc@mpr.org


Dawnella

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Other Barefoot Storyteller

As I mentioned while "blogging" here yesterday, there is another Barefoot Storyteller with a web-site similar to mine. So if you are in England, you can visit another "Barefoot Storyteller" there too... Sheila Stansfield is also a representative of Barefoot Books and uses thier stories in her storytelling as well. You can visit her site at http://www.thebarefootstoryteller.co.uk/
(and when you do, tell her I sent you!)

An Unlikely Venue?

I have been (and had been) storytelling for longer than I breastfed my son and always applied a common phrase, a declaration, to both forms of nurturing young souls.... "Any time, any place!" ... and yet, I'm considering a regular story time (and doing Barefoot Book sales) somewhere I never really thought that I would.... at a car wash.
Car wash? You never know.
Check back in the weeks to come for times, dates, and location. You can bring your kids, wash your car, hear a story, buy a book-puzzle-puppet-or music cd...and yes, of course, breastfeed your child.

Peace!
Dawnella - The Barefoot Storyteller

Monday, January 7, 2008

Cleaning up web-sites

Well I've been busy shortening my web addresses. Is that importatint? Does it save you time or make it easier to shop? Does it simply "look better"?

My Barefoot Storyteller web-site was http://www.freewebs.com/barefootstoryteller and that seemed too long, so I switched to http://www.barefootstoryteller.webs.com/ (saved three key strokes!) Still didn't seem right, so I visited a domain purchasing site, and I "bought"
http://www.barefoot-storyteller.com/ which is simple, and to the point. (but if you forget the dash, you'll be directed to another Barefoot Storyteller in England...maybe I should ask her to put a note somewhere pointing folks to me if they get lost, and I the same for her)


Cool? Uncool? What do you think? Does the length of a web addy really matter?


Thursday, January 3, 2008

Barefoot Books Annual Winter Sale!!

Just a reminder that the Barefoot Books Annual Winter Sale is going on now through February 18th...with savings of up to 70% on select titles!!

http://www.barefootbooksstoryteller.com