RIF turns 43!

On November 3rd, 2009 RIF turns 43! Come celebrate with The Barefoot Storyteller! Please visit The Barefoot Storyteller's main site and see the Reading and Book Exchanges page, under the "New Books for Free" heading to learn more about The Barefoot Storyteller's free books program.

Autumn Newsletter

Autumn 2009: Oh what fun we're going to have!

*For the younger set, I have been having tons of fun with Bear in a Square in French/English and Spanish/English as well! One of my favorite young children's Barefoot Books to read, from one of my favorite young children's picture book "series" was recently published in a bilingual French/English translation edition, as well as in Spanish/English, so look for them at The Inside Out Playground Storytimes this autumn.

*I'm excited to be using the new "Kids' Kitchen: 40 Fun and Healthy Recipes to Make and Share" in my kids cooking classes. The forty recipes in this colorful deck are based around the five main food groups, and offer a healthy and exciting way to learn about cooking.

*New Read to Feed titles are The Chicken and the Worm for Pre-K & kindergarten audiances, and Winter in Songming for 3rd & 4th grades.

*African Tales is new from Barefoot Books, with eight stories in this collection, each from a different African country, feature educational facts and information about the cultures from which they are chosen. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Books for Africa, an organization that collects, ships and distributes books to children across the African continent.

*Another recent Barefoot Books release, Lin Yi's Lantern is a wonderful story I enjoy sharing, along with a lantern making project. The Chinese Moon Festival will fall on October 3rd this year, so be sure to check my schedule around that time to see where I'll be reading it. Here's more about the book: Lin Yi faces a moral dilemma, and learns that doing the right thing for its own sake is the best course of action, and that luck may shine on those who act morally. Lin Yi is given money to buy items at the market for the Moon Festival. If he bargains well, he can purchase a red rabbit lantern for himself. But he must purchase everything on his mother's list first! This heart-warming story will resonate with both children and adults, as they learn about the wonderful Chinese Moon Festival and the rewards that come from putting others first. Set in China, this story offers an opportunity to learn about Chinese customs through the accessible story of a young boy who has his heart set on buying a lantern for the festival. This book includes informative notes about life in rural China and the Moon Festival.

*Like every other September, we will look forward to an incredible Roald Dahl Day, as well as the performances of Puppets for Peace.

*October will certainly be Where the Wild Things Are as we celebrate Maurice Sendak's wonderful book (and others he wrote and/or illustrated) the whole month long...including a field trip to see the movie on October 16th! Contact me for information on how you can be part of The Barefoot Storyteller's group.

*Late October/Early November: Field Trip to Boston Museum of Science to see Harry Potter Exhibit in the works! Contact me for information on how you can be part of The Barefoot Storyteller's group.

*November 10th - 14th: National Young Readers Week

Wild Things Sale!

Where the Wild Things Are product sale!!! Limited quanties of each, email for availablity, shipping fees, and other ordering information!!

Where The Wild Things Are: Hardcover Book, 25th Anniversary Special Edition $12

Where The Wild Things Are First Puzzle: Little ones love Max and his WildThings friends from Maurice Sendak's best-loved book. Four color codedpieces per puzzle, each puxzzle approximately 6 x 8", packed in acolorful box with a handle. For ages 2+. Printed with nontoxic inks. $7

Where The Wild Things Are Block Puzzle: Turn the blocks to form sixdifferent scenes from Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are classicbook. Nine 2-inch cubes to use as building blocks or form puzzlepictures, sturdy box with sliding drawer. For ages 3+. Printed withnontoxic inks $10

Where The Wild Things Are Floor Puzzle: Puzzle greyboard contains 90%recycled paper. Packaging contains 70% recycled paper. Printed withnon-toxic, soy-based inks. $12

Where The Wild Things Are Cube Puzzle: 4-1/4" cube box, rope handle,measures 16 x 16 inches, for ages 3+. Puzzle greyboard made of 100%recycled paper. Packaging contains a minumum of 75% recycled paper.Printed with non-toxic inks. $8

Where the Wild Things Are

A favorite chilkdhood story comes to life on the big screen, October 16th 2009! In celebration, please join The Barefoot Storyteller for special readings of Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are", and related activities all throughout the month of October. Also, you may contact me for information about being part of the group I am planning take to see the movie!

TheBarefootStoryteller@Barefoot-Storyteller.com

View the movie trailor here

Bear in a Square...in French/English

And Spanish/English as well! One of my favorite young children's Barefoot Books to read, from one of my favorite young children's picture book "series" is now available in a French/English translation edition, as well as in Spanish/English. It's Bear in a Square! Both books, along with other titles in the "Bear" family, in just English or just Spanish, can currently be purchased up my Barefoot Books Web-site.

Another book from the series Bear in Sunshine will also soon be released in both editions in the very near future.

New Blog

I'm adding a new blog to my "blog family"...as we get ready to launch a new beautiful Barefoot Books web-site you'll find my Barefoot Books news at:

BarefootBooksStoryteller.blogspot.com

This is to go along with the launch of the new Barefoot Books Web-site, which I hope you will visit as well!

TheBarefootStoryteller.BarefootBooks.com

Earth Day Barefoot

Go Green with some of our earth friendly stories printed on earth-friendly paper with soy inks, Be Green with every copy of The Barefoot Book of Earth Stories sold in April Eco Libris will plant a tree, Save Green with the free shipping offer coming up April 28th through May 10th.

www.BarefootBooksStoryteller.com

D.E.A.R.

National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read" and April 12th, the birthday of beloved author Beverly Cleary is the official event date. Ramona Quimby, the program’s official spokesperson, is responsible for spreading the word and the love of reading. The Barefoot Storyteller will be participating of course...stay tuned for updates!

Read Across America

Today we were buried in a snowstorm, schools were called off, libraries closed, so I did not get out to read as planned...but of course spent time reading with my own young son! Thursday I can be found at The Inside Out Playground at my usual  Barefoot Storyteller  storytime at 1pm  and will arrive with famous red and white stovepipe hat (and the rest of the costume) ready to read read read!!!  Hope to see you there!

Imagination

Just a short commentary...it's there, on the home page of my storytelling site... "Remember, in a story, absolutely anything is possible."

Why do so many children lack imagination these days? How can they create if they don't dream? Open thier minds to any possibility?

Albert Einstien told us, "imagination is more importaint than knowledge"

CPSIA

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in production are required to include a "lead-free" certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books! No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" : libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manufacturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause to be able to grandfather- in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead. Punishment for selling a book after February 10th that does not comply is a fine up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

Barefoot Books (the publishers books I sell) has been aware of the new laws coming in effect for a couple of months now. They are working with the manufacturers to get the certificates that are needed.


So what can you do to help save your local bookstore that sells children's books? ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070 http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact information, just enter your zip code http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

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For the complete story, read the following links: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and other rulings http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory requirements. The use of forward effective dates appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009 http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be included in the testing of lead based products http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180 days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's books http://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html

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!

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.

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.

To donate to First Book, please visit http://www.firstbook.org/booksforkeeps/thebarefootstoryteller

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.

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

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.

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