The Starter Pack: What You Get

If you sign up to sell Barefoot Books, you should almost certainly get the Starter Pack. It's optional, and although it's free to sign up as a stallholder if you don't get it, I think it's well worth the money. It costs $99 plus shipping and is loaded with goodies. Currently you get 10 fantastic books, a Folkmanis puppet and a set of puzzles in addition to all the things you need to get started: a stallholder handbook, catalogs, bags, order forms, post cards, invitations and a press kit folder. It even comes with a nice big bin to store everything in.

The books you get are:

I Took the Moon for a Walk - A charming story of a little boy who takes a walk with the moon. It is recommended for ages 0-4 which I think is right on. My three year old really enjoys this book, though the sweet simple text will definitely appeal to younger kids as well. Your little one is sure to ask for this book over and over, but don't worry--this beautiful book is such a joy to read that you won't quickly tire of it!

Hidden Hippo - Another one for the 0-4 set, and like I Took the Moon for a Walk, the simple rhyming text of this book will easily hold the attention of younger children. This book is beautifully illustrated by Clare Beaton and my daughter loves finding the hippo hidden on each page. In the back of the book, there is a section which gives a bit of information about each of the animals in the book (although my 3 year old refuses to let me read those pages, and insists they are instructions on how to make the animals out of fabric like in the pictures).

Animal Boogie - This book is so much fun! It comes with a CD which plays through the music twice, once with lyrics and once without. The music is upbeat and lively and my 3 year old loves to dance and sing along while yelling out the names of the animals. It also has the power to defuse a tantrum by the second verse. This is one of Barefoot's best sellers, and I can see why. Like the previous two books, this one is recommended for ages 0-4 and I have yet to hear of a child who did not love it.

Bear at Work - This is a board book, recommended for ages 0-4. It is part of a series (many are also available in paperback), and this particular one has Bear demonstrating different professions. The illustrations are vivid and the text is more substantial than that of a lot of board books. My daughter likes this although she prefers Bear on a Bike. I really wish I had known about these when she was younger and we read more board books.

The Barefoot Book of Princesses - This is a collection of princess stories from different countries. It is recommended for ages 4-7 and it comes with a CD of the stories which is great for listening along in the car or at home. There are well known tales like The Princess and the Pea and Sleeping Beauty along with lesser known tales such as The Horned Snake's Wife and The Beggar Princess and in the back of the book there is information on each one. My 3 year old loves The Princess and the Pea (except for the first time we read it, when she thought it was The Princess and the Pee), although my 15 year old would much rather read her The Birdcage Princess.

The Gigantic Turnip - Another Barefoot bestseller, this one is based on a classic Russian tale. The illustrations by Niamh Sharkey are whimsical and adorable. Like Hidden Hippo and I Took the Moon for a Walk, this book is recommended for ages 0-4, but I feel the story has more substance than either of those and it could be a bit long for the younger end of that range.


The Adventures of Odysseus - Finally one for the older kids. This book is recommended for ages 8-adult (6, if you're reading it together). I'm kind of torn on the issue of rewriting the classics for a younger audience, but this is such an incredible book that I can't help but love it. It is beautifully illustrated and written and I think it will serve as a wonderful introduction to Homer's work for younger readers while hopefully inspiring them to read the original one day.

Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing - This is the story of a boy growing up in China in the 1960's, during the Cultural Revolution. It is recommended for ages 8-14 and is Barefoot's foray into young fiction. I have not yet read it, as it was not a part of the Starter Pack when I joined, and I have only recently received my copy. I will update once I have read the book, which I intend to do soon.




Off We Go to Mexico - This book is a part of Barefoot's An Adventure in the Sun series and is recommended for children 4-8 years old, although I think younger children could enjoy it as well. It chronicles a family's visit to Mexico and teaches over 40 Spanish words and phrases. The back of the book has a map of Mexico along with a brief history and some facts about Mexico today. My 3 year old does not often request this one, a fact which secretly relieves me, as I'm sure I butcher the pronunciation of over 39 of the Spanish words and phrases featured in this book.

Whole World - Mini Edition - Of all of the Barefoot Books we own, this might be my favorite. It's a slightly updated version of the classic song. The book is beautifully illustrated, and the CD is a joy to listen to. This book and CD are beautiful and inspiring, and to me, the epitome of what Barefoot Books is all about. Click here to listen to part of the song play, along with a charming video featuring artwork from the book!

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