That’s right.  I went Barefoot.   Barefoot Books, that is. 

Last fall, in my 3rd trimester insomnia, I could often be found at 3 a.m. online.  Wide awake, knowing I had to be up in a few hours to work/take care of toddler/surf the net(!), I would spend that time not relaxing in a calm state, hoping sleep would overtake my weary, very-pregnant body.  Oh no.  That would be asking too much of myself.  Instead, what better way to lull yourself back to slumber than by staring at a high-energy laptop screen, blinding white in the early morning darkness.  Needless to say, I very rarely fell back to sleep.

So in those wide-eyed internet hours, my VISA got a good workout (I was Christmas shopping early — who wants to plan to do holiday shopping at crowded malls with an infant and 2-year-old?), my friends received a multitude of e-mails from me, and *BONUS* — it looked like I was really burning the midnight oil when I would do some work and send e-mails late at night.   “Wow — she sure is dedicated!  Eight months pregnant and analyzing sales data at 4 in the morning!”

But I digress.  I was also nesting at the time, and in the myriad of other things I had to do before Baby arrived, I thought it would be fun to host a home party.  Now, I’m not usually a “home party” hoster.  I attend them and buy the requisite jewelry/candle/kitchen utensil/purse/other item I don’t need.  But I’d rather have my friends over for no other reason than to hang out, instead of spending money so I get free loot.   Because there was nothing I really wanted or needed from these home-based businesses.  But for some reason, I was determined to host a party and find something that I would actually like to purchase.  Something for kids.  And NOT toys.  

Enter Barefoot Books.  (*cue the “Halleluia Chorus”).  Wow.  Now THESE were some products I could get behind!  I had a small home party with kids’ storytime, and I was hooked.  Sign me up!  I joined as a Barefoot Books stallholder in February and have been going strong ever since.

Barefoot is an independent children’s book publisher.  Just check out their core values – inspiring creativity, celebrating diversity, giving back, building a community, creating better products, and protecting the planet.     And from the CEOs’ story and vision, the mission statement really spoke to me: 

Our Mission
At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art and story that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further, and explore their own creative gifts. Taking our inspiration from many different cultures, we focus on themes that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and sharing of the world’s diversity. Interactive, playful and beautiful, our products combine the best of the present with the best of the past to educate our children as the caretakers of tomorrow.