Hola and Bon Jour!

I'm one of many Americans who speaks only English.  I feel a little sheepish about this, especially when I speak to people from other countries who know their native language, English, and sometimes several other languages, as well.  Although I can't teach my daughter to speak or read other languages fluently, I'm doing my best to expose her to them, with the hope that she'll develop both a small foundation and an interest in learning more as she grows.

Barefoot Books has a broad selection of Spanish, French, and bilingual books, which are great for exposing young children to these languages.  Some of my favorites are below.  The full selection of Barefoot Books Spanish, French, and bilingual titles can be found at http://www.amym.barefootbooks.com/.

For babies and toddlers:

For children:

Singalongs:

August Nonprofit of the Month

I'm very excited to announce that Friends of Camp Little Notch is my August nonprofit of the month. 

In 1939, the Girl Scouts of America purchased 2,800 acres of forest at the foot of the Adirondacks—a picturesque 80-acre lake, expansive and serene woods, and miles of mountain streams. For 70 years generations of young women were transformed by this place called Camp Little Notch and treasured it as their classroom, their playground, and their refuge. In the past two years—after word of the impending sale of the property—energetic young women leaders came together out of their belief in the potential of Little Notch to start a non-profit called The Friends of Camp Little Notch (The Friends). To date, The Friends have successfully conserved the property through a relationship with the Open Space Institute (OSI), and are in the process of purchasing a portion of this extraordinary land from OSI.

In the summer of 2012, The Friends will re-open Little Notch as a national outdoor education and retreat center. Whether visitors want to practice sustainable living, challenge themselves to learn about their own capabilities, or retreat in a wilderness setting, the Little Notch property offers limitless possibilities. With your help, The Friends have an incredible opportunity to bring to life their vision for the future of this exquisite place.

I'm donating 20% of my August online sales to this wonderful organization.

Summer Sale!

The annual Barefoot Books Summer Sale has begun!  More than 60 items are discounted by up to 60%, making it a great time to stock up for the back-to-school season, birthdays, and the holidays.  There are even 21 items under $5, including:



Driving My Tractor paperback with singalong CD (regular $9.99, sale $4.49)



Animal Boogie paperback with singalong CD (regular $9.99, sale $4.49)



Cleo's Counting Book paperback and board book (regular $6.99, sale $3.99)



Cleo's Color Book board book (regular $6.99, sale $3.99)



Bear at Work Fun Activities (regular $5.99, sale $3.99)



Journey Home From Grandpa's Fun Activities (regular $5.99, sale $3.99)



Cerdota Grandota Spanish board book (regular $6.99, sale $3.99)



Bear about Town/L'Ours dans la ville bilingual paperback (regular $6.99, sale $4.49)



Abuelita fue al Mercado Spanish paperback (regular $6.99, sale $4.99)

The sale runs through Monday, 8/15, but sale items tend to sell out, so shop early.  And remember: shipping is free on all orders of $60 or more.

PTA/PTO/HSA Fundraiser Planning

Are you involved with your local PTA/PTO/HSA? Is your child's school or preschool looking for ways to raise funds or books?  Here are some great reasons to have a Barefoot Books fundraiser at your school next year:

• Flexible format.  You choose the format: cash and carry, take orders, online - or a combination of these options that works best for you.
• Easy.  I personally staff all of my fundraisers and take pride in making them as easy and low-maintenance as possible for the school.  You will not need to recruit volunteers or staff the fundraiser yourself.
• High quality product.  Barefoot Books is committed to bringing art and story of the highest quality to children.  The illustrations are unparalleled, the books are very well-constructed, and most contain educational end notes that teach readers about the story's subject matter.
• Green practices.  All Barefoot Books books are printed on ancient forest-friendly paper, using soy- and vegetable-based inks.
• Small businessperson.  I'm an independent, small businessperson, and partnering with me supports the local Capital Region economy.
• Commercial-free.  There are no TV or movie tie-ins, video games, or candy at Barefoot Books fundraisers.  In fact it's one of only two national companies recommended by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.

I'm currently scheduling fundraisers for the upcoming school year, and would love to help your school earn money or free books.  Contact me to discuss doing a Barefoot Books fundraiser at your school.

Do What You Love

If you're reading this, you're probably a fan of Barefoot Books.  Have you ever considered becoming an Ambassador, and turning your love for Barefoot Books into a business? 

Ask 10 Ambassadors why they joined Barefoot Books, and you'll hear 10 different answers.  That's what I love about this amazing opportunity!  There are people who just want to receive great discounts on the products they love; people who like having a flexible, entrepreneurial way to earn extra income; and people who are passionate about bringing high quality books to their schools and communities.

I became an Ambassador early last October, and immediately threw myself into the hectic holiday season.  (As you can imagine, September-December is the busiest time of year for Barefoot Books Ambassadors.)    It was great to see immediate results, but in retrospect, it was not the best time of year to start my Barefoot Books business.  I think I would've been better able to maximize the opportunities presented by the holiday season, if I had been more knowledgeable about the company and the books.  It takes a couple of months of reading the books, learning about the company, and talking about them, to feel fully comfortable and like you really know what you're talking about. 

As a result, I think the summer is the best time of year to become an Ambassador.  You have several months to learn the ropes and comfortably develop into a confident Ambassador, before diving into the holiday season.  (There's also a big summer sale, so you can maximize your discount and stock up for future events!)

Interested in learning more?  Contact me, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. 

Give Back with Bear!

Bear's Birthday, the eighth book in the Bear series, was just published this spring.  To celebrate, Barefoot Books is donating a new book to Birthday Wishes in the US and Refuge in the UK, two organizations chosen for their commitment to supporting children in difficult situations, for each copy of Bear's Birthday sold this month.

Want to give back, and save money?  Use discount code AMBTEN to save 10% on your purchase at http://www.amym.barefootbooks.com/!

Learn more about this collaboration here. 

Party On!



I realized that I haven't talked much about Barefoot Books parties here, so I thought I'd share what I love about them:

• They're a great way to earn FREE Barefoot Books products and to share them with others who may be Barefoot uninitiated.
• The format is completely flexible.  Looking for an excuse to get your friends together without the kids?  Host an evening party.  Need something fun for parents to do during a playdate?  Host a party during the day.  They can even be done as a fundraiser for your favorite school or nonprofit organization.
• They give you and your guests an opportunity to see the newest Barefoot Books products - as well as the classics - in a fun and relaxed environment.

Interested in hosting a Barefoot Books party this summer, fall, or holiday season?  Contact me to discuss the details.