Leonore Lee
Welcome to Barefoot Books with Leonore Lee!
Playgroup Story Reading
Aug-12-2009 10:00am-11:30amPrivate event. Please contact me to schedule yours! Shipping for all orders are free, cute gifts for all party guests, and host receives 20% of sales in Free Books! Parties can also be booked as fundraisers. BOOK NOW TO RECEIVE A FREE CANVAS TOTE BAG (valued at $20)!
Home Party
Aug-17-2009 7:30pm - 9:00pmPrivate event. Please contact me to schedule yours! Shipping for all orders are free, cute gifts for all party guests, and host receives 20% of sales in Free Books! Parties can also be booked as fundraisers. BOOK NOW TO RECEIVE A FREE CANVAS TOTE BAG (valued at $20)!
Lin Yi's Lantern
This book glows as warm as a real Chinese lantern.
Aug-25-2009Lin Yi's Lantern is a stunning book in every way. This is a heartwarming story of a young boy, struggling to balance his desires with his responsibilities, as he helps his family prepare for the Chinese Moon Festival. The gorgeous, warm illustrations not only convey the emotions of Lin Yi and overall mood of the tale, but also detail the beauty of the fabrics, rooftops, bridges and latticework of the Chinese culture. A new favorite in my house! (ages 3, 5 and 8... and me!) The Moon Festival is a mid-Autumn harvest celebration which takes place on the 15th day of the the month on the Chinese lunar calendar. Lin Yi's Lantern would make an excellent jumping-off point for a home or classroom cultural study! So many possibilities!
What's This?
Sharing & Responsibility - Great for a Classroom!
Aug-18-2009Under the watchful eye of a bird and a cat, a little girl learns patience and responsibility as she nurtures her sunflower from seed to mature plant. A great little story time book for a wide range of ages... my younger son at 2 loved this book and it was also a great early reader for my older son at age 7. I have also read it in the kids' classrooms at all levels of preschool through 1st grade.
Landmarks of The World 63 Piece Puzzle
We Love This Puzzle! Colorful!
Aug-16-2009A bright, lively and educational illustration with a mid-range difficulty level that is hard to find! My 4.5 yr old is ready to for challenges beyond 36 pieces, but not ready for 100; the 63 pieces in this puzzle are just slightly larger than an average 100 piece - perfect! Landmarks of the World is also an interesting topic for my 7.5 yr old and enough pieces that he doesn't feel it's "for babies". It's led to great conversations about far away places and geography. I'm always happy when my kids can share and work together! Great activity for all ages.
Kangaroos Have Joeys
I learned something too!
Aug-4-2009Very unique illustrations and rhythmic flow to the words. My boys really enjoy reading all the unique names for a wide array of baby animals. End notes provide more information on each of the animals, giving the book a much broader audience than you might normally expect from a lap book/board book.
Kids' Kitchen
Fruits and Veggies are Fun!
Aug-4-2009We've only had this recipe deck for a few days, but have already tried Picnic Kabobs, Apple Volcanoes, Tropical Milkshakes, Yummy Hot Bananas, and Mean Green Guacamole. They are as fun as they sound! The cards are sturdy and wipe clean - I have been sticking them in my purse to take along to the grocery store. In addition to the 40 recipes, a large quad-fold card provides well-presented nutritional information on the food groups, vitamin and minerals. The cards are vegetarian, but not lacto-ovo. It's been really nice getting the kids involved in the kitchen; they can do most of the things in the recipes themselves, except for the cutting and heat.
Three Billy Goats Gruff
"I'm a troll, from a deep dark hole..."
Jul-22-2009My boys love to stomp about and chant the troll's poem from this lively version of the classic preschooler's tale. They also enjoyed echoing the art work by making trolls and other monsters from pieces torn paper grocery bags. Although I've never seen a version that explains it, I like to think that the two smaller goats know that their big brother is up to the challenge of taking on the troll. I have my oldest son read to his younger brothers and gently chime in with: "Those two smaller goats are lucky to know that they had a good big brother to take care of them, aren't they?"
The Seven Wise Princesses
Wise Women tell Adventurous Tales
Jul-22-2009"what is new in Nizami's poetry is his complex image of women as strong, virtuous and sharp on the one hand and tender, passionate and beautiful on the other. It was particularly in his treatment of women that Nizami broke with the literary custom of the times." (this epic Persian poem was completed in 1197) This excerpt from the introduction by Wafa' Tarnowska lured me into the book. The beautiful imagery of sights, sounds, and smells as well as the symbolism (discussed in the author's notes at the end of the book) kept me hooked. Readers follow young Bahram as he becomes a Shaw and embarks on a journey of learning to be virtuous and wise leader. His builds seven pavilions of different colors and invites his teachers, the Seven Wise Princesses, from seven different lands. Over the course of a week, he visits each pavilion to hear the adventurous and magical tales that they have to tell. This book can be read as a chapter book, however each of the princesses' tales can also stand alone. I appreciated that the Shaw is not visiting the princesses in search of a wife, although many of the stories told by the princesses result in a young man finding love or winning a bride. Other themes include honesty, justice, compassion, humility, purity, courage and intelligence. While my oldest son has no interest in princesses, and this book is a bit beyond a typical 2nd grade level of reading, I will certainly be sharing many of the stories with him for their lessons of justice and goodness.
Polar Bear Puppet
Irresistible!
Jul-16-2009This is the softest puppet I have ever held. He/she is a nice size (about 12 inches tall) and I have had success in spot-cleaning with a tiny dab of mild soap and cool water on a gentle cloth. I love Folkmanis' realistic puppets. They make story time more interactive, provide for imaginative play, and help our children form a love and feeling of respect for animals.
Baby Animal Block Puzzle
Very Cute Gift Puzzle
Jul-16-2009This is an adorable puzzle with illustrations that match Barefoot's board book "Who Are You, Baby Kangaroo?" (my favorite Clare Beaton title). I love to pair the two up in a gift for 2 or 3 yr olds. It is actually rather challenging to put the pictures of the puzzle together, but the blocks serve as a great stacking and matching game in the meantime. My son got a lot of mileage out of these blocks... it is basically six 9 piece puzzles all in one toy. I should point out that, while the blocks are durable, they are not made of wood - it is a heavy glossy cardboard, much like the material that most puzzles are made of.
The Parrot Tico Tango
Bright Colors, Great Message
Jul-16-2009The pages of this book are completely full of vibrant colors - my kids can't get enough of the illustrations! The rhythmic tale presents exotic fruits, colors, jungle animals and synonyms. The ultimate message is one of forgiveness. My 2 yr old enjoys this book and I have also read it in a first grade classroom. Great for new readers too; there is repetition and visual clues, but also some challenges in reading the names of the animals.
The Barefoot Book of Knights
Adventure and Chivalry!
Jul-16-2009Wonderfully well written tales about Knights from seven different countries, all linked together by the story of Tom, the Page. As Tom learns the values and skills of the knights, he is mentored by Master William, who tells him the stories in this book. Each story is adventurous, clever and highlights the good values and chivalry of the knights. I read these to my son at about 4.5 yrs and he had no problem sitting through the stories; each is about perfect length for bed time. Now, at almost 8, he is starting to read on his own; the story CD helps him along.
Yoga Pretzels
Great Yoga Instructions for all ages!
Jul-16-2009I was new to Yoga when I first found Barefoot Books and really appreciated the simple illustrated instructions for each pose. My kids also love the cards. Our favorite game has been to take turns randomly pulling cards and challenging each other to do the pose. Yoga also serves as a great way to transition or calm the kids down at the end of the day before bedtime stories.
If You're Happy and You Know It!
We're Happy with this Book!
Jul-15-2009The lively preschool song with a multicultural flair. My boys love that all the kids in the book have names and that the places they come from are listed too. They have had a lot of fun turning to the "glossary" of children in the back and trying to match them up with the pictures throughout the book. They also love learning to say "hello" in new languages and in turn matching the languages with the kids. (for example, they discovered that Arina from Afghanistan says "senga yai" and is on the Pat Your Head page!) A very friendly book and a great way to introduce the youngest of children to cultures around the world!
Bear on the Go First Puzzles
Great intro to jigsaws!
Jul-14-2009My 2 yr old loves this puzzle. He enjoys the theme and it presents just the right level of challenge for him. I started by giving him one of the four puzzles at a time and now he has learned to sort all 16 pieces into four matching groups before putting the puzzles together. He can carry it in the box, or I can put them into a ziplock to take along in my purse. My four year old still likes to do the puzzle - he feels like he is teaching something to his little brother!
Two-in-One Animal Puzzle
Double the Fun
Jul-11-2009This is a very colorful and durable puzzle, perfect for the little one just beginning real jigsaws... a little bit trickier than most 9 piece puzzles because both sides have a different picture! The art matches two of Barefoot's board books: Secret Seahorse and Zoe and her Zebra. A great trio for a gift to a 2 - 4 yr old!
We All Go Traveling By
Vehicles, Colors, and Sound Effects!
Jul-10-2009This book gives the children a chance to really get up and get moving! My kids love to take over and do the sound effects. It is a little difficult for the younger one (2yrs) to keep up with the pace of the CD, but the faster pace is a fun game for the older boy (4yrs). They also love it when I sing the song, which allows me to slow it down a bit. This is a good book for very early readers; the themes give clues and the repetition helps them along. We love the stitched look to the illustrations - another Barefoot Book that my kids reach out to touch!
You and Me
Opposites Attract! I LOVE this book!
Jul-9-2009This is so much more than a book of opposites. It sends a loving message that what sets us apart from one another is also what makes us compatible. I love how the two children, on opposing pages for each set of opposites, are always looking at each other from across the binding of the book. You and Me is also a book about imagination, as it personifies shapes, weather, animals, and states of being. In the end, the comforting message is about our individuality and friendship. Giovanni Manna's illustrations make this a perfectly dreamy book! Snuggle up!
Riddle Me This!
A little bit of everything
Jul-9-2009Short stories, riddles, puzzles... this is a great book for car trips or when you just have a few extra minutes at bedtime. My 7 year old likes "tricky stuff" and the shorter excerpts are not intimidating when he doesn't feel like reading a longer story. He enjoys the freedom of creativity and skipping around the book at will. It's also adorable to see my 4 year old delighted (and sometimes baffled) by the brain teasers that his big brother is sharing with him! There is plenty of material in this book, so it has a good amount of longevity.
The Barefoot Book of Monsters!
Monster Stories for Bedtime!
Jul-9-2009My son (then 5) was always sensitive to scary stories so I was surprised when he *begged* me to read him this book at bedtime! Reluctantly, I finally gave in and we didn't put the book down until we had read it cover to cover! We were delighted to discover that the Barefoot Book of Monsters! is not a collection intended to scare its readers. The stories instead highlight clever children and their encounters with rather endearing creatures. These tales empower children to take control of their fears and overcome them in a creative way.
One City, Two Brothers
Compassion, Charity and Peace
Jul-9-2009In this traditional folk tale with stunning illustrations, two brothers share a field but live on opposite sides of the valley. When one season provides a particularly good harvest, the brothers each recognize their blessings and decide what to do with their extra grain. The heartwarming result addresses all of the values of love, compassion, and brotherhood that I strive to impart upon my children.
Whole World Mini Edition
Great Twist to a Favorite Folk Song
Jul-8-2009Barefoot took an already wonderful and uplifting folk song and made it even better by giving it a gender-neutral, non-religious/all religion, and environmental spin. It appeals to everyone and with such bright illustrations, it is a page turner even when you don't have the music queued. Like many Barefoot Books, the educational end notes are wonderful... I have 3 children of different ages and the end notes make it possible for them all to share one bedtime story. It is the perfect way to introduce issues of climate/environmental protection to all ages. The mini size is perfect for on-the-go entertainment, but the book is also available in a larger format - perfect for classroom use!
Magic Train Ride
There is no boundry on your imagination
Jul-8-2009As if a train ride isn't cool enough, this one goes underwater and to outer space. Best of all, the characters and creatures from each fantastic station venture out to explore the other lands along the railway track. In the end, the readers are challenged to create their own magical station; a wonderful exercise in imagination that has become a bit of a competition in my house! Cute, catchy tune. Repetition helps the early reader. Enjoy!
Catch that Goat!
Visit a Market in Nigeria
Jul-8-2009Ayoka is left in charge of a goat, but when the goat escapes, we are led on a counting adventure through an urban marketplace. The colorful and lively illustrations convey the busy atmosphere and provide endless opportunity for seek-and-find activities. There is something new to see on each page every time we read it. End notes educate the reader about Yoruba culture and language. This book appropriate for a wide age range... the very young (2) can enjoy the counting and illustrations, the older children (my oldest is 8) enjoy this book as a geography study.
Creepy Crawly Calypso
Music, Numbers and Bugs with Caribbean Flare!
Jul-8-2009Creepy Crawly Calypso with sing-a-long CD, offers an education on the playful and colorful sounds of the Caribbean by highlighting various instruments. The book also introduces ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd...) as various groups of insects enter the band. I am reminded of a music education class as the first track of the CD gives an overview of the featured instruments and asks listeners to "listen for the sound of the steel drums/marimba/saxophone", before the second track sings the song contained in the pages of the book. The final track is the instrumental version of the song. The book holds the same information with a picture glossary of the insects and instruments at the back of the book. The book also contains the sheet music for your budding musician. The bright illustrations are by Debbie Harter. My children enjoy the insects - we like to get out the set plastic bugs when we listen. I enjoy sharing with them the unique Calypso sound, as a way of demonstrating the great variety and playfulness there is to find in music.
The Beeman
Poetic Lesson in Bee Ecology
Jun-30-2009Both my 4 year old and 7 year old can't seem to get enough of this book! From rhyming text, the child narrator describes the gear used by the beekeeper, the process of honey production and the behavior of bee and their colony. End notes provide further information about the bee's place in our ecosystem and there is a recipe for wonderful and healthy muffins! This text is also great for a beginning reader and has been a favorite with the teachers. I have read this book for storytimes in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade classrooms and it is always a hit!
The Sounds Around Town
A Day in the City
Jun-30-2009My 3 year old son really enjoys following the baby through his busy day in the city as he listens to the sounds around him. The text is rhyming and the vibrant collage style illustrations are labeled with more sounds to discover. I love how the mother spends the day outdoors with her child, exploring the park, the market and the city streets. In keeping with Barefoot philosophy, a multicultural and multilingual population is depicted, creating an awareness of the diverse community that enriches our daily experiences.
The Barefoot Book of Faeries
Magical!
Jun-30-2009Glimpse into the magical faerie culture with this collection of stories and poems from England and Ireland. An enchanting look at the mischievous little creatures of folklore and the clever humans that encounter them. The illustrations are vivid and seem to glimmer with the same magic that illuminates the text. The story CD is equally enchanting, I can't get enough!
The Prince's Bedtime
What happens when a young prince won’t go to bed?
Jun-30-2009Since my son is terrible about going to bed, we had a lot of fun with this modern fairy tale. The Prince can't fall asleep and the King and Queen call on the entire kingdom to help. When the doctor, cooks, maids, musicians, dancers, and others all fail, a little old woman tries a simple solution. For my family, it lightens a moment that is sometimes stressful; but the joy is universal - isn't it nice to know that the royalty has trouble with such everyday things? It's also a lot fun with bright and imaginative illustrations. The verse rhymes, which lends the story a great flow of reading and provides important tools for the early reader.
Jack and the Beanstalk
A Fresh Twist on a Classic Fairy Tale.
Jun-30-2009It's that little bit of Magic that we all hope for when we make a bad decision. In author Richard Walker's retelling of this classic tale we get a new look at the story, without losing any of the old world charm. For example, the man who trades Jack his cow for the beans has "lost the instructions" and when the Giant... well, without spoiling the ending, I'll just say it's much less horrific than crashing to your death at the base of a large plant. The illustrations by Niamh Sharkey are whimsical and fun, yet the seriousness of poverty and Jack's dangerous adventure are somehow subtly conveyed in the color palate. It's truly artful. My kiddos especially love the image of Jack sitting atop the stalk as he gazes at the castle and the clouds hover below. My favorite picture is of the beans as they begin to sprout underground - very unique.
The Boy Who Grew Flowers
What makes us different is what makes us special
Jun-30-2009A story about a boy who lives on Lonesome Mountain and posses a unique gift to grow flowers from his body when the full moon shines. The boy does not fit in well at school until a new girl comes to town and they form a friendship. As the two accept each other's differences, they learn to appreciate their own special qualities. This message of acceptance, giving, and true friendship is powerful and heartwarming. The illustrations illuminate the pages with magical imagery and a stunning color palate.
Mama Panya's Pancakes
A Meaningful Tale of Generosity.
Jun-30-2009A perfect example of a Barefoot Book and one of my family's favorites. This story is set in rural Kenya, but the message is universal. If you give, you will get back. Readers learn a bit about life in Kenya as you follow Mama Panya and her son, Adika on a journey to the market. Any 3-8 year old can relate to friendly Adika and will enjoy walking along with him. My 3 year old now tells me "I'm Adika!" when I take him to the grocery store! With my 7 year old, we talked about the similarities and differences between our life and Adika's life. In the back of the book, there is also facts about village life in Kenya, a picture glossary of the plants and animals, facts about and words in the Kiswahili language, facts about Kenya, and a recipe for the pancakes! This is not only a cute story, but it presents so many talking points and, with the factual information at the end, it is perfect for elementary school age geography studies.
Winter King, Summer Queen
An enchanting tale with Stunning Art Work.
Jun-30-2009Winter King/Summer Queen is an enchanting tale with equally enchanting illustrations. While the Winter King rules The Land of Icy Darkness, the Summer Queen presides over The Land of the Flaming Sun. The talents and characteristics of the two are compared and contrasted as they struggle to control the weather down on earth. Readers learn an important lesson about balance and acceptance as the King and Queen reach a compromise for rotating the seasons of winter and summer. This book is also available with a professionally told story CD, giving a new reader guidance or a younger child the opportunity to improve their listening skills as they create images in their mind and take the story into their heart.
Listen, Listen
Touch nature with Listen Listen
Jun-30-2009Listen, Listen is one of my favorite bedtime books, appropriate for all three of my kids, ages 2, 4 and 7. The rhythmic verse by Phillis Gershator reminds us to appreciate the delicate sounds of nature that surround us each season. The art by Alison Jay, created with oil paint and a crackle varnish, evokes an especially nostalgic feel, invites the reader to explore the details, and perfectly complements the movement of the words. "Listen, listen... summer's gone. Good-bye insects, autumn's come. Plop, plop, acorns drop. hurry, scurry, squirrels hop." We always spend a lot of time when we sit down with this book. It wouldn't be right to rush through when the theme is just the opposite. There are all sorts of tiny things to spot in the illustrations. There are even smells, if your imagination is tuned in. It's the kind of book that reminds us to breathe and remember what is important in life. It is even a book about ecology. And each time I read this book, I renew my promise to help my boys recall these lessons, linger a bit, and appreciate the treasures around us as we step outside each day.