Len-a Dobson, Community Bookseller

My name is LenA! I am a mother to Aria, and wife. I am also trained as Advanced Practice RN with a specialization in the health of newborns to teens. I also have a strong interest in promoting good mental health practices as I focused my Masters on mental health concerns. 

What makes me LOVE Barefoot Books is it inclusive nature by showing diverse characters and stories from around the world. As a parent and a health educator, I have made a point to share book resources that can benefit a family in some way- weither it is finding a character in a story that looks like them, or even helping facilitate difficult discussion between children and adults. I enjoy reading Barefoot books with my family because it opens my daughter up to a multitude of diverse situations, and stories that she may not have the oppertunity to experience otherwise. Learning about different cultures and individuals, will help our family become a more understanding inclusive family that celebrates our differences, and hopefully helps develop an interest in travel and learning about different cultures respectfully.

My favourite books are not only about "tough topics", and promoting taking care of your mental health, but also about nature and gardening! I no longer practice in a clinic medicine but decided to switch my health practice to helping my community learn about the benefits of gardening by helping run my family's 42 year old garden centre business. 

I am community ambassador for these books because I truly believe that books have the power to change lives, and Barefoot books most definitly have this power. I would be happy to help you discover the perfect book or books for your family and friends.