However, many of them are not.
I have read a ton of kids books over the years - not just with my own kids, but also with kids I've babysat, in my university children's literature class, and elsewhere. The first time I opened a book published through Barefoot Books, I could tell they were in a different class, right away.There is a reason why their books have won so many awards and have received so much positive press (for some examples, take a look at my list of recommended books)!
Here are some reasons why I think Barefoot Books are different:
(1) The books are all values driven, centered around Barefoot's mission of "educating our children as the caretakers of tomorrow" through encouraging independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, compassion for others, and respect for the world’s diversity. The difference is noticeable in the types and quality of books published by Barefoot Books - trust me, you'll see it too!
(2) The books are great quality, and are produced sustainably. If taken care of, these books can last generations. The paper is strong and thick, the colours do not fade, and they are tightly bound. As a testament to Barefoot Books' high standard of quality, consider the following: Barefoot Books has only ever developed one app - the Barefoot World Atlas app. This paid app has been downloaded over 4 million times and was picked by Apple as one of the top ten best apps of all time!(3) The books are genuine. They aren't meant to commercialize childhood in any way. They do not feature characters which also happen to be found pasted onto a lunchbox, or who star in a TV show. They are truly focused on the magic of meaningful storytelling, with inspirational and relatable characters.
(4) The books do not just hold diversity as a value - they simply are always diverse; in both culture and characters. Barefoot pulls story themes from Asian, Irish, Jewish, African, Greek, and First Nations cultures, among many others. Their characters do not stereotype by gender, feature names and faces from all over the globe, and also do not discriminate based on physical abilities or characteristics. Where else can you find an A to Z storybook that has "G is for Gopinder", or a vocabulary book that includes the word "braille"?(5) The books are beautiful. They really are. Barefoot is considers the illustrations in their books to be of equal importance to the story, and celebrate the artists that elevate their books from mere children's stories to pieces of art. Children have a keen eye for beauty as well, and I have found my children to gravitate to Barefoot Books specifically.
See for yourself! Contact me to get a chance to touch and see the books in real life. We can set up something as simple as a "borrow bag" for you to peruse on your own time, or we can work together to host a party! For more details, click here.
After understanding where Barefoot Books' comes from and what they believe, you will be able to imagine and appreciate the kind of books Barefoot curates - meaningful, beautiful and engaging stories for children.
- To learn more about Barefoot Books, click here.
- To learn more about Barefoot Books' core values, click here.
