I know that many parents are scrambling to get the hottest toy, latest fashion or hippest new albums for their children. That is all fine and dandy but there is one special gift that parents often over look during the holiday season and that is the gift of reading and imagination.
Most people wouldn’t consider a book as a holiday gift idea. I find that really sad. I always give my children at least one book for Christmas, sometimes several. When my mother in law was alive she would give all the younger children a huge assortment of books that she would purchase from QVC.
I am grateful that my children love and appreciate books. Not only does it help them with school work but it also fosters their imagination.
I know that you can easily go out to the local store and pick up any old book. Even grocery stores carry books these days. I’m sure most parents would love to know that the books that their children are reading are both entertaining and educational. Parents want their children reading quality books.
One great resource for quality books is Barefoot Books. Barefoot Books offers award winning books that help to inspired children to explore, create and connect with the wonderful world around them.
Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. And so Barefoot Books began.
Barefoot Books prides its self on providing bright, colorful books with wonderful art and captivating stories. Thier books sometimes contain rhyming rhymes, sing-along songs, and dance-along dances. Other books they offer celebrate exotic places, magical creatures, and the wisdom of other traditions. All of their books help to capture the imagination, spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and instill a respect for the diversity of the planet and for the earth itself.
Barefoot Books is an independent publisher, with offices in Cambridge, MA, USA and Bath, England. They specialize in carefully crafted children’s books, CDs, games, puppets, puzzles, and gifts that celebrate enduring values and inspire creativity.
Barefoot Books are sold online, at their flagship stores in Concord, MA and in FAO Schwartz in Manhattan. They also have a huge global network of partners from Shanghai to San Francisco. They also sell their books through Barefoot Books Ambassadors. The Ambassadors can earn money, fund raise, and make a difference in children’s lives by marketing and selling Barefoot Books in their communities.
Barefoot Ambassador, Jamie Wilson, is passionate about Barefoot Books. She was kind enough to share a special recipe with me that I can share with my readers. It’s a recipe for Apple Volcanoes which sound like A LOT of fun to make together as a family.
Apple Volcanoes
Makes 4
Making time 10-15 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes.
These Apple Volcanoes are simple to make and deliciously sticky and sweer to eat. Add a marshmallow toward the end of the cooking time and it really will erupt down the side of your apple!
Ingredients & Supplies:
4 small cooking apples
3 apricots
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup rolled oats or granola
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons butter
4 marshmallows
Cutting board
Vegetable knife
Apple corer
Fork
Ovenproof baking dish or non-metallic microwave dish (if using microwave)
Mixing bowl and damp cloth
Wooden spoon
Make sure to wash your hands.
Directions:
1 – Set the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut a thin slice off the base of each apple so that it sits flat. You might not need to do this if the apple already sits flat.
3. Use an apple corer to remove the core, or you can use a vegetable knife. Make sure that an adult does this! Make sure that that whole is big enough to fill. If need be you can use the corer twice. Then take a fork and make four pricks around the sides of each apple. Put the prepared apples in the baking dish.
4. Cut the apricots into small pieces and put them in a bowl. Put a damp cloth underneath to keep the bowl from moving as you mix.
5. Add the raisins, oats or granola, and honey to the apricots. Mix with a wooden spoon. Using your fingers, stuff the mixture down into the hole in the apples, working from the top. Divide the mixture equally between the apples, pushing it right down.
6. Put a pat of butter on top of each apple.
7. Bake the apples for 25 minutes or until they are soft when you insert a knife into the. Carefully place a marshmallow on top of each apple and bake for another 2 minutes. The marshmallow will erupt down the side.
Tip – You can cook the apples in a microwave instead of the oven. Microwave for 3 minutes, then check. Once cooked, allow to stand for 2 minutes. BE CAREFUL! Food keeps cooking when removed from microwave.
Yummy! These sound so good. I haven’t tried them yet but I have the recipe written down. This might be fun to make with my kids on a cold, Winter day when were stuck inside. It will help fight off “cabin fever”.
If you would like to check out Barefoot Books you can visit Jamie’s web page simply click on the button below. First time buyers can save 20% off their purchase using the discount code SCSHTW at check out.
Jamie has also generously offered to give a lucky reader a wonderful prize package that will not only make a very special gift but will also provide hours of quality “together” time between a child and a parent or grandparent. Thank you Jamie!
The special prize package contains the following…
– A darling book called Who’s in the Forest? In this colorful peek-a-boo book, small children are invited to peek through the holes on every other page to answer the repeating refrain, “Who’s in the forest, dark and deep?” The playful, energetic, rhyming text introduces all sorts of creatures that make their home in the forest. ($14.99).
– Owl Finger Puppet. Perch this spotted owl on your finger and see if he shares some wisdom. This finger puppet is four inches tall. ($6.99).
– Fox Finger Puppet. Can you outwit a sly fox in the forest? This clever finger puppet is four inches long. ($7.99).
– Bunny Rabbit Finger Puppet. Hop, hop, hop through the flowers! This adorable two-toned bunny finger puppet is five inches long. ($7.99).
– Barefoot Books Tote Bag
The retail value of this prize package is $40.00. Thanks Jamie!
To enter please visit Jamie’s Barefoot Books online shop (CLICK HERE), look around, then come back here and comment on a book that you really like. Please be specific with the title of the book.
For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave as separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.
– Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.
– “Like” Jamie’s Barefoot Books on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/jamieksbarefootbooks
– “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.
– Follow Jamie’s Barefoot Books on Twitter, http://twitter.com/JamiesBarefoot
– Follow She Scribes on Twitter (@She_Scribes) and tweet about this fun giveaway. Be sure to include me in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.
– Use any or all of the social networking buttons found at the bottom of this post to share this fun giveaway with others. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.
This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on December 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box) or a new winner will be chosen.
Other fun giveaways are found on the right side bar under “Win It”.
Kimberly
*I was not compensated in any way for this post. I posted this giveaway for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers. Jamie Wilson will be providing the prize.
LLong says
Tales of Mystery and Magic- Book and CD
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moonsword says
I love the books illustrated by Niamh Sharkey including Jack and the Beanstalk and Tales of Wisdom and Wonder.
diane r. says
Tons of great stuff there to have to pick! I love the book “The Journey Home From Grandpa’s” since my little 3-year old granddaughter adores her grandpa, I think this would be a fun book for the two of them to share.
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angie says
like the book one moose twenty mice
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spring chicken says
I would love to get the “Jack and the Beanstalk” book to share with my preschool class! In the Spring, we do a unit on “Things that Grow” and the book would be a fanciful addition.
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DEBIJOT says
I like the Barefoot Book of Pirates with story CD
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G Bailey says
I like Clare Beaton’s Action Rhymes. It’s hard to remember the actions that go with rhymes sometimes–and the rhymes that have actions!
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GrandmaAllen says
I like the book “Sailing down the Nile”. I like a little education with a good story.
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Colleen Turner says
My son is five and obsessed with pirates at the moment, so I think he would love The Barefoot Book of Pirates!
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Kristie says
My daughter would love The Barefoot Book of Princesses!
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Alison says
My kids would love the Magic Train Ride book! 🙂
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Linda Kish says
I Took the Moon for a Walk
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mframe says
I love the The Real Princess book
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Marci says
I really like the Tales of Wisdom and Wonder.
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momznite says
“Mama Panya’s Pancakes” looks worth reading.
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slb3334 says
magic train ride.
Danelle says
I am a big one on reading at bedtime everynight-though I found so many books I would love to have I would have to pick Fireside Stories from the bedtime choices.
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Lindley A says
The Hidden Hippo book looks fun for my toddler- thanks!
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Susan C says
The Boy Who Grew Flowers looks great!
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I follow you on Google Friend Connect as sweetsue.
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I like you on facebook-Susan Chester
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angie says
The Sun In Me looks good.
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Claire says
A Calendar of Festivals
WAS $12.99 NOW $9.99
PAPERBACK is my favorite.
Kristi C says
I would like the Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon for my children.
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Heidi McMahon says
The “I Spy the Sun in the Sky” book looks really good.
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Linda says
I think the kids would really enjoy Bear On A Bike Book.
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Tweet 🙂
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Raven In A Blue Room says
I love the The Animal Boogie
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
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I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)
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following @JamiesBarefoot on twitter @left_the_stars
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McKim says
I like the book I Spy the Sun in the Sky.
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Heidi McMahon says
tweet! 🙂
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Tweeted! 🙂
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🙂 Tweet!
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erma says
I love the book “The Journey Home From Grandpa’s”.
Sarah says
I would like The Animal Boogie paperback w/CD.
Sarah says
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Ed Nemmers says
The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems
Paula Hafner says
I like the Port Side Pirates Book.
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I’m a subscriber.
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tweet 🙂
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Samantha says
The book If you are happy and you know it looks cute
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Jennifer R says
I think the book Shopping with Dad looks fun.
Maja Meza says
Clare Beaton’s Action Rhymes
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Lisa L says
My son would love the The Barefoot Book of Monsters! How cool =)
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Jessica H. says
I think my daughters would love the The Animal Boogie book!
Thank you for the giveaway!
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I am an email subscriber.
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I am a GFC follower! Screen name: girlygirlugh
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I liked Jaime’s Barefoot Books on FB. screen name: Jessica Hendrickson
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I am a FB fan of yours. Screen name: Jessica Hendrickson
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I follow you on twitter and I tweeted!
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trixx says
The Barefoot Book of Princesses would be perfect fro my little girl!
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c y says
I really like the The Barefoot Book of Princesses because I think my granddaughter would love it!
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