Last month my daughter Emma and I attended the BC  Highland Games held in Coquitlam, BC, Canada. Emma was entered in the Highland dance competition (hence the hornpipe outfit she is wearing in the pics) so we spent most of our day by the dance stage. However we did get some time to wander around the venue and one of the first vendor stands we saw had a bright red banner which said BAREFOOT BOOKS. As we got closer I was thrilled to see that yes, this was the publisher Barefoot Books and the lady in the tent arranging books was Barefoot Books’ Ambassador Veronika Riches. I had a great chat with Veronika while perusing the books with Emma and later Veronika took the time to do a Q&A session with me:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with Barefoot Books?

I’m a wife, mother, sister and friend. I grew up in Europe in the Czech Republic but have called Vancouver, BC home for the past 10 years.

I first learned about Barefoot Books after reading an article in Mothering magazine about mothers working from home. One of the women featured there was an independent ambassador for Barefoot Books. I was excited to find how beautifully illustrated the books are, that they are inspired by stories from around the world. I loved that they aim to offer what I think is essential in life – enthusiasm for reading, creativity and discovery.

What kind of reaction do people have to Barefoot Books?

The reaction I am receiving has been truly amazing. Parents and educators alike love the multicultural concept of the books. People are attracted to how colourful and beautifully illustrated the books are.

Our current issue of PaperTigers focuses on “How Children Play Around the World”. Can you suggest any Barefoot titles that relate to this topic?

The first book that comes to my mind is a fun sing-along If You’re Happy and You Know It. Barefoot Books have published the traditional song with a multicultural twist. Children from cultures all over the world are featured clapping their hands, stomping their feet, patting their heads, and saying “Hello” in their mother tongue.

Another favourite is the title We All Went on Safari. A counting journey through Tanzania, it is an eye-catching story about Swahili children discovering African animals on a safari through the grasslands of Tanzania. It is also educational – at the end, the book teaches children a few words in Swahili, and facts about Tanzania and the Maasai people.

The book Little Leap Forward is a touching story about a young boy growing up in Beijing in 1966.  Anecdotes about him and his friends flying kites by the river and many other adventures describe how children played during the Cultural Revolution.

(Editor note: Little Leap Forward was chosen as one of the seven books to be included in our Spirit of PaperTigers Project.)

What is your favourite Barefoot book?

My personal favourite is The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems – a breathtaking collection of seventy-four poems. The poems are collected in a way that celebrates all manner of human experience on the journey of life from birth to death. The book is beautifully illustrated by Jackie Morris and it is a title many people cherish and share with children of all ages.

What are your best sellers right now?

My bestseller titles change throughout the year and also depend on the events I attend. This spring The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales has been favoured by the older children as it includes activities accompanying multicultural tales about the planet Earth.

How can people contact you if they would like to purchase books or have you attend an event?

I can be contacted by phone 604-506-8447 and by email info(at)mybarefootchild(dot)com. You can shop online at My Barefoot Books Marketplace.