Never heard of Barefoot Books? Boy, are you in for a treat. Within the collection of books, CDs, and gifts offered by Barefoot Books, you will find all that you want to share and celebrate with your children.

This is a company that was started in 1993 by two moms, who wanted to make a difference — not only with the books the were creating, but in how they ran their business. Their mission is simple and inclusive:

At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art and story that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further, and explore their own creative gifts. Taking our inspiration from many different cultures, we focus on themes that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and sharing of the world’s diversity. Interactive, playful and beautiful, our products combine the best of the present with the best of the past to educate our children as the caretakers of tomorrow.

And they walk the talk. Browse their products and you'll see wonderful, original stories, that take you all over the world, and offer the positive messages we want for our children.

Laurie Mattaliano is a Mom and has been a Barefoot Books Stallholder since 2004. She operates ReadingBarefoot.com. Lori is someone whose goals and values embody the Barefoot Books tradition, and she embraces the essence of the company: innovate, inspire, and imagine.

"Initially attracted to the books, I've since become a firm believer in the Barefoot mission. I love that the founders are bucking the system by remaining an independent bookseller."

It is that passion that sprouted this partnership with The Reading Tub, Inc. Here in the Tub we are honored to have the opportunity to showcase and spread the word about these incredible products.

If you would like to learn more about Barefoot Books or work directly with Laurie, just send her an Email. it's lori.mattaliano [at] barefootbooks [dot] com, or view the entire product line at www.readingbarefoot.com Be sure to change the "at" to an @.