"Learn how different cultures around the world set out to live in harmony with the natural world. The seven folk tales are each followed by a hands-on activity that promotes green living and reinforces the eco-messages of the stories."
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales includes stories from Australia, Nigeria, the American Southwest, Bali, Kazakhstan, India, and Wales. It is geared for children between the ages of five and eleven, though I read the stories to my three-year-old daughter and she does enjoy them!
We both really like Why the Sky is Far Away, from Nigeria. The message of the story is to only take as much as you need, and no more than that, which is definitely a message I try to get across to my daughter.
We also really like She Who is Alone, from the American Southwest, and Amrita's Tree, from India, though I admit that I often have to hold back tears when I read each of these - they both have such young and brave and selfless heroines, which just gets to me every time. On the other hand, The Grumpy Gecko, from Bali, makes me laugh every time the gecko realizes he's going to have to put up with flashing fireflies if he wants to eat mosquitoes.
Each story includes an introduction to the region of the world it is from and the message it intends to convey. After each story, there is an activity related to the story, such as a recipe for "anything-goes soup" after Why the Sky is Far Away or instructions for making a corn husk doll after She Who is Alone. My daughter is still a little too young for the activities, but I'm sure eventually she will love doing them.
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales is a hardcover book that usually sells for $19.99 but it is available for $15.99 until August 1st during the Summer Sale. It is part of the Natural Child section of the Barefoot Books catalog - go here to see more Natural Child books and products that are on sale.
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