Ethiopian Culture Camp

I had the pleasure of participating in a recent Ethiopian Culture Camp at Franklin Pierce College. The Camp is a time for children adopted from Ethiopia and their families to spend time together as a community. The kids were obviously ecstatic to be together. It is amazing to see these families. One man I met was 17 and just adopted 9 months or so ago. As I was leaving the event, the families were meeting to take a group picture. They were all dressed in traditional Ethiopian garb, scarves and long flowing skirts. This is a completely family-run event.

The most popular title was African Animals ABC. As with many Barefoot Books, there are great end notes that describe the illustrated animals.

A portion of the sales I made will go towards a donation for the Culture Camp. If you’d like your purchase to benefit the camp, Please enter event code EV28 at checkout

Barefoot Books at Korean Culture Camp

I recently participated in a Korean Culture Camp hosted by Wide Horizons for Children. The purpose of the camp is to give children adopted from Korea the opportunity to learn more about their culture and meet kids who’ve been adopted as well. My son came with me and he loves to watch the performances. He also used chopsticks for the first time.

Performers from BC

My Display at the event (the Taz chair is always a big hit!)

Motherbridge of Love and Tales from the Silk Road were top sellers at the event

China Culture Camp

I’m doing a fun event that I’d thought I’d share. Tomorrow I’ll be a vendor at Wide Horizons for Children China Culture Camp.  WHC runs camps for adopted children to learn more about their background. The event will include cultural performances and workshops for parents and their children. I have previously participated in a Eastern European camp and a Latin American Camp.  It seems to be a wonderful way for the parents to connect about their similar families and for the kids to make new friends.

I’ll post some pictures from the event tomorrow.

Motherbridge of Love #3 on TIME’s Best Children’s Books of 07

I know most of my posts recently have been about Motherbridge, but I just love this book and now so does TIME Magazine.

#3. Motherbridge of Love
Illustrated by Josee Masse

Got a girlfriend who just adopted a kid? You’re going to want to get them this book, although the illustration is so gorgeous, you could give it to anyone. The text was submitted anonymously to the charity Mother Bridge of Love, which seeks to connect kids adopted from China with their homeland…. it does explain quite lyrically how two mothers can each have a part in making one whole child.

Amy Tan narrates Motherbridge of Love

Author Amy Tan has narrated Motherbridge of Love, Barefoot Books’ new book about Adoption. Click below to view. Please feel free to share it.

Meeting Xinran

Sorry it’s been a little quiet here. Busy with the family and the upcoming Holiday season.

On 10/18, I traveled to Boston for a Barefoot Books Stallholder Conference. It was great to meet other Stallholders and visit the corporate office and the lovely store. As you might expect, the offices were bright and colorful. While in our meeting, Nancy Traversy, co-founder of Barefoot, walked by the room and I had a dorky “There she is!” moment (With myself, of course).

The most exciting part of the meeting was that we were able to meet with Xinran, the founder of Motherbridge of Love. She shared with us her story and the creation of Motherbridge.

She first explained that she has not met her birth parents and wishes one day celebrate her birthday with them. (This is where I started to get misty).

She is a very accomplished journalist who has given a voice to many of the unseen in China. She explained that she started Motherbridge so that all the girls and boys (mostly girls) that had been adopted from China would have a place to learn about their cultural heritage.

Xinran at Barefoot Books

I just discovered that Xinran, the founder of Motherbridge of Love, will be visiting the Barefoot Books store in Cambridge, MA, the week of October 15. There will be two evening events, Wednesday, 10/17 and Thursday, 10/18 from 6pm-8pm (Music, drink and snacks). On Friday, 10/19 at 10:30 she will be reading from Motherbridge of Love and then there will be a craft activity for the children. The Barefoot store is located at 1771 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. Check it out if you can.

Motherbridge of Love

 

Over the next month, I will be showcasing some of Barefoot’s newest titles. The one that I am most excited about is Motherbridge of Love. This is a beautiful book that illustrates the parent child relationship in adoption.

The adopted child is Chinese but this is a universal story that any adoptive family can identify with. I had a booth at a Fall Festival this weekend and people of all different backgrounds were moved by the book. The title Motherbridge of Love comes from an organization with the same name that helps children identify with their Chinese heritage.