Online - March 31, 2005

Just Imagine

Barefoot Books

Once upon a time there was a child whose parents played her Mozart while she was in the womb. After she was born, they surrounded her with piles of so-called smart toys. And sent her to the priciest Montessori in the land.

But even with all that, triggering the little girl’s imagination was still tricky business.

And so the parents turned to the inventive folks at independent publisher Barefoot Books.

Immediately, the little girl soaked up the wit of their titles (Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon), pursuits (My Daddy Is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Kids), and culture (Shakespeare’s Storybook: Folk Tales That Inspired the Bard). And their luminous, other-worldly illustrations sparked her artistic fire.

You see, a certain inexplicable something happened when she opened each colorful little masterpiece. Something visceral. Chemical. And, as cornball as it may sound, magical.

Which is how the little girl, her creativity properly revved, grew up to become the next Mozart.

And, unlike Mozart, lived happily ever after.

Available online at barefootbooks.com.