Barefoot Books Podcast

Barefoot Books

Discover a weekly selection of award-winning children's stories and songs from Barefoot Books. We are an independent publisher specializing in carefully crafted books, gifts and digital content for children that combine the best of the present with the be

  • 21 minutes 49 seconds
    The Little Humpbacked Horse
    A farmer's son becomes groom to the tsar of Russia and is set a series of impossible tasks. But his friend, the ugly but clever humpbacked horse prooves a valuable companion on his adventures.
    20 March 2013, 9:18 am
  • 11 minutes 16 seconds
    Grandmother Spider
    This Native American Tale takes place when the world was still in darkness. When the animals learn about light, they send their bravest to catch it. From The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales, retold and narrated by Naomi Adler, illustrated by Amanda Hall.
    8 March 2013, 6:51 am
  • 9 minutes 42 seconds
    The Fish in the Forest
    A farmer digs up gold in his field of turnips, but he knows his wife will spread his secret and the whole village would know of his fortune. He devises a cunning plan to show her that it is not wise to spread gossip. From Tales of Wisdom and Wonder, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey.
    26 February 2013, 8:33 am
  • 9 minutes 13 seconds
    The Woman in the Moon
    Old Heena works hard all her life and is always kind to others. See where Rainbow leads her to relax! From the collection Grandmothers' Stories, retold by Burleigh Mutén and illustrated by Siân Bailey.
    20 February 2013, 8:09 am
  • 12 minutes 58 seconds
    The White Mare
    Princess Fifine escapes from marrying an evil spirit disguised as a Golden Prince. The White Mare protects her with magic that swallows the evil spirit into the earth for seven years, and then for eternity. From our Magic Hoofbeats collection, retold by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Linda Wingerter. Narrated by Ellen Verenieks.
    14 February 2013, 11:25 am
  • 7 minutes 15 seconds
    The Shepherd's Dream
    An old shepherd follows a white butterfly while his friend dreams of making an equally tremendous journey. From Tales of Wisdom and Wonder, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey
    4 February 2013, 12:46 pm
  • 9 minutes 53 seconds
    The Magic Cooking Pot
    An old woman has a cooking pot that’s always full of food, as long as she chants the magic words every night so the faeries will return the pot! From The Barefoot Book of Faeries, retold by Tanya Robyn Batt and illustrated by Gail Newey.
    3 December 2012, 12:58 pm
  • 8 minutes 6 seconds
    Little Lord Feather-Frock
    Every day, a cat and a blackbird go out in search of food while a rooster stays at home to mind the house. One day Old Foxy comes knocking at the door and lures the rooster outside. Will the cat and the blackbird always be there to save him? From the book, The Story Tree, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Sophie Fatus.
    26 November 2012, 6:32 am
  • 11 minutes 29 seconds
    The Sleeping Beauty
    In this well-loved German tale, the princess’s love for exploration leads her to the spindle that puts her into a hundred-year slumber. From The Barefoot Book of Princesses, retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Margaret Wolfson.
    12 November 2012, 6:49 am
  • 18 minutes 39 seconds
    The Slave Woman's Son
    Niall, the son of King Eochaid and the slave woman Cairenn, proves himself to be as worthy of the throne as his half-brothers. Will Queen Mongfind stop him so one of her own sons will be King? From the collection Tales from Celtic Lands retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Niamh Cusack.
    31 October 2012, 8:05 am
  • 16 minutes 11 seconds
    The Devil's Bet
    In the story that inspired Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” a woodsman named Jamie marries the beautiful but grumpy Nora. The Nicky Nicky Nye, a water demon, bets that Nora won’t last a week. From the collection Shakespeare's Storybook, retold by Patrick Ryan and illustrated by James Mayhew.
    24 October 2012, 7:30 am
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