Mother Bridge of Love – New Book from Barefoot Books August 8, 2007

Once there were two women
Who hardly knew each other
One you do not remember
The other you call mother
Two different lives shaped to make yours one
One becoming your guiding star
The other became your sun
The first gave you life
And the second taught you to live in it
The first gave you a need for love
And the second was there to give it
One gave you nationality
The other gave you a name
One gave you the seed of talent
The other gave you an aim
One gave you emotions
The other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile
The other dried your tears
The age old questions through the years;
Heredity or environment -
which are you the product of ?
Both my darling – both
And two different kinds of love!

 

‘Mother Bridge of Love’ is a new book from Barefoot books www.mybarefootbooks.com/JoannaClarke which comes out next month.  It’s a beautifully illustrated version of a well-known poem about adoption. It is geared primarily towards adoption from China but also tackles general issues around adoption, step-parents etc. Proceeds are going towards the Mother Bridge of Love institute which is run by XinRan, author of the Good Women of China and Sky Burial, an institute helping to bridge the cultural gap between China and the West and specifically helping adopted children. http://www.motherbridge.org

I am adopted myself and was reunited with my birth mother only 2 years ago. Nothing in this world can prepare you for this moment,  the journey ahead or the multitude of feelings and emotions that accompany it. We love our adoptive mothers but we also feel a profound sense of loss for our birth mothers and often a deep need to reconnect. Over recent years it has become more acceptable for Adoptees to trace there birth mothers and families, but this takes enormous courage.  Many adoptees fear that  searching for their birth mother may be seen as being disloyal and even ungrateful to their adoptive parents and searching and reuniting can be racked with feelings of guilt and pain.How wonderful to read this book, to have my own experience and feelings reinforced and validated.

 I have two mums. I love them both for what they have given me, I love them both for who they are, I will always love them both, my adoptive mum can never take the place of my birth mum, and equally my birth mum can never take the place of my adoptive mum. I have two mums and it is ok to have two mums, love is not exclusive, not even motherly love.

So beautifully and elequently written, this poem and the breathe takingly beautiful illustrations, expresses what so many adoptees feel but find so hard to put into words for others to understand.

This book has truely touch my heart and I will treasure it for a life time. This book is for all ages and I would recommend it to any adoptee old or young, but it is also a wonderful book for birth mums and adopitive mums and indeed anyone whose life is touched by adoption or who works in the area of adoption.

You can order this book at www.mybarefootbooks.com/JoannaClarke

One City, Two Brothers August 8, 2007

  

 

 

Written by Chris Smith Fronty Illustrated by Aurélia

Read Together: 4 – 8 yrs • Read Alone: 6 – 10yrs 

 

Discover a Story Kept alive by the power of it’s message!

Two arguing brothers stand before the wise King Solomon and he decides to share with them the story of two other brothers who lived long before their time. By retelling the story of how Jerusalem came to be, he offers guidance in hope that they will learn to appreciate one another and the value of sharing. 

One City, Two Brothers is the founding story of Jerusalem, told in Mosques, Synagogues and Churches.  It is a truly uplifting and hopeful tale of both family and compassion. This tale serves as a reminder that peace and reconciliation can be brought to any situation.  It will appeal to people of all faiths. It’s bright yet simple illustrations fill the pages, perfectly accompanying this magnificent story.It is due out 20th of August to order please go to: 

 www.mybarefootbooks.com/JoannaClarke 

Author & Artist Information:

Chris Smith is a storyteller who has also worked with UNICEF and Oxfam on the West Bank and in Gaza. The power of traditional stories is a source of inspiration for Chris, and he wrote this book to ‘combine my love of story with the wish for the people of Israel and Palestine to find peace.’ Chris has two daughters, and lives in Oxford, England. This is his first project with Barefoot.

Aurélia Fronty is a painter, illustrator and textile artist. Traditional art from around the world has always inspired her, particularly colors and patterns. Aurélia has illustrated many children’s books in the French market, and this is her first project for Barefoot. She lives with her partner and two children in Montreuil, France.

This weeks Barefoot Adventure – ‘The Adventures of Odysseus’ July 28, 2007

This is a fantastic book to share with older children, 8-12 yrs. The illustration are extrodinary and the stories will leave your child captivated and begging you to read on to find out what is going to happen to Odysseus next. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your child is too old for picture books, we are never too old even as adults. Children of this age like nothing better than adventure stories of hero’s and Heroins, Quests and challenges and the ancient Greek tales of Odysseus can not be beaten.

In Maya’s words:

“It is a fantastic book with loads of amazing adventures and mythical creatures like the Cyclops and even more. The pictures are amazing. Odysseus is so clever and brave he always thinks up a clever plan to get himself out of trouble. I loved this book and will read it again. Be an adventurer and join Odysseus and his ship on his adventures around the ancient Greek islands!!!”

To buy this book go to www.mybarefootbooks.com/JoannaClarke