Told in rhyming couplets, The Barefoot King recounts the story of a young king named Creet who rules a land where people walk around with bare feet. Easily distracted, one day King Creet stubs his toe on a rock and is shocked by the pain. Never wanting to experience that discomfort again, the king decides to cover his whole kingdom in leather, with unfortunate consequences.

This short and playful story helps parents discuss concepts of acceptance, awareness, and responsibility with kids. Seeing the consequences of King Creet's decision, kids will learn to navigate challenges in their own lives and the opportunities for growth that obstacles provide. A short "reader's guide" accompanies the story, aiding parents and teachers in discussions of how to handle life's bumps with conscious breaths and mindful steps.
ages 4-8

Barefoot King, Andrew Jordan Nance (Author), Olivia Holden (Illustrator), Bala Kids, Hardcover, 2020, 32 Pages, $16.95

Andrew Jordan Nance is the author of Puppy Mind, Mindful Arts in the Classroom, and The Lion in Me published by Parallax Press, as well as The Barefoot King (Shambhala Press, 2020) and distributed by Penguin Random House is now available for purchase at your local bookstore and online. A Theater Educator since 1991, he is the founder, Program Manager, and Lead Facilitator for Mindful Arts San Francisco (MASF). Additionally, he offers mindful arts trainings and assemblies at conferences, libraries, schools, and school districts around the globe. His mindfulness training comes from Mindful Schools, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Omega and Esalen. For almost two decades he was the Conservatory Director of The New Conservatory Theatre Center, providing educational theater experiences for thousands of Bay Area youth.