Barefoot Books

This retail location is now closed (August 2015).

Such a cute kids’ book store. They even have events for kids to play! So fun! Keep up the fun events, the kids love it. :D

I cannot believe Barefoot Books doesn’t get more publicity, because it’s one of those businesses that is truly an asset to the community.
The company is actually a children’s book publisher, so most of the inventory is from their own publication (they have two storefront locations, Concord and Oxford, England, as well as a presence in New York in FAO Schwartz). Books cover everyone from infants to 12+ and are really well written, high quality material.
The books are great, however, Barefoot Books has a lot more to offer than just selling books. In the back there is a play room, a crafts room, and a pottery studio. Out front there is a cute little courtyard with tables and chairs. They can host private events, like birthday parties. They’re well networked within the community, and have a relationship with most of the local parent/​family organizations.
And they have the most active events calendar of any retailer I’ve ever visited — today schedule a perfect example: story time, mini music camp, infant/​toddler play group, fingerpainting fun, and readers’ theater, all between 10am and 5pm. Events are almost always free, and there’s never any sales pressure to buy anything (at least, not from the staff — you child may have other ideas).
And from time to time in the evenings they host adult activities, like a wine and painting night.
I really can’t say enough good things about Barefoot Books, and if you’re a parent in the area, I’d highly recommend you stop by and check it out.

This is a darling children’s bookstore, across the street from the commuter rail train stop, on a picturesque street in downtown Concord. Barefoot Books is actually an independent children’s book publisher founded by two English mothers (read the nice write-​up on their website). This Concord site is their «studio» where they sell all their books and offer an active calendar of kids’ events and activities, including Story Time, Pottery Painting, Crafts, Creative Writing, etc. I visited for the first time today for «Infant Story Time», and left very impressed. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Store design is also cute and well done; the Story Time area is framed by comfortable circular seating. I love the large variety of wonderful board books that are good for babies. Definitely this place is worth a stop if you’re in the area and you have young children.