“Going Barefoot” is a cute little children’s book by Aileen Fisher. It’s illustrated by Adrienne Adams and was published in 1960.
Of course, it’s impossible to find in a library any more.
Aside from a few University Libraries, the nearest copy to me is 80 miles away in Dayton, and that copy is in storage. Cincinnati has a copy that appears to be more readily available, though.
It’s a nice book. Here’s the “official” description of it.
A little boy, who yearns for the weather to be warm enough so he can go barefoot, thinks about all the animals that go barefoot all year ’round.
The book starts out in March . . .
How soon
how soon
is a morning in June,
a sunny morning or afternoon
in the wonderful month
of the Barefoot Moon?
I can go barefoot
like kittens and dogs,
bears and beetles
and hoppity frogs
as soon
as it’s June!March is too early
and May still cold—
not for my nose
but for toes,
I’m told.
Too Cold in March
Well, a snowy March may be too early for a kid, but May? That’s probably a result of protective parents. (I also suspect that June was chosen as a good month to start going barefoot because it rhymes with “moon”. 🙂 ) But when you’re a little kid, you have to wait for Mom to say it’s okay.
The book then goes through a whole list (with cute illustrations) of the animals that go barefoot year round.
There’s rabbits and raccoons. There’s bees, ants, frogs, and cats.
They wear them late
and they wear them soon,
they don’t have to wait
for a day in June
to go barefoot.
And there are deer and beetles and spiders.
There’s also a nice part about what they all get to feel.
Down the hills,
along the valleys,
over the yards,
up the alleys,
making detours,
making sallies,
go dozens of feet
of mice and squirrels,
barefooted toes, barefooted heels,
knowing how every Weather feels:
Not Too Cold for Squirrels and Mice
It also looks at all sorts of bird, and kangaroos, too.
The frontispiece of the book shows quite a few barefoot tracks. Of course that would include a human’s.
Barefoot Tracks
Eventually, June does arrive.
JUNE!
The day is warm
and a breeze is blowing,
the sky is blue
and its eye is glowing,
and everything’s new
and green and growing . . .My shoes are off
and my socks are showing . . .My socks are off. . . .
Do you know how I’m going?
BAREFOOT!
JUNE!
What a nice reminder of how much kids used to look forward to being to go barefoot.
I bet you these days you’d never get a library to accept such a book.
Ahcuah 
What a cute book from 53 years ago, it’s definitely worth to be reprinted.
Very cute, yes. It should be back in the libraries, I agree.
Have you seen the book “What Should I Put on My Feet to Go Run?” by John McClung? He is a BRS member. His screen name is “bf in az.” He has a blog, http://bfinaz.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-book-is-now-available-in-print.html or http://bfinaz.blogspot.com.
You can get it at https://www.createspace.com/3946420, but if you write to him letting him know you want to do a review of his book, he may give you a copy.
Please add the cover picture here for me, Bob, since I cannot do it. [Done – Ahcuah]
What Should I Put On My Feet To Go Run?
It’s the MOST ADORABLE book on the subject I have ever seen. The illustrations are so sweet. Check it out! You will love it! -TJ
From the CreateSpace site, where it’s being sold:
About the author:
John McClung is a lawyer and barefoot runner who lives with his wife Emily in the mountains of eastern Arizona, where there are many bears, none of whom wear shoes. He writes about their adventures in his blog, Barefoot in Arizona (bfinaz.blogspot.com).
What Should I Put on My Feet to Go Run?
Authored by John McClung
Illustrated by Laura Hollingsworth
Children’s literature’s answer to Born to Run
The first and only children’s book about barefoot running, What Should I Put on My Feet to Go Run? teaches children about the inherent silliness of our culture’s obsession with shoes through an entertaining tale that kids will love. The book tells the story of a little bear cub who is eager to go run around outside but unfortunately has some very human preconceptions about what he needs to wear on his feet. He peppers his bemused mother with a series of increasingly silly questions as she patiently reminds him that “a bear’s foot should be barefoot.”
Written in charming verse and vibrantly illustrated, What Should I Put on My Feet to Go Run? will enchant readers of all ages. Whether you’re a fan of FiveFingers or just of bears and their toes, a minimalist marathon runner or a child who loves to play outside, the book will remind you of the simple childhood joys of bare feet, soft grass, and warm summer sunshine.
Excerpt:
“But what about sneakers, should I wear some of those
While I’m running around so I don’t stub my toes?”
…
“No, silly bear–listen to me, please:
To go run around you don’t need galoshes or skis.
“You just need some feet and some fur in the breeze
And some grass and some sunlight, and maybe some trees.
“For a bear’s foot should be barefoot; it’s really the best way
For a bear to run around on a honey-sunny day.”