We're getting close to the holidays, which for many families means road trips with the kids. And there's nothing more fun, right? Hahahahha. I recently did 16 hours in the car with my three kids -- each way -- and lived to tell the tale.…
Our superhero-loving kids are going to leap over a tall building to get their hands on The Superhero Comic Kit , an activity book that gives them the chance to write and illustrate their very own comic books. No super skills required, on…
It's so easy to find yourself on-the-go all the time as a parent, but having downtime is important. In fact, I think it's vital to being a good mom or dad. Of course, a few hours alone to get a manicure or go for a walk is so nice, but I…
Who doesn't need more coloring books in their lives? Well, okay, if you look in my kids' craft drawer, maybe we don't. But, we do need awesome ones. The cheap, thin, licensed ones can get tossed and we'll replace them with cool, creative…
It may surprise readers of Cool Mom Tech , but I am pretty much a no-screens-in-the-car kind of a parent. Back when my youngest was still a toddler and four consecutive episodes of Dora meant a needed stretch of quiet. But now, unless it…
Every once in a while I come across a kids' book I love as much (or more) than my kids do. It's even more rare with board books, but the brilliantly creative BabyLit board books by Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver are definitely on that …
By the time I learned how to sew, I was already a mama of two and trying to fit what little sewing ability I had acquired into what little time I had to spare. Needless to say, my output wasn't exactly abundant. If only I'd learned how t…
So, a couple years ago I predicted that my kids would still be flipping through the book Maps by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński—and I was right. The pages are well-loved, and it's still displayed prominently on our coffee …
While mostly what kids look forward to in a Passover Seder is finding the matzoh, reading the four questions and stuffing their faces with as many macaroons or chocolate-covered Matzoh as possible, a few years back we discovered a clever…
Sometimes the activity books for kids that we find are as much for the parents as they are for the kids, and such is the case with the Small Thyme Cooks Activity and Coloring Book . Created by Andre Huseston Mack, former French Laundry s…
Bright, fun, and very, very easy, the new oversized search-and-find books Animal Fun Search & Find and Fairy Tale Search & Find by Stephanie Hinton are absolutely charming me. And my preschoolers. They're perfect for kids who are too you…
I never think we can have enough coloring books around the house--or stashed in the travel bags for road trips and plane rides. As much as I love handing my kids plain sheets of paper for open-ended creativity, there's something about co…
A few years ago, we fell in love with artist Marion Deuchars' smart, fun activity book Let's Make Some Great Art , which teaches kids about twelve great masters and encourages them to imitate their styles all over the pages. I'm thrilled…
This review almost didn't happen, because my daughter "lost" this writer's notebook; she'd written so many hopes, dreams, and ideas in it that she didn't want anyone, to see it. Ever. It's that kind of book. It inspires trust and sparks …
This summer I mapped out fun crafts to do with my kids every week, and we completed exactly zero of them. It might be because I pinned things like build a lap-sized loom and learn to weave . I'm still not giving up on making beautiful, m…
I was instantly captivated by Hervé Tullet's 2011 best-selling Press Here , with it's "interactive" pages that remind us you don't need a screen to engage a child. Now he's back with a wonderful follow-up in Mix It Up! which is similarly…
I love the idea of a father's day gift that's actually an experience rather than, you know, another tie (not that there aren't some cool ties out there), and that's exactly what you'll get with Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity J…
We are starting to get really excited about summer break around my house, but I know the inevitable chorus of We're booorrred will start up before too long. Luckily, I am armed and ready with a copy of Project Kid , the new kid craft boo…
When I first got my hands on the open-ended coloring book Fotoplay! back in 2012, I fell in love with the way photographer M. J. Bronstein used her snapshots as prompts, encouraging kids to draw all over them to create their own personal…
When cool dad and author Mike Adamick's new Dad's Book of Awesome Science Experiments (phew!) arrived at our door, my oldest daughter screamed with delight and I haven't seen the book since. Whether you're looking to get your kids more e…
My favorite Mother's Day gifts from my children are the ones they make themselves . Not that I'd say no to jewelry, but if you're looking for a terrific gift for mom from the kids, I think I've found the perfect, affordable, sentimental …
The team behind the Lost My Name personalized books for kids blew us away last year with their sophisticated, clever, custom books for kids that don't just drop your child's name into a template story. Instead, the main character goes on…
A coloring book can make a fantastic holiday gift for kids : It doesn't require batteries, it's portable for the trip home, and you can start using it right away. Now here's a new one that's fantastic for another reason besides the fact …
Look! It’s not a bird or a plane, but two super new books for our young superheroes-in-training. Because not even the most energetic superheroes can spend all their time leaping tall (LEGO) buildings or running faster than a speeding (Ne…