My five year-old's current vocabulary include words like despondent, haberdashery, and Mezzo-Soprano. Not because she's any sort of verbal genius, but because her grandmother introduced her to one of the most wonderful books for kids I'v…
My husband loves to joke around with my son about "those old-fashioned paper whatchamacallits." We're all avid readers, but my husband and I converted to e-readers a long time ago. We've actually discussed whether or not we should bother…
Enjoy these, our editors' favorite books, music, and DVDs of the year to help keep our kids entertained and educated . And frankly, us too. Books for little kids Even after reading it oh, every night for a month, my youngest daughter sti…
Those of us who grew up on author S.E. Hinton's books like The Outsiders , Tex , and Rumble Fish , might be interested to know that she's got a new book out for the next generation. Actually, a graphic novel. And if you have a middle gra…
There are a gazillion ABC books out there--plenty of which we feature here. While I believe that as long as you're reading to your child ,you're already doing great, once in a while a book comes along that really stands out from the othe…
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, neither, or both, there's no better gift for kids than the gift of reading. If you don't need a fourth copy of the Velveteen Rabbit to make you cry on your toddler's footy pajamas, try one of th…
Manners books for children may sound a little old-fashioned, but thank goodness they aren't. I've come to realize that children of a certain age love learning rules and getting to understand social construct; my own five year-old thinks …
It's awfully daunting, standing in the hustle and bustle of a huge bookstore during the holidays and trying to find one book among millions for the bibliophile or budding reader in your life. Luckily, there's a fabulous new service to he…
Every Hanukkah, in addition to the loooong lists of requested items (i.e. toys) we always make sure to include several books as gifts . And guess what--long after my son is bored with the video game he received, he's still reading and re…
I hardly know a mom who doesn't have a soft spot for the Madeline books of her childhood. Me included. It just seemed so romantic to live in Paris and walk to school every day wearing a yellow hat that looked like a boat. Well save yours…
I'm pretty sure that most mamas will agree that there's nothing--nothing!--like a good children's book. Or a box full of them. Or, if your kids are anything like my 3-year-old, a bedroom that is basically Book Central. But my kiddo is al…
The list of children's books I've loved to read to my kids is l-o-n-g though I've always had a particular fondness for the books of author and illustrator Mo Willems. Unless you live under a rock, or a pile of newborn diapers, you are pr…
I have all sorts of tricks for when I worry too much, because I do worry -- too much and too often. Worrying happens to be a family trait. Unfortunately, that means I have a pint-sized worrier in my own house, and he can't self-medicate …
It all began with a bet: somewhere in Norway, Ola bet Jorgen that he could collect one million hand-drawn giraffes in one year. And you know what? He did. The proof is at OneMillionGiraffes.com . And now you can buy a 32-page hardcover b…
I am crazy about multitasking, and that includes at kid bedtime; when we read a book together, my child and I reconnect, plus I get to lie down, plus I get to work a little Mom Psychology 101. All that is made a little more golden when w…
I still crack up when people find a blog post of mine about sleep and babies, and ask me for advice. Me? Me who still, five years later, can't get my kids into a normal bedtime routine? Me, who still has to sleep with a three year-old's …
Love it or hate it ( and we know the book is a bit polarizing with our readers!), there's a reason Goodnight Moon has been around since the late 1940's and is still a favorite today; there is something calming and beautiful about the rep…
Though I was long ago (like, on day one) over the nightly battle that was part of our bedtime routine, I never, ever tired of the snuggly part, where we wrapped up and read as much as possible before admitting it was time for lights out.…
I'm going to go ahead and admit it right here: I'm in my early thirties, and I love books written for teens. I know I'm not alone because the YA genre, or Young Adult, is awesomely popular right now. So I'm thrilled to have found a websi…
I admit, I feel just a little bit cool when my little girls walk into a store or a friend's house, hear the radio, and immediately say, Hey! It's Bob Dylan ! So when I learned that one of his old tunes had been made into a brand new chil…
Let me give you 3 reasons why An Awesome Book by artist Dallas Clayton is indeed an awesome book: 1. For every book sold, The Awesome World Foundation will donate one book to schools, hospitals, camps, and shelters. 2. The artwork and st…
I don't know about your family, but around here, there is no faster path to a terrible day than not everyone getting adequate shut-eye the night before. And if just one of us is cranky, everyone ends up cranky. Bad news. Of course, a gre…
One of the most all-time hilarious family moments of ours was the time my mom (the awesome elementary educator ) got my kids (the hams) into handmade masks and acted out Little Rabbit Foo Foo for the whole brood. Let's just say a kid's c…
My nieces and nephews from Israel are on their way visit grandparents. My 2 year old son will probably not have a chance to visit but would like to send something to them while they are here. Any ideas for a gift to help entertain the 2 …