You probably know the song True Colors as Cyndi Lauper's hit song from 1986 (whoa) or one of its many covers, but the lyrics were written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelley. And it turns out those lyrics are exquisite as the prose filling…
Every year we round up some of the best Father's Day picture books , and the new 2019 Father's Day book releases do not disappoint. They're heartfelt, beautifully illustrated , and wonderfully diverse. Oh yeah, and highly conducive to be…
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is a great excuse to dive into some fantastic new children's books that teach kids about this rich culture -- or cultures , I should say. Because Asia and the Pacific Islan…
Spring is in the air at my house, and I'm channeling my energy into refreshing our bookshelves. We've taken boxes of old books to the used bookstore, and we're making room for some new favorites. Because the best new children's books com…
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press Tens of thousands kids are devoted fans New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson chapter book series from two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo, and popular children's illustrator …
As educators and experts have told us for years, whatever your child is reading -- magazine articles, graphic novels, comics, sports bios -- it's all good, because it's all still reading. So when you combine the format of a graphic novel…
I was always shy about raising my hand in class as a kid, which is why the new kids' book Raise Your Hand instantly jumped out at me. Kid author Alice Paul Tapper wrote the book after creating a Girl Scout merit badge that encouraged gir…
Like many parents, I've been reeling ever the New Zealand mosque shooting last week , which was just followed by yet another horrific racist attack only yesterday: a fire deliberately set at a mosque in Northern California . So as a non-…
One way to get kids excited about reading? Sign up for one of the awesome book subscription boxes that deliver hand-curated titles to your doorstep each month. The options for book subscriptions for kids have grown exponentially over the…
Okay, ladies, let's get in formation -- because it's time to celebrate Women's History Month. While there are lots of things we can do, one is to read up on those incredible women, who have paved the way for so many of us. So we've put t…
I'm already a fan of Kabook personalized children's books , because they allow you to insert your own child into the story -- name, characteristics, favorite stuffed animal, even a photo. What better way to get kids excited about reading…
Kids are smart. And observant. Even our littlest children know that right now, there's a lot of talk about what it means to be American, who's a "real" American, and what kinds of values America stand for. And it's complicated, but that …
Whether we're taking the time to celebrate our own heritage or exploring those different cultures and backgrounds of our friends and neighbors that help make America what it is, books are always a favorite way for me to learn with my kid…
Children's books that deal with slavery and other dark aspects of America's history often wrap stories up neatly, with messages of hope and freedom and and liberty and justice for all. But of course, that's not the way things often go. A…
One New Year's resolution my family all agreed on was to read more books in 2019. (A resolution that seems to be going around amongst our staff!) So, in my favorite annual Cool Mom Picks post , I'm sharing all the best children's books o…
Welcome to our annual editors top 10 of the year ! Through the rest of the year, we'll be sharing 10 of our favorite things (no offense, Oprah) of this past year and we hope you love them too. Of course we love everything we've shared, b…
We've shared a lot of books lately that are really resonating with our history-geek kids. Books like Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls , Little Guides to Great Lives , and HERstory , each tell the stories of important figures, past and p…
We've covered so many holiday books for kids over the years, and one thing we've realizes is missing: a good selection of books for children who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. While my teens may be jealous of friends who celebrat…
We are always on the lookout for the best teacher gift ideas every year, and it may in fact be one of the top gift questions we get from readers every year about this time. (Then again in May.) And hey, I get it; if there are any people …
Each year during November, which is National Native American Heritage Month by the way, we like to take a look at some of the great resources for our kids about the Native experience. Especially as we approach Thanksgiving. Because witho…
Hanukkah comes early this year -- December 2! -- so it's time to start gathering up ideas for cool Hanukkah gifts for kids . While of course every toy, game, accessory or gift can be wrapped up for Hanukkah, I love that we've been able t…
Each year on Veteran's Day, we love finding new organizations that support the families of military service men and women. And wow, I am so thrilled to learn about United Through Reading and their 40 Million Stories campaign . This non-p…
You may have heard of Aquila children's magazine, the cool indie kids publication from the UK, because they've been around for 25 years. And they've announced they're going to open their subscriptions up to the USA too, and I'm so excite…
My four kids range from toddler to teenager, and I find that no matter their stage in life I am always looking for ways to help them increase their mindfulness. Whether they're processing complicated, difficult emotions in their early te…