Going to school for the very first time can be a scary thing for a Kindergartener, and we've found that reading books that show them what Kindergarten is really like is a huge help! So we've found these 7 new children's books about Kinde…
Yesterday, one of my favorite contemporary authors, Angie Thomas , sent out a tweet that's stuck with me all night and into this morning. It was a response to the Florida DOE Commissioner, Edward Corcoran, who launched a recommended read…
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…
As we start to get settled into our back-to-school routines -- and that includes realizing what gear is missing from last year, what we've forgotten to pick up, and what our kids have already lost (gah!) it's the perfect time to welcome …
Failure is hard for kids, but it's essential to their growth . That's why teaching growth-mindset for kids has become so popular lately in parenting circles. Parents are increasingly moving away from helicoptering (yay!) and instead, giv…
It was only a week or so ago that I was reading Carolines article about 20 free summer activities for kids , and thinking how wonderful that there were so many mentions of various events at local libraries. And then this morning, I laugh…
This is a sponsored message from Linden Tree Press Fans of Lemony Snicket are going to love Casper and Jasper and the Terrible Tyrant , the witty, zany and thrilling new middle grade novel from author and former middle-school teacher, Ti…
My tweens (gah!) grew up reading Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever , and I have to admit -- it's hard to argue with that title. It's a classic! But a some new and very cool first-words books have caught my eye recently, and I just hav…
I'm nearly finished reading Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls to my kids at bedtime, and they've become so fascinated by these biographies that I've been trying to find even more more for them to read when we're done. So when I received …
We discovered Re-marks at Toy Fair 2018, a company offering great USA-made jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, and bookmark, all with eco-friendly materials . But it was their Harry Potter book collection of Quotemarks that had us under thei…
Today marks the beginning of Holi, the Indian festival of color, love and springtime. You know, the one with the bright, colorful powder that's tossed in celebration of good triumphing over evil, fertility and love. (Concepts we can tota…
The Rabbit Listened , by Cori Doerrfeld, is hands down, my favorite kids' book that's come across my desk lately. It's a simple story about how to respond with compassion when you see someone suffering and it couldn't come along at a bet…
Today is World Read Aloud Day (or for those of us on social media, #WorldReadAloudDay) and there are so many great ways to celebrate with your kids. And not just today, either! When you consider how essential a love of reading is to a ch…
It's become devastatingly clear that not everyone recognizes Haiti as the naturally beautiful, culturally rich, nation that it is. Not to mention a resilient one, as we commemorate the 8-year anniversary today of the massive Port-au-Prin…
This is my favorite recurring post every year on Cool Mom Picks, in which we collect all the best children's books of 2017 lists from all over the internet -- from big publications like the New York Times to our favorite indie bloggers w…
Over the last few months I've received a stack of advance review novels that's now literally taller than I am. But from the pile of books, three great middle-grade novels in particular have caught my attention. Each explores themes of ju…
I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to the opportunity to preview countless kids' books each year. But admittedly, it often feels like a neverending stream of the same-old. However recently, I've noticed a trend of well-designed, beau…
Lately, as my kids are getting older and the world has gotten (ahem) a little crazier, my 10- and 12-year-old have been questioning what's going on. I chat with them about my own observations and beliefs...and ask them about theirs. But …
We've shared so many children's books over the years that bring history's most wonderful real-life heroes to life for kids. From specific heroes like Frederick Douglas (whom a few adults need to read more about too, ahem) and Josephine B…
...I’d much prefer that they are learning just as much (or more) from the reader as they do from the book.
My kids are officially on summer break (I know, already!) so we're hitting up the library ASAP to get started on our summer reading lists . My Kindergartner has made amazing strides this year with his reading, and these early reader book…
Summer break will be here in just a minute, but there are some things you can start planning now to help make sure your kids don't hit the summer slide on their reading and math skills over the break. Research shows that most kids lose a…
One of the best ways our kids can learn empathy and celebrate diversity is to see the myriad of ways different people live their lives all around the world. Which is why I am loving the brand-new children's book, This Is How We Do It , b…