10 incredible new children’s books this spring, from the biggest names in children’s literature
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 coming out...
A Piglet Named Mercy: Kate DiCamillo’s newest picture book for young readers | Sponsored message
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 Chris Van Dusen —...
The new Star Wars graphic novel that will get kids bargaining for more reading time
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, the...
Raise Your Hand, the empowering new children’s book written by an 11-year-old girl
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 girls to speak up at school...
8 lovely children’s books to help teach our kids more about Islam
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-Muslim myself, I’ve...
8 of the best book subscription boxes for kids of all ages, in honor of National Reading Month
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 last few years and it’s...
6 new biographies of great American women you don’t want to miss this Women’s History Month
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...
These personalized children’s books are offering a new gender-neutral option, and it’s fantastic
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 than seeing...
What Does it Mean to Be American? This picture book says it better than any TV pundit or long-winded article.
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...
7 new must-read Black History Month book releases for kids and teens. Because Black history is American history.
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 kids. And as Black History...
The Bell Rang: An important children’s book about the realities of Black slavery and family separation.
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. And in Coretta...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.
Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)
We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).
But we did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
NEW: The Cool Mom Picks Book Club
Our Podcast
Answers to Parents’ Top Tech Questions
Our sponsors are cool. Support them!
Work with us!
“I need a parental control device for summer to limit online time for my kids”
“I have a later-in-life onset gluten intolerance. Help, please!”
Doing Good: We’re Supporting…
