Black history Archives | Cool Mom Picks

This inspirational heroine poster supports classrooms in more way than one.

by Liz Gumbinner | Art + Decor, Doing Good

We all fell in love with artist Karen Hallion’s “She Series” empowered heroines poster last year, which featured some of our favorite fictional badass ladies (plus Eliza Hamilton). This week, she announced a brand new limited-edition poster in the...

Remembering Toni Morrison: Here’s her complete list of novels. Pick one up today.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Adults, Thinking : Parent

The passing of Toni Morrison today at the age of 88 is a serious gut punch to me. I think a lot of writers — and readers — are feeling it in a very personal way. I was first introduced to the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize-winning author by my English Lit...

3 new books for kids that make you proud to be American

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids

With July 4th coming, up, this is a time my family often discusses what it means to be American, how we can make the country better, safer, and more equitable for other Americans, and what we can do to help live up to our nation’s promise of liberty and justice...

What is Juneteenth? 4 great children’s books that explain this important holiday.

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids

If you want to learn more about Juneteenth, or just want to be sure its history and relevance has a place on your bookshelves, we have children’s books about Juneteenth to help. After all, I know a lot of us (embarrassingly) don’t hear much about...

Want a Harriet Tubman $20 bill? Here’s how to make your own, legally.

by Liz Gumbinner | DIY, Doing Good, Thinking : Parent

Artist Dano Wall is blowing up the internet with his 3-D printed Harriet Tubman $20 bill stamp. It’s designed to fit perfectly where her portrait was slated to replace Andrew Jackson’s portrait in 2020, as decided in part by popular vote – and...

6 new biographies of great American women you don’t want to miss this Women’s History Month

by Caroline Siegrist | Books for Kids

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...

The US Negro Nurses of WWII | Women’s History Month Stories to share with your kids.

by Liz Gumbinner | Thinking : Parent

I believe if Women’s History Month gives you an opportunity to learn even even one single new story about important women in history who you didn’t know before — and then share that story with your kids — then that would be fantastic. So I...

If you’re going to watch Green Book, read these articles first. Or, after.

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media, Thinking : Parent

Last night’s 2019’s Best Picture award at the Oscars went to Green Book, a film based (ever so loosely) on a real relationship between prominent Black jazz pianist and classically trained musician Dr. Don Shirley, and his hired driver, Frank “Tony...

7 new must-read Black History Month book releases for kids and teens. Because Black history is American history.

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids

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.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids

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...