movies + media for kids Archives

10 books kids and teens should read before they become movies and TV series in 2020.

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids, Entertainment + Media

This year, even though we haven’t been able to go to actual movie theaters, we’re still seeing plenty of great movies from home. Yay for film companies adapting! And yay for me spending less than $50 to get everyone popcorn! If you’re big on reading...

The long-awaited Hamilton film is coming this summer to Disney Plus! Here’s how to watch.

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

It’s hard to argue the fact that Hamilton has done for musical theater (and for American history) what Harry Potter did for reading a decade or so before, turning an entirely new generation of kids — and especially kids of color — into fans of the...

Bingewatch Nation! Why you should give yourself permission, and what to watch these days. And nights. | Spawned 195

by Cool Mom Staff | Entertainment + Media, Podcast

We are safe-distance podcasting today! We have wine! And we are punchy! With all the time we have (no, we don’t entirely have a lot of time) we are watching ALL THE SERIES and laughing through this conversation today about our binge watching recos — what...

Stream these 15 terrific, kid-friendly educational documentaries that aren’t necessarily made for kids.

by Kate Etue | Entertainment + Media

As a homeschooling mom, I know how educational documentaries for kids can help fill the days, balance entertainment with education, and even give us longer breaks when we need it. I even included it in my tips for parents who are now homeschooling, while schools are...

Illustrators see the beauty and meaning of Halle Bailey as Ariel and we’re here for it.

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

With the announcement of the inspired casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming Little Mermaid live action reboot, certain people in certain corners of the internet lost their GD minds. I alternated between bemusement and more uh, intense feelings, about those...

5 ideas from LEGO Movie 2 to discuss with your kids : A guide for parents

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media, Thinking : Parent

Last week, I caught a press screening of the The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part with my kids and I have to admit, my expectations were…tempered. The genius of the first LEGO Movie (sorry for any spoilers but you know, 5 year statue of limitations and all) is that...

Where to stream the 2019 Oscar nominated movies, and which ones to watch with your kids

by Kate Etue | Entertainment + Media

If you’re like me, you’ve seen very few of the Oscar-nominated films this year outside of the “Best Animated Films” category. (Life as a parent, right?) But I love movies, and I love movie award-shows, which means I don’t want to sit...

The new Wonder Park movie is launching this week, starring Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, Ken Jeong, Kenan Thompson, John Oliver…and we can’t wait

by Cool Mom Staff | Entertainment + Media

This post was created in partnership with Paramount Pictures Ever since the Wonder Park movie trailer debuted, our kids have been asking, “can we go? Can we go?” And now that the movie is coming out this Friday, March 15, they don’t have to wait much...

The #CaptainMarvelChallenge: Can you help send girls to see a badass female superhero on the big screen?

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Entertainment + Media

I am so excited about the upcoming Captain Marvel release. Like, crazy excited. Believe it or not, it’s the first woman-lead superhero film from Marvel. (Yep, Wonder Woman was from DC Comics, fun as it was, my non-geeky friends.) Not only that, but Brie...

Home with the kids New Year’s Eve? These 12 festive (and easy!) ideas can make the night memorable.

by Kate Etue | Party Ideas, Tips + Tricks

These days, New Year’s Eve parties are more about me trying my very best to stay up till midnight (though 10 PM is more like it) and drinking sparkling cider with our kids as we watch the ball drop on TV. And, honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way....

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, 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).

We did.

And we still love what we do every single day.

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