The best children’s books of 2017 to read in 2018: All the year-end lists, all in one place.
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 with great taste in...
3 great new middle-grade novels your kids (and you!) should be reading right now.
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 justice, activism,...
Beyond Waldo: 6 gorgeously artful look-and-find books for kids
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, beautifully...
How to get kids excited about reading: 8 expert, research-backed tips and tactics.
Sadly, studies have shown that toward the end of elementary school, kids start losing their enjoyment of learning. As parents, that really concerns us. Especially because we all know a child’s natural state is to be excited about exploring the world around them....
8 must-read summer reading books for tweens and teens who want to stay woke
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 one thing that helps...
Who was John Newbery? This children’s book makes finding out so fun.
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...
Drag Queen Story Hour. You know. For kids.
There were times long ago when I eagerly participated in events like Wigstock and danced on the tables at The Abbey in West Hollywood on Drag Queen night. (And yes, you get thrown out for that.) But as a mom, these things have admittedly faded from my list of life...
7 awesome page-turners your early readers really need to check out this summer
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 books are all geared toward...
This Is How We Do It: The fabulous new book that teaches kids empathy while celebrating diversity.
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, by Matt Lamothe. My kids...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).
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