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…
If you've followed us for any length of time, you know that we're big fans of children's books that reflect real-life diversity . The percentage of books that deliver on this is getting better, but still not nearly high enough. But we've…
We're always on the lookout for children's books that feature diverse characters , depict positive gender-neutral roles, and inspire. So I was pretty excited to discover this Kickstarter project for Seeing is Believing , a personalized p…
Issues concerning civil rights and racial justice in America have never stopped being news. At least if you're paying attention. However over the past few years, they've really become front and center in a more widespread way, thanks to …
Back when I first discovered Dave Eggers, I never would have thought that he'd turn out to be one of the beloved children's authors on my kids' bookshelves . But he's certainly cemented that honor with the new Her Right Foot , an equally…
There are three fantastic children's books being made into movies for release this fall and early 2018. The way I see it, that gives us plenty of time to read them before scheduling a family movie night to see them! I'm a big believer in…
Fans of the interactive children's books from Hervé Tulle , Press Here and Mix it Up , now have another wonderfully charming, engaging book to add to their kids' bookshelves in Say Zoop! Once again, children are asked to perform a series…
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…
If there's one thing we know for certain, it's that all families should be celebrated, all the time. Because, love is love. So we pulled together these 6 excellent children's books that celebrate LGBT families . The way it's important fo…
Once in awhile, a children's book comes along that's equal parts timely and and classic, and that's just how I'd describe the We are Shining , penned by the late poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, Gwendolyn Brooks. It's filled with…
The brand new children's book, Atlas of Miniature Adventures is the most charming, wonderful, travel-meets-trivia book . Author Emily Hawkins and illustrator Lucy Letherland sure know how get even the most cynical, " can't we just stay o…
A few years ago, R.J. Palacio gave the world Wonder , a middle reader book that we here at Cool Mom Picks believe should be mandatory reading for all children and their parents, which is why we named it among our best children's books of…
It's always a strange and complex feeling to feel the loss of someone you've never actually met, but that's just what I feel right now, learning of today's passing of author and mom of three, Amy Krouse Rosenthal . This is one woman who …
This week, I am under the impression, for some reason, that lots of folks are searching for information on Frederick Douglass: Who was Frederick Douglass? What did he do that was so important? How did he earn a place in the new Smithsoni…
I'm a child of an immigrant. And so I jumped at the chance to put together a list of some of my favorite children's books about the immigrant experience. I know first-hand just how difficult it is for someone to get to America for a bett…
Today, there's excitement about the Oscar nominations, but yesterday was the Academy Awards for book lovers. The ALA made its big announcement of the books worthy of the annual Caldecott, Newbery, and Coretta Scott King medal winners, as…
Often, some of the very best children's books are the ones inspired by a writer's own child (like Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny ). These books tend to be favorites among kids and parents alike because they come from a place of authenticity. …
Over the years, we've put together so many fantastic ways to help honor the important, impactful work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., especially to help families be able to discuss how we might all carry on his legacy. We hope you'll chec…
As we approach MLK Day, we're thinking it's the perfect time to get our kids learning about activism and about how one man, through his peaceful and steadfast fight for equal rights for all, made lasting changes and a huge impact on gene…
As the year comes to a close, we're looking back at our picks for the best children's books of 2016 -- according to our editors, writers, and of course our children! What a perfect way to kick off our Editors Picks of the Year . As our r…
I did the research, and in 2013, out of 3,200 children’s books published, only 93 featured African American characters . Sadly, that's even more than I had expected. And the numbers aren't much better for other races and ethnicities. Tha…
I'm always a sucker for books for toddlers and early readers that make use of modern art. We've covered Where's Warhol (a Where's Waldo parody) most recently, Henri Matisse and Alexander Calder pop-up books , and now there's a cool new o…
This is a sponsored message from MacMillan In honor of the launch of Hand in Hand , the beautiful new book from popular kids' author Rosemary Wells of Max and Ruby fame, you could win a special $250 literary prize pack, plus everyone who…
We could not be more excited that famed Japanese author-illustrator, Taro Gomi (you know him, the author behind the widely popular Everyone Poops ), recently released a new boxed set called Growing Together. We think it's the perfect gif…