For those of us who love great illustration as much as a great story, I've found three new picture books that are worth making space for in your kids' bookcase or wrapping to give to a child this holiday. What I love most about all three…
The long season of "eat, drink, and be merry" is almost upon us, so it's time for you pregnant, breastfeeding, or abstaining-from-alcohol mamas to consider what you'll be sipping from now until the ball drops on another year. Fortunately…
Before you deck the halls, make sure you have your advent calendar ready so you can count down the days to the night before Christmas. It's a tradition that my kids enjoy so much, we have a few set up around the house to remind us how mu…
All of my kids' birthdays are milestone birthdays in my eyes, though I'm not always so good at remembering the details of each passing year other than maybe the cake we served at the party. Hey, I really like cake. But with Sticky Bellie…
If your kids get as excited as mine when they get something in the mailbox, then check out this adorable and free printable mailbox from TinyMe that will let you send and receive notes from your kids anytime, no stamp required. This prin…
A few years ago, we fell in love with artist Marion Deuchars' smart, fun activity book Let's Make Some Great Art , which teaches kids about twelve great masters and encourages them to imitate their styles all over the pages. I'm thrilled…
Once your kids get too old for our awesome Baby Halloween Costume ideas , they may want to come up with a group costume that involves their friends, as is the case with my own kids this year. So gather them around the computer--or just s…
The Fids and Kamily Poll has been announcing the best kids music of the year for kids and families since 2006, and we're always so glad to be a part of it, along with other top bloggers, journalists, publicists and kids' music radio show…
We are in full-on planning mode for Halloween here at Cool Mom Picks, with adorably unique costume ideas for babies, yummy Halloween treats , gorgeous handmade masks and invitations , and even the best not-too-scary party ideas for the l…
Teething babies have been sinking their chompers into colorful, fashionable and safe Chewbeads ever since their bracelets and necklaces started appearing on the coolest new mamas. And now, along with their toddler-friendly teethers and p…
With so many amazing modern building blocks out there, it's not hard to find a set that I'd love to give to my kids. But I've just discovered SumBlox , the most incredibly original set of durable beech wood blocks that mixes math learnin…
We always have the best time each Halloween poking around the web looking for the most awesome baby costumes . But the truth is, we're busy! While some of you blow our minds putting those sleepless hours to use building outrageous costum…
Playing a board game with the kids can be fun, but it's bound to feel a lot more special when your kids get to put their own finishing touches on the games themselves, like they can with DIY Board Games . And, don't worry: The "DIY" does…
We are always on the lookout for the best and brightest new kids' music makers on Cool Mom Picks, bringing you everyone from The Not-Its! to Shine and the Moonbeams . But today we want to honor one of the longest-enduring stars in kids' …
The lead character in Barry Jonsberg's excellent new book for tweens, The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee , isn't as strong as Katniss in The Hunger Games or as fearless as Divergent's Tris, but Candice Phee is still my new favorite…
If your kids can't get enough of Laurie Berkner's music , they're going to eat up the news that she's coming to Sirius XM's Kids' Place Live this weekend--and throughout the year--to promote healthy eating. Oh, and play lots of tunes, to…
Ahoy mateys, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day , one of our favorite should-be-a-real-holiday days of the year. And though my "pirate speak" is a little rusty, my ability to find some of the cutest and coolest pirate-related treasures is right…
We are thrilled that Martha Stewart is again shining a spotlight on those gifted American makers who brings us so many gorgeous items to decorate our homes, dress our babies, and beautify our lives through the 2014 American Made awards .…
If you need a good reason to strap on your sneakers and get some exercise this fall, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's NYC-based Moms in Training is ready to provide you with all the motivation you need. And best of all for you new mamas…
Buying a special gift for a four-year-old is so much fun since this is the age that kids really start to show their preferences and interests. Plus, they aren't sticking every little piece into their mouths (phew) and can play independen…
Those iconic handmade wooden crate and roller-skate-bottom scooters from the Great Depression have been retooled and re-imagined to form the fierce-looking Skate Crate , hopefully coming soon to a sidewalk near you. At least if you ask o…
Changing your child's room from an infant's nursery to a kid's functional bedroom doesn't have to be a long (and expensive) project for modern style-and-design conscious parents. In fact, Cool Mom Picks' favorite P'kolino's new Little Mo…
When are utilitarian storage units for kids the most stunning pieces of furniture in the whole room? When they are these gorgeously original Amsterdam Cabinets from This is Dutch. Modeled after Amsterdam's iconic canal houses, these 78" …
It's not always easy for us to find a game for kids that is doable, yet challenging, and that the entire family can play. What can we say, we have high standards. However cool-game maker Blue Orange's new Doodle Quest is giving my family…
