May the Force be with your kids' feet

Can you feel it? There's been a great disturbance in the world of footwear, as if millions of Ewok-sized voices had just cried out in excitement: "Mommy, those shoes breathe like Darth Vader!" The Star Wars by Stride Rite Vader Light & S…

May the Force be with your kids' feet

Can you feel it? There's been a great disturbance in the world of footwear, as if millions of Ewok-sized voices had just cried out in excitement: "Mommy, those shoes breathe like Darth Vader!"

The Star Wars by Stride Rite Vader Light & Sound shoe is the closest you'll come to having the Dark Lord of the Sith over for meatloaf. Available in toddler sizes 8.5 to 12 and kid sizes 12.5 to 3, both in narrow or wide, each shoe is made of leather and mesh with an easy hook and loop closure under Vader's mask. With the press of a button, you can hear Darth Vader's iconic breathing, and red lights flash with every step to warn ineffective admirals and Stormtroopers.

Stride Rite offers other flashy Star Wars shoes, if you're more Jedi than Sith. And don't worry--none of the shoes come with Force Choke. -Delilah

Find Vader Light & Sound shoes for toddlers and kids at Stride Rite.

More in KidsView all picks →

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Cool Mom Picks readers, we are so excited to launch a new series for you. We are obsessed book lovers over here at the CMP headquarters, and we have a particular soft spot for children's books (even though we're moving our kids into coll…

New shoes to take you from summer to fall

New shoes to take you from summer to fall

Fall has a funny way of making everyone suddenly realize their sneakers are worn out, the kids have outgrown their boots, and Mom could really use a new pair of loafers. Fortunately, DSW makes the seasonal shoe shuffle considerably easie…

The sweetest back-to-school tradition

The sweetest back-to-school tradition

Back-to-school season doesn't have to be all backpacks, supply lists, and new sneakers. Sometimes the best way to mark a new school year is with something that feels a little more fun—and a lot less practical. Enter Build-A-Bear , where …