A few years back, kids probably wouldn't have considered hand sanitizer as a "cool" Easter gift like they would a funky lip balm or a springy AirPods case . But this year, OLIKA, who makes the cool, natural -hand sanitizers shaped like c…
I saw a recent Twitter thread that asked about all the things we may never go back to since COVID-19: Eating from a buffet. Trying on makeup samples. Shaking hands. And one that comes up time and again is that time-honored tradition of b…
You know we often turn to books when we want to help our children through their struggles and feelings, and this month feels like the right time to share some excellent children's books on grief and loss. When I think back over the last …
We keep looking for the silver lining in the past Year That Was Like No Other, and as we talk to other parents, one thing comes up over and over: "my kid discovered they really love _____." Whether it's manga or chemistry, dystopian fict…
Well, hey there scientists at Johnson & Johnson! Did you hear us singing your praises (loudly, and possibly with some happy tears) this weekend as your single-dose vaccine joins Moderna and Pfizer on the approved Covid vaccine list? Beca…
Here's what I suggest for the weekend: Entice your teens out from their bedrooms for a hilarious family game night using your set of What Do You Meme? game cards. Only surprise them when they open the box, to find that you've booby trapp…
This is a sponsored message on behalf of the Young Scientist Challenge Our long-time readers know we're big advocates of teaching kids to think critically , solve problems, and use their imaginations. In fact, we're pretty much counting …
Readers, get excited! The 2021 ALA youth media awards have been announced, and it's time to update our reading lists! In case you're not fully in the book-nerd world like me, that means our 2021 Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King awa…
I'm typing from behind swollen eyes today, the result of a day of crying tears of joy, tears of relief. Just a whole lot of tears . Lots of friends and readers have told me the same, and shared that one of the most profound moments of ye…
As we move on from the worst president of all time, some wonderful organizations are coming together to help us collectively process, plan, and heal. You can find the full schedule of official Biden-Harris inaugural events here, but ther…
I don't think our annual roundup of the best children's books of 2020 could come at a better time. As we're heading into a winter of quarantining in 2021, my goal is to turn off the TV more and open up more books. This is my sixth year c…
At my house, we always start the new year with new board games found under our tree, and this year, it's included some really fun board games inspired by 80s movies. As we face the fact that there's a whole lot of winter to go (and stay-…
All year long, we adore sending subscription gifts for kids , which are always some of our favorites to give -- and also, happen to make perfect last minute gifts for birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations. Our kids love to receive b…
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press It's hard to believe that it's officially the 20th anniversary of Newberry Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie , the modern classic by Kate DiCamillo that's captivated the imaginations of hu…
As we reflect back on all that has happened this year, it's clear that so many people are seeing -- and honoring -- all the work that Black women are doing to effect change. And all the work that Black women have always done. It's a lega…
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press There are some books for a child's library. that are must-haves: An alphabet book, a counting book, a shape book. They can be straightforward...or they can be fun. That difference matters…
The truth is, I don't need an excuse to play scary board games for Halloween with my. kids. We're full-fledged board game geeks at my house , and all games are an option for us, any time at all. But with so many families looking for safe…
It's official: I'm writing about safe trick-or-treat alternatives after weeks of putting it off. The CDC has even officially recommended against trick-or-treating during COVID-19 , at least in the traditional way, and oof. I need some sa…
Are you a parent or caregiver who plans to vote in person on Election Day? We have good news! Care.com and the Armed Services YMCA are teaming up to bring free childcare for parents who need to get to the polls on November 3rd. So brilli…
Raising money for UNICEF at Halloween has become a tradition for many of our readers and their kids, and it's a cause we've supported since the very beginning of our site. That's a long time! So we're thrilled to announce that this year,…
I imagine that searching for Halloween costumes using face masks is going to be a thing this year -- and I don't mean your typical Halloween masks that cover your whole face. You know how no kid wants their long-planned costume ruined by…
Getting my kid to keep his face mask on is a pretty tall order, but I'm hoping that introducing some new Halloween masks designed for kids will make it a little easier. I can just pass his off as a costume accessory that way, right? I fo…
My kids' eyes flew wide open when they stepped into the living room last night and caught some of the fiasco (or you know, Dana Bash's more colorful term ) that passed for a presidential debate. This morning, our team discussed that whil…
You may have seen the news this week about the new labels in Patagonia shorts. Just four words appear on the underside of the labels: Vote the a**holes out. This isn't just cheeky resistance; Patagonia is a company that's always stood up…