Being a child in today’s world is very different than just a decade ago. Kiddos have traded in toys for cell phones, playtime for screen time and hanging out with friends in person for texting and FaceTime. It has not only changed the way they interact and play but also shifted the type of gifts they’re now asking for—because if you don’t have the latest phone or tablet, who are you?
If Grandma and Grandpa give your youngsters the next gadget to add to their tech arsenal this holiday season, you want to ensure their new present doesn’t expose them to potential harm. By having so much technology at their fingertips, the world has truly become their oyster, along with the dangers of the internet that comes with it.
That’s what Bark, a parental control app, is hoping to change. Founded in 2015 by CEO Brian Bason, who’s a dad of two, Bark helps parents monitor everything their kiddos do on their phones. From text messages and emails to YouTube and over 30 social media platforms, parents and guardians can have insight into what their children are actually seeing online. In 2020 alone, Bark analyzed 2.1 billion messages and has been able to help protect 5.9 million kids.
The app, which has won awards from The National Parenting Center, Mom’s Choice Awards, and National Parenting Product Awards, was created with the assistance of renowned child psychologists, digital media experts, law enforcement professionals, and youth advisors. As a result, Bark has built an advanced algorithm technology that can detect signs of violence, online predators, adult content, cyberbullying and more.
Receive Alerts Directly to Your Phone
If a child engages with unsuitable content, such as a worrisome website or game, or receives a potentially harmful message, parents are notified with emails and text alerts, thanks to Bark’s 24-hour detection services. The algorithm is also trained to detect slang terms and emojis that kids use today to communicate.
To help parents address tough situations, Bark provides expert recommendations from child psychologists on what steps to take after a particular alert, how to talk about it and more.
Select Your Preferred Monitoring Levels
In each category (sexual content, profanity, etc.), Bark users have the option to select one of three monitoring sensitivity levels (relaxed, moderate, or strict) and can be selective of which alerts they want to see and how. According to Bark, the average parent will receive concerning alerts within 24 hours after signing up.
With 42% of children spending over 30 hours a week on their phones, it can become almost a part-time job for parents to keep track of all that their youngsters are doing on their devices. Bark helps by making sure parents receive alerts about anything concerning, so they don’t have to manually look through every single keystroke their child has made.
Say Goodbye to Tech Overload
As kids spend more time glued to their phones, parents may also want to cut back on screen time. Fortunately, Bark helps promote a healthy balance. It allows families to limit the amount of time spent on the internet by setting customized device use rules for school time, bedtime and free time.
The app also allows parents to pause access on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks when children need downtime for homework, dinner or just a moment without their phone.
Block Inappropriate Website and Games
Parents can also turn to the web filtering features to block specific websites or website categories, like streaming and gaming. So if Roblox or Fortnite is a no-go in your household, you can easily restrict access. If your child does attempt to visit a restricted site or app from the designated block list, you’ll receive an alert notifying you about the issue.
Limit Access to App Stores
App Stores can be made off-limits to youngsters who may have gotten their hands on it in the past—and accidentally purchased a good number of games without your approval. Not only does this save your wallet and you from headaches, but it helps you decide what they’re able to engage with.
Check Your Kiddo’s Whereabouts to Help Keep Them Safe
After the 2018 devastating school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl., Bark extended its services to all K–12 public and private schools in the nation at no cost. Parents can also turn to the app’s check-in feature to ensure their child’s safety by sending a notification to their phone that requests a response.
Bark has also recently released a new location sharing feature that alerts parents whenever their child arrives at, or leaves, a specific location.
While adults cannot control the entire internet, they can use Bark to create healthy guardrails for their children and make sure they know when their child may be in danger.
Sign up for Bark today and start your seven-day free trial, so you can have peace of mind while your child is online. Learn more about Bark and its mission to keep children safe in this video here.
Everyone has spent more time reading the last year than ever before, so why not update your bookshelf with a few fresh finds? This year brought us plenty of gorgeous picture books, historical tales and feel-good reads for audiences of all ages. Keep reading to see our picks for the best kids’ book of 2021.
Mommy Goes to Work Jossy Lee creates the perfect book for families with working parents. While kids go to school, Mommy goes to work! With adorable illustrations by Nila Aye, kids of all ages will find this story reassuring and a positive take on career-minded parents. Ages: Baby+
Courage Is Courage looks like a superhero or a firefighter, but it also looks like a lot of every day things. Jason and True Kander's new board book explores how everyone can have courage everyday––and be scared, too! Ages: Baby to 3
DC Super Heroes: Diversity Is A Superpower & The Power of Kindness Julie Merberg is back with two new titles in the DC Super Heroes series and they're all about diversity and kindness. The DC Universe is packed with people from all over, with unique traits and qualities that lend a hand to others in need. With bright illustrations and simple narrative, these board books for baby are just as fun to look at for adults. Ages: Baby-3
Little Observers On the Farm & In the Park Claire Beaton's two board books introduce baby to the big world around them. Simple narratives take readers through the farm and park, pointing out the beauty along the way. Each story ends with two pages dedicated to search and find, where everyone can make sure they caught all the details. Ages: Baby+
B is for Bison Greg Paprocki's introduces young readers to 26 National Parks. Each letter of the alphabet shares something that can be found in each park, with beyond adorable illustrations. Ages: Baby+
Trees- A Count & Find Primer Count to 10 and learn all about trees along the way with Greg Paprocki's new primer. This book ends with plenty of fun facts about each tree and a search and find component. Ages: Baby+
Words of the World: Ocean Animals & Birds Beautifully simplistic collages by Motomitsu Maehara come together in these multilingual board books. Each one comes with over a dozen animals, each one translated into seven languages that include English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Arabic and Esperanto. Ages: Baby+
Glow The duo from Curls is here with a new board book for baby. Ruth Forman and Geneva Bowers bring Glow, which highlights the beauty of Black Joy and tells the story of a little boy who uses the moon to celebrate his lovely skin. Ages: Baby+
Rise and Shine From legendary children's musician, Raffi comes a new board book with the lyrics of his song, "Rise and Shine." Accompanied by adorable illustrations, your youngest reader will love this addition to the Songs to Read collection that encourages kids to wake up and start the day with a smile. Ages: Baby+
Return of the Underwear Dragon The Underwear Dragon is back! This time, Sir Cole wants to help learn how to read, so he can't wreak havoc ever again. Ages: 3-7
Lila Lou's Little Library Lila Lou has too many books––or is her house just too small? Maybe she can make a library where she can share with her friends! Written by Nikki Berggstresser, this book comes with helpful tips on learning while reading. Ages: 5-7
Home Britta Teckentrap is back with another peek through picture book. Told with stunning illustrations, this story demonstrates how everyone needs a place to call home. Ages: 3-7
What's That? Jax and Meena don't have typical school lunches, thanks to their unique cultures. Karen Chan's poetic story follows the two on a journey told through food and imparts that mealtime is so much more than just eating. Ages: 3+
The Capybaras Alfredo Soderguit's capybara creative story is a tale of acceptance. When the hairy creatures encounter the local hens when they're looking for a place to stay, can they open their hearts to the foreign creatures? Ages: 3-8
Little Narwhal, Not Alone Based on a true story of an unlikely friendship between a narwhal and a beluga whale, this sweet tale from Tiffany Stone is fun for readers of all ages. Adorable illustrations from Ashlyn Anstee accompany the whimsical story. Ages: 4-8
Goodbye, Old House Moving house can be sad and scary, but exciting too! Margaret Wild and Ann James share a sweet story of saying goodbye, but hello at the same time. Ages: 3-7
Cat & Dog: A Tale of Opposites Is there anything more opposite than a cat and a dog? This sweet book of differences from Tullio Corda shares that opposites don't mean enemies. Ages: 3-6
Mister Fairy Fairies are usually smiling and happy, but Mister Fairy just isn't a morning person and has a hard time enjoying his job. When he decides to leave the forest, his adventure takes him on a journey where he learns his role and how amazing it is to bring joy to others. Ages: 4-8
Teatime Around the World Many people enjoy teatime, but did you know it's celebrated differently around the world? Follow along on a trip across the globe and have po cha in Tibet, afternoon tea in England and matcha in Japan in this gorgeous book by Denyse Waissbluth. Ages: 3-7
See the Dog That's not a dog, that's a cat! This silly tale from David LaRochelle follows Baby Cakes, a cat on dog duty. How will this furry pal handle all the duties of a dog? Ages: 4-8
Right Now!: Real Kids Speaking Up for Change Do you want to be a change maker? Miranda Paul's book shares real kids making a difference, no matter their age. With illustrations by Bea Jackson, learn all about Jazz Jennings, Greta Thunberg and more. Ages: 4-7
ABC of Feelings From Anxious to Zany, feelings are a curious thing! Written and illustrated by Bonnie Lui, this simple book helps kiddos identify their emotions and learn what to do with them. Ages: 3-7
Maybe... Three little monkeys are getting into some mischief! Christ Haughton's bright tale about maaaaaybe pushing boundaries proves a fun and delightful message to young readers. Ages: 3-7
Cat Problems Cat lovers will fully appreciate this hilarious tale from Jory John. With perfectly textured illustrations from Lane Smith, this fun book follows the completely difficult life of a house cat as he navigates his day. Ages: 3-7
Trick or Treat, Crankenstein Crankenstein is back! Samantha Berger and Dan Santant follow the lovable character as he navigates his fave holiday. But will a toothache, pumpkin carving issue and terrible costume nightmare take out all the fun? Ages: 4-8
Archer Otters: Megalodon Outbreak The Archer Otters are out to save the day. When seaweed starts to run low, threatening their food supply, the trio heads to the ocean to find more. Can they battle the evil submarine and scary megalodon and find the seaweed they seek? Ages: 4-8
Sonny Says Mine! The first book in a new series by Caryl Hart and illustrator Zachariah Ohora introduces little readers to Sonny and his friends. When the little fox finds a new toy bunny at the playground, he's thrilled! It's the best toy ever––until his friend Boo tells Sonny it's HER toy. It's up to Sonny to say he's sorry, but can he do it? Ages: 3-6
Stick and Stone Best Friends Forever! Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld are back with the second installment of Stick and Stone. The two have set out to find Stick's family tree, but encounter some scary things along the journey. This sweet tale helps readers see the importance of family, whether its blood or found in friendship. Ages: 3-7
The Perfect Plan Maya is headed to the forest to build her dream fort! Leah Gilbert's beautifully illustrated and written tale shares the adventures of her protagonist as she relies on her forest friends to work together, share creativity and exhibit perseverance. Ages: 3-6
Dozens of Doughnuts LouAnn is prepping for winter by whipping up dozens of doughnuts. But, uh oh! Tons of friends are stopping by and she gives out all her food! In this sweet story by Carrie Finison, kids will learn the basics of counting, sharing and being a good friend. Ages: 3-7
Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter Tiny mouse Dakota is on a mission. Late at night, she scurries through the museum with her treasure map on the hunt for artifacts she can share at later at the Mousehole Museum. Young readers will love the followup activity that has them flipping back through the pages to find their own treasures in Jamie Michalak's book. Ages: 3-7
Paletero Man Latin Grammy winner Lucky Diaz brings a bright and colorful story that follows our young narrator on the hunt for his friend Paletero José. Only the sweet treat will cool everyone off on such a hot day. With Spanish throughout, the story is a celebration of kindness and the Latin culture in Los Angeles. Ages: 4-8
Dozens of Dachshunds Is there a cuter pup than a Dachshund? How about when there's a dozen of them? Stephanie Calmenson explores the whimsical and adorable nature of the famed "wiener dog," with sweet illustrations by Zoe Persico. Count along in this fun poetic tale that will have you woofing and wagging. Ages: 3-6
Wolfboy Andy Harkness’ artistic skills come alive in his second book, Wolfboy. When Wolfboy gets hungry, he gets growly and drooly and just wants rabbits! With unique images that were made by clay and then photographed, this taunting tale is delightful for the whole family. Ages: 2-5
How to Apologize Do you know how to apologize? David LaRochelle takes a rather humorous approach in explaining not only the importance of apologizing, but how to do it sincerely. With whimsical illustrations by Mike Wohnoutka, even adults will learn a thing or two about the art of the apology. Ages: 3-7
That’s Cool, Tallulah! Stella Bella has a special doll and they have a magical friendship. Tallulah causes her share of mischief and one day Stella Bella hears a voice in her head that tells her to do the right thing. Written by the voice of Rugrats Angelica Pickles, Cheryl Chase and illustrated by Giulia Iacopini, this sweet story demonstrates the importance of listening to rules. Ages: 2-5
Wishes Inspired by actual events in the life of author, Muon Thi Van, Wishes is the story of one Vietnamese family’s search for a new home. Victo Ngai’s beautiful illustrations further the gentle approach taken to make a story of fear and the unknown approachable and relatable to the youngest of readers. Ages: 4-8
Send a Girl! Jessica M. Rinker and Meg Hunt join forces in this true story about how women joined the Fire Department of New York. Brenda wanted to become a firefighter more than anything, but the FDNY made it near impossible. When she refused to give up, Brenda ended up changing the course of female firefighters forever. Ages: 3-6
Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion Fluffy McWhiskers can't get any cuter. When her cuteness causes people to explode, she escapes to an island, where she meets an equally cute pup. Ages 4-8.
My Daddy Can Fly! Principal ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater Thomas Forster shares a sweet story of a little boy talking about his father. With traits that include strength, gentleness and speed, this story shows the wide range of talents that accompany a professional dancer and daddy. Ages 4-8.
Hope at Sea Hope doesn't want her father to leave on his clipper ship. Unless...she can stow away and go too? Told with simple prose and stunning illustrations by Daniel Miyares, this book will inspire young seafarers. Ages 4-8.
a kids book about your microbiome This last year, kids want to know about germs more than ever. But what about all those healthy microbiomes? Follow along in Ara Katz's word-focused book on the goodness living within your body. Ages 6+.
It Fell from the Sky A mysterious object fell from the sky and everyone wants a peek. Told with stunning illustrations from The Fan Brothers, this tale shares the woes of keeping beauty for yourself, when it could be shared with everyone. Ages 4-8.
Make Your Bed with Skipper the Seal Written by former Navy SEAL Howard McWilliam, this sweet story about Skipper the Seal shares his journey in the Navy. Perseverance and courage, along with the ability to overcome obstacles are just a few things Skipper learns as he becomes a SEAL. Ages 4-8.
Goodnight Ganesha Told with stunning illustrations by Pooam Mistry, Nadia Saloman's bedtime story explores the rich beauty of an Indian night. Children will follow along with the rhyming prose as grandparents and grandchildren get ready for bed. Ages 3-7.
Beautifully Me Author Nabela Noor tackles issues of body positivity as readers follow main character Zubi. She's never thought of her size as a bad thing, but when she hears others complaining about their bodies, she begins to question: "is there something wrong with me?" Ages 4-8.
Walter Does His Best: A Frenchie Adventure in Kindness and Muddy Paws Sing Who's a good boy? Walter! Well, kind of. Walter tries to be good but sometimes, he makes a mess of things. Eva Pilgrim's fun tale of a dog's adventure in NYC demonstrates that you don't have to be perfect, so long as you're kind. Ages 4-8.
Make Meatballs Sing, the Life & Art of Corita Kent Matthew Burgess' picture-book biography of Corita Kent shares the story of the famed artist in alluring color and detail. With gorgeous illustrations by Kara Kramer, young and old readers alike will be challenged to notice to the details in everyday life. Ages 6-12.
I Hear You, Forest Head into the forest in Kalle George's newest book. Follow a child into a magical place as she listens to the sounds of the forest. Accompanied by Carmen Mok's illustrations, readers will feel transported into another world as they read along. Ages 3-7.
My Dog Banana Roxane Brouillard's hilarious tale of a boy taking his "dog" for a walk will have you chuckling. When Banana is out and about, no one takes him seriously. With sweet illustrations from Giulia Sagramola, this book will have you questioning whether or not a banana really can bark. Ages 4-8.
Animal Architects The world is a construction zone, and we're just living in it! Amy Cherrix dives deep into the wonderful world of architecture and how our fellow animals and insects are constantly building around us. With beautiful illustrations by Chris Sasaki, you just might be inspiring an architect of the future! Ages 3-8.
The Longest Storm Hitting close to home in the wake of the pandemic, Dan Yaccarino's gorgeous and heartfelt tale of navigating a seemingly never-ending storm provides the perfect narrative for discussing difficulties with children. With simple illustrations and story-telling, parents will find this book perfect for talking loss, family conflict and more. Ages 4-8.
Prehistoric Pets Perhaps the greatest pop-up book on the topic of prehistoric animals, Paleontologist Dr. Sean Lomax takes kids on an adventure exploring seven of the world's favorite pets. Using vibrant pop-ups with the help of illustrator Mike Love, kids will follow fossil clues to unveil ancient animals and fun facts. Ages 5-9.
Indelible Ann Late governor of Texas Ann Richards inspired women everywhere and she's back in Meghan P. Browne's book to encourage young readers. The Carlynn Whitt-illustrated book follows Richards early life and rise to political prowess where she went on to inspire the likes of Hilary Clinton and take on the "boys club" of politics. Ages: 4-8
Except Antarctica Todd Sturgell's debut children's book is hilarious and educational for young and old alike. What would happen if animals didn't like what the narrator had to say? That's where this sweet book kicks off, as Turtle decides he wants a visit to the coldest spot on the planet! Ages: 4-8
Lala's Words Little Lala doesn't like to stay inside––she loves to escape to her garden where her kind words help plants grow! Though her mother doesn't understand her, Lala knows that the power of kindness can cause everything around her to flourish. Ages: 4-8
A Most Clever Girl The ultimate tale of girl power, Jasmine A. Stirling’s A Most Clever Girl is a must for every children’s bookshelf. Beautiful illustrations by Vesper Stemper accompany this inspiring story about how Jane Austen used her love of words to define her life, becoming one of the most celebrated authors of all time. Ages: 5-9
Kindness is a Kite String It’s easy to spread kindness, you just have to try! With illustrations by Claire Laforte, Michelle Schaub pens a lyrical approach to starting the day off with kindness and demonstrates how it ripples throughout the day to everyone around you. Ages: 5-7
Faraway Things They were called faraway things, the things that Lucien would find washed up on the shore below his home with the lighthouse. Written by award-winning novelist Dave Eggers and accompanied by Kelly Murphy's detailed illustrations, this lovely picture book tells the story of a young boy who finds a cutlass after a storm. He takes it home, and for a short time, calls it his own. When he meets the cutlass's owner, he must make a trade for another treasure, and when he does, what he gets in return is even more important. Ages: 5-8
Words to Make a Friend You don't have to speak the same language to be friends! This sweet tale by Donna Jo Napoli and Naoko Stoop shares the story of two little girls, one American and one Japanese who don't let language stop them from friendship. Ages: 9-12
War What is war? This stunning story uses creative illustrations and little verbiage to share the origins and stealthiness of war and how to share the difficult concept with kids. Ages: 9-12
Where Snow Angels Go Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night for no reason? Sylvie awakens one evening to find her very own angel––could it be the same one she made in the snow last winter? Maggie O'Farrell's tale follows the relationship between Sylvie and her protector when she needs him the most. Ages: 7-10
The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection This adorable book by author Ben Brashares is a story about a boy named Chuck, who, while insisting he's bored and his stay-at-home-dad is "boring," comes to learn about his ancestors and their great contributions to the world. Determined to make his own mark, Chuck looks for a mountain to climb, an ocean to explore, bugs to collect. When things don't turn out as he'd hoped, Chuck ends up doing something completely new and cool. A wonderful addition to your kids' book collection. Ages: 4-8
Jenny Mei Is Sad This sweet story by Tracy Subisak just might hit you deep down with its profound yet simplistic exploration of friendship when one friend is sad. It's not our place to always cheer up our friends. Being there is what is important. Ages 4-8.
Dad, the Man, the Myth, the Legend He can wrestle pythons to the ground, he can fly to the hardware store, he's a certified genius: he's dad! Written by Mifflin Lowe with stunning illustrations by Dani Torrent, this all about dad tale praises the amazingness of fathers and even has a special place in the back to brag about your own padre. Ages 4-8.
Sharky McShark Sharky is a bully. All the fish in the sea swim furiously away when she approaches. But when a tiny crab enters her world, all things change. You'll love this story from Alison Murray that delves into themes of bullying, vulnerability and the importance of friendship. Ages 4-8.
Dragonboy Follow along on a day of adventure with Dragonboy in this colorful story by Fabio Napoleoni. You'll love how Dragonboy treasures the differences of his friends and has empathy for their struggles. Ages 4-8.
Jonah's Adventures in the Enchanted Garden You'll love diving into this delicately illustrated story of a boy who spends the summer with his grandparents and discovers a land beyond the confines of their garden. Author Rodica Niculescu penned this lovely story for her grandsons and you'll be immersed in the story from page one. Ages 1-11.
Sharp Eye the Eagle Series If you are looking to impart some lessons into your reading time, this series is perfect for you. Each of the seven stories in the series has Sharp Eye the eagle imparting wisdom like why too much screen time is not a good idea, or why sharing benefits us all.
Make Your Bed with Skipper the Seal This clever story by Admiral William H. McRaven shares the story of how Skipper goes from being a seal to becoming a Navy SEAL (and why making the bed is always important!). Ages 4-8.
Little Messy Marcy Su Author Cherie Fu brings us this lovely tale of a tired mom and her exuberant child who come together to get their house ready for the grandparents' visit. Lovely rhyming with Chinese words interspersed gives us a glimpse into this family's everyday life. Ages 4-8.
I Am an American, the Wong Kim Ark Story This story by Marth Brockenbrough is an important picture book that introduces young readers to the young man who challenged the Supreme Court for his right to be an American citizen and won, confirming birthright citizenship for all Americans. Ages 4-8.
Bravo Anjali Young readers will enjoy the story of Anjali as she struggles with friendship and owning her exceptional talent in the tabla world where she is the only girl. A follow-up story to Always Anjali, this story inspires young readers to never dim their light and to never let anyone make her feel bad for being good at something.
A New Harvest You'll love this sweet tale by Cristina Expósito Escalona (that's available in both English and Spanish). It tells the story of a farmer, devastated by tornados, who bring his field back to life and receives support from homeless people in his community, who are then able to be supported by the land and the work. Bonus: this book is sustainably made using stone paper. Ages 4-8.
The Secret of the Magic Pearl Elisa Sabatinelli and Iacopo Bruno's story will take readers on an adventure. Told in long-form and with stunning illustrations, follow young Hector along as he searches for the illusive magic pearl. Ages 6-10.
Lotería Karla Arenas Valenti's debut middle grade novel is packed with action. Combining Día de los Muertos imagery, Mexican folklore and the game of Lotería, readers will follow Clara on an adventure of fate. Ages 8-12.
The Other Side of Luck Perfect for young fantasy readers, Ginger Johnson's tale explores the relationship between Princess Una and Julien, a pauper in the kingdom. When both enter a contest to find the illusive Silva Flower, can the two find a sense of belonging in their otherwise lonely worlds? Ages 8-11.
The Gumazing Gum Girl! Stick Together! Gum Girl, aka Gabby Gomez, returns in this fifth book of the series. Fresh off a trip meeting her uncle, Gabby must now take on an overgrown hamster alongside friends new and old. Ages 6-10.
Stolen Science Ella Schwartz and illustrator Gaby D'Allessandro are setting the record straight when it comes to inventions, science and who should receive credit. The two explore underrepresented communities, immigrants, women and more who made strides in science but went unnoticed over the last few centuries. Ages 9-11.
The Kids of Cattywampus Street Meet the kids of Cattywampus Street! This delightful 11-chapter book dedicates a story to each of the unique and whimsical children on the block. Perfect for lovers of Sideways Stories from Wayside School, this book also has carefully placed black and white drawings throughout to keep young readers entertained the entire way. Ages 7-10.
Mightier Than the Sword Rochelle Melander's collection is a must for budding writers. With illustrations by Melina Ontiveros, Mightier Than the Sword shares the stories of writers from diverse cultural backgrounds who changed the world with the pen. Not only does this new book details stories like Frederick Douglas and Helen Keller, but it includes robust writing tips and activities, too. Ages 8-13.
Starfish Lisa Fipps debut novel faces off against the world of fat-shaming with her lead character Ellie. Follow along as the young protagonist finds new friendship that will take her from wanting to blend in, to becoming comfortable with who she is––no matter her size. Ages 10-13.
A Total Waste of Space-Time! Book two of the Space-Time series is here! Get back on the potato with Jide and Petra as they travel to the planets of their friends. Jeffrey Brown's graphic novel is the perfect, can't-put-down read for middle graders. Ages 8-12.
How to Win a Slime War Author Mae Respicio is back again with a darling story that middle-grade readers will love. Twelve-year-old Alex Manalo and his dad have recently moved back to Sacramento to help with the family's Filipino market. In his free time, Alex loves to make slime and a friend at his new school encourages him to sell his concoction, sparking a battle with a girl who previously enjoyed a slime-opoly on campus. To make matters worse, Alex's dad thinks Alex should be focused on more traditional "boy" pastimes, like sports, which Alex hates. How to Win a Slime War is filled with heart and hope as it explores the fun and hard work of being an entrepreneur, navigating family and boyhood expectations, and discovering what it means to win. Ages 8-12.
Kitty Quest What happens when two kitties who need cash team up to become monster slayers? They head out on a Kitty Quest! This debut graphic novel by Phil Corbett follows Woolfrick and Perigold as they awaken ghosts and battle monsters––without any experience! Ages: 8-12.
Mellybean & the Giant Monster, Mellybean & the Wicked Wizard Meet Melly, a lovable pup who just wants to play with her feline friends. When a prank goes awry, Melly finds herself falling down a magical hole in the backyard! Join her as she takes on monsters and witches in the first two graphic novels by Mike White which are equally fun for kids and adults. Ages: 8-12.
The Islanders Themes of environmentalism and conservation permeate this debut middle grade novel for author Mary Alice Monroe. When Jake is forced to spend a screen-free summer with his grandmother on an island nature sanctuary, he befriends two other kids and they bond together to save loggerhead turtles from predation. Ages: 9-12.
Unforgotten: The Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas Without any formal training, young Dian Fossey embarks on a journey to Africa to study and protect the few mountain gorillas left on Earth. This book creatively tells Dian's story, inspiring young readers to follow their dreams. Ages: 8-12.
Ways to Grow Love Ryan Hart is back in Renée Watson’s second installment of her series. The young heroine is headed off to sleepaway camp, where she’ll meet a new camper that requires her to share her best friend. Follow along as our leading lady navigates tons of changes, including the birth of her baby sister. Ages: 7-10
EINSTEIN – The Fantastic Journey of a Mouse Through Space and Time You'll love Torben Kuhlmann’s brilliant new picture book that bends time and imagination through the adventures of a clever mouse. When this mouse misses the world's largest cheese festival by only one day, he is determined to travel back in time to experience all the Emmental and Gruyere he desires. He enlists the help of a mouse clockmaker and together they delve into Albert Einstein's notes as they set about on their adventure. Ages: 8-12
The Cardboard Kingdom #2: Roar of the Beast This sequel to the Eisner Award-nominated The Cardboard Kingdom follows the kids as they solve the mystery of a new neighborhood monster. Through a unique collaboration of 10 authors, each character is given an individual and authentic voice that makes this vibrant, profound, and utterly moving children’s graphic novel series truly shine. Ages 9-12
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms Author Mackenzi Lee is back with the second installment of this highly-popular series that's full of the Marvel Universe characters you love. Find out what happens when Gamora arrives on Torndune―a once-lush planet that has been strip-mined for the power source beneath its surface―with a mission to collect the heart of the planet. Ages: 12+
She Persisted: Sally Ride Award-winning author Atia Abawi brings young readers the story of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. As she broke barriers in space, this amazing woman went on to change the face of NASA and developed engineering programs that would enable women of the future to follow their dreams. Ages: 6-9
The Firebird Song Fans of Shannon Hale will thoroughly enjoy this new novel by Arnée Flores. Travel to the Kingdom of Lyrica, where the Firebird has vanished. Once the protector by its song and feather, its absence is felt strongly as the evil Spectress reigns. Can Young Prewitt and Princess Calliope solve the mysterious message found on the castle wall and bring back the Firebird for good? Ages: 8-11
Dead Wednesday It was anything but a typical school day when Worm Tarnauer hopped out of bed on "Dead Wednesday." It was the day he'd been looking forward to his whole school career, when eighth graders were assigned a teen who had died over the past year, donned their black shirts and became invisible. Worm didn't anticipate that his journey with Becca Finch (age 17, car crash) would take him where it did. This book by Jerry Spinelli will have you thinking about what it means to truly live.
The Wild Ones This one's all about feminist power when a group of teenage girls must band together and use their special powers to save the life of the magical boy who saved them all. This is the second novel from author Nafiza Azad and the deep character development will have you reading well past bedtime. Age 14+.
Daughter of the Deep Fans of Rick Riordan will love this new release that pays homage to Jules Verne in this exciting modern take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Young readers will be enthralled with the characters as they dive deep into the action and humor that are Riordan signatures.
Paradise on Fire Author Jewell Parker Rhodes is back with her follow-up novel to critically acclaimed book Black Brother, Black Brother. Paradise on Fire is inspired by the devastating Camp Fire that devastated the town of Paradise, CA in 2018. Addy is haunted by the fire that killer her parents and spends the summer at a wilderness camp learning new outdoor skills. But mostly they learn how to rely on each other. This poignant story has themes of environmentalism, racism and activism and is a must-read for teens and parents alike.
Dust & Grim Bestselling author Chuck Wendig comes through again with this charming tale of two rival siblings who must bond together to save their family business, a mortuary for monsters. Ages 8-12.
The Hawthorne Legacy In Book 2 of the Inheritance Games series, you'll find heiress Avery Grambs sorting out the pieces that come after Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to her, a complete stranger. With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, Knives Out-like family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike. Ages 12+.
The Land of the Pines In her debut novel, author Summer Pines teaches readers about the gift of empathy and how friendship can help us through trials. Lush illustrations capture the magic found in the Piney Woods of Nilsson’s East Texas hometown and bring the cast of creatures vividly to life.
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
Mermaid Tears Susan L. Read’s debut novel helps young readers understand struggles with their mental health and provide essential resources to help them. Sarah is a hard-working student, a good friend, a kind daughter, and a creative soul. Lately however, maintaining her grades and friendships has become harder than usual, and nothing brings her much joy anymore. With the help of her family, friends, trusted teacher and mental health professionals, Sarah learns that there is a name for what she is dealing with. She develops tools, not only for coping, but for thriving. In learning about her condition and gaining the support she needs for managing it, she begins the long journey back to her life. Ages 8-12.
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar This story by Payal Doshi chronicles the journey of Rea as she goes on a quest with her friend Leela to find her missing twin brother Rohan after a fight on their 12th birthday. Rea must solve clues that lead to Rohan while experiencing many hurdles, challenges and unexpected encounters along the way. Ages 8-12.
Little Jagadish and the Great Experiment This book by Ajali Joshi chronicles the journey of a young boy named Jagadish who sets out to find solutions to unanswered questions using the scientific method. Inspired by the life and work of Indian physicist, botanist, and author Jagadish Chandra Bose, this story encourages young readers to embrace their curiosity and unleash their inner scientist.
The Girl from the Attic When a mysterious black cat leads Maddy Rose into an unknown attic, she meets Clare and his very sick sister Eva. Together Maddy and Clare jump into a money-making scheme in his uncle’s dangerous soap factory to buy a cure for Eva. But an unexpected tragedy befalls them before Maddy is pulled back into her own time to confront the premature birth of her own sister. Will the skills she learned in the past help her solve the problems of the present? Can the strange shape of the house make a difference? Age 11+.
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching Young readers have been eagerly awaiting the third and final book of the Tristan Strong trilogy by author Kwame Mbalia and the time has come! Will Tristan be able to make his way north to his home in Chicago, or will the ghosts and evil spirits of the south, known as the haints, stop him along the way? You'll need to read to find out!
National Geographic Kids World Atlas Where should your family vaycay next? Let this comprehensive atlas help! Packed with maps, facts and tons of photos, inspire the wanderlust in your fam, stat.
Skygazing Two books in one, this exploration of both the night and day sky covers everything from ancient beliefs and spiders, to creatures of the forest.
It Takes Guts What exactly is the science behind barfs and burps? And what about poop? Dr. Jennifer Gardy gives up all the juicy details on the magnificent human body.
Palm Trees at the North Pole Perfect for young environmentalists who want to learn about climate change, Marc ter Horst's book is all about inventors, scientists, activities, volcanoes and more. Alongside Wendy Panders' illustrations, adults will learn just a much as kids in this detailed work of art.
The Ultimate Art Museum Ferren Gipson is ready to take you on adventure. Travel through time and all over the world finding the most famous art of all time in this perfect coffee table book. With over 40,000 years of art, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Wild Child: Adventure Cooking with Kids Sarah Glover, the James Beard Award-nominated author of Wild: Adventure Cooking, brings us this lovely book that will definitely motivate you and your kids to get cooking outdoors. From campfire bananas to food cooked in coconut, this book will definitely up your camping food game.
Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 9th Edition If your family is planning a National Parks visit this year, you need to pick up a copy of this great reference book. It gives you road trip routes, hiking suggestions and lots more.
Birds: Explore Their Extraordinary World Stunning illustrations by Angela Harding abound in this nonfiction compendium by Miranda Krestovnikoff. Young learners will explore the vast world of birds, from the coldest regions and beyond. Perfect for a coffee table or a keepsake, this gorgeous book has something to teach everyone.
New Year’s Eve hits different when you’re a mom. We may not be able to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve to party and watch the ball drop, but we are serious about keeping our New Year’s resolutions. Here are five #newmom resolutions for the new year—and clutch advice to help you stick to those goals.
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1. The Resolution: Be Present Spending hours scrolling mindlessly through your social media is so last year. Be more present with the tiny people who need you and adore you. Put down your phone and play peekaboo, blow raspberries, talk and coo to your baby, and play games with the older kids. You will catch all sorts of firsts and milestones, as well as smiles and giggles.
How to Make It Happen: Worried the electronic force is too strong? Allow yourself phone check-in points throughout the day, but only after you've spent quality time with your little one(s). Set a timer for each scrolling sesh to keep yourself from getting sucked into the Internet too deep. Also, make use of your phone's do-not-disturb feature to silence notifications so you won't get distracted.
2. The Resolution: Get Enough Sleep Getting enough rest (is that even a thing?) is crucial for physical and mental health, especially when you're a new mom. But how? And when? Sleep when the baby sleeps, we're told. Easy to say but tough to do.
How to Make It Happen: As the primary life source for a tiny human, the idea of getting 8 hours of sleep every night probably sounds like a crazy dream. (If you slept long enough to have dreams, that is.) When babies are little, it's important to go for quality over quantity. Create a space that's conducive to rest, just as you've done for your baby: Invest in blackout curtains; keep your room a comfortable temperature (60-67 is optimal); spritz sheets with lavender linen spray; and, most importantly, make your phone off-limits at least two hours before bedtime. Use that phone-free time to wind down—brew a cup of caffeine-free tea, catch up on a favorite book, or soak in the tub.
3. The Resolution: Leave the House Alone It’s easy to turn into a mama kangaroo and keep that little one attached to you 24/7. But absence can make your mother’s heart grow fonder—and give you a chance to feel like a human again, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. One night a month (or whatever schedule works for your life), plan to slip on something pretty, head out with your partner or friends, and linger over dinner and drinks.
How to Make It Happen: Book a sitter for a standing Saturday night once a month for the rest of the year. Or take turns with your partner so you can each go out with friends. Scheduling in advance will help you stick to your resolution, especially on those nights when you feel like crawling into your pajamas and collapsing onto the couch. (Don’t worry: You can do that all the other nights of the month.)
4. The Resolution: Shower Every Day You know that amazing just-stepped-out-of-the-shower feeling of clean? The one you felt a few days ago? How amazing would life be if you could experience the renewing power of a hot shower every single day? (Answer: Pretty darn amazing.)
How to Make It Happen: Make your baby part of the act by pulling a bouncy seat or exersaucer into the bathroom or laying out a cushy baby blanket on the floor with a few toys. If baby starts to fuss, sing your baby's favorite songs to keep your little one entertained and scrub on.
5. The Resolution: Treat Yourself Right Self-care. We hear it all the time for good reason: You need to love yourself well so you can love those around you well, including your tiny human. If you're going to keep one resolution this year, make it this one.
How to Make It Happen: Expand your definition of self-care. Sure, it can mean indulging in candle-lit bubble baths and chocolate, but real self-care includes opting for carrot sticks instead of potato chips, going to sleep instead of staying up too late watching TV, or doing that 20-minute workout when you’d so much rather chill with a cup of coffee. Those are the little changes that will help you be the best mom and the best you all year long.
Subscription boxes are the ultimate gift for moms—unique, curated packages chock full of goodies that show up in your mailbox month after month. From plants for mamas looking to grow their green thumbs to specialty coffee for caffeine junkies, we’ve rounded up 20+ under-the-radar and new options. Read on to find one perfect to give to the mom on your list, or treat yourself to a subscription all your own.
Holiday Haul Box
Holiday Haul Box
Wouldn't it be great to have all your holiday decor handled for the entire year? Thanks to Holiday Haul Box, it is! When you subscribe, you'll get six to nine high quality items each for Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, with options for Passover and Hanukkah.
Sign up at holidayhaulbox.com, $79.99 per box and get $10% off if you pay upfront for the entire year
Imagine getting all kinds of goodies that range from books and poolside reads to microdermabrasion face scrub, fleece blankets, yoga mats, tea infusers and so much more! Basically, it's like getting all your favorite things without having to track them down. This crate from The Girlfriend is perfect for moms because it's all about getting things to help you take care of yourself. It's a quarterly box, all you have to do is sign up and wait for your box!
Cost: $45 per quarter
Sign up at relaxandradiate.com, $45 for one crate every three months or $160 for an annual subscription.
Scentbird
Scentbird
They say variety is the spice of life and that's true for perfume, too! Scentbird gets sample-size fragrances in your hands to try out before taking the plunge on a a huge expensive bottle. All you have to do is take a scent quiz to help determine your preferred fragrances, then rate them as you try them out.
In 2015, Adrienne McCann met with refugees and survivors of trafficking while volunteering through World Relief Triad. Recognizing how the women needed a sense of community and income, she started weekly meetings where they could craft handmade items. Anchor of Hope Box is the result of those meetings: a monthly subscription box with three handmade home goods, artwork, ceramics, jewelry and more. Every month the box comes with two items sources from organizations who work with marginalized women and one made by a women taught by McCann.
Sign up at anchorofhopebox.com, $36 monthly with three week, six week and 12 month options
If mom is a tea drinker, then Tea Runners subscription plan should be on her radar. Customizable by month, you can choose from top-quality loose leaf teas along with tasting notes and brewing instructions. From award-winning teas to herbal blends to caffeine-packed black teas, each month Mom can pick what she's into. Comes in a lovely box that is 100% recyclable as well.
Need a fresh look and don't have the time or inclination to head to the mall? Stitch Fix has got you covered. Enter a quick survey that grabs your sizes, style preferences and likes/dislikes and you'll be on your way to getting a new look. A stylist is at the ready and will send over five potential options for your new wardrobe. Take a peek at them online before your order ships and you can accept/reject them as you wish, or be surprised and wait for your items to arrive at your doorstep. It costs you just $20 to get styled by an expert and that fee is refunded if you purchase any of the items. Buy them all and save 25% on your order.
New from Stitch Fix: You can now shop the looks you love to get more of an item, or shop without a fix if you know what you want and need something quick. Fixes can be set for a certain time frame or at-will if you choose to request them when you need them.
Home decor enthusiasts will want to get their hands on My Trove Box, purpose-driven curator of high-quality, artisan-designed home products. Each item is sustainably sourced, hand crafted and supports local creators, with each box being valued at $400+. My Trove Box is not only the place to get unique home decor, but also a community of other passionate individuals.
Available at my trovebox.com, $199.95 every three months.
GlobeIn Artisan Box
GlobeIn
If the special lady in your life prefers hand-made goodies, GlobeIn is the perfect choice. Unlike other subscription boxes, GlobeIn releases 4-5 box themes every month, or gives you the option to customize your own. The company is a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation, which ensures that artisans are paid a fair price and ensure safe working conditions. Every box also comes with a booklet that connects each product to the creating artisans.
You know what happens when you crack a BIG bottle of champagne alone? You end up either regretting in the next day or wasting half a bottle (noooo!). The Sip, a black-woman owned businesses, solves this issue and brings a delightful sparkle to any mom's glass. The Sip offers high-end sparkling wines in either gift boxes (like this one, which comes complete with a "Sip shooter; the classy way to down a glass of bubbly") or a bi-monthly subscription box which allows you to taste high-end sparkling wines without breaking the bank.
Cost for subscription box is: $54.95, billed once a year at $329 ($30 savings) or Bi-monthly: $59.95, billed bi-monthly.
Does the woman in your life love interior design? Decorated, a leading home décor subscription box service, is here to help! The quarterly subscription is a curated box of coordinated decor items that comes each season, right to your door. It takes the guesswork out of decorating while giving subscribers to update their decor on a seasonal basis for a great price. Each box is valued at $200 and starts at $79.99. If you sign up for annual subscription, you get 10 percent off plus access to a members only décor shop. Not looking for a subscription, you can also give a gift box for $79.99!
For women 5' 5" and under, finding the right fit can be a challenge. Petite Ave specializes in clothing specifically for women of a shorter stature, from sizes 00 to 18. It's easy to sign up, but here's what you need to know:
Fill out the quiz. Be sure to provide as much info as you can, including likes and dislikes, and any images to styles you like.
You'll get a personal email confirming your order, then another one with a preview of what will be in your box. You can communicate directly with your stylist to ask for any swaps.
Get your box, open it up, try stuff on and decide what you want to keep. Ship the rest back (shipping is free).
Good to know: They will put a temporary hold of $150 on you card until you "check out" with any items you decide to buy.
2021 is all about self-care. Make sure mom gets the break she needs with Essence One Self Care Kit. Each month, she'll get a box full of handmade, all-natural, aromatherapy beauty products. All items are aimed at reducing stress and anxiety, and each box always contains one duplicate product so she can gift one to a friend. If that's not reason enough, all purchases of Essence One contribute toward donations to Bring Change to Mind, a national organization started by Glenn Close, providing mental health clubs in high schools around the country.
For the outdoorsy, adventure-loving mom, Nomadik brings gear, tools, accessories, snacks and more all from top brands, right to her door, including seven full-sized items (hammock, anyone?). Boxes are themed, and you can skip a month as needed. Fill out a profile and the box's goods are customized to your preferences. Our box included a pocket-sized camp stove, instant dirty chai packets (mmmm good) and a Nomadik Multi-Purpose Gaiter.
You can get a 1-month, 6-month or 12-month subscription of over $70 worth of goodies for the starting at $32.95 per month.
Need a little motivation to get to class (or maybe you just live in yoga pants)? Then the YogaClub is for you! This sweet subscription box will insure you never get tired of your workout wear. Starting at $45/month, you'll get a box that has either one, two, three pieces (the 3-piece outfit is usually leggings and two tops, like a sports bra and tank). Start by taking a style profile quiz where you an be very specific about what you're looking for, sizes and styles/colors. Then every month your box arrives. If you don't like something or want a better fit, you can do an online exchange. You also have the option to join a Facebook community of 8000 members and do a swap. They even recently launched a marketplace where non-members can buy clothing and accessories, as well!
Click here to fill out your profile and get styled!
The Apollo Jewelry Surprise Box
Apollo
Not sure what to get your best mom friend (or your own mom)? Sign her up for the Apollo Jewelry Surprise Box subscription box that offers a carefully curated collection that is different every month. It's super easy: sign up and create a simple style profile. Then, for just $25/box you'll get unique, on-trend jewelry every month (or every so often—you decide!). Each time is a surprise and there are discounts for pre-ordering 3- and 6-month subscriptions. The jewelry is up to half off of what you'd pay retail, and the best part is, the surprise!
Busy moms don't always have the time or energy to shop for themselves and that's where DAILYLOOK comes in. The Forever-21 backed premium styling experience and fashion subscription box takes a personal approach to styling by curating looks from full-time professional stylists. All you need to do is fill out the style quiz and a stylist will curate a box of 12 $60+ items based on your style. Preview your box before it gets sent, removing up to three items and then wait for your box to arrive! After that, it's a matter of just trying on and deciding what to keep. Send back what you don't need with prepaid postage, and go about your day, extra fashionable.
Use code REDTRI20 to get $20 off your first styling fee of $40 from DAILYLOOK. If you purchase any item, your fee goes directly toward the item.
Crafty mamas—or those who want to be crafty—will love the DIY kits from Grow and Make. She can try her hand at making her own hot sauce, oatmeal soap, candles and even mozzarella cheese. Don't want to commit to a subscription? Grow and Make also sells individual boxes perfecting for gifting.
Why She'll Love It: Each subscription kit includes two hands-on projects for hours of hands-on creating.
Give mom a gift that'll keep on growing. Horti's houseplant club sends hardy, easy-to-grow plants that'll bloom indoors, like succulents and air plants. Each month, she'll get a single six-inch plant or two or three smaller plants in an elegant, hand-painted pot. Choose from a pet-friendly option to keep from accidentally getting her fave kitty sick, plant hoarder for gardening experts, or the newbie version.
Why She'll Love It: Helpful directions combine with sturdy plants to turn her brown thumb green.
Available at heyhorti.com from $66 quarterly including shipping.
Bonding Bees
Bonding Bees
Set mom up for a date night every month, with no planning involved. Bonding Bees provides the themes, the gear (the current box is an Italian theme, so think supplies to make pizza, an Italian card game, facts about Italy) and even prompts so that instead of just another "Netflix and chill" night, there's an actual opportunity to have meaningful conversation with your partner.
Why she'll love it: Finding free time is hard enough. A pre-planned date night eliminates all the logistical stress.
Available atbondingbees.com, $34/month for six months, $36/month for three months, or $39 for a single month.
Nudo Adopt takes the “know where your food comes from” concept to another level. Your artisanal food-loving gal will totally dig cooking with olive oil that’s been harvested and pressed from a tree she’s adopted in the Italian countryside. The standard gift includes a welcome pack, one year’s adoption, and three beautifully packaged tins of cold pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The subscription also includes additional discounts on other Nudo items, such as aprons, infused oils, and even a kid-friendly olive oil tailored for little taste buds. Choose between one, two, or four deliveries.
Why She’ll Love It: Mom will get to choose and register her very own olive tree.
If Mom likes a good chuckle, the Smartass & Sass box delivers. Each one has a hilarious (and sometimes crass) theme—Mama Bear Box, Inappropriate AF Box, Treat Yo Self Box—and is filled with 4-8 items designed and crafted by artisans and small business owners. Jokey mugs, fun notecards and punny pencils are only the beginning.
Why She’ll Love It: A good belly laugh is the best medicine for a tough day!
Available at smartandsass.com, starting at $32.95 per month plus shipping.
If mom enjoys a good glass of wine, the unique subscription boxes from Vinely Market will be a hit. Choose from the champagne and rosé wine club with two bottles each month, or the adventures club with three boxes from wine regions around the world. Each box of artisanal wines comes with cards that explain the history of the wines and winemakers.
Why She’ll Love It: Each delivery means being able to discover quality wine at a friendly price, selected by expert sommeliers.
Available at vinelymarket.com, $59 a month for Bubbles & Rosé, $79 a month for the Adventurer's Wine Box
Boss ladies in your life will appreciate receiving a box from Sparkle Hustle Grow. Each delivery includes four to six items designed to inspire mama-preneurs: books, planners, fun office supplies, access to online courses and more. There’s no contract so mom can cancel at any time. Budget-conscious mamas can also choose the mini-mailer, with a business-building book and online courses.
Why She’ll Love It: Each member is invited to join the Sparkle Hustle Grow Facebook group. Mom can discuss the contents of each box, swap ideas, and collaborate with other female entrepreneurs.
Available at sparklehustlegrow.com, $44.95 a month for the full box with a $6 flat shipping rate.
Perk up mama's morning with a coffee subscription! Driftaway tailors each subscription to match the customer’s palate; the first shipment includes small samples of four different roasts and once you’ve offered feedback the rest of the shipments will be catered to your taste. You can choose between a weekly, bi-weekly, or once-a-month shipment and can skip, pause, or cancel at any time.
Why She’ll Love It: Driftaway works with small-batch roasters and adds one new coffee to each coffee profile each month.
Available at driftaway.coffee, 7 oz for $12.30, 11 oz for $16.30 or 16 oz for $22.50 with free shipping.
Deliver a little pampering with a subscription to Love Goodly. The highly curated selection of beauty and wellness essentials are 100 percent free of toxins and cruelty-free. A peek at a past boxes reveals a lovely youth preservation serum from One Love Organics, a plummy lip gloss, and a super-squishy, bamboo charcoal cleansing sponge designed for delicate and sensitive skin.
Each box is filled with products worth at least $80 and, with every purchase, a portion of the proceeds goes to four nonprofits: Farm Sanctuary, Cure Cervical Cancer.org, Paw Works, or Beagle Freedom Project.
Why She’ll Love It: If mom wants more of something, it’s easy to order from the online store.
Available atlovegoodly.com, $29.95 bi-monthly, shipping between $4 - $5
— Oz Spies, Gabby Cullen, Karly Wood & Amber Guetebier
In the US, the assumption from the day my child was born has felt like I’d either a) surrender years of costly education and hard work to her and my partner OR b) essentially pay a nanny to be a third parent so I can ignore our home life and burn myself out at work. Both are incredibly disempowering.
“But isn’t option A what you want, you Housewife?” No, because I’m not a Housewife.
“But isn’t option B what you want, you Career Woman?” No, because I’m not a Career Woman.
I’m a human being, with accomplishments, goals, dreams, and aspirations. I’m a child of a Head Start pre-K teacher. She and my father both worked hard to afford private elementary school, a choice they felt was best for me at the time. I got into Bard, Bennington, and most of the other fancy “alternative” colleges, but my family couldn’t afford to send me there. So instead I worked my butt off in high school to earn myself a full ride at a public liberal arts college in Florida. When I wanted to pursue grad school to learn more about technology and move out of Florida, I took out a massive student loan that crippled me financially for the next 12 years. I finally paid it off, partly by doubling my salary within five years through grit, determination, and a real need to get out of that hole on my own. (And by my own, it also included a heaping cup of white privilege and marrying a cis white male partner, which in so doing doubled my income yet again.) I do not want to throw all of that away.
I also do not want to ignore my child in favor of a job at which I am ultimately disposable, like all other “at-will” employees in this country. It is hard to describe how deeply I longed to have a child and hold her in my arms for years and years. The reality of parenthood is much harsher than the rosy image I had of it, sure, but I still cherish every moment and love her to the moon and back. Parenthood is an opportunity to me, not a burden. I’m not outsourcing one of the most joyful aspects of my life that I have planned and yearned for.
“Geez, you sound angry.” Yes, I am angry, as I should be. (Female anger is not something to be feared, by the way. Anger is an emotion like all of the others, and one that all mothers in this country are currently very much entitled to feel.)
Yet again we are dealing with a complete failure of our government to provide even a modicum of financial and emotional support for women. The underlying message? “Your life is not worth more than your output.” As Jill Filipovic wrote about much better than I could, “Free Female Labor is The Plan.”
When I heard about the “glass ceiling” in my 20s, I always imagined it was something that I would slowly rise up to and softly bump into. That has not been my experience. Instead it’s a heavy glass pane that gets slammed into your head, knocking you out, dizzying you. It’s been three years since my daugther was born and I’m still looking around in a daze and unsure of what the hell happened.
So what am I doing about all of this? Well, I started a community called Seattle Parents Club. It’s a free, open, and supportive space for parents of all genders and families of all shapes to join together online and off. We now have more than 60 wonderful members, and I hope you will join us if you live in the Seattle area.
I’m also doing my best to not go for option A or option B, but rather forge my own path away from both, towards Other, Not Pictured Here, etc… I want my daughter to see that the format of her life is not a few decades of achievements and infinite opportunities followed by a sudden narrowing of her choices, none of which fit. That’s not what any child should see when they look at the roadmap ahead of them. Watch this space, I suppose, in terms of what that “Other” really looks like. Again, I’m only human. I’m just figuring it out.
By the way, if this post seems hurried, it’s because it is. I formulated most of this in my head while taking a shower, as my husband rushed out the door to drop off our daughter at daycare. I’m writing and publishing these words in the approximately 15 minutes of free time I have between getting ready and starting work. Is that the ideal way our family’s mornings would be? No, but like I said, I’m still forging the path.
Heather Merrick lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and a tailless cat. She leads customer support teams for startups by day and manages the Seattle Parents Club by night (or, to be more accurate, very early in the mornings). She loves podcasts, gardening, photography, and toddler crafts.
With the past year’s disruption in the food supply chain, many families have looked to order their meat directly from the source. There are many different meat delivery options out there and we gathered up a few of our favorites to share with you. Order up a box and get ready to get grilling!
Beck & Bulow
Beck & Bulow
Beck & Bulow offers pasture-raised buffalo, beef, elk, wild boar, lamb, heritage pork, poultry, wild-caught seafood and more. Check out their butcher shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico or place an order for nationwide delivery. With meat boxes available at all different price points, you can try out your usual favorites along with some new options. Boxes are available for individual orders as well as on a subscription basis if desired. Don't forget to pre-order your Thanksgiving turkey!
Superior Farms
When you are looking for the highest quality lamb for your dinner table, Superior Farms is the spot. Lambs are set to pasture across vast grasslands, sustaining on the natural vegetation as they have for centuries. This employee-owned company takes pride in bringing a sustainable, delicious, nutritious change of pace to the table. Now available via Amazon Fresh, you can order up Lamb Loin Chops, perfect for end-of-summer dishes like these chops with Mango Salsa from the American Lamb Board.
Harry & David Fine Meats™
Harry & David Fine Meats™
Harry & David Fine Meats™ provides shoppers with around-the-clock access to the same fresh selection and quality that they’d find at their local butcher shop—delivered right to their doorstep. You can also find recipes, how-to guides and more to provide inspiration for creating memorable summer gatherings.
We tried out their grilling collection and it was perfect for a family with 4 Rastelli’s™ Antibiotic-Free Filets of Top Sirloin, 4 Rastelli’s™ Pork Ribeye Steaks and 8 Rastelli’s™ Antibiotic-Free Black Angus Beef Triple Blended Burgers. Available options go beyond beef with chicken, pork and seafood also available. Add on some marinades to make tonight's dinner a no-brainer. They're all available via two-day shipping and are a perfect option for a last-minute gift.
Pasturebird, a pasture-raised chicken company, is on a mission to revolutionize agriculture by applying modern technology to ancient farming methods and to make pasture-raised more accessible for everyone. Pasturebird believes in the regenerative power of pasture-raised chicken for land, animal and community. Its goal is to improve the standard for raising animals and revolutionize farming from a man-made system of depletion back to a natural ecosystem of perpetual regeneration and replenishment.
Pasturebird’s chickens live outside in a natural habitat—on grass, in the fresh air and sunshine with plenty of space to roam and forage—and are rotated to a new pasture every single day in a "floorless coop." The company offers a variety of chicken products, from whole and spatchock chickens to chicken wings, drumsticks and breasts available direct-to-consumer nationwide.
You don't have to travel to Charleston to enjoy a meal from one of the best BBQ joints in the country. Lewis Barbecue ships its award-winning smoked meats, including whole brisket, pulled pork, and sausage, all across the country. Lewis also offers a tasty lineup of their signature all-purpose sauces perfect for elevating any summer dish. Your backyard barbecues will never be the same!
KC Cattle Company is a veteran-owned company that sells hormone-free Wagyu beef raised on its own farms. It employs and mentors veterans and donates proceeds from sales to many veterans' foundations. All their cows are raised in a stress-free environment, so the beef is more tender and the cows are happy. No hormones or antibiotics and more omega-3 and omega-6 because of higher marbling and good fat.
They have two amazing gift packages for Father’s Day including:
Pa’s Pick Bundle—This pick is perfect for dad to enjoy a delicious Wagyu KC Strip Steak dinner with plenty of World Famous Gourmet Wagyu Beef Hot Dogs and Wagyu Beef and Bacon Cheeseburger Bratwurst to share with everyone there to celebrate him!
The Backyard Dad Bundle—If the father in your life enjoys spending his free time in the backyard tending to the grill while telling copious amounts of "dad jokes" then this bundle will certainly please! Just remind him, it's no joking matter when preparing Wagyu Ribeye Steaks. Or maybe you let him tell those "cheesy" jokes, that way he just might share!
We know you'll love the father-daughter duo behind Flannery Beef just as much as we do. San Francisco native Bryan Flannery, Jr., learned the meat business from his father, Bryan Sr., who founded beloved Bryans Quality Meats in San Francisco in 1963. And now Bryan Jr. and his daughter, Katie, are the proud team behind Flannery Beef specializing in high quality, USDA Prime Holstein Beef. The duo has worked tirelessly to source, cut and dry age the finest quality beef products available anywhere—and the effort has paid off.
Previously available only to chefs, Flannery Beef pivoted during COVID to get their beef, pork and lamb into the hands of consumers. Their gift boxes are the perfect thank you gift for a neighbor and we love the burger blends to keep on hand during the grilling months. Remember them for holidays as their rack of lamb is a stunner.
Porter Road began in 2010 as a way to get quality beef to consumers without the middleman. They've been shipping their hand-cut meat since 2017 and you can order beef, pork, lamb and chicken to be delivered to your door.
We especially love the BYOBun Kit as it is the perfect option for weekend grilling, or to take with you on your next camping trip. You provide the buns, Porter Road provides the pasture-raised bratwurst and hot dogs, and Cleveland Kitchen provides the Classic Caraway Kraut and Roasted Garlic Kraut. It's pretty much a match made in grilling heaven.
ButcherBox is a mainstay in the meat subscription box market and it's for a good reason. They source wild-caught seafood, pasture-raised pork, grass-fed beef and more, and deliver it right to you. Their plans are super flexible with the custom box being a family favorite. Order what you what, when you want it and change up your order with every delivery if you'd like.
Right now they're offering a free BBQ bundle with your order: two strip steaks, six burgers, and 5 lbs. of drumsticks for FREE in your first box. Exp. 5/31
For a meatless BBQ option, check this out. DoorDash has partnered with Beyond Meat®, a leader in plant-based meat, to offer limited-edition, July 4th grilling kits to help customers host the ultimate BBQ featuring this summer’s hottest grilling essential: the sizzling new Beyond Burger®. The kits are available exclusively on DoorDash for on-demand delivery from DashMart, a new type of convenience store owned, operated, and curated by DoorDash. In addition to the Beyond Burger®, the grilling kits offer a custom grilling mit, apron, grilling tools, a bottle opener and a recipe card with custom dishes.
To order the kits, open up your DoorDash app and visit the DashMart store page.
Snake River Farms
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If Waygu beef is your jam, you need to get hooked up with some deliveries from Snake River Farms. They first bred Wagyu with high quality cattle in the late 1980s and loved its deep flavor and sublime marbling. You'll feel good knowing that they control their entire supply chain, from the ranches where the cattle are raised to the humane processing facility to their in-house customer care team.
Stock your freezer with a slew of steaks and burgers to be ready for all that summer grilling. The monthly subscription box is a great way to try out different products.
If you’re new to the world of finding someone to watch your baby, read and bookmark these interview questions to ask a babysitter. From their experience and certifications to availability and flexibility, these nanny or babysitter interview questions will give you a better picture of whether this is the right babysitter for you. You’ll also find helpful tips on how to conduct a babysitter interview.
Personal Questions
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These interview questions will help you learn more about the babysitter's personality and whether they meet your basic requirements.
1. How would you describe yourself?
2. What do you like to do in your free time?
3. Did you grow up around younger kids (siblings, cousins, neighbors)?
4. What is your availability? Do you have time constraints that would prevent you from staying later if necessary?
5. Do you have reliable transportation? What kind?
These interview questions will give you an understanding of how well prepared this babysitter is to care for your child.
17. The baby starts choking; what do you do?
18. You are getting ready to give the baby a bath when you smell smoke; what is the first thing you do?
19. You and the baby have been playing when you notice that she starts rubbing her eyes and crying. What do you think that means, and how do you respond?
20. The baby just had a blowout in his diaper. Explain how you handle it.
Interview Tips
1. Call the references your babysitter gives you.
Ask them questions like:
How well do you know the sitter?
Has he/she worked for you specifically as a babysitter? If not, what was his/her role?
Is he/she punctual?
Is he/she dependable?
How did he/she handle a difficult situation while caring for your child?
Would you hire him/her again?
What three words would you use to describe him/her?
2. Check out the person on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites are great ways to find out if the persona your babysitter is portraying to you is the one they portray to everyone else. Google is also a handy tool to find out the inside scoop on your prospective babysitter.
3. Discuss your expectations. Do you expect your babysitter to perform household tasks (folding laundry, doing dishes and taking care of light housework) while working for you? Do you have a strict eat & sleep schedule you want the sitter to follow? If so, communicate that during your interview. Having crystal-clear expectations will help you both as you gauge whether this is a match.
4. Request a trial run while you're home. Schedule a time for the babysitter to watch your baby while you're home. You can evaluate how the babysitter interacts with your baby, if they use common sense, how their diaper-changing and feeding skills are and their general demeanor and confidence with babies. It will also help you determine if your baby responds well to the sitter.
Howdy neighbor! Good ones are hard to beat and Neighbor.com wanted to find the cities with the best of the best. After weighing charitable giving, volunteering, happiness and more, one clear winner rose to the top.
Madison, Wisconsin claimed the number one spot, probably because it’s also ranked the #1 Happiest City in America! It also leads the nation in nonprofits per 100,000 residents. Neighbor.com reports that Madisonians spend plenty of free time volunteering and performing kind acts for neighbors.
Here’s the full list of the Top 25 Most Neighborly Cities:
Madison, Wisconsin
Rochester, New York
Portland, Oregon
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Des Moines, Iowa
Washington, D.C.
Boston, Massachusetts
Seattle, Washington
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Raleigh, North Carolina
San Jose, California
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Salt Lake City, Utah
Spokane, Washington
Oxnard, California
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Indianapolis, Indiana
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Durham, North Carolina
Provo, Utah
Baltimore, Maryland
San Francisco, California
To compile the list, Neighbor.com considered factors like charitable giving and volunteering, as well as happiness, low crime rates and where non-profits thrive. They also surveyed 1,000 people around the country and asked what it meant to be a good neighbor. 29 percent said they hang out with their neighbors weekly and most people (65.8%) have at least 2 neighbors they can rely on to help out when they’re out of town.
If you’re curious how this year’s rankings compared to 2020, you can read the full report online. Cheers to good neighbors everywhere!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Edward Cisneros, Unsplash
Are today’s kids harder to parent? A new study found that most Americans think so, thanks to the prevalence of technology in our everyday lives. But what to do about it?
In a survey of 2,000 American parents, 80% agreed parenting is more challenging than it was 30 years ago due to technology and 86% said kids grow up faster thanks to tech. They also reported that their kids spend an average of 43% of their free time connected online. COVID-19 has boosted that trend, with four in five parents saying they’ve allowed their kids more screen time during the pandemic.
What’s the most worrying online issue? Parents said that negative interactions on social media (55%) were most concerning, followed by inappropriate content (54%). Cyberbullying (38%) and violent video games (23%) were also listed as reoccurring concerns.
Most parents surveyed said that it was their responsibility to monitor their kid’s online activity. They achieve this by employing a family media plan (43%), implementing daily screen limits (43%) using parental control software (42%) and reinforcing “screen free zones” around the house (36%). The study was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Smith Micro Software.
Need some more tips on how to keep your kids safe in the digital age? We’ve got them! And remember, quality screen time makes a world of difference, especially since tech isn’t going anywhere. After all, it also has plenty of benefits!
How is it possible to feel anger towards someone you (probably) love more than anything in the world?
When my kids make me angry, that feeling weighs on me more than any of the acts they did to actually get me to that point. So, how do you navigate this feeling when you are already so aware of your own emotions?
Understanding My Anger
I wish there was a moment in my life that would be the “cause” for me ever getting angry at my kids. But the truth is… there isn’t.
I get angry with my kids because I have a heart that beats and a brain that (luckily) functions. I have a body that gets exhausted from sleepless nights and endless chores. I get bored from the lack of adult interaction. There is a point when I just can’t bear changing another doll’s outfit. Or a baby diaper. Or making 7 meals a day.
And so, getting angry with my kids encompasses a daily ritual that sometimes is just Too. Freaking. Boring.
And let’s not confuse boring with “doing nothing.” You can do one thousand things per minute in your day and still feel drained. It doesn’t mean that it’s always boring. Not even that you’d like to be living differently. It simply means that right there, at the moment, you lack something.
What are you lacking in your own life that makes you angry at your kids from time to time?
For me, what I’m usually lacking is a combination of free time plus feeling guilty. Mom-guilt is my number #1 “issue” in my motherhood journey.
I have always been a “free-spirited” person. I would go out to eat at 11 p.m. at night if I wanted to, sometimes I would wake up early on a Saturday morning, pack a bag and start driving until I end up somewhere cool.
My husband and I had dates weekly, I was always surrounded by friends, life was loud and agitated.
The main thing I missed (and miss) is freedom. The freedom to just get up and leave. To grocery shop in peace. Heck, to use the bathroom in peace!
Once you become a mom, those things are gone for a while. And I’m still in the “while”.
And so, I’ve been slowly finding out what works for me.
1. I feel my anger. Give me a good 5 minutes to just be angry (away from the kids) and not try to simply “snap out of it”.
2. I validate my emotions. Taking a few seconds to really think “I am angry because this sucks” or “I am angry because I have just mopped and they threw crackers all over the floor again” and “I am angry because they didn’t sleep all night and now still refuse to nap” or “I am angry because I miss going out alone.” Those are very real reasons that a human being would get angry about.
3. I try not to trap myself into the “guilt” spiral. Things like, “There are moms with kids in the hospital and here I am angry at them for coloring on the walls” are not valid. True, it’s always good to acknowledge your blessings of having healthy, happy kids and a family to care for. But saying things like that invalidate your feelings and, therefore, you don’t work through them. You have a right to feel your emotions.
4. Do not act in anger. I don’t mean to sound cheesy, but this needs to be said. And that’s for everything, especially when it’s about your kids. I am sure you know this, but kids aren’t born malicious or manipulative. They are learning how to navigate through their own little feelings and it’s as hard for them as it is for you, if not more. It’s true, they do not understand WHY they can’t ask the same questions 300 times within a minute even after you’ve told them the answer.
So, for me, I take a beat. If I feel angry, I will step away and let myself feel angry. Cry if I have to. Scream if I need to. I will then come to them and explain, looking in their eyes, why I am angry. And crazy enough, they understand!
Just a few days ago, my almost 3-years-old girl and I had a bad day together. A combination of a bad night, no nap, and pouring rain lead to a difficult day to manage for us.
When my husband got home from work, he saw that we were just not in sync, so, he took her into her room, sat with her, and told her she could cry, scream, whatever she wanted. She was in there with him for a good 15 minutes just crying. And then…silence.
They both came out and she ran to me, and said: “I’m really sorry mommy, I’m ready to sleep now”.
While they were in the room and she was having a meltdown, I was out in the living room having a meltdown of my own. I cried and cried and just felt that anger. So by the time she was hugging me, I was squeezing her back saying “I’m sorry too, mommy is just super tired”.
You see…the both of us didn’t have a good day. It’s easy for me to forget that the tiny human yelling at me isn’t doing that to just make me angry and, while I’m having such a hard time myself, my almost 3-year-old little girl was getting pretty irritated with me too.
But in order for me to comprehend that, I had to first acknowledge, validate and allow my feelings to pour…so that I could let them go.
I'm a stay-at-home mom to two toddlers, ages 3 and 1. Also a wife, a homemaker, business owner, and the heart behind the motherhood blog "Love, mamãe". My goal? To help mothers survive the toddler years with joy, grace, and sanity!
