ML Interest Tag: kid

A Parent’s Guide to Doing Napa’s BottleRock with Kids

By khristian olstad

For months now we have been subjected to Alexa ringing through our halls, Trolls soundtrack on repeat. With endless dance parties and pillow forts galore, the winter energy starts bursting out the front door. Aha, alas spring is here and the kids are bouncing off the walls, eager to get a moment outside. In California, our weather can quickly shift from spring to summer. With warm days on the horizon and a bucket list just begging for some attention and ideas, we figured we’d kick it off with the ultimate bucket list item, BottleRock!

As seasoned music veterans ourselves, it was only a matter of time before we introduced our love for the music scene to our son Hawkins. Hawk is a spunky three year old, with a deep love for music, dance and socializing. We chose BottleRock as his first music festival due to its epic chill factor and the low-key crowd. We have been to BottleRock in prior years and so we knew what to expect if we took Hawkins. The very first time we stepped foot onto BottleRocks venue, my husband and I both looked at each and stated, “We need to bring Hawk here!”

BottleRock, is a family friendly music festival that takes place in Napa, California in the later month of May. It is a three day festival filled with an array of trendy alternative to classic musical acts. The food at BottleRock is phenomenal! My husband and I have been to many different festivals and Bottlerock has won our foodie hearts. If you love great wine and beer, look no further. You will find it around every corner, and will get the utmost wine and beer selection. There is also a family center for kids with face painting and activities, plus lots of room to dance and run around throughout the venue. Give a kid music, ice cream and the freedom to grove is really giving them a little piece of heaven. This is a wonderful venue filled with endless things to see and indulge in, all while creating some incredible family memories that will last a lifetime.

Parents Guide for BottleRock with Kids:

What to Bring:

  • backpack

  • piggyback rider

  • non aresol sunscreen

  • chapstick

  • reusable water bottle

  • wipes

  • a blanket (you can also purchase one there, they are scotch guarded!)

  • a sweatshirt or jacket for the evening

  • toilet seat and kids potty supplies

  • wristband with ID (we used a road ID bracelet that had his name + our contact info)

  • ear muffs

  • sunglasses

  • extra change of clothes

Kids are free. Kids 6 and under receive free entry with a ticketed adult. A ticketed adult can bring 2 kids, that are 6 and under for free!

Getting To the Venue:
There are many different ways to get to Bottlerock, but the bus is by far the best system you can come by with kids! Plus, it is FREE! If you’d like a parking pass is is $35.00 and you will have to still walk over to the festival. You can Uber, but if your little one needs a carseat Uber will not take you and Uber will drop you off where you still have to walk in a bit. With the Vine bus system, you are dropped off right in the back of the music festival and enter there. When you are ready to leave, exit the same way and hop back on the bus. We parked in front of the Marriott Hotel & Spa, where there is a park and ride area.

Getting Around the Festival:
First off, download their App! It is great for seeing who’s playing on what stage at what time, it showcases all the food, booze, bathrooms, exits etc. Navigating through the crowds at BottleRock is a piece of cake, with the help of the Piggyback Rider! Seriously, if your kiddo is 2 or older this is a MUST! Not only for music festivals but Costco shopping, hiking, traveling, Disneyland etc. Our son loved being up high to see everything, including the Stage.

Music:
There are 4 different stages that play music from 12pm to 10pm. There is also the William Sonoma Stage with a culinary experience and a Silent Disco.

Little Rockers and Family Zone:

Open all 3 days from 11:30am-6:00pm. Kids have their own area to hang! Face painting, fun hair st‌yles, temporary tattoos, fun activities and art!

Food and Drink:
Unfortunately, BottleRock does not allow outside food or drink in. However, I do suggest bringing a canteen or reusable water bottle. They have several refill stations on the grounds! You will spend money on food, it is worth it. There is a food truck area, a whole culinary garden, along with a variety of different food vendors lined throughout the festival. There is also a Wine Garden, a Bourbon and Beer area, the Miner Family Winery, Coors Light Silver Bullet Bar, Lagunitas Tap Room and Pacifico Porch.

SPA:
Hey moms and dads, give yourself a sweet little break at the spa! BottleRock features a spa area with foot and body massage, mini facials, enzyme foot baths, flower hair braiding, glitter makeup, custom festival jewelry and hydration stations. Stop at the bubble bar for a glass of champagne!

Bathroom and Changing Stations:
If you use the Vine bus system, you will enter through the back gates. The restrooms over by this entrance are the cleanest and least used bathrooms at the venue.(hint, hint) We did bring a portable potty seat to the festival. Le Petit Elephant hosted a nursing, pumping and baby changing station located in the Kids Zone! Awesomeness!

Expectations:
As parents, you come to recognize that your expectations can be let down and things don’t always go according to plan. When it comes to music festivals and kids, everyones experience is going to be different. I have learned to let go of expectations and just embrace the adventures. Example, you haven’t partied hard enough unless someone poops their pants.

BottleRock 411:
Doors open at 11:30am. Lockers, General store, ADA accessibility. Learn more at BottleRockNapaValley.com

Music festivals aren’t for every kid, there are crowds just like amusement parks, the beach etc. If these places overwhelm your child or does loud music, I would suggest introducing them when you/they feel ready.

 

This post originally appeared on Millennialmamacita.com.
Featured photo: Waterfront Alliance

Hello, I'm Khristian! I am married to my high school sweetheart, Kris. We have a darling son together named Hawkins. I own and operate a daycare and preschool. I also run a parenting blog geared toward empowering the wellness of mothers. I am an avid DIY-er. I value self-care, children, memories and experience.

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10 Jennifer Garner Quotes That Make Us Want to Join Her Mom Squad

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Actress and mom Jennifer Garner is appearing on the cover of PEOPLE Magazine for the Beautiful Issue. In an interview inside she shares what it’s like balancing her day job as an actress and her biggest career role as a mom.

Here are a few of the best Jennifer Garner quotes on motherhood from the past few years starting with one from her recent interview.

On How Her Kids See Her

After a photo shoot Garner explains, “I’ll feel like the best possible version of myself. They’ll look at me and say, ‘Can you wash your face? Can you put your hair in a ponytail and put your glasses and sweats on? And I see the compliment in that. They just want me to look like Mom.”

On Emotional Intelligence (for Kids and Moms)

“Our kids need to be allowed to have a bad day. And you need to show them that it’s OK to have the whole range of emotions. You should have it all: rage and anger and sadness, so there is a lot of room for joy and happiness as well.”

On Parenting In the Digital Age

“My kids don’t have any social media yet. And I am terrified. I think it puts so much pressure on kids at an age when they’re really vulnerable anyway. You know, if anyone has any clues, let me know.”

On Her Mom Friends

“I have a couple of celebrity mom friends that I go to for certain things that only they can — only we can talk about! But mostly I talk to my friends, my mom friends from Violet’s school. And we just gab away like anyone. But pretty much I hang up from one mom friend and call another.”

On The Importance of Her Best Role

At her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony she said, “For my children, when you walk over this star I want you to remember first of all that I love you. And that this is about hard work and good luck and not a whole lot else. You define me, not this wonderful spot on the pavement.”

 

On Dealing With Tantrums

“You treat them like real kids. They have boundaries and they have rules and they throw fits. My littlest one saw something he wanted. I had just said, ‘We’re not buying anything,’ and he threw a fit. The people at the store said to me, ‘Please let us just give this to you’ because he was so unhappy. And I said, ‘I’m sorry that he’s throwing a fit in your store and you’re so sweet to want to give this to him. And thank you for asking me first. But he’s going to have to throw a fit.’ I said no. No is no. I said to my girls, ’What do I mean when I say no?’ And they were like, ‘She really means no!’ So you just have to do it. It’s not pretty. I don’t think that I’m always the best at it, but I try my best to be consistent and for them to know what they can expect from me.”

On Co-Parenting

“It’s not Ben’s job to make me happy. The main thing is these kids ― and we’re completely in line with what we hope for them. Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughter’s wedding. But you should see their faces when he walks through the door. And if you see your kids love someone so purely and wholly, then you’re going to be friends with that person.”

On Raising Kids With Values

“I think teaching your kids anything is a lifelong job and certainly values are something ― you can’t just say, ‘Here, have values!’ You have to show them that you have values. The most important thing is just modeling at this age. When they’re older, they’ll hopefully travel with us and go to places and be boots on the ground, but for right now, it’s just really important to both of us that they see and appreciate the work we do.”

On the, Ahem, “Challenging” Parts of Motherhood

“Imagine squeezing something out the size of a watermelon. How much pain is that? There’ll be a lot of swelling.”

On the Little Things

“There are lots of little traditions the kids and I have together. Right now our blueberry bushes are going nuts, so we sneak down and pick blueberries together on the weekends. But my most valuable time with the kids is bedtime— I have different books going with each of my kids and they each get their own time [with me], even if it has to be condensed!”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Karon Liu via Flickr

 

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Permanent Daylight Savings & Later School Start Might Not Be As Good as they Sound

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Parents look forward to the bi-annual shifting of clocks about as much as they enjoy waking their sleepy kids for school in the morning. Lawmakers have proposed permanent Daylight Savings and later school start times as an effort to help kids get more sleep, but some experts believe the two do not go hand-in-hand.

Across the country lawmakers are considering moves to change the way we sleep by pushing for permanent Daylight Savings and delaying start times for school. The argument, for California State Assembly member Kansen Chu, is that the two changes work together to help provide more sleep for kids without losing hours in the day.

photo: Wokandapix via Pixabay

Experts, including the US Centers for Disease Control agree that school begins too early in the day and that pushing the start time could help teens get more, much-needed sleep. Adding permanent Daylight Savings ensures that there are still plenty of daylight hours left for after school activities even if school starts later, proponents argue.

Unfortunately Daylight Savings is linked to less sleep, not more, effectively cancelling out any additional sleep kids might gain from a later school start. According to new research published in the Journal of Health Economics, people who live in areas where the sun sets later go to bed later shortening the amount of time they spend sleeping an average of 19 minutes. The researchers also found these same subjects to be more sleep-deprived and in worse health overall.

So if this combo is not the answer to getting kids more rest, then what is? According to a recent study only five percent of teens follow the recommendations given for sleep, exercise and screen time. Following these guidelines properly could help everyone get the proper amount of rest without any new laws and changes.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Mothering Advice That You Actually Want to Hear

by Karly Wood

Beyond “sleep when the baby sleeps” there is no shortage of advice on how to handle motherhood. Whether you’re diving into mommyhood for the first time or wrangling teenagers like a boss, we can all use a little advice now and then. We asked our devoted readers, fellow moms and our very own editors to share the best advice they’ve received on motherhood and they weighed in. Keep scrolling to catch your daily dose!

Enjoy the Moment

Xavier Mouton Photographie via Unsplash

"The days are long but the years are short."–Heather R.

"Enjoy every moment, even the hard ones." –Johanna G.

"Never turn down an opportunity to cuddle." –Elizabeth W.

"Don’t worry that they are growing and you might be sad they are getting big. Enjoy them at each stage..." –Sheila Z.

"You are enough ❤️❤️." –Sharlene H.

Raising Kids

Jennifer Murray via Pexels

"Be the woman you want your daughter to be when she’s an adult." –Mary S.

"Prep your children for the road, don't prepare the road for your children." –Holly E.

"Babies cry. It is ok" –Cicely Kunsman

On having a third baby: "Don’t over think it honey, just throw another potato in the pot and carry on!”–Kendra S.

"The 'smell the soup, cool the soup' method- when emotions are high from mom and/or kids, just remember to breathe. Tell them and yourself to smell the soup (breathe in) and cool the soup (breathe out). It’s such a random thing that has saved the day so many times." –Ayren J.

"The more you do for your kids, the less they will do for themselves." –Sue E.

Because Motherhood Is Funny

Vinnicus Costa via Pexels

"It's fine to have cereal for dinner sometimes." –Megan S.

"Don’t spend money on a purse you’re not willing to catch throw up in." –Tara Z.

"No one judges you in Target if you’re in your pajamas mamma. You rock it girl!" –LeAnne N.

"Never share your drink." –Molly O.

"Always park by the cart return." –Tami R. 

"Don't worry about that terrible phase your kid is going through - it will eventually end and be replaced with an even worse one." –Kelly H.

"Don’t ever load another woman’s dishwasher." –Stephanie J.

"Beware what you sniff check." –EJ H.

One Day at a Time

Ketan Rajput via Unsplash

"When you come home from a hard day, and touch the doorknob of your door, smile and know that the face your kids see is one that shows that’s you’re happy to see them." –Edie G.

"Don't sweat the small stuff. And believe me, the older they get, you'll wish you knew how small that stuff really was when they were younger." –Beth S.

"Do what you need to do to get through the day." & "Get in the photos!" –Eva I.

"If the kids are alive at the end of the day, it was a good day." –Sonnet G.

"If you have the sense of mind to worry if you are a good mom, you are probably doing just fine." –Whitney R.

Take Care of Yourself

Alvaro Reyes via Unsplash

"Do your best and forgive yourself for the rest." –Courteney S.

"Take care of yourself; you can’t fill any cups from an empty pitcher." –Diane M.

"The dishes can wait." –Amber G.

"Your kids want a happy mom, not a perfect mom." –Tamara S.

"Don't be afraid to put yourself first now and again." –Annette B.

It Takes a Village

Katy Belcher via Unsplash

"Find good mom friends. It’s the most important thing." –Andrew H.

"Say yes to ALL the offers of help even if/when you don't think you need it...If someone offers it, take it." –Andi H.

"Ask for help even if you don't think you need it." –Tiphany B.

"LISTEN to all advice because it may not pertain to your current situation, but it sure might down the road." –Sue L.

––Karly Wood

 

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Get in the Game! 10 Sports Bars That Welcome Kids

by Natalie Compagno

Baseball is back! After the snowiest February ever, spring is more than just a welcome season–it’s the bridge between “hope” and “eternal” when it comes to our beloved Mariners. And with the Sounders march to the MLS Cup underway, you know what you need to do: grab the kids and head to one of these kid-friendly sports bars to catch all the action. Scroll down to learn more!

Ballard Loft

Ballard Loft

Down at the southern end of Ballard Avenue lies this rocking sports joint which has a kid's menu, table activities and all the games, drinks and bar food our winter-escaping heart's desire. Oh, and happy hour is seven days a week. Minors welcome until 9 p.m., which is bedtime anyway. Batter up!

5105 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-420-2737
Online: ballardloft.com

Chuck's Hop Shop

Joshua Huston

Kids and baseball go together like beer and baseball, so--transitive property!--kids and beer go together. Nowhere is this truer than at Chuck's Hop Shop which has close to 1000 beers to choose from and nearly that many kids and dogs in a giant cornucopia of fun. There are two locations: the Central District and Greenwood, so take your pick. Maybe both? That's called a Chuck's doubleheader.

2001 E. Union St. (Central District)
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-538-0743
Online: chuckscd.wordpress.com

656 N.W. 85th St. (Greenwood)
Seattle, Wa 98117
206-297-6212
Online:chucks85th.wordpress.com

Giddy Up Burgers

Katherine Compagno

Less than five years old, Giddy Up is already an institution in its Frelard neighborhood. To call it a sports bar, or a burger joint, or a kid-friendly restaurant somehow misses the point. It's more like a gigantic romper room filled with kids, suds, sports and burgers. And saddles, leather saddles everywhere. Yee-haw!

4600 Leary Way N.W.
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-782-2798
Online: giddyupburgers.com

Lowercase Brewing

Mee M. via Yelp

All the cool kids are going to Georgetown, but what about the under-aged minors? Be the hippest mom, dad, aunt or uncle and take 'em to Lowercase Brewing. They've got the games, award-winning beers and ciders and the kids are welcome to run around and play all day.

6235 Airport Way S.
Seattle, Wa 98108
206-258-4987
Online: lowercasebrewing.com

Madrona Arms

Madrona Arms

This place looks like a small town village football pub in England, and even though football here could mean Sounders or Seahawks, that's the essence of Madrona Arms. The whole family is welcome, with a kid's menu and smashing pub grub. Keep one eye on the Mariners, and the other on the Sounders, they've got plenty of screens.

1138 34th Ave.
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-739-5104
Online: madronaarms.com

The Park Public House

The Park Public House via Yelp

Great bar food, a rockin' kid's menu, 12s, Huskies and Cougs everywhere. This friendly Phinney Ridge neighborhood tavern is where everyone might not know your name, but they will—just as soon as you become a regular.

6114 Phinney Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-789-8187
Online: facebook.com/The.Park.Pub

The Ram

RAMSeattle

The Huskies are gone from March Madness--boo!--but that doesn't mean the whole family shouldn't wear purple and gold to The Ram, a rite of passage for students and parents visiting U-Dub. Be sure to check ahead for daily specials, but little kids can eat for as little as $1 with an adult meal purchase. Combine that with screens everywhere and...go Dawgs!

2650 N.E. University Village St. (University Village)
Seattle, Wa 98105
206-525-3565

401 N.E. Northgate Way, #1102 (Northgate Mall)
Seattle, Wa 98125
206-364-8000

31920 Gateway Center Blvd. S.
Federal Way, Wa 98003
206-878-6694

3001 Ruston Way
Tacoma, Wa 98402
253-756-7886

9020 Market Pl. N.E.
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
425-263-9117

10520 Quil Ceda Blvd.
Tulalip, WA 98271
360-653-7721

Online: theram.com

Reuben's Brews

Parentmap

Even in a city filled with breweries, walking into Reuben's always feel like an event. It's the go-to taproom for Sounders games, and they open early to make sure fans catch every minute of the action. With a rotating roster of food trucks, and discounts on dine-in deliveries, neither parents nor little ones need ever go hungry. Invite all the parents, order a Crikey and make your own party—you won't be the only ones.

5010 14th Ave. N.W.
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-784-2859
Online: reubensbrews.com

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill

Alex C. via Yelp

Some of the venues on this list are brewhouses with TV screens, or kid-friendly restaurants that also go sports crazy. Rookies is a sports bar, period, end of sentence. And they love kids! Put a Ken Griffey Jr. jersey on your wee one, pick out a vintage Edgar Martinez for yourself and head to Columbia City. With 14 flat screen TVs and happy hour Monday through Friday, you can't go wrong here. 

3820 S. Ferdinand St., #101
Seattle, Wa 91881
206-722-0301
Online: rookiesseattle.com

The Westy Roosevelt

The Westy

Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, such is the nature of being a sports fan. Win or lose, shouldn't we be at The Westy Roosevelt, which has numerous beers on tap, craft cocktails and over 120 whiskies? Whether celebrating or commiserating, this is the place to be. All ages are welcome until 10 p.m., so stay for the extra innings.

1215 N.E. 65th St.
Seattle, Wa 98115
206-402-5518
Online: thewestyseattle.com

—Natalie Compagno

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Study Says Kids Benefit When Their Moms Have Close Friends

by Shahrzad Warkentin

It’s easy to see why a strong support system of friends is important as a mom, especially when you have babies and young kids. However, new research shows the benefits of mom friends extend to your kids as well.

A new study conducted by Cornell University found that kids of moms who had strong social circles (aka an awesome mom tribe), scored higher on cognitive development tests, which measure language along with motor, socio-emotional and adaptive behaviors.

photo: Priscilla du Preez via Unsplash

The researchers believe the stronger scores could correlate with the fact that moms who have more close friends socialize more, which exposes their kids to more language and socialization early on. In other words the more time you spend chatting with your mom friends at the park, the more your kids pick up on.

Having a stronger social network could also mean that a mom feels more supported and less stressed and anxious, which could lead to improved parenting skills. Regardless of the reason, having great mom friends clearly has many benefits.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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“Peppa Pig”: Everything You Need to Know About the Show’s Newest Character

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Peppa Pig is such an influential show, it has even given American kids British accents. And now the show that highlights inclusivity with a cast full of foxes, elephants, pigs and more has just added a new character. Meet the new Peppa Pig character Mandy Mouse.

Mandy Mouse is the show’s first character that uses a wheelchair. Mandy made her debut on the official Peppa Pig Twitter feed. The tweet’s caption read, “Squeak! Giving the playgroup a brief glimpse of the newest member of their beloved show.”

The video in the post features Madam Gazelle introducing Mandy to the play class. Mandy arrives with her mom and the class welcomes her with a unanimous “Hello.” Twitter users were quick to comment, explaining how much the addition means to kids growing up with disabilities.

Jo Chopra McGowan, Co-founder, Latika Roy Foundation, an organization that supports families and kids with disabilities explained that the welcome that didn’t require much fanfare was the best possible way to introduce a character like Mandy. “They are already there and they don’t have to be introduced”, McGowan said. The fact that there wasn’t much drama about it reflects how kids with disabilities should be treated McGowan explained.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Peppa Pig via YouTube

 

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Eva Mendes Says She & Ryan Gosling Are Officially Out of “Parenting Survival Mode”

by Shahrzad Warkentin

There are many ages and stages when it comes to parenting and no matter how old your kids get, there will always be something to worry about and deal with. Yet all parents can attest to the significant shift in stress levels as your babies transition to bigger kids and you finally get some breathing room. Eva Mendes and husband Ryan Gosling have finally reached that place and we can all relate to that happy feeling.

In a recent cover story for the May issue of Women’s Health, Mendes revealed a lot about her experience as a mom and parenting the two daughters she shares with Gosling. Their girls  Amada Lee, three, and Esmeralda Amada, four, have finally reached the age when things start to move into that parenting territory that gives parents a chance to catch their breath.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwU52NfhFDD/

“We’re just starting to get out of survival mode,” Mendes said. “I’m starting to feel like a person again.”

Mendes admitted that before she met her husband, kids weren’t necessarily in the cards for her. “Ryan Gosling happened. I mean, falling in love with him,” she says. “Then it made sense for me to have … not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him.”

Now that she’s a mom of two, however, she has embraced motherhood completely. Once she had kids she discovered that her drive towards her career had diminished and it took a backseat to raising her kids.

“Every day is such a learning experience — they challenge you in so many ways. Like, I’m their mom. I have to rise up, and hopefully, most of the time I do, but sometimes it’s definitely maddening.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Wikimedia Commons

 

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Best New Kids Books for February 2019

by Amber Guetebier

February is the month of love and there’s one thing we love here at Red Tricycle it’s books! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite new children’s book releases for the month of February to delight every young reader in your house. Read on to learn more!

Where's the Llama?

Andrews McMeel

Where's the Llama: An Around-the-World Adventure Book is a wonderfully illustrated, seek-and-find activity book that is not only fun, it helps build a child’s visual and cultural vocabulary. Follow the llamas as they travel around the world to a Dia de los Muertos parade in Mexico, the world-famous tulip festival in the Netherlands, explore jungles in Cambodia and so much more. Available Feb. 2, 2019. By Paul Moran & Gergely Forizs.

Ages: All ages. $9.99.

Order it here.

Friends Make Me Feel Razzamatazz

Simon & Schuster

This colorful book from Crayola uses your favorite crayon colors to describe feelings. Author Tina Gallo uses words to engage kids and Clair Rossiter's illustrations bring those Crayola crayons to life. It's a fun and inventive book that's perfect for reading with your kids to inspire them to talk about their own feelings: what makes you feel tickle-me-pink or jungle green? Grown-ups will have fun answering those questions too. Available Feb. 19.

Ages: 2-5

Find it here. $12.99

Colors (Zoe and Zack)

We love this book for its innovative way of introducing colors to tots. Author Jacques Duquennoy uses die-cut pages and printed acetate to engage young readers as friends Zoe and Zack paint different colors and shapes. Find out what they're creating by turning each acetate page. 

Ages: 3-5

Available at amazon.com

Perfect

Scholastic

This hilarious but also touching story by Max Amato about a Type-A Eraser and his goofy nemesis, Pencil, will garner plenty of giggles (Eraser gets tossed away in a tornado, gets smudgy, etc.) but it'll also spotlight why imperfection is actually the best way to find the truly amazing in the world. Kids will also see a pair of opposites learn to work together in order to create something even better than what was there before.

Ages: 3-5 

$12.14. Order it here.

Cancer Party

Sara Olsher

When author-illustrator Sara Olsher was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 34, she struggled to find a way to tell her then 6-year-old daughter about it in a way that was true but not scary. Since she couldn't find the resource she need, Olsher wrote and illustrated Cancer Party—for her daughter and for all the parents out there struggling to explain cancer in a scientifically accurate but not-too-terrifying way. The illustrations are bright and colorful  and the entire book strikes the right balance between the facts and the feelings. Buy this book right now for anyone who you know who is struggling with cancer, or as a resource for your school library. Our resident 8-year-old book reviewer read this book again and again, even though he doesn't know anyone with cancer right now, and his mom says it has made him more aware and empathetic to cancer in general. 

Ages: 4-10

Get it here, $9.99

Hibernate With Me

Simon & Schuster

This adorable book by Benjamin Scheuer will soothe any anxious child with its rhythmic words that we’re betting you won’t be able to help but sing to your little one. And the illustrations by Jemima Williams are just as comforting. For anyone who has ever felt a little scared or lost or shy (and we can all relate to that) this book reminds us all that we can hibernate together, where it’s cozy and safe. Available Feb. 12, 2019.

Ages: 4-8

$17.99. Order now.

Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story

Amazon

“Home is not safe for us. You are going to America to have a better life.” Gittel and her mother plan to immigrate to America together, but a when a health inspector tells Gittel's mother she is not well enough to board the ship, the 9-year-old girl must face the journey across the ocean alone. Her mom writes a cousin’s address on a piece of paper, but Gittel clutches it so tightly the ink disappears. How will she find her new home when she arrives? This brave and inspiring story is gorgeously illustrated and rings as true today as ever. Available Feb. 5, 2019. Written by Leslea Newman and beautifully illustrated by Amy June Bates. 

Ages: 5-8

$19.99. Order here.

Kids Who Are Changing the World

Simon & Schuster

Find out how four different kids kids are helping the environment, inventing incredible medical devices, aiding the homeless, designing apps to make sure kids don't eat alone in the school cafeteria, and more. Your kids will be inspired to pursue their own best inventions after reading this easy-to-follow illustrated text by Sheila Sweeny Higginson (Author) and Alyssa Petersen (Illustrator). Available Feb. 12.

Ages: 6-8

Find it here. $17.99  

A Ray of Light

Scholastic

For your non-fiction lover, this new book from author and photographer Walter Wick is just the thing. In A Ray of Light, Wick's stunning images are combined with easy-to-understand text. Kids will learn all about the speed, color, the spectrum and all the other complex secrets to light. On sale Feb. 26th, 2019.

Ages: 6-8 

$12.32. Pre-order it now.

Plantology: 30 Activiites and Observations for Exploring the World of Plants

Chicago Review Press

Budding botanists and curious collectors alike will adore Plantology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Plants by science educator and author Michael Elsohn Ross. From plant skeletons to prop roots and all the mosses in between, this super cool book will have your kids looking at the natural world in a whole new way. Available Feb. 5.

Ages: 7 and up (but younger kids may enjoy activities with parents/older siblings)

Buy it here. $15.99

Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of the Dark!

Egmont

Sam Wu is back in the third book in the series by Katie & Kevin Tsang. This time Sam Wu is most definitely not afraid of anything....not sharks...not ghosts....and not the dark! Actually, Sam is afraid of a lot of things (including ghosts and sharks) and when he goes camping in the woods with is friends and his cousin Stanley, his fear of the dark becomes pretty real. Find out what happens in this latest adventure! Available Feb. 7. 

Ages: 6-9

Get it here, $9.21.

—Amber Guetebier, Gabby Cullen & Erin Lem

featured image: Rawpixel 

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