Take one former Skankin' Pickle, add fatherhood and a taste for great kids' music, mix it all together, and you've got Mike Park's new kindie music label Family Fun Records . And to celebrate the launch of this new label, you can get a f…
If you find yourself at that time of day when you all need a pick-me- up (and the kids are too young for a Venti Latte, heh), we've found an excellent tune from Caspar Babypants' brand new Hot Dog! release that gives my kids and me a big…
To help us celebrate this 42nd anniversary of Earth Day (wow!), we've picked out a song from one of our favorite bands for kids and adults: They Might Be Giants. Their most awesome CD/DVD combo, Here Comes Science , is a must-have for an…
In a couple of weeks, I'll head to Brooklyn for the fourth annual Kindiefest kids' music conference . It's fun, enlightening, supportive, and---as you'd expect---full of great music from some of our favorite kids' performers. And though …
Even on years when the kids have to wear snow boots for the egg hunt, Easter has always felt like the start of spring. So my pick this week is a perfectly-timed song off of Frances England's much-loved 2008 release, Family Tree . The gen…
I've tried to teach my kids to look beyond the color of a person's skin, or their clothes, accent or taste in music, and treat everyone the way they'd want to be treated. But, it turns out, I'd neglected to remind them of one major group…
Look out Peter Cottontail, my kids have a new favorite on the block. And this bunny is really a monster who only thinks he's a bunny in this adorable collaboration between a rabbity monster and one exasperated little girl. Listening to m…
I've never been able to see the real constellations in the night sky, which is one reason I love this new song from The Pop Ups. Instead of talking about Orion or the Big Dipper, it encourages kids to use a healthy dose of imagination to…
Though you'd have to go pretty far back in my kids' family tree to find any Irish blood, they still get as excited about St. Patrick's Day as kids do with any holiday. And while I love lists of kids-friendly Irish jigs and folk songs , I…
I heard a collective sigh of sadness when news of the death of Davy Jones, lead singer of 60's pop-rock band The Monkees, started working its way across my Twitter feed. And while there are some lovely covers of The Monkees' songs (take …
Before tonight's Academy Awards, download the two songs nominated for Best Original Song and let the kids play judge. Will they go with a sweet duo from The Muppets or with a little Latin-flavored number from Rio? The Muppets' Man or Mup…
When I told friends that my son and I were headed to Skywalker Ranch to see an early viewing of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D , a startling number of them wanted me to find George Lucas and ask him " Why??? " Why Jar Jar? Wh…
Along with heart-shaped pancakes, or maybe just lollipops for breakfast, I hope our Valentine's Day is half as sweet as this song from Cool Mom Picks' favorite duo, Renee & Jeremy . With their gorgeous harmonies and mellow pop beat, Mama…
Whether you watch for the football, the commercials or just show up for the Super Bowl snacks , it's a fair assumption that a good many of us will tune into the Super Bowl today. And since most of us will get behind a team (I made it pre…
In time for Valentine's Day, there are plenty of songs about how much we love those important people in our lives. But how many little ditties are a sweet ode to a pet? While strumming a ukulele, Drew of Seattle's Recess Monkey croons My…
Though it is always about 100 times messier when my kids want to help in the kitchen, I've always loved their help. And since this is great cookie-baking weather, I've found a sweet little tune to play while we get busy stirring, taste-t…
My kids are getting old enough to understand that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's message of equality, fairness and tolerance is just as important now as it was back when he was alive. And today on his observed birthday, I have found a great…
No one is more disappointed than I at the wimpy winter we've had in southern New England. So, with all my apologies to the rest of you who are covered in the white stuff, this little Justin Roberts number goes out to all those kids who c…
Another year of birthdays are ahead and on this day---my first baby's eleventh---I am happily playing one of our favorites from one of the coolest bands that has happened to have made it into Yo Gabba Gabba's great collections of tunes. …
Whether you're decorating the tree today or if it's been up for weeks, Cool Mom Picks' favorite Brady Rymer has a free download that is perfect for this time of year. The free download of Trim the Tree is three-minutes of easy holiday li…
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, and it's starting to sound that way too. Consider freshening up that tired holiday playlist with a lovely new collection of classic Christmas carols from none other than Dan Zanes …
I'm holding onto my Christmas cheer with two hands, refusing to let it be sullied by the endless ads and 1,000th version of Dominick the Donkey. And I've also got the prettiest and, yes, sunniest Christmas song on heavy rotation from one…
Q: My kids ages 8, 9, and 10 are getting iPods from their grandmom for Christmas. Can you recommend an alarm clock/charging dock that's good for their age and not too expensive? -reader by Twitter What a generous grandma! Your kids will …
I know I'm not the only one realizing that December begins in just days and wonders, Where did the year go? But, when I look at my kids, there is no question that they've aged another year which may explain why a brand new song from Fran…