I rounded up some fun rainbow crafts for kids from around the internet that can be modified for kids of all ages. Whether you’re looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a craft or will spring into existence, these colorful kids activities are a great place to start.

We are so sick of winter here in New York. After being pummeled by two big back-to-back nor’easters and with another (smaller) storm on its way, any love for cold temps and the fluffy white stuff that comes along with it have completely died off. We’re ready for sunshine and green grass and buds on the trees. We’re tired of being stuck in the house and are willing to do just about anything to get spring to show its warmer, cheerier face.

But if spring is going to drag its feet getting here, we can help it along with sunshine and rainbows of our own, no?

These bright and colorful rainbow crafts for kids are a fun way to try and will some warmer temperatures along—or to simply celebrate spring and all of the color that comes along with it.

A tween book review of the new middle-grade fiction novel The Super Life of Ben Braver—the first book of a funny new adventure series that combines superheroes, comic strips and an ordinary middle school boy. 

I tucked my 11-year-old into bed one night last week with Marcus Emerson’s brand new book The Super Life of Ben Braver. Since she’s big into superheroes, I had a feeling it was going to be a hit with her.

Filled with art and comic strips, The Super Life of Ben Braver is the story of an ordinary middle school boy. Ben loves TV and comic books and peanut butter cups. But when he hears a kid scream for help one day, he decides to be like his favorite heroes and tries to save the day. Things go really wrong—which leads Ben to a secret school where kids learn to control their superpowers.

Since it sounded similar to other books she loves (the NERDS series from Michael Buckley, for one), I was pretty confident she would devour this one—but even I was surprised when I woke up the next morning and asked her how it was. She had read the entire book!

Here’s what she had to say about it.

We are always looking for books to add to our To Be Read list. We look for books of all levels: picture books, beginner chapter books, middle-grade fiction, and books that busy moms can enjoy. Figuring I can’t possibly be the only one out there who is hunting for good reads for a variety of age levels, I put together a list each month of the books my family has been reading. Sometimes our thoughts on them will be gushy and glowy. Other times they’ll be lukewarm. Either way, we’ll let you know if we think they’re worth your time.

I can’t believe it’s March already! February seemed to fly by, but we did manage to squeeze in some good reads…

A tween book review of the new middle-grade fiction action-adventure book Legends of the Lost Causes—which stars zombie outlaws and a ragtag gang of orphans.

We love fantasy novels around here. Give us a little magic and adventure and we. are. there. Well, this week, a brand new middle-grade fantasy novel hit bookshelves. And this one has an interesting twist: it’s set in the Wild West! I was intrigued.

Legends of the Lost Causes is the first book in a new series by debut authors Brad McLelland and Louis Sylvester. Here’s a summary from the publisher:

“A band of orphan avengers. A cursed stone. A horde of zombie outlaws.

This is Keech Blackwood’s new life after Bad Whiskey Nelson descends upon the Home for Lost Causes and burns it to the ground.

With his home destroyed and his family lost, Keech will have to use the lessons he learned from Pa Abner to hunt down the powerful Char Stone. Luckily, he has the help of a ragtag team of orphans. Together, they’ll travel through treacherous forests, fight off the risen dead, and discover that they share mysterious bonds as they search for the legendary stone. Now it’s a race against the clock, because if Bad Whiskey finds the stone first… all is lost.”

Since my 11-year-old daughter has been deep into fantasy novels lately (Harry Potter and Percy Jackson are constantly battling it out to be her faves), I jumped at the chance to have her review this one when Macmillan offered to send us a copy. I was really interested to see how the Western aspect of it would work for her. Here’s what she had to say.

Performing acts of kindness is a great way to teach kids empathy and to make giving back to the community a habit—it’s also really good for chasing away the winter blues. These free printable random acts of kindness cards are the perfect way to get started.

I don’t know how you’re feeling, but I’m at peak winter blues over here. I’m always tired. I have no motivation. And I go from zero to livid at record-breaking speed. I imagine I’m not a ton of fun to be around lately.

Long, gray winters do this to me. I’m tired of looking at colorless skies and dead branches. I need some green on the trees outside my window and to feel a little warm sunshine on my face. It’s even worse when every time I open up Facebook I seem to be assaulted with a barrage of angry complainers who have no interest in doing anything about the things they’re angry about (unless bitching counts. They’re totally into that).

Since we can’t control other people or the weather, we have to create our own good vibes. Chocolate helps. Taking time to write down the things you’re grateful for each day does too. But one of my favorite ways to break out of a funk is performing random acts of kindness. It feels good to make other people feel good—and there’s an added rush when you do it in secret.

I did this fun activity with my Girl Scouts troop a couple of months ago and it’s so easy to recreate yourself or with your whole family.

Printable random acts of kindness cards