The Best Kids' Everything from 2023
The shining stars released this year: Our editors' top-rated picks for movies, TV shows, books, games, and podcasts.
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Recommendations
Join us for the grand reveal of a few of our absolute favorite things from 2023, including movies, TV shows, books, video games, and podcasts. From pulse-pounding gameplay to heartwarming characters and stories, we're celebrating the picks that will have a lasting and positive impact for years to come. Find out which titles stole our editors' hearts and secured the coveted top spots.
Best Movie of 2023 – Barbie
Greta Gerwig's comedy adventure confection is frequently hilarious, unexpectedly touching, and unabashedly pink. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are amazing, as is the rest of the top-notch ensemble cast. (Allan! Weird Barbie!) Gerwig manages to balance the movie's social commentary and trippy, nostalgic comedy with panache, and the end result is worthy of all the hype.
Rounding out our top seven picks from 2023: Elemental (age 6+), The Little Mermaid (age 8+), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (age 9+), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (age 11+), Polite Society (age 12+), Rye Lane (age 15+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-movies-of-the-year-2023
Best TV Show of 2023 – Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad keeps the heart of Arnold Lobel's books front and center, and it's a delight to see these beloved characters behaving just like we always thought they would. Gentle and thoughtful, this series understands the small problems and big joys of life for kids and beyond.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (age 5+), American Born Chinese (age 9+), The Crossover (age 10+), Primo (age 11+), On My Block: Freeridge (age 13+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2023
Best Game of 2023 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
This outstanding addition to the Zelda series encourages kids to use their imaginations and solve problems in their own way. That approach is reflected in the hero, Link, who exemplifies courage and perseverance—and the opportunity to resolve challenges with creativity instead of just violence. This is a game that parents can feel comfortable with kids playing solo, and one that adults are sure to fall in love with, too, making it a win for the whole family.
Rounding out our top five picks from 2023: Sea of Stars (age 10+), Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (age 12+), Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (age 13+), Assassin's Creed Mirage (age 16+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-video-games-of-the-year-2023
Best Book of 2023 – Warrior Girl Unearthed
During a summer internship, Ojibwe twins in Michigan discover an ancestor's remains in a museum—and their determination to return the remains to their tribe uncovers a whole lot more. This page-turner thrills with plot twists, unforgettable characters, an incredible heist, sweet romance, and nuanced explorations of colonialism and missing and murdered Indigenous women. It's an intense read, but also incredibly edifying and emotionally satisfying.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: The Skull (age 6+), You Are Here: Connecting Flights (age 9+), Something Like Home (age 10+), We Are All So Good at Smiling (age 14+), Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed (age 14+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-books-of-the-year-2023
Best Podcast of 2023 – Keyshawn Solves It
Kids' podcasts came in hot this year as big names in children's media like Disney and Nickelodeon launched major audio series. But Keyshawn Solves It truly stood out above the rest. It combines the beloved mystery genre (think a modern-day Harriet the Spy) with thoughtful social and emotional lessons and deeper insight into Black history and culture. With its short, engaging episodes and lovable characters, it's poised to become a family favorite.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: Jamming on the Job (age 5+), Disney Frozen: Forces of Nature (age 6+), Nightingale (age 8+), Rebel Girls: Growing Up Powerful (age 8+), Grown, a podcast from The Moth (age 12+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-podcasts-of-the-year-2023
Best U.K. Film of 2023 – Polite Society
What if you were convinced your older sister was making a huge mistake by getting married? For schoolgirl/aspiring stuntwoman Ria, there's only one thing to do: stop the wedding! Luckily for Ria, she's equipped with a martial arts-style skill set, which she puts to good use in this hilarious British action comedy. With its inspiring young female lead and diverse cast, this crowd pleaser kicks gender and cultural stereotypes to the curb, making it a hit with folks of all ages, from tweens to adults.
Rounding out our top five picks from 2023: Scrapper (age 11+), The Lost King (age 12+), All That Breathes (age 14+), Rye Lane (age 15+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-uk-and-international-films-of-the-year-2023
Join us for the grand reveal of a few of our absolute favorite things from 2023, including movies, TV shows, books, video games, and podcasts. From pulse-pounding gameplay to heartwarming characters and stories, we're celebrating the picks that will have a lasting and positive impact for years to come. Find out which titles stole our editors' hearts and secured the coveted top spots.
Best Movie of 2023 – Barbie
Greta Gerwig's comedy adventure confection is frequently hilarious, unexpectedly touching, and unabashedly pink. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are amazing, as is the rest of the top-notch ensemble cast. (Allan! Weird Barbie!) Gerwig manages to balance the movie's social commentary and trippy, nostalgic comedy with panache, and the end result is worthy of all the hype.
Rounding out our top seven picks from 2023: Elemental (age 6+), The Little Mermaid (age 8+), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (age 9+), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (age 11+), Polite Society (age 12+), Rye Lane (age 15+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-movies-of-the-year-2023
Best TV Show of 2023 – Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad keeps the heart of Arnold Lobel's books front and center, and it's a delight to see these beloved characters behaving just like we always thought they would. Gentle and thoughtful, this series understands the small problems and big joys of life for kids and beyond.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (age 5+), American Born Chinese (age 9+), The Crossover (age 10+), Primo (age 11+), On My Block: Freeridge (age 13+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2023
Best Game of 2023 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
This outstanding addition to the Zelda series encourages kids to use their imaginations and solve problems in their own way. That approach is reflected in the hero, Link, who exemplifies courage and perseverance—and the opportunity to resolve challenges with creativity instead of just violence. This is a game that parents can feel comfortable with kids playing solo, and one that adults are sure to fall in love with, too, making it a win for the whole family.
Rounding out our top five picks from 2023: Sea of Stars (age 10+), Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (age 12+), Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (age 13+), Assassin's Creed Mirage (age 16+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-video-games-of-the-year-2023
Best Book of 2023 – Warrior Girl Unearthed
During a summer internship, Ojibwe twins in Michigan discover an ancestor's remains in a museum—and their determination to return the remains to their tribe uncovers a whole lot more. This page-turner thrills with plot twists, unforgettable characters, an incredible heist, sweet romance, and nuanced explorations of colonialism and missing and murdered Indigenous women. It's an intense read, but also incredibly edifying and emotionally satisfying.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: The Skull (age 6+), You Are Here: Connecting Flights (age 9+), Something Like Home (age 10+), We Are All So Good at Smiling (age 14+), Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed (age 14+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-books-of-the-year-2023
Best Podcast of 2023 – Keyshawn Solves It
Kids' podcasts came in hot this year as big names in children's media like Disney and Nickelodeon launched major audio series. But Keyshawn Solves It truly stood out above the rest. It combines the beloved mystery genre (think a modern-day Harriet the Spy) with thoughtful social and emotional lessons and deeper insight into Black history and culture. With its short, engaging episodes and lovable characters, it's poised to become a family favorite.
Rounding out our top six picks from 2023: Jamming on the Job (age 5+), Disney Frozen: Forces of Nature (age 6+), Nightingale (age 8+), Rebel Girls: Growing Up Powerful (age 8+), Grown, a podcast from The Moth (age 12+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-podcasts-of-the-year-2023
Best U.K. Film of 2023 – Polite Society
What if you were convinced your older sister was making a huge mistake by getting married? For schoolgirl/aspiring stuntwoman Ria, there's only one thing to do: stop the wedding! Luckily for Ria, she's equipped with a martial arts-style skill set, which she puts to good use in this hilarious British action comedy. With its inspiring young female lead and diverse cast, this crowd pleaser kicks gender and cultural stereotypes to the curb, making it a hit with folks of all ages, from tweens to adults.
Rounding out our top five picks from 2023: Scrapper (age 11+), The Lost King (age 12+), All That Breathes (age 14+), Rye Lane (age 15+)
See the full list: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-uk-and-international-films-of-the-year-2023
