Notable Children's Digital Media - 2025

The Notable Children’s Digital Media list includes real-time, dynamic, and interactive media content for children 14 years of age and younger that enables and encourages active engagement and social interaction while informing, educating, and entertaining in exemplary ways.

To find out about more great digital media for children, visit the page for ALSC's Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award.

This list represents the titles selected by the 2024 committee.

Classics for Kids. Website. Younger Children, Middle. Composers, Classical Music, Instruments, Orchestra. https://www.classicsforkids.com/

Cincinnati's classical music radio station created the Classics for Kids^® website as an entertaining, informative introduction to classical music for elementary school children, K-5. It's full of information about music, including composer biographies, a dictionary of terms, guides to instruments from around the world, games, archives of all the Classics for Kids^® podcasts, and much more.

The website is free and reaches users of various skill levels, introducing children of all ages to all aspects of classical music. Highly interactive games and activities are available. Sponsored by 90.9 WGUC, Public Radio of Cincinnati, and the Public Library of Cincinnati.

Duolingo. App: iOS and Android. Elementary, Middle. Math. https://www.duolingo.com/

This popular language learning app has added a robust math course to its iOS and Android offerings, building on its winning combination of engaging interactive exercises, fun illustrations, and diverse real-world applications. Elementary math covers foundational topics of multiplication and division, fractions and decimals, geometry, and measurement. Difficulty and complexity increase through the levels of the elementary track up through the intermediate track, making this app suitable for grades 3 through 8.

Inside U. Website. Younger Children, Middle, Parents/Caregivers, Educators. Social Emotional Learning. https://insideu.colorado.edu/

Created using the familiar characters from Disney Pixar's Inside Out, Inside U features interactive episodes that introduce viewers to the different emotions, how to recognize various emotions in their bodies, and the importance of pausing to check in before reacting. These episodes are designed for elementary-aged children to engage with themselves, a peer partner/group, or parents/caregivers. Available in English with automatic captioning.

Lyla in the Loop. App: Apple Store, Windows Store, Google Play. Younger Children. STEM, Creative Problem-solving, Critical Thinking, Working Together, Being a Good Friend. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/lyla-in-the-loop/

Lyla in the Loop is a PBS KIDS animated series for kids ages 4-8. The show stars Lyla, a dynamic 7-year-old Black girl, her close-knit family, fantastical blue sidekick Stu, and a host of relatable and quirky characters living in her city community, who spotlight creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills while working collaboratively with others.

In every adventure, Lyla and Stu introduce and explore foundational computational thinking concepts, leading to comedic disasters and creative solutions while helping others in their community. The series will support many learners, modeling flexible approaches to finding and designing solutions and creative self-expression through free games and videos.

Tab Time World. App: iOS and Google Play. Younger Children, Parents/Caregivers. Creativity, Art, Music, Storytelling. https://www.iamtabithabrown.com/tabtime

This engaging app encourages preschoolers to creatively engage with characters from Tabitha Brown's Emmy-nominated show, Tab Time. Each activity encourages creativity, with users designing their artwork, short stories, and musical symphonies. A step-by-step tutorial makes it easy for even the youngest users to figure out what to do next. Also, it includes full Tab Time episodes and book content.

Notable Children's Digital Media Committee

Danilo M. Baylen, Chair, University of West Georgia, GA
Ellen H. Ruffin, Co-Chair, University of Southern Mississippi (Retired), Hattiesburg
Annamarie E. Carlson, Westerville Public Library, OH
Eilis M. Corcoran, Skokie Public Library, IL
Elizabeth M. Gray, Yolo County Library, CA
Mary Ann Scheuer, Albany High School (Retired), CA
Trina C. Smith, St. John the Baptist Parish Library, LA