Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Netflix's version of library storytime—wholesome, educational, and earnest. Celebrity readers share picture books by Black authors to introduce young kids to diverse stories and spark conversations about empathy and equality.

The good: It's incredibly safe, age-appropriate, and genuinely enriching for preschoolers. If you're looking to expand your kid's exposure to diverse voices and want conversation starters about big topics in little-kid language, this delivers.

The reality: It's also kind of boring. The format is static—people sitting and reading books on camera. The IMDb rating of 5.8 tells the story: even well-meaning parents find it a slog. It's more educational tool than entertainment, which is fine if you go in with the right expectations.

Best used as a supplement—put on an episode during quiet time, use it as a jumping-off point to find books for your library, or let it play while your preschooler is doing puzzles. Just don't expect them to be glued to the screen.

Age Fit

Squarely aimed at ages 3-6, the preschool and early elementary crowd who still enjoy picture book read-alouds. Older kids will find it too babyish, and even within the target age, some may prefer more dynamic programming.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

92

Celebrity readers share children's books in a warm, gentle format designed for preschoolers. The tone is nurturing and models empathy, self-love, and kindness. Each episode centers on age-appropriate picture books read aloud with care, creating a calming, emotionally healthy viewing experience for young children.

Imaginative

68

The format is straightforward read-alouds with minimal creative framing—celebrities sit and read books. While the books themselves may spark imagination and the illustrations are shown, the show doesn't invite active participation, building, or creative expression beyond passive listening. It's more educational storytime than imaginative play catalyst.

Safe

98

Designed specifically for preschoolers (Common Sense Media rates it age 3+) and available in Netflix Kids mode. No violence, scary content, or inappropriate material. The read-aloud format with picture books is as safe as children's media gets—zero surprise content, no ads, no social features.

Enriching

85

Explicitly designed to spark conversations about empathy, equality, self-love, and antiracism through carefully selected books by Black authors. Exposes young children to diverse voices and stories, building cultural awareness and emotional intelligence. The educational intent is clear and executed thoughtfully, though entertainment value is modest—it's essentially a virtual storytime.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Introduces young kids to diverse voices and stories they might not encounter otherwise, with books specifically by Black authors
Sparks age-appropriate conversations about empathy, equality, and self-love without being preachy or overwhelming
Super safe viewing for preschoolers—it's literally just people reading picture books on camera
Can serve as a book discovery tool for parents looking to diversify their home library

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What to Watch For

The format is pretty low-energy—if your kid needs more visual stimulation, they might zone out during what's essentially a virtual library storytime
IMDb rating of 5.8 suggests even parents find it a bit dry; it's educational and well-intentioned but not particularly entertaining
Best as a supplement to other activities rather than binge-worthy content

Conversation Starters

"What did you think about the story? Have you ever felt like that character?"
"Why do you think it's important to hear stories from lots of different people?"
"Which book did you like best? Should we get it from the library?"
"What would you do if you were in that situation?"

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Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices