This is one of those rare gems that's both critically acclaimed AND genuinely appropriate for young kids—not always the same thing. The watercolor animation is stunning, the friendship between Ernest and Celestine is tender without being saccharine, and the themes about prejudice are handled with real intelligence.

The caveat: this is European-paced animation, which means slower and quieter than what most American kids are used to. If your child's media diet is primarily high-energy Disney/Pixar or YouTube, they might initially resist the gentler rhythm. But if you can get them to settle in, this is the kind of movie that stays with kids—the kind they remember years later.

Available on Kanopy (free with library card!) and Tubi, so there's no excuse not to give it a shot. It's a palate cleanser in the best way.