All Kids & Family - Critics Picks

Best Camp for Queer Characters

GFTQ Camp

Drama education is great for youth, even beyond the stage: It builds self-esteem and skills in reading comprehension and communication both verbal and nonverbal, and kids engaged in it are more likely to stay in school. Ground Floor Theatre offers a unique opportunity for such education over the summer with their tuition-free camp just for LGBTQ teens. Over two weeks, kids write and produce their own play under the guidance of an all-star team of local creatives, developing theatre skills but also exploring challenges they face and learning about arts as social justice advocacy. For queer kiddos who are keen for a curtain call, GFTQ can’t be beat.

Best Next-Best-Thing to Jurassic Park

Zoocade

We can all agree that the problem with Jurassic Park, were it to be a real place, would be all the people getting eaten and stomped on. Does the coolness of walking among dinosaurs mitigate the danger? The movie characters sure seemed to think so, but here in the real world we have a little more sense. That’s why they came up with Zoocade, the nation’s first holographic zoo, using Axiom Holographics tech that made Time magazine’s list of top inventions in 2023. Besides dinos, families can experience locales like the ocean and the African savanna, with no animals (or people!) being harmed. Top-notch tech is complemented by classic arcade games for a full day of safe family fun.

Best Picture Book for Brand-New Texans

My Big Book of Texas

Childhood is full of firsts. For instance, this picture book could just be a kiddo’s first introduction to the term “hootenanny.” My Big Book of Texas – from Austin-based children’s book author and illustrator C.S. Jennings, himself a seventh-generation Texan – offers a fun primer to the state’s richly diverse landscape and people, filtering the ABCs, animals, colors, and shapes through a distinctly Texan lens. To wit: “N is for newt in a neckerchief noshes nachos at NASA.” That’s a sentence that makes sense only in the wild and wonderful hootenanny that is Texas.

csjennings.com

Best Clique of Burgeoning Cinephiles

Austin Flick Clique

The films we fall in love with shape our lives – especially in our formative years. Those of us who love movies can no doubt think of several that had an impact on our aesthetic choices, our narrative inclinations, and our sense of the world. For the teen cinephiles at Austin Flick Clique, the scope of those films is always expanding as they come together to watch classics from Alfred Hitchcock through Tim Burton. Hosted at the Eastside’s Sekrit Theater, film notes and conversation curate curious cinema viewing for adolescents and their families.

instagram.com/flickcliques

Best Place to Take Budding Artists

HOPE Outdoor Gallery

Who doesn’t love a good resurrection? The slick new HOPE Outdoor Gallery is a rare case where something dies to return bigger than before. The original free graffiti walls were artsy and underground, a no-man’s-land of creativity. Its new location near the airport offers more space and more opportunities to grow. People can truly learn the craft. Large walls and rows of abandoned trailers give plenty of canvas, while an official gift shop and cafe provide everything from stencils and spray cans to lattes and pastries. Weekly spray demos and specialized classes spread the message to all potential graffiti writers, including young’uns.

Best Flock of Books

Birdhouse Books & Gifts

A community that centers books and uplifts many voices is a necessary antidote in a world trying to censor what kids think and feel. Queer-, woman-, and veteran-owned Birdhouse is a cheerful middle finger to anyone stifling learning or loving. Owner Abby Strite and her hardworking shop Yorkie Mae Mae are creating something special in Brentwood, and the “birds of a feather read together” mural embodies the vibe. Regular special events include Banned Book Drag Queen Story Time, local author readings, crafts, and tarot, and Students Against Censorship brings youth voices into the conversation, too. This bookshop is a great destination for families who want their kids in rooms where books are celebrated, not banned.

Best Conversation Starter

Bright Littles

“Use your words” is sometimes easier said than done. Founded by Austin mom Tara Miko Ballentine, this fleet of thoughtful print and digital products were designed to help kids articulate the big feelings they’re having and build confidence along the way. Bright Littles’ offerings included journals focused on personal safety, healthy online habits, and civic leadership; digital courses and printable digests on topics like anxiety; and a “Conversation Club” with daily prompts to navigate challenging conversations. Ballentine sadly shuttered her small business this summer, citing tough economic times, but we laud her for her effort, and look forward to wherever she puts her talents next.

instagram.com/bright_littles