Miles of Magazines

Kids, like adults, find magazines irresistible. But with so many to choose from, which ones are worth having?

By Susan Patron -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2004

There's no doubt about it: magazines can be a nuisance. They're easy to rip off, flimsy, and costly. Plus, they can easily devour a library's limited shelf space. So why are periodicals such an important part of our collection here at the Los Angeles Public Library? One look at the condition of our current issues and the answer is obvious. The dog-eared, thumb-smudged pages, missing subscription cards, and already-solved crossword puzzles and mazes (completed confidently in ink!) are sure signs that kids find magazines irresistible. Young children and tweens love to flip casually through their pages, attracted by the kid-appealing topics and glossy images. For some children, magazines may be the only way they learn about current events. There's also a more subtle reason why libraries should offer young patrons a wide-ranging magazine collection, covering everything from health and personal advice to art and academic interests. A broad collection shows kids that the library truly cares about them, that we're responsive to their interests. What follows is a compilation of more than 50 magazines for mostly toddlers through 11-year-olds—including dozens of publications that are essential to almost any well-rounded school or public library collection. Most of these magazines offer clever, interactive puzzles and teasers, as well as companion Web sites. And many have no ads, or commercial content, unless otherwise indicated. Those titles preceded by a star are highly recommended.

American Girl. Published six times a year by Pleasant. $19.95. www.americangirl.com. Gr 4–6.
American Girl is aimed at preteen girls and features puzzles, crafts, contests, articles (for example, "Birthdays Around the World" and "Take a Fun Friendship Quiz"), and quality fiction by authors such as Polly Horvath and Marissa Moss.

Appleseeds. Published nine times a year by Carus. $29.95. www.cobblestonepub.com. Gr 2–4.
Appleseeds offers general social studies-themed issues on topics such as Islam today, growing up during the Civil War, and exploring Antarctica. It features articles, interviews, crafts, games, recipes, and annotated bibliographies. Plus, the magazine is indexed and/or abstracted in Children's Magazine Guide, Primary Search and Middle Search, Readers' Guide for Young People, and Vertical File Index. Appleseeds's lively material can supplement the curriculum and is perfect for browsing.

Ask. Published nine times a year by Carus. $32.97. www.cricketmag.com. Gr 2–5.
Ask features articles on how the world works and how discoveries are made, as well as contests and activities. It's beautifully formatted and makes for stimulating browsing.

Babybug. Published 10 times a year by Carus. $35.97. www.babybugmag.com. PreS–Gr 2.
With rounded corners and durable cardboard pages (with no staples), Babybug is a perfect choice for the youngest child. It also features top-notch original stories and art.

Boys' Life. Published 12 times a year by the Boy Scouts of America. $18. www.boyslife.org. Gr 5–9.
Boys' Life includes profiles of scouts and scouting projects, as well as sports articles, comics, fiction, crafts, and a Bible Heroes graphic strip. The magazine contains a considerable amount of commercial content.

Boys' Quest. Published six times a year by Bluffton. $22.95. www.boysquest.com. Gr 3–5.
As its publisher says, Boys' Quest is "designed to inspire boys to develop an interest in reading at an early age… through its entertaining… enlightening, exploratory, investigative, and problem-solving pages…. [The magazine] emphasizes wholesome, innocent, childhood interests…." Boys' Quest is theme based, covering topics such as gardening, cartooning, and inventions.

Calliope. Published nine times a year by Carus. $29.95. www.cobblestonepub.com. Gr 4–6.
Calliope's world history-themed issues cover topics such as the Huguenots and Mozart. Each issue includes maps, time lines, illustrations, and images of fine art, as well as activities, experiments, crossword puzzles, and interesting bibliographies that expand the reader's involvement with the theme. Indexing/abstracting information same as for Appleseeds .

ChickaDEE. Published 10 times a year by Bayard. $29.95. www.owlkids.com. Gr 2–4.
ChickaDEE —one of Canada's Owl Group of magazines—is a slick, full-color publication that features lively issues on themes such as animals, people, and places. The magazine, which has a small amount of commercial content, offers fiction, puzzles, jokes, and contests.

ChildArt. Published six times a year by the International Child Art Foundation. $30. www.icaf.org. Gr 3–7.
ChildArt focuses on famous art and artists and encourages young readers to express themselves in a variety of art forms. It explores themes, such as refugee art, peace through art, and art and culture, and includes games, wordplay, and profiles.

Child Life. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $16. www.childlifemag.org. Gr 4–6.
Child Life offers articles on health and fitness, as well as healthy recipes, a medical advice column, and numerous general-interest articles.

Children's Digest. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $29.95. www.childrensdigestmag.org. Gr 5–7.
Children's Digest is similar in style and content to Child Life (see above) but targets preteen readers.

Children's Playmate. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $16. www.childrensplaymatemag.org. Gr 1–3.
Like Child Life and Children's Digest, which have the same publisher and are printed on recycled paper, Children's Playmate promotes good health habits and offers stories, poems, rebuses, recipes, activities, crafts, science experiments, and articles on health.

Click: Opening Windows for Young Minds. Published nine times a year by Carus. $32.97. www.cricketmag.com. Gr K–2.
This handsome 40-page, science-and-exploration magazine features issues on a variety of themes, including animals and storytelling. Click's articles, stories, and art—with contributors such as Ted Lewin and Alexandra Wallner—are of exceptional quality.

Cobblestone: Discover American History. Published nine times a year by Carus. $29.95. www.cobblestonepub.com. Gr 4–8.
Cobblestone is an attractive, consistently well-written magazine. Its theme issues cover a variety of historical topics, such as Scandinavian Americans, cowboys, and libraries. Each issue also includes stories, articles, activities, and folktales. Indexing information is the same as for Appleseeds .

Creative Kids: The National Voice for Kids. Published four times a year by Prufrock. $19.95. www.prufrock.com. Gr 3–8.
According to its publisher, Creative Kids is the "nation's largest magazine by and for kids." Each issue includes poems, stories, artwork, brainteasers, testimonials, and opinions submitted, of course, by kids.

Cricket. Published 12 times a year by Carus. $35.95. www.cricketmag.com. Gr 4–6.
Cricket, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, is justly famous for its consistently high-quality literary and artistic content. This highly recommended magazine features folktales, fiction, biographies, fantasy, poetry, and science fiction.

Current Science. Published biweekly, 16 times a year by Weekly Reader. $34.50. www.weeklyreader.com. Gr 6–10.
Current Science, which comes in a tabloid format, uses current news to make science relevant to kids. Each issue covers the entire science curriculum—including life, earth, and physical science, as well as health and technology. Teacher's guides that link each issue's content to state and national standards are available.

Dig Magazine. Published nine times a year by Carus. $32.87. www.cricketmag.com. Gr 4–7.
Dig, as its name suggests, offers articles on archaeological discoveries—everything from dinosaurs to mummies to ancient shipwrecks. Each issue includes puzzles, games, ideas for projects, and terrific photo-illustrations.

Discovery Girls: A Magazine Created by Girls, for Girls. Published six times a year by Discovery Girls. $19.95. www.discoverygirls.com. Gr 4–6.
Discovery Girls offers a lot of what young girls want: fashion tips; hot new sports and technology; celebrity scoops; contests; quizzes; and reviews of books, DVDs, and CDs. The magazine's editorial staff also includes a panel of 12 girls who evaluate the content. Discovery Girls has commercial content.

Disney Adventures. Published 10 times a year by Disney. $17.50. www.disneyadventures.com. Gr 4–6.
This comic-book-sized magazine, printed on newsprint, features puzzles, jokes, riddles, comics, and, of course, tie-ins to Disney productions and products. It also includes lots of other ads.

Dolphin Log. Published six times a year by the Cousteau Society. $20. www.dolphinlog.org. Gr 4–6.
Dolphin Log offers excellent photographs, as well as features on underwater expeditions, and the conservation, preservation, and endangerment of sea creatures; a comic strip, and a drawing lesson. The articles often have supplementary content on the magazine's Web site. Dolphin Log's emphasis is on "making everyone aware of how precious our oceans are!"

Faces: People, Places, and Culture. Published nine times a year by Carus. $29.95. www.cobblestonepub.com. Gr 4–6.
This attractive 52-page magazine focuses on a different culture each issue, and includes photographs, maps, time lines, activities, a crossword puzzle, bibliography, and Webography. Indexing information is the same as for Appleseeds , above.

Footsteps: African American History. Published five times a year by Carus. $23.95. www.footstepsmagazine.com. Gr 4–6.
Each issue of Footsteps explores a theme—such as blacks and the White House, Colonial slavery, and folk art—through interviews and nonfiction articles, activities, historical photographs, and artwork, maps, and primary source documents. This handsome magazine is great for both the home and the classroom.

Fun for Kidz. Published six times a year by Bluffton. $17.95. www.funforkidz.com. Gr 3–5.
Fun for Kidz is an activity-based companion to Hopscotch for Girls and Boys' Quest magazines "for young problem-solvers, both boys and girls… [its] emphasis is on developing well-rounded children while maintaining down-to-earth, wholesome principles and interests." Each issue explores a particular theme, such as food, indoors fun, and art. Indexed in Children's Magazine Guide.

Highlights for Children: Fun with a Purpose. Published 12 times a year by Highlights for Children. $29.95. www.Highlights.com. Gr 2–5.
Highlights is more than 50 years old. Each issue features human-interest stories; articles on science, culture, and history; fiction; puzzles; ideas for projects; and hidden pictures. Abstracted and indexed in Primary Search and Magazine Article Summaries.

Hopscotch for Girls. Published six times a year by Bluffton. $22.95. www.hopscotchmagazine.com. Gr 3–5.
Hopscotch's theme issues (on topics such as the weather, circus, and pets) present articles, fiction, poetry, puzzles, a pen pal club, poetry, and many activities. The magazine is a companion to Boys' Quest magazine and Fun for Kidz. Indexed in Children's Magazine Guide.

Humpty Dumpty's. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $16. www.humptydumptymag.org. Gr K–2.
Humpty Dumpty's emphasis is on health and the development of cognitive skills. It features stories, games, puzzles, and crafts.

Jack and Jill. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $22.95. www.jackandjillmag.org. Gr 2–4.
This magazine is a maturer version of Humpty Dumpty's, which is intended for a younger audience. Jack and Jill publishes some contributions from children.

Junior Scholastic. Published biweekly during the school year by Scholastic. Prices vary according to the number of subscriptions per classroom. www.scholastic.com/juniorscholastic. Gr 5–7.
Junior Scholastic offers national and international news, and articles on American history and geography. The magazine is designed for classroom use, and a teacher's edition is available. Some commercial content.

Kids Discover. Published 10 times a year by Kids Discover. $19.95. www.kidsdiscover.com. Gr 4–6.
Each issue is devoted to a single topic—for example, rain and snow or space exploration—and features short, handsomely illustrated articles, experiments, bibliographies, and some activities.

Ladybug. Published 12 times a year by Carus. $35.97. www.ladybugmag.com. PreS–Gr 1.
Ladybug's writing and illustrations are top notch. The magazine features original stories and poems (by writers such as Douglas Florian and Helen Cogancherry) that are perfect for the read-aloud audience, as well as activities, games, songs, and a handy, removable four-page crafts section with lots of activities.

Muse. Published nine times a year by Carus. $32.97. www.cricketmag.com. Gr 5–7.
Muse explores science, history, and the arts. The magazine is designed to encourage kids to ask questions and think for themselves, and experts write many of its articles. Muse's 48 full-color pages also feature excellent photographs and vibrant illustrations. And as its publisher says, "Nine wisecracking cartoon Muses inhabit the margins of the magazine, adding a steady stream of quirky observations and jokes."

National Geographic Kids. Published 10 times a year by National Geographic. $19.95. www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids. Gr 4–6.
National Geographic Kids features games, posters, collectors' cards, stories, and articles on topics such as "Places in the News" and "True Adventures on the High Seas." There are some ads.

New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams. Published six times a year by New Moon. $29. www.newmoon.org. Gr 5–9.
New Moon, which is edited by girls eight to 14 years old, presents articles, fiction, poems, artwork, and letters from girls around the world. The magazine "celebrates girls, explores the passage from girl to woman, and builds healthy resistance to gender inequities…. For girls who believe there's more to being a girl than fashion, boys, and makeup."

Odyssey: Adventures in Science. Published nine times a year by Carus. $29.95. www.cobblestonepub.com. Gr 5–9.
According to its publisher, Odyssey's theme-based issues "allow kids to explore the hottest trends in science in detail—everything from robots to rocketry and asteroids to dinosaurs." Each issue also features recent scientific discoveries, a monthly Star Chart for navigating the night sky, puzzles, a cartoon starring astronomer Jack Horkheimer, an animal column, and hands-on activities. The magazine also publishes poems, drawings, and stories by kids.

Owl. Published 10 times a year by Bayard Canada. $27.99. www.owlkids.com. Gr 4–7.
Owl's mission is to make "children interested in the world around them." It does that by presenting an eclectic mix of articles on subjects ranging from vegetarianism to rowdy parents to animal droppings. The magazine's design is attractive and energetic, and its puzzles, contests, and advice columns encourage readers to participate.

Pack-O-Fun. Published six times a year by Clapper. $19.97. www.craftideas.com/packofun. Gr 4–6.
Pack-O-Fun offers color photographs of finished crafts, grouped by themes, such as Christmas gifts, decorations, and ornaments or inexpensive craft projects for camp. The magazine lists the materials needed for each project, as well as step-by-step directions. Though Pack-O-Fun is aimed at adult caregivers, kids who are talented with crafts can use it, too. Considerable commercial content.

Ranger Rick. Published 12 times a year by the National Wildlife Federation. $17. www.nwf.org. Gr 2–5.
Ranger Rick features articles on all aspects of nature, accompanied by attractive color photos. This inviting magazine also includes a question-and-answer column ("How long do horses live?" "Why do roosters crow?") and a pullout section with mazes and puzzles.

Scholastic DynaMath. Published eight times a year by Scholastic. Price is based on the total number of subscriptions. http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/dynamath.htm. Gr 3–6.
Intended for classroom use, DynaMath is a "skill-building math program" that features 15 pages of activities, puzzles, and games. A teacher's edition includes NCTM standards.

Scholastic Art. Published six times a year by Scholastic. Price is based on the total number of subscriptions. http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/art.htm. Gr 7–12.
Like DynaMath (above), Scholastic Art is also designed to be used in the classroom. Its themed issues include an "Art Workshop" with instructions that explain how students can replicate a featured artist's technique.

Sesame Street. Published 10 times a year by Parenting. Available only with a subscription to Parenting magazine. www.sesamestreet.com. PreS.
Sesame Street's issues focus on themes, such as food or dance, and present puzzles and activities to help kids learn basic concepts.

Skipping Stones: A Multicultural Magazine. Published six times a year by Skipping Stones. $25. www.skippingstones.org. Gr 5–7.
Skipping Stones, says its publisher, is a "nonprofit children's magazine that encourages cooperation, creativity, and celebration of cultural and environmental richness. It provides a playful forum for sharing ideas… among children from different lands and backgrounds." The magazine features writings by young people from around the world. Its pages are text heavy and small black-and-white illustrations or photos accompany articles.

Soccer Jr. Published six times a year by Scholastic. $16.97. www.soccerjr.com. Gr 5–7.
Soccer Jr. is for boys and girls who love soccer. The magazine features interviews, articles on national teams, tips, games, contests, and lots of colorful action photos. Commercial content.

Spider. Published 12 times a year by Carus. $35.97. www.cricketmag.com. Gr 1–3.
Spider's stories and articles are written and illustrated by top children's book authors and illustrators. Its quality paper, abundant color art, trademark marginalia (featuring Spider with his running commentary on the text), and handsome design make Spider a winner. The monthly magazine also includes games, activities, jokes, and multicultural stories.

Sports Illustrated for Kids. Published 12 times a year by Time. $19.95. www.sikids.com. Gr 6–12.
SI for Kids has more than 100 pages of color action photos, stories, trivia, and posters. Commercial content.

Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers & Artists. Published six times a year by the Children's Art Foundation. $33. www.stonesoup.com. Gr 4–7.
Stone Soup is one of the few magazines that pays young writers and artists a nominal fee for their work. But it's not easy getting published, because of the sheer volume of submissions. Acceptance guidelines are included in every issue.

Super Science. Published eight times a year by Scholastic. Price is based on the total number of subscriptions. http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/superscience.htm. Gr 3–6.
Each issue offers 15 pages of news, stories on current science topics, photographs, hands-on activities, and experiments. The magazine is designed to be used in the classroom.

Turtle. Published six times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $16. www.turtlemag.org. PreS–Gr 1.
Turtle's mission is "improving the health and well-being of children… [and] to encourage children of all races and cultures to strive for excellence…." The attractive magazine presents activities, crafts, and stories.

U.S. Kids. Published eight times a year by the Children's Better Health Institute. $25.95. www.cbhi.org/magazines/uskids. Gr 3–5.
U.S. Kids features articles and stories about children who reach their goals, as well as puzzles, games, and contests. It also presents kid-appealing, easy-to-understand information on health and fitness.

Wild Animal Baby. Published 10 times a year by the National Wildlife Federation. $19.95. www.nwf.org/kids. Preschool, ages 1–3.
Wild Animal Baby is a colorful board-book-style magazine that introduces nature concepts to babies and toddlers. It's created by the publishers of Ranger Rick.

World Kid. Published six times a year by Renaissance Kid. $26.96 for a two-year subscription. www.worldkidmag.com. Gr 6–12.
World Kid offers glimpses of preteens and teens around the world. According to its publisher, the magazine also covers "art, science, literature, fashion, sports, games, pop music, personality, travel, photography for kids, art and illustration for kids, museums, languages, cultures, Cool Schools™, Works for Kids™ (foundations), performing arts, parenting, health, personal care, nature, animals, dogs, cats, bugs, [and] any number of other neat things." The entire magazine is available online to subscribers.

Your Big Backyard. Published 12 times a year by the National Wildlife Federation. $15. www.nwf.org/kids. PreS–Gr 2.
This attractive publication presents photographs of animals, games, and stories that are informative for the youngest reader. It's from the publishers of Ranger Rick .

Zoobooks. Published 12 times a year by Wildlife Education Ltd. $20.95. www.zoobooks.com. Gr 4–6.
Every issue of Zoobooks highlights a different animal. The magazine features color photographs and illustrations, interactive games, and articles that are factual and informative enough to supplement school assignments and satisfy casual browsers.