Tiny Treasury

Yesterday I wrote about some kids not reading books, and magazines being a good alternative.

Almost everyone can enjoy a good picture book. But when it comes to reading books that are nothing but text, well, that’s just not everyone’s cup of tea. Magazines are a viable option. The pages are filled with pictures and illustrations to break up the text.

They cover every subject known to man and appeal to all ages. Even “adult” magazines have plenty of pictures. Uh, wait, maybe some of those mags have more pictures than the children’s magazines, but that is an entirely different topic there and not appropriate for this blog. Mom’s Soap Box maybe, but not here.

Here are a few kids magazines we like:

National Geographic Explorer is a classroom magazine for grades two through six. Its pages invite students to explore the world and all that is in it. Maegan just brought a copy of this one home yesterday.

Pony-mad youngsters have their own magazine filled with features, facts, photos, and fun stuff about horses and ponies. Aimed at kids aged 8-15, Young Rider is the only glossy, full-color equestrian magazine for young people in the United States, and includes easy-to-read articles on improving their riding skills, grooming, horse health, show-ring secrets, and much more including three or more posters in every issue.

This award-winning entertainment and humor magazine for kids is packed with fascinating facts, celebrity interviews, comics, pullouts, puzzles, activities and the inside scoop on Nick. Maegan alternates pretty frequently between Nick and Disney on tv, but I think we prefer the Nick Magazine definitively.

A magazine created for and by girls ages 7-12! Discovery Girls is a forum for girls to both express their ideas/dreams and address their fears. With articles on middle school challenges, inspiring stories about exceptional teens, sports, contests, quizzes, “embarrassing moments”, fashion and more!

Dedicated to helping children aged 6 to 12 become lifelong learners, each issue investigates a single high-interest topic in science or social studies. The combination of dramatic color photography, high-impact illustrations, and informative kid-friendly text engages readers with compelling content. KIDS DISCOVER promotes a colorful and hands-on approach to literacy and learning.

If you’ve been reading here, you know I have an ADHD daughter, Maegan. She loves to read, and most children’s books contain plenty of illustrations and photos to keep her happy. She’s also very bright and is quickly outgrowing those books. She likes chapter books, but many of the “older” series don’t have enough pictures to keep her attention. I’ve found magazines to be a helpful transition.

Just as Maegan has gone from Dora the Explorer and Strawberry Shortcake to Junie B. Jones to Bratz and American Girl, she’s also gone from reading picture books of Dora to absorbing magazines about her favorite subjects. From American Girl, which she loves almost as much as getting a new catalog, to her favorite tv channels (Nickelodeon and Disney) and her most loved animals (dogs and horses), Maegan can almost always find a magazine she wants to read.