National Geographic Little Kids: the Magazine for Young Explorers by the National Geographic Society. ISSN 1934-8363
Reader's Annotation: With articles like "Hanging with Fruit Bats", "Jaguars Grow Up", and "The Moon up Close", children will experience a learning adventure with each issue's arrival.
Summary: A magazine for the very youngest nature explorers filled with spectacular photographs and short informational articles about subjects of interest to children. Interspersed among the articles are activities such as naming games, seek-and-find challenges, jokes, and matching fun.
Each issue also includes removable Wild Cards that feature images of animals, insects, and sea life on one side, with fun facts on the reverse side. The wonders of nature, space, and science are presented in a dynamic format and small size perfect for curious preschoolers.
Critical Evaluation: The National Geographic Society continues its long tradition of quality educational publications with this title for the very young. Preschool children are inherently curious about the world around them, and Little Kids provides age-appropriate informational articles about nature and science in a format that supports both learning and entertainment.
The factual articles are enlivened with many photographs and the text placed on the page in such a way to allow the pictures to figure prominently. Additionally, colored headings, varying sizes of type, and easily understood design layouts encourage reading and browsing by the very young.
The only drawback to this publication is the cost: a yearly subscription of six bimonthly issues costs $15. Each issue averages just 24 pages, and young families may find the subscription price prohibitive when it is weighed against the frequency of issue delivery and quantity of content.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 6
Awards: Parent's Choice Gold Award
Why Included? I have been a lifelong fan of National Geographic Magazine, and Little Kids is a perfect introduction to this wonderful educational organization and its many publications.
Click Magazine: Opening Windows for Young Minds by the publishers of Cricket. ISSN 1094-4273, $24.95
Reader's Annotation: Cartoons, activities, information! There is something here for every child, especially those who enjoy learning about science and nature.
Summary: Click presents science-based articles, stories, and activities for children ages 4 to 6. With informational text, as well as stories that feature returning characters from previous issues, Click appeals to children who enjoy factual accounts as well as story narratives. The text is accompanied by a mix of cartoon-like illustrations, comic strip formats, and photographs.
Each issue focuses on a theme such as snow, the sea, going to the doctor, or insects, with content specifically selected to expand on the given theme. The magazine is approximately 36 pages in length, and is published nine times each year. A complimentary digital subscription is also available with the purchase of a print subscription.
Critical Evaluation: A member of the Cricket family of publications, Click offers informational articles about nature and science at a level appropriate for preschool and kindergarten-aged children. The narrative is clearly worded with a friendly tone that does not talk down to the reader. With recurring characters, such as Click the Mouse and Beatrice Black Bear, and a similar design layout and overall order of content in each issue, children will grow comfortable with the publication, and look forward to their favorite features with each new issue.
Many of the articles offer multiple levels of information that can suit the literacy levels of the young readers. The size of the text indicates the complexity of the content, with the largest text including simpler concepts and the smaller text requiring more complex comprehension skills. This design also encourages co-reading where an early reader could tackle the sections written in the larger typeface, while a parent or teacher could participate by reading the more challenging segments.
There is a great deal of information included in each issue that could prepare children for a STEM focused curriculum, once they begin elementary school. Additionally, the featured activities and interesting concepts that inspire further learning can establish a pattern of inquisitive information seeking that will serve young people well throughout their academic lives.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 4 to 6
Awards: A 2013, 2012, and 2010 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Winner,
2011 Teachers' Choice Awards for the Family
Why Included? This is a wonderful magazine to offer to children who prefer informational texts to fictional narratives.
