Magazines for Children

American Girl (J Magazines)

Designed to celebrate the achievements and foster the creativity of girls ages 8-12, American Girl magazine is filled with craft projects, games, girl-to-girl advice and more! The companion website features a variety of fun activities.

AppleSeeds (J Magazines)

Geared to children ages 7-9, each themed issue covers a social studies topic. Includes articles, interviews, photographs and activities.

Ask: Arts and Sciences for Kids (J Magazines)

Features puzzles, riddles, cartoons, articles and more inviting readers ages 6-9 to explore the world's greatest artists, inventors and other thinkers.

Babybug (J Magazines)

Designed for children 6 months to 2 years old, this boardbook magazine contains colorful pictures, short stories and rhymes to engage listeners and encourage children to try reading.

Boys' Life (J Magazines)

Features the cover picture and contents from the current issue, but only selected articles are available online. Includes a section where you can download the plans for making various projects, such as stilts or a telegraph.  For ages 8-17.

Calliope World History for Young People (J Magazines)

Designed to help readers between the ages of 9-15 understand how historical events intertwine, each issue of Calliope is devoted to one theme in world history. The website lists current and upcoming themes and links to theme-related websites and others of interest to children and teachers.

Chickadee (J Magazines)

Filled with puzzles, games, pictures and activities of interest to children between the ages of 5 and 9, Chickadee features colorful photos and stories emphasizing funny, unusual and true information about animals and people.

Chirp (J Magazines)

Subtitled "The See and Do, Laugh and Learn Magazine," Chirp is recommended for children ages 6-9. Features short stories, jokes, puzzles and other games. The website also features activities for young children.

Click (J Magazines)

A magazine for ages 3-7 from the publishers of Cricket and Smithsonian Magazine. Includes articles, stories, cartoons, activities and more to help introduce young people to the world around them.

Cobblestone American History for Kids (J Magazines)

Geared for kids ages 8-14, each issue examines a part of America's past. The website lists current and upcoming themes and links to theme-related websites and others of interest to children and teachers.

Creative Kids: The National Voice for Kids (J Magazines)

Includes stories, games, opinions, poetry, drawings and more written by kids for kids between the ages of 8 and 14. Published by Prufrock Press, which supports the education of gifted children, this magazine aims to stimulate and encourage the creativity of readers and invites kids to submit their creative work. Visit the website for guidelines.

Cricket (J Magazines)

Features children's literature, poems, stories, articles, songs, crafts and jokes for children ages  8-12. Contributors are often internationally known authors and illustrators. Regular features include "Cricket League" (a story, art, or poetry contest), crossword puzzle, and letters from children to the magazine.

Dig (J Magazines)

A Cobblestone publication produced in cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of America, Dig brings the excitement of archaeology and other earth sciences to readers, ages 9-14. Each issue focuses on a theme and contains information and activities, colorful graphics and photos to promote a broad understanding of the featured topic.

Discovery Girls (J Magazines)

Created by girls for girls, ages 8-12. Includes articles on a variety of hot topics, from fashion to technology. Every other month, the magazine editors travel to a different part of the country to involve a new 12-girl panel in the creation of the magazine. Visit the magazine's website to find out how to apply to be a "Discovery Girl."

Disney Princess (J Magazines)

Stories about the Disney princesses, plus entertaining games, activities, and recipes.  "For little princesses of all ages," according to the website.

Faces : Peoples, Places and Cultures (J Magazines)

Geared for children ages 9-14, this magazine provides historical information about places in the news, colorful photos, maps and activities to help young people increase their knowledge of world cultures.

 Highlights for Children (J Magazines)

Issues contain poems, stories, puzzles, jokes, riddles, rebus stories, crafts, and hidden pictures. There is something for everyone ages 4-12.

Hopscotch (J Magazines)

Geared toward elementary-age girls, and includes stories, poems, crafts and other educational activities.

Jack and Jill (J Magazines)

Published by the Children's Better Health Institute, this monthly/bimonthly magazine is geared to children between the ages of 7 and 10. It features current event and other special interest stories, as well as "things to do" and "jokes and riddles."

Kids Discover (J Nonfiction)

This full-color, monhtly magazine covers nature, science and geography topics for children ages 6 and older. Each issue is devoted to a specific subject. Magazines are shelved by subject area in the nonfiction collection.

Ladybug (J Magazines)

This is a magazine from the publishers of Cricket, targeted to a younger audience (2-7). It contains numerous learning activities with a particular focus on reading and understanding. Contains poems, stories, cartoons, and activities.

Magic Dragon (J Magazines)

A quarterly publication which presents writing and art created by children in the elementary school grades in a magazine of quality four-color printing and graphic display.

Muse (J Magazines)

A magazine for ages 9-14 from the publishers of Cricket and Smithsonian Magazine. Includes articles and activities about science, nature, poetry, music and more.

National Geographic Kids (Formerly called National Geographic World) (J Magazines)

Published by the National Geographic Society for kids between the ages of 8 and 14, Kidscovers a wide variety of topics, but focuses on geography, adventure, wildlife and science issues. The website includes links to stories, fun facts, games and other activities.

New Moon (J Magazines)

New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams is an international magazine designed "for every girl who wants her voice heard and her dreams taken seriously." Featuring girl editors, ages 8-14, and girl contributors from around the world, the magazine includes stories, poems, artwork, personal profiles and a variety of informational articles.

Odyssey (J Magazines)

The website for "The science magazine for young adventurers!" Includes information about the current issue, sections on science news, science fun, a teachers guide, and links to webcams around the world! (Recommended for ages 10-16.)

OWLkids Online (J Magazines)

Geared for children over 8, Owlmagazine aims to interest children in nature, science and the world around them. The website includes links to Chickadee Net, designed for kids between ages of 6 and 9, Wired Owl, for kids 8 and older, and CyberFamily - a place for parents to explore.

Plays (J Magazines)

The Drama Magazine for Young People, this monthly publication (October thru May) includes in each issue 8-10 plays for elementary, middle and high-school aged students.

Ranger Rick (J Magazines)

Monthly magazine for kids ages 7 and up features colorful animal photos, funny drawings, and exciting stories that inform children about nature, outdoor adventure, and helping the environment. The online version of the magazine includes websites for homework help, monthly activities, games, sections for parents and teachers and a sneak preview of the current issue.

Ranger Rick Jr. (J Magazines)

Monthly magazine featuring information and photos about wilflife for ages 4-7. Website for the magazine offers animal facts, short stories, games and more.(Big Backyard and Wild Animal Baby titles, previously published by the National Wildlife Federation, have merged with Ranger Rick Jr.)

Skipping Stones : An International Multicultural Magazine (J Magazines)

A nonprofit children's magazine, Skipping Stones provides a playful forum for sharing ideas and experiences among children from different lands and backgrounds. The magazine accepts art and original writings in every language and from all ages. Non-English writings are accompanied by English translations. Each issue (5 during a school-year), also contains international pen pals, book reviews, news, and a guide for parents and teachers. More information and a sample issue is available on the magazine's website.

Spider (J Magazines)

Another magazine from the publishers of Cricket, recommended for ages 6-9. Contains stories, articles, poems, drawings, cartoons and letters all with the aim of getting children interested in reading.

Sports Illustrated for Kids Online (J Magazines)

Monthly magazine for elementary age children includes interviews with sports heroes, comics, action photos and much more. The web version mirrors the print edition while capitalizing on the magazine's interactive appeal.

Stone Soup (J Magazines)

This international magazine is written and illustrated by children between the ages of 8 and 13. The website includes examples of the stories, poems, artwork and book reviews that appear in sample issues, project ideas and guidelines for contributing to the magazine.

Time Magazine for Kids

The website for this current-events oriented monthly magazine for kids features news, games and activities, as well as sections for teachers and parents.

Wild Animal Baby (J Magazines)

This title has merged with Ranger Rick Jr.

Your Big Backyard (J Magazines)

This title has merged with Ranger Rick Jr.

Zootles (J Magazines)

Zootles is written to be shared with pre-readers and beginning readers. "Incredible wildlife photography," and "fascinating animal facts to feed young minds and imaginations."  Stories, backyard games, mazes and other activities, including a featured letter, phonetic sound, or similar educational focus. Aimed at ages 2-6.

Revised by MCPL Children's Services, January 2013.