It was a delight to meet last Thursday with Edge Grove parents from across the school and discuss the importance of parental support in a child’s reading journey and just what a difference reading for pleasure makes to a child’s success academically at school and in life beyond education. My presentation can be found here where I have shared links to various organisations that provide materials to help parents encourage reading at home. As the holidays approach and many families will be buying gifts for children, I have curated a list of the most popular magazines and newspapers that are familiar to me, and others that have been recommended by teachers and librarians from across the country. A subscription makes a wonderful present and non-fiction can be the gateway to further reading for pleasure. Many magazines are currently offering reduced subscriptions. For your fiction purchases, please visit the Edge Grove book stall at the Christmas Fair on Saturday where all books will be half their RRP. I look forward to seeing you there! For children interested in current affairs: The Week Junior: weekly for a year £111.99 The Week Junior is the award-winning, fun-to-read children’s magazine for 8-14 year olds. It explains our wonderful world in a safe, unbiased, age-appropriate way, encouraging kids to talk about what’s happening in the news, and get involved in their planet. https://theweekjunior.co.uk/
First News: weekly for 12 months £92.99 First News is a weekly newspaper aimed at 7-14-year-olds that aims to get kids talking about the news in an easy to understand and non-threatening way. We cover issues which are relevant to children and which specifically affect them. Inside you’ll find a mix of world news and UK news, but also loads of fun stuff, such as entertainment, games, animals, sport and puzzles. https://www.firstnews.co.uk/
The Happy News: £3.99 per copy The Happy Newspaper celebrates all that’s good in the world; a platform to share positive news and wonderful people. Published every three months. https://thehappynewspaper.com/
For children interested in nature and the environment: National Geographic Kids: £35 for 13 issues annually Jaw-dropping photography and entertaining text to engage even the most reluctant readers. The latest news, coolest discoveries, and most inspiring stories from around the world. Brain-boggling quizzes, fun puzzles, and crafts to keep your child entertained for hours. Interviews with the biggest names in science and tech – from astronauts to zoologists. https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/subscribeuk/
Science+Nature Magazine: £19.99 for six issues Science+Nature is the monthly magazine from the award-winning team behind The Week Junior. Published every four weeks, this 60-page page-turner is jam-packed with amazing information, inspiring stories, mind-blowing facts, incredible pictures and fun activities — designed to spark curiosity and ignite a passion for discovery. https://sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk/
Eco Kids Planet: 11 magazines annually for £42.90 Eco Kids Planet aims to introduce children to the wonders of nature, and encourage them to protect their planet. https://www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk/
Animal Planet Magazine: monthly - £5 for 3 months then £9.95 quarterlyPacked with curious creatures and natural wonders, Animal Planet magazine empowers children to learn about the world around them. With spectacular facts, activities and stories, each and every page is filled with fun, sparking a sense of joy and wonder. https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/
For children who love books and stories: WRD Magazine: 3 issues per year for £18 WRD is 'the' reading magazine for children aged between 8 and 14 years old. It has been the-finger-on-the-pulse magazine of what's new and what's happening in children's books since 2003. It's filled with extracts from the latest books, author Q&As plus loads of assorted features and activities. http://www.wrdmag.co.uk/
Storytime Magazine: 12 months for £38.99 Storytime is one of the UK’s leading kids magazines – packed with fairy tales, new and classic stories, awesome animals, inspirational children, myths, legends, gorgeous illustrations, puzzles, games and much, much more! There are no adverts, no plastic toys, and each issue arrives in a special envelope, so children have the excitement of receiving their own post! https://www.storytimemagazine.com/kids-magazine-subscriptions/
Storybox Magazine: 10 issues for £67 A read-aloud magazine to share with young children, 3-6. Each issue contains 52 pages including: an engaging and exciting 25-page story that young children will enjoy listening to, with rich, full-page illustrations, Animal and Science pages to encourage children’s curiosity and introduce them to scientific thinking, Comic: A picture-story about everyday life at the Lovett’s, with characters children will look forward to meeting each month. Number and letter skills practised through play and poems from Judith Nicholls. https://bayard-magazines.co.uk/products/storybox
Wonderbooks from Save the Children: £9 donation per month Wonderbooks are a series of real-life stories of children across the world known by Save the Children. With a monthly donation, a different Wonderbook, Grown-Ups guide and fun facts postcard is sent each month. Each Wonderbook opens up the world of a child from a different country. Perfect for children aged four to eight to learn about different contexts and cultures through each adventure, and parents are supported to have great conversations about the topics explored in each story with a Grown-Ups Guide. https://www.wonderbooks.org.uk/
For children who love general knowledge, science and technology: Aquila Magazine: 12 months for £60 AQUILA is for curious children of 8 years plus: Science, History & General knowledge are blended together in witty articles that will challenge & inspire. Adults enjoy the magazine too – it is well-researched, takes a balanced view on history and is beautifully illustrated with newly-commissioned quality artwork every month. https://www.aquila.co.uk/
Fizz Pop Bang! Magazine: 12 issues monthly £39.99 Whizz Pop Bang is a 36-page children’s magazine jam-packed with science fun! It’s a top-quality magazine that’s built to last. Each month’s issue focuses on a new and interesting subject, with broad-ranging content to appeal to all budding scientists aged between six and twelve. https://www.whizzpopbang.com/
How it Works Magazine: 13 issues for £42.99 Are you always wondering how our world works? Give Google a rest and invest in a How It Works magazine subscription! Designed for inquisitive minds with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, How It Works magazine educates, engages and enlightens readers who want to know absolutely everything. Jam-packed with science, technology, transport, space and history features, a How It Works magazine subscription will spark your interest in seconds. Be captivated with the awe-inspiring images and heaps of interesting and wonderful facts and stats. https://www.magazine.co.uk/magazines/how-it-works-magazine
For creativity and fun for pre-schoolers: DOT Magazine: quarterly for £24 A quarterly print magazine aimed at boys & girls aged 5 and under. DOT encompasses all aspects of a child’s life, from jumping in puddles to learning through play. It encourages kids to be resourceful and find solutions using all the tools they naturally have at their disposition: imagination, creativity and fun. https://anorakmagazine.com/pages/dot
For well-being and empowerment: Teen Breathe: monthly - 12 issues for £54 A bi-monthly magazine for 8-14 covering topics including mindfulness, wellbeing, creativity and health. https://www.teenbreathe.co.uk/magazines/
Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy: £25 for 6 copies annually Inspired by her daughter, founder Serlina launched the UK’s first magazine to celebrate Black girls, Cocoa Girl, giving Black children a voice whilst educating the community about the Black culture. Cocoa magazine is filled with inspiring and empowering content for children aged 7-11 years old. Cocoa is an educational tool that teaches children about black culture whilst profiling black role models.
For football mad children: Match of the Day Magazine: Fortnightly £49.99 for 25 issues Every issue of this magazine features puzzles and quizzes to test the footballing knowledge of young fans across the country. With a subscription to Match of the Day magazine, not only will your footy-mad kids get an eight-page skills guide pull-out to help them improve their own game, but they'll also be able to read the latest news and transfer gossip from the Barclays Premier League every single week. There are interviews with top Premiership stars in each edition, as well as posters of your kids' favourite players for them to put on their bedroom walls. https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/match-of-the-day/mag0000000097.html
For children who love comics: Beano: weekly £10 for three months, then £20 quarterly Beano is the world's longest running comic and great for reluctant readers with old favourites like the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx , and of course, Dennis and Gnasher. The Beano is witty, clever and timeless and as relevant and important now to young readers, (and older ones!) as it has always been. https://shop.beano.com/beano-comic-subscription
The Phoenix: weekly for a year £99.99 The Phoenix is a high quality weekly comic that’s perfect for girls and boys aged 7-14. Each issue contains… Thrilling and action-packed stories with richly imagined worlds and characters. Funny comics that will have kids laughing for hours and make them want to read. Fascinating non-fiction comics covering history, science and more. Art and storytelling tips that inspire kids to spend more time reading, drawing and writing. https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/