I wrote recently about the books that grabbed me when I was little and helped turn me into a reader for life. But it wasn’t all about books. I adored comics and magazines too. I remember going to my friend Susan’s house when I was in primary school and poring over her copies of Twinkle, I was so jealous. I was desperate for my own.
If you grew up in the 70s, early 80s, you might have been lucky enough to subscribe to "the picture paper specially for little girls," which was published 1968 to 1999. Then came my obsession with Dennis and Gnasher in the Beano. Although its first issue was published way before my time (in July 1938 no less), it’s still going strong and is the world’s longest running weekly comic for kids.
In my Uni days my friend Irena introduced me to Calvin & Hobbes and I was hooked, I bought every book I could get my hands on. And so I was introduced to the world of comic books.
When I left University I suppose it wasn’t a total surprise that I went into the world of magazines. Conde Nast no less and I adored the glossy gorgeousness of them. I had bundles and bundles of them in my early 20s sitting pride of place in my living room. I still adore magazines today, and the offering for children has come a long way since Twinkle.
If you need to be convinced about magazines, then take a look at our feature: Give them more than cornflakes which showcases a recent research study between What on Earth Magazine! and OU RfP which shows how pupils’ access to magazines started to filter into their wider borrowing habits with more children choosing non-fiction reads from the library, keen to explore topics discovered in each issue. Magazines and comics are another gateway to books and we should champion them for our children.
Here are some brilliant magazines that would be an amazing addition to any school library.
The Phoenix Comic
The Phoenix is a weekly magazine for 7–14 year olds that’s packed with incredible comics, drawing guides, and plenty more that inspires kids to get reading, writing, and drawing! When things are adored in The Phoenix they often end up as successful book spin-offs just like Jamie Smart’s incredible Bunny vs Monkey series.
The Week Junior
The Week Junior is a weekly magazine for children which explains the news in an unbiased, age-appropriate way. Sometimes the news can be difficult to explain to children - and that's where they can help. It helps parents to navigate big, complex issues, such as race, politics, and climate change clearly and calmly, helping to dispel anxiety and confusion with clear facts and a balanced perspective. As well as news, every issue is packed with inspiring and uplifting stories, people, events and images from around the world. It covers a huge variety of topics across science, technology, animals, books, history, and geography as well as crafts, games, activities, recipes, ideas for new hobbies - and more.
The Week Junior Science+Nature
TWJ Science+Nature is a monthly magazine from the award-winning team behind The Week Junior. Every issue is packed with incredible content — from astounding experiments and jaw-dropping facts, to amazing pictures and inspiring stories, we satisfy curiosities and fuel a thirst for knowledge in kids aged 8 - 15.
sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk
First News Newspaper
First News is an independent, award-winning newspaper for kids aged 7 - 14 which publishes a print and digital edition every Friday. In addition, each week their team of educational specialists create a wealth of teaching resources to spark engagement with current affairs including ready-to-use reading activities based on stories in each week’s news.
AQUILA
In AQUILA, discover a trail-blazing, independent children’s magazine for curious readers aged 8 - 14. The magazine offers educational content in an engaging and entertaining format, fostering a love for reading and exploration. AQUILA covers a variety of subjects, encourages critical thinking, and promotes creativity, making it a wholesome addition to a child’s developmental journey. From Time Travel to Chocolate, each one covers S.T.E.M, history, English, maths, science, art and philosophy.
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids magazine gets young explorers aged 7 - 12 excited about a world full of adventure! Each educational, fun-filled issue delights children with fascinating features and games about nature, science, geography and history. National Geographic Kids magazine educates thousands of planet-passionate readers each month and inspires the next generation to protect and care for our beautiful planet.
www.natgeokids.com/uk/subscribeuk/#school_subscription
Britannica’s What On Earth!
Check out this new non-fiction monthly magazine designed for all curious young minds. Prepare for your brain to be boggled with amazing facts, extraordinary feats and awe-inspiring true-life stories! For many children the real world is far more fascinating than anything you can make up. Learning through natural curiosity is the key to What on Earth! Magazine, which is published in print and online 10 times a year for children aged 6 - 14. And Schools check out their free Schools Club!
Storytime
Storytime is the UK’s only story magazine and it’s packed with fairy tales, new and classic stories, awesome animals, inspirational children, myths, legends, gorgeous illustrations, puzzles, games and much, much more! It’s a great way to get kids reading for pleasure. Their traditional tales fit with the curriculum and colourful illustrations, activities and games bring them to life. School subscriptions now come with a monthly teaching resource pack, including fact sheets, lesson ideas, class games and activities.
Beano
Help spark creativity and get kids laughing out loud with a Beano comic subscription. Each issue offers 36 pages of giggles, featuring famous characters including Dennis, Gnasher, Minnie, Bananaman, Billy Whizz and more. An award-winning children’s magazine for kids aged 6 - 12, readers can expect a fun and exciting mix of comic adventures, pranks, hilarious jokes and activities packed inside every issue, helping keep today's kids entertained.
beano.com/beano-comic-subscription
MATCH!
We all have that football mad youngster in our lives. I have dozens of them. And what better way to encourage them to read than having a magazine packed full of their favourite content, their favourite players, their favourite football teams. This magazine might just be the incentive they need to venture into the library for the very first time. You can maybe even use the Panini Sticker Packs as incentives!
How It Works
Whether you've just started school or your student days are far behind you, How It Works is the magazine for everyone, no matter if you're aged eight or 80. If you're curious about science, technology, transport, history, space and the environment, How It Works will sate your appetite for knowledge about the world we live in and beyond. How It Works’ expert explanations, dynamic cutaways and breathtaking images help its eager audience to understand and explore the wonders of the modern world. Making complex topics accessible for readers of all ages, How It Works stands for clarity, authority, intelligence and knowledge, which is why the brand is successful worldwide in all its forms – print, digital and online.
And of course, Graphic Novels…
We would be remiss not to mention our love for graphic novels in this feature, another gargantuan gateway into the world of books.
Dive into our Graphic Novels and Comics category on LoveReading4Kids - perfect for the comic fans in your life.
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