Sports Illustrated for Kids

Sports Illustrated Kids. The Time Inc. Magazine Company.

ISSN:1042-394X

Price :$47.88 for 12 issues

Reader's Annotation: Sports Illustrated Kids has sports news for kids ages 7-12.

Summary: Sports Illustrated Kids has just what you'd expect : sports news for kids. Unlike the adult version of the magazine, though, it's a pretty clean version of sports news. There is analysis of teams and leagues and players, but no talk of which big sports star got into trouble with the law for doing something foolish. The news is positive and encouraging. The magazine has plenty of stories of kids athleticism as well, and does a fairly good job of covering both men's and women's teams. I wouldn't be surprised to see a tween girl reading this mag, but it does still generally strike me as being a "boys read." On the downside, there are plenty of ads in the magazine, but on the plus side, at least some of them are for books. There are also articles about sports in the wider world. For example, in the December issue there was a story about Jewish and Muslim kids in Jerusalem playing on the same soccer teams.

Genre: magazine, environment, friends, identity, sports,

Series : --

Evaluation: This is a great choice for a tween section (though it would be an easier sell if it wasn't called Sports Illustrated KIDS.) Athletes, both boys and girls, will find something interesting for their reading pleasure.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Magazines, and particularly sports magazines, are going to speak to a particular segment of reluctant readers. For these readers, Sports Illustrated Kids will be a great find.

Readalikes :

• Boy's Life
  
• Youth Runner
  

Other Useful Info:

• Sports Illustrated Kids Website

Reviews:

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Discovery Girls

Discovery Girls. Discovery Girls Inc.

ISSN:1535-3230

Price :$27.00 for 6 issues/year

Reader's Annotation: Discovery Girls is created by and for girls ages 7-12.

Summary: Discovery Girls has articles about middle school, friends, celebrities, hairstyles, contests, quizzes and advice columns. Much of the content is informative and education, but there are also some articles about fashion trends and celebrities. Each issue features "Discovery Girls" from a particular state. This is a diverse group of girls that have been selected to help develop the content of the issue and have a photo shoot adventure with the magazine's adult staff.

Genre: magazine, friends, family, identity, siblings, popularity

Series : This magazine is published by the Discovery group folks.

Evaluation: A solid choice for tween readers, I actually enjoyed it more than American Girl, just because when I sit down with a magazine, I do like a few hairstyling tips. They could put hairstyling tips in National Geographic, and I'd think the magazine was better for it.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This is a magazine that tweens enjoy reading. It has some info on Miley Cyrus mixed in with book reviews and suggestions on volunteering in your community. It's a good compromise for parents and tween girls.

Readalikes :

• New Moon
  
• American Girls
  

Other Useful Info:

• Discovery Girs Website

Reviews:

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American Girl Magazine

American Girl. Pleasant Company.

ISSN:1062-7812

Price :$27.00 for 6 issues

Reader's Annotation: Created just for tweens, American Girl is an age-appropriate alternative to teen magazines.

Summary: American Girl magazine has all the same stuff teen magazines have, but with the content dialed down to be appropriate for tween readers. There are feature stories, quizzes, advice columns, games and crafts, and content developed by readers. Each issue is organized around a central theme, such as "pets" or "save the Earth," and has 40-70 pages of ad-free content. The articles are upbeat and focus on girls developing their self-esteem, without being overly preachy.

Genre: magazine, friends, family, identity, siblings

Series : This magazine is published by the American Girl folks, but it doesn't connect with their historical fiction series in any way.

Evaluation: A solid choice for tween readers, and I don't mind flipping through one on my lunch hour either.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This is a magazine that tweens enjoy reading (all the issues at my library are falling apart they've been read so often) and the most parents will get behind as a reading option. The articles are smart and positive.

Readalikes :

• New Moon
  
• Discovery Girls
  

Other Useful Info:

• American Girl Website

Reviews:

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Creative Kids

Creative Kids. Prufrock Publishing.

ISSN:0892-9599

Price :$19.95 for 6 issues

Reader's Annotation: Creative Kids is the nations largest magazine with content written entirely by kids.

Summary: Creative Kids magazine is written by students from all over the world. Young writers submit stories, opinion pieces, poems, artwork, puzzels, and more. Kids can find penpals and ideas for their own writing at home. The content is as varied as the author, but usually covers issues important to tweens, such as friends and family and school. Some issues have themes, such as The Election. Authors wrote opinion pieces about why kids should be allowed to vote at 16, and why the electoral college doesn't make any sense.

Genre: magazine, friends, family

Series : This magazine is not part of a series.

Evaluation: It's amazing to see what tweens create when they have a venue.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: This magazine doesn't fly off the shelves at our library, but it does have a devoted set of readers. I would recommend it for a collection because it's inspiring for kids to read what other kids have written, and to realize they can be published authors as well.

Readalikes :

• Muse
  
• Teen Ink
  

Other Useful Info:

• Creative Kids won a Parent's Choice Award
  

Reviews:

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Nintendo Power

Nintendo Power. Future US, Inc.

ISSN: 1041-9551

Price :$59.88 for 12 issues

Reader's Annotation: Everything Nintendo! Game tips, insider information, game previews and reviews.

Summary: Not many surprises in Nintendo Power...it's video games, video games, video games. Reviews and previews, tips and tricks, ads and commentary, and plenty of screen shots grace it's pages. There are some interviews with video game creators, and a small section at the end called "Community" that talks about folks who like to play video games. There isn't much content designed to make you think about things other than video games, but if you like video games, then you'll probably enjoy this magazine.

Genre: magazine, video games

Series : --

Evaluation: This is certainly not a magazine I'd ever pick up and read (no hairstyle tips) but then I'm not a video game fan. However, the writing is solid, if not challenging, and for kids who like video games, this would provide incentive to read. There are plenty of ads in this magazine, but then that is to be expected. Adults should be aware that the magazine doesn't limit itself to covering games of a particular rating, but it does seem like Nintendo is shooting for a tween audience.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Tweens like magazines, and many like video games. What could be a better fit than a magazine about video games?

Readalikes :

• Electronic Gaming Monthly (for older tweens)
  
• Tips and Tricks (for older tweens)
  

Other Useful Info:

• Nintendo Power Website

Reviews:

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Boy's Life Magazine

Boy's Life. Boy Scouts of America.

ISSN:0006-8608

Price :$24.00 for 12 issues (half off for members of the Boy Scout Association)

Reader's Annotation: Boys' Life is a magazine for boys age 8-14, particularly those boys interested in scouts.

Summary: Boys' Life has a variety of articles, including fiction stories, non-fiction features, advice columns, games, sports stories and stories about scouting and the outdoors. Though the magazine says it is for "all boys," really, their target audience are Boy Scouts. The featured readers are scouts, there are plenty of stories about earning badges, and the stories that aren't directly scouting related are still tangentially so. Still, that's a good audience, members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Genre: magazine, friends, family, identity, siblings, coming of age, career

Series : --

Evaluation: A great choice for those who are scouts or agree with the scouting philosophy. Others may find the ads and/or the (relatively small number of) Christian references unappealing. Still worth adding to a collection, for those who will appreciate it.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: While many older tweens may be moving beyond their scouting years, younger tweens are right in the thick of the pack, as it were, and will want to keep current on their BSA news.

Readalikes :

• Sports Illustrated Kids
  
• National Geographic Kids
  

Other Useful Info:

• Boys' Life Website

Reviews:

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