At the Columbia Public Library, in the land of the Children’s Section, between the mountains of J. Fiction and J. Nonfiction, nestled in the Valley of the J. Graphic Novels, lies a bookshelf lined with colorful magazines. The newest editions are in a plastic blue cover – they stay at the library for everyone to enjoy. However, if curiosity befalls you, you can check out any older magazine. If it has this neon sticker (shown below), you can check it out like any other book and take it home! You’ll have to go to the Checkout Desk to check out magazines, though – there’s not a way to check them out at the self-check kiosk. 🙂
To a kiddo, magazines might seem like a grown-up thing – after all, magazines are for adults in waiting rooms who forgot their books at home. But nowadays, there are a lot of accessible, fun magazines directed towards kids – not just Highlights, though Highlights is classic for a reason! Some of them reside in the Valley of the J. Graphic Novels, and the rest are towards the back windows –just beyond the Cozy Corner and the Whale Sea.
Magazines have many of the same benefits for children that they do for adults. They allow kids to explore wide swaths of different interests – horseback riding, the natural wonders of Missouri wildlife, their favorite Saturday morning cartoon characters’ antics – without the ‘pressure’ of reading an entire book. Children’s magazines such as The Week, Jr. also include information about the most recent world events, packaged in a child-appropriate and accessible format. Magazines like Illustoria and Cricket‘s series include many puzzles for curious-minded families!
Allow me to share some of my favorite J magazines with you, in no particular order. As I said, any of these with a yellow sticker at the bottom are welcome to be checked out and taken home! This is not an exhaustive list – we have many more magazines for whatever you fancy. If you’re looking for something in particular, ask a librarian, check the catalog or leave a comment!
Xplor is a magazine I loved as a kid. It’s specifically organized and written for kids by the Missouri Department of Conservation, and fun fact – Missouri is the only state with a magazine like this! Xplor delves into the inner workings of conservation within Missouri, but more importantly, it highlights the connection between humans and animals in our little corner of the world. It’s a great way for kids to learn about local flora and fauna! In it, they’ll also find fun facts, techniques for various outdoor activities, and other ways to enjoy the world around them. This issue has an entire six-page spread about the benefits of Missouri wetlands, the animals found there and how they interact with the world around them. There is also a spread from a turtle who is a motivational speaker (he has wonderful advice!).
The Week Jr. is a wonderful resource for kids who want to know more about what’s going on in the big world around them. What I like best about this publication is not only the wide array of topics it covers –from sports to politics to scientific discoveries – but also the way it’s presented. Some world news, when presented the way adult news programs are, can be frightening for children. However, it’s still important for kids to be informed about things going on around them, which many children have a deep interest in to begin with. This is why I appreciate The Week Jr.‘s wording along with the grace and balance with which they approach intense topics. It allows kids to be aware of world events so that they can discuss those events with trusted adults. This particular issue includes information about the new Supreme Court ethics code and how it works – important information for any American citizen!
Illustoria is a fascinating magazine. It explores ideas of creativity, encourages inference and builds ideas about the world in ways that are fun for kids and grown-ups alike! In the ‘Mystery Issue’, which I perused for this article, you’ll find mazes, poetry, puzzles…but not your typical sort of puzzles. Illustoria‘s world is akin to an alien planet – in this magazine, I found myself matching speech bubbles to fascinating characters, guessing the descriptions of a story and reading a recipe for ALIEN TOAST!! There was even a message from an astrophysicist about dark matter. I love this magazine as an adult, but as a kid, I’d probably be obsessed with it. This magazine also includes many reading suggestions for specific experiences – this issue recommended “The Longest Letsgoboy” as a good book about pet loss and grief. I also love this book and even wrote about it in my first-ever blog post for DBRL. In short, if you enjoy silly but intelligent riddles and puzzles, Illustoria is the magazine for you!!
Young Rider is pretty awesome. There’s no other way to put it! As a lifelong horse girl myself, reading about the adventures of young equestrians is always a blast, even though I no longer have plans to own and care for my own horse. Young Rider has commentary for every part of the equestrian lifestyle. The issue shown above, for instance, includes grooming tips, guides for getting gear and even ways to safely glitterize your horse!!! (As a fan of glitter, horses and safety, that part’s my favorite.) Young Rider‘s seasonal issues contain “Ask Young Rider” sections (similar to an ‘Ask Abby’), and stories written by riders themselves – this issue is about someone’s worst fall! – and even craft ideas and instructions.
Muse is a magazine for curious folks, much like Illustoria. It’s a member of Cricket’s creative series directed towards older kids. Each issue of Muse, like Illustoria, will have a different theme, allowing each issue to explore obscure details of each topic. This particular issue, shown above, delves into the history behind codes and codebreaking. There is a section on the Navajo code talkers, information about Alan Turing and his work at Bletchley Park, and even instructions on how to create one’s own codes. And yes, there is a lot of information about coding itself – an interview with Dakshita Khurana, a quantum cryptographer, opened my eyes to a lot of different information about the computers we use every day! I appreciate Muse’s investigations and clear communication style. It’s accessible and fun, with games and activities peppered throughout for kids who enjoy such things!
Okay, I’ll admit it – I saved the best for last. Stone Soup is a magazine written for kids…BY kids. It’s a very powerful magazine that delves into the beauty, strife, difficulty and wonder of life through kids’ eyes. According to the former editor of the magazine, Gerry Mandel, Stone Soup “..publish[es] work by kids who, like adult writers, have something to say.” This magazine has been in print since 1972 (making it 52 years old!), and since then has given a voice to many children throughout the years. Young writers and artists can concretely express themselves with publication in Stone Soup. The stories in this magazine range from the silly to the heartrending – reminding us that children are not immune to the perils of the world that we live in. Like adults, many children find solace and peace in writing or otherwise creating art about their experiences. Children also generally have incredibly intelligent and raw insights about the things they see, and Stone Soup allows them to express these in a way they enjoy.
I hope you’ve been inspired to check out the J magazine shelf next time you visit DBRL. We have lots of other family-focused magazines past the Cozy Corner, towards the windows – keep your eyes peeled for another blog post about them!
