July 16, 2026
A Different Sort of Summer Reading

I love magazines!

I know it feels very archaic to some people in this digital world, but there is nothing better than getting something other than a bill in the mail, especially when it’s a magazine curated to your personal interests. 

It is a huge bright spot in my month. 

I didn’t read a lot of fiction as a young adult, so magazines were paramount in keeping me reading and curious. While I read a lot of fiction now, I still love sitting down with an interesting magazine. I know some will say the impact on the planet deters them from taking print subscriptions, and I respect that, but I try to lessen my environmental impact in other ways to make room for something that gives me so much joy.

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Some of my personal favorites are:

Lifestyle: 

Birds and Blooms & Victoria

Special Interest: 

Astronomy, National Geographic, Smithsonian & Archeology 

Professional: 

Publishers Weekly & Writer’s Digest

( I buy all of these and no content is sponsored)


Magazines are a great way to encourage kids to read throughout the long summer months. They can also help deepen special interests. 

Not sure if you want to commit to a subscription? 

Most major bookstores have a magazine section where you can purchase a single copy to test out. 

Below is a fairly comprehensive list of magazines for children. Please, however, know that I am not personally endorsing any of these specifically, and would always advise a flip-through to make sure the content meets your personal guidelines.

What do do with all those magazines when your done? 

Pass them on to friends or neighbors, children’s hospitals, early learning centers, homeless shelters, teachers, charity shops, or recycle them.

Kids’ Magazines 

Ages 0-3 

Ranger Rick Cub

Intro-level animal magazine for preschoolers.

Babybug Magazine

Board-book-style magazine with very simple stories and rhymes for babies and toddlers.


Ages 3–6 

Ladybug Magazine

Read-aloud stories, beautiful poetry, and engaging nonfiction, just the right length for a cozy cuddle.

Cricket Spider Magazine

Illustrated stories, poems, folk tales, comics, activities, and nonfiction spanning topics from science to history and the arts. 

Highlights High Five

Preschool puzzles, stories, and learning activities.

Clubhouse Jr.

Christian faith-based magazine with Bible stories and character lessons.


Ages 6–8

Focus: independent reading, animals, puzzles, beginner science, early sports exposure

Highlights Magazine

Puzzles, hidden pictures, and short stories.

National Geographic Kids

Science, animals, geography, and real-world exploration.

Ranger Rick

Wildlife and nature-focused stories.

Zoobooks

Deep animal-focused magazine featuring one species per issue.

Sports Illustrated Kids

General sports magazine for young readers.

Clubhouse Jr.

Christian faith-based magazine with Bible stories and character lessons.

Youngman Magazine

Christian faith-based worldview designed to disciple boys into godly manhood through engaging, practical, and meaningful content.


Ages 8–12 

ASK Magazine

Answers big “why” questions through science, history, and creativity.

Muse Magazine

STEM-focused magazine covering science, space, and technology.

Cricket Magazine

Literary magazine with fiction, poetry, and illustration.

SuperScience

Hands-on STEM experiments and science learning.

Sports Illustrated Kids

Older-level sports content and athlete stories.

MLB Kids Magazine

Baseball-focused magazine.

Young Rider

Horse and equestrian lifestyle magazine.

Clubhouse Magazine

Christian faith-based magazine for older kids with longer stories.

Living Faith Kids

Daily devotions based on the Scripture readings from the Mass, alongside engaging activities, puzzles, and reflections designed just for Catholic kids.

Catholic Kids Club Magazine

Faith-based magazine with saints, stories, and activities.

Tuttle Times

Kid-friendly magazine explaining civics, economics, and how society and systems work.

Youngman Magazine

Christian faith-based worldview designed to disciple boys into godly manhood through engaging, practical, and meaningful content.


Happy reading!