The Best Magazines for Kids (That Get Them Reading)

Would your kids read more if they had a magazine subscription? Probably. Because reading magazines counts as reading and getting mail rocks! Luckily, there’s a kids’ magazine for almost every age, stage, and interest from nature to crafts to science and more. See if one of these children’s magazines looks like a good fit for your child.

The Best Magazines for Kids (That Get Them Reading)

Chirp: The See and Do, Laugh and Learn Magazine
ages 3 – 6
$5.25 per issue or $34.95 / year
Kids love getting their own mail and Chirp is a special magazine to send. Inside you’ll find puzzles, snack ideas, stories, information on places and animals, and craft ideas meant for parents and caregivers to share with children. Chirp excels at developmentally appropriate information and topics with an engaging layout. This magazine is an excellent choice for preschool boys and girls. Look inside here.

National Geographic Little Kids: The Magazine for Young Explorers
ages 3 – 6
$4.99 per issue or $15 / year
Of all the magazines we’ve received when my kids were little, this one was a big hit. Designed for preschoolers to read with an adult or to look through on their own, this sturdy magazine features the expected brilliant photographs along with information on conservation, geography, adventure, wildlife, and science. You’ll also find games and punch out wild animal cards, too.

ChickaDee
ages 6 – 9
$5.25. per issue or $34.95 / year
Named for the animal characters Chick and Dee, this colorful magazine from Owl Kids is stuffed with goodies for the beginning reader crowd. You’ll find comics, puzzles, animal info, crafts, jokes, how to draw directions, crafts, fiction stories, experiments, animal of the month, and contests. Want to check it out? Go here to look inside.

Thomas &  Friends
ages 3 – 8
$4.99 or $27.50 / year
Thomas the Train fans will love this magazine devoted entirely to the series and trains. Read stories, color in pictures and puzzle, search and find, do crafts, and learn more about trains. Designed to be educational as well as entertaining.

National Geographic Kids
ages 6 – 12
$4.99 per issue or $15.00 / year
If you have an animal and nature lover, he or she will probably enjoy this magazine containing Weird But True facts, short articles with facts and illustrations or photographs, and more. As you might expect, the photographs are super eye-catching.

Kazoo: a magazine for girls who aren’t afraid to make some noise
ages 5 – 10
$12.50 per issue or $50 / year
Started on Kickstarter, Kazoo features girl-empowering stories about artists, explorers, scientists, athletes, writers and more. Each month is thematic. The magazine shares DIY projects, comics, science, coloring pages, puzzles, information about the theme, a comic biography of a famous person, snack ideas, a fictional story, and more. (No fashion in sight!) I love this magazine, I just wish it cost less but if you want quality without ads, this mag is for you.

Discovery Girls Created By Girls, For Girls
ages 8 +
$5.99 per issue or $29.95 / year
This is one of the magazines my kids pour over as soon as it comes in the mail. They love the real stories (especially the embarrassing moments) and advice from other kids, the quizzes are also a big favorite, plus there are articles for crafts, fashion, topical and seasonal information.

American Girl
ages 8 – 12
$5.99 per issue or $29.95/ year
The American Girl magazine is another kid favorite in my house. It’s age-appropriate with fun and wholesome crafts, stories, recipes, experiments, games, and activities. My kids like it because it’s fun to read plus there’s often something cool to tear-out like a poster or calendar.

Curious Jane Magazine: Science + Design + Engineering for Inquisitive Girls
ages 6 – 11
$9.95 per issue or $38.00 / year
If your daughter is a DIY, science, and design, enthusiast, she’ll like the projects in this thematic quarterly magazine for budding inventors. But that’s not all — she’ll also discover games, snacks, quizzes, and more. Pricey but ad free.

Sports Illustrated Kids
ages 8 – 14
$19.95 / year
Sports Illustrated Kids gives sports fans all the best sports updates as well as nutrition information, goal setting, performance tips, interviews, quizzes, stories, stats, comics, athlete bios and much more. It’s a dense magazine, you’ll find a LOT of reading material for every athletic interest. You’ll also get a tear-out mini-poster and sports cards in the issues, too.

OWL
ages 9 – 13
$5.25 per issue or $34.95 / year
In this gender-neutral magazine, tweens will read news, interviews, puzzles, DIY projects, cartoons, stories, and more. It’s filled with bright illustrations and colorful photographs. Take a peek inside here.