No matter how many awesome tech tools we find, we’ll always love a great print magazine. There are so many classroom uses, from adding variety to your classroom library to using excerpts for reading or writing mini-lessons, or to boost kids’ background knowledge about a topic. Whether you get a classroom subscription or stock up on back issues that fit your curriculum, we think these are some of the best magazines for kids to land in your mailbox.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
1. Highlights High Five (Ages 3–6)
This is our top choice for the best magazine for pre-K and kindergarten kids. It has fun recurring features they can access independently—hooray for Hidden Pictures! There are also diverse short stories, poems for shared reading, and awesome how-to directions for projects and recipes.
Buy it: Highlights High Five subscription
2. Highlights High Five Bilingüe (Ages 3–6)
This is such a great resource if kids in your classroom speak (or are learning) Spanish! All the same great features of the original magazine in a bilingual format.
Buy it: Highlights High Five Bilingüe
3. Ladybug (Ages 2–6)
Every page of Ladybug is beautiful, colorful, and a delight to read. Each issue is filled with charming characters, activities, songs, poems, and stories.
Buy it: Ladybug at Cricket Media
4. National Geographic Little Kids (Ages 2–6)
This is our favorite science and social studies magazine for preschool and kindergarten kids. National Geographic’s signature photos draw kids in, and the content is great for a quick, engaging read-aloud or kids’ own browsing. We also like to save back issues that relate to curriculum topics.
Buy it: National Geographic Little Kids subscription
5. Humpty Dumpty (Ages 2–6)
Humpty Dumpty has stories, poems, cartoons, puzzles, games, recipes, and crafts that are designed with an emergent reader in mind.
Buy it: Humpty Dumpty subscription
6. Ranger Rick Jr. (Ages 3–6)
Little ones love the fun activities, simple stories, wild animal features, and seasonal crafts and recipes. This magazine sparks kids’ interest in nature and gets them ready to read.
Buy it: Ranger Rick Jr. subscription
7. Highlights (Ages 5–10)
A timeless choice. Science projects, puzzles, games, and stories encourage creativity and critical thinking skills. Kids can also submit their own art and writing for consideration.
Buy it: Highlights for Children
8. Spider (Ages 6–9)
This artful choice is full of stories, poems, articles, and illustrations from around the world. It’s great for newly independent readers who are excited about reading a variety of content.
Buy it: Spider at Cricket Media
9. ChickaDEE (Ages 6–9)
Jam-packed full of interactive games, hands-on science experiments, amazing photos, illustrations, and stories. We like how ChickaDEE balances education and entertainment.
Buy it: ChickaDEE at Owlkids
10. ChopChop (Ages 4–12)
This is the best cooking magazine for foodie kids! Recipes, photos, and fun food-themed articles will ignite kids’ interest in healthy cooking and eating.
Buy it: ChopChop at ChopChop Family
11. Jack and Jill (Ages 6–12)
Jack and Jill offers variety with engaging stories, games, comics, kid-centered interviews, recipes, and crafts. Readers can also submit their own stories, poems, articles, jokes, and drawings for publication consideration.
Buy it: Jack and Jill at U.S. Kids
12. National Geographic Kids (Ages 6–12)
While it’s more ad-heavy than the little-kid version, we still think this is one of the best magazines for elementary kids. Lots of high-interest topics to wow readers, plus activities and jokes.
Buy it: National Geographic Kids subscription
13. Ranger Rick (Ages 7–10)
Ranger Rick presents amazing facts, stunning photos, and outdoor adventures that help kids sharpen reading skills and develop a deeper appreciation for nature.
Buy it: Ranger Rick subscription
14. Ask (Ages 7–10)
This is one of the best magazines for curious, thoughtful kids. In-depth articles tackle kids’ big questions about art, inventions, science, and more. Readers can submit their questions for the magazine to answer.
Buy it: Ask at Cricket Media
15. Illustoria (Ages 8–14)
This whimsical magazine is published three times per year by the International Alliance of Youth Writing Centers. Each issue centers on a topic like motion, food, the rain forest, etc. Look for themed book reviews, infographics, unique project directions, fresh interviews and profiles, poetry, short stories, and more. The super-cool design and emphasis on visual storytelling will appeal to artsy kids. Subscribe annually or purchase individual issues. Heavyweight pages make each issue keepsake-quality.
Buy it: Illustoria subscription
16. Sports Illustrated Kids (Ages 8–14)
A fan favorite! Kids can read about professional and up-and-coming youth athletes, training tips, Q&As, sports stats, and more. They can also submit their sports artwork for a monthly contest. This is one of our go-to offerings for reluctant readers.
Buy it: Sports Illustrated Kids at Sports Illustrated
17. Animal Tales (Ages 6–12)
Animal lovers will fawn over this magazine full of glossy, cute animal photos and stories that are both feel-good and informative.
Buy it: Animal Tales subscription
18. Honest History (Ages 8–14)
This impeccably researched gem gets rave reviews from educators looking for social studies resources. Each issue focuses on a theme and offers many perspectives on the topic, including #OwnVoices articles and interviews, stories and comics, key vocabulary, maps, and more. Subscribe for quarterly issues or buy single copies. Heavyweight pages mean these will hold up well to years of student reading.
Buy it: Honest History at Honest History
19. Faces (Ages 9–14)
Faces helps kids understand how people in other countries and cultures live. Each issue focuses on a different culture—from Jordan to the emerging Asian states—including stories about daily life, folktales, history, and traditions of the people and places.
Buy it: Faces at Cricket Media
20. New Moon Girls (Ages 8–14)
Started by a mom of twin preteen girls, this magazine aims to inspire girls to be their authentic, resilient, empowered selves.
Buy it: New Moon Girls at New Moon Girls
21. Cricket (Ages 9–14)
A classic choice! Cricket features stories, poems, puzzles, recipes, and science and nature articles.
Buy it: Cricket at Cricket Media
22. The Week Junior (Ages 9–14)
This weekly publication is jam-packed full of current events and high-interest topics for kids. You’ll find tons of short text to use for lessons about persuasive writing, informational writing, and content-area topics.
Buy it: The Week Junior subscription
What do you think are the best magazines for kids? Share in the comments below.
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