Last night, Scott returned from bedtime prayers with a message for me, a tiny note cunningly concealed in an origami dodecahedron.
"Mom, please look at the Muse
I happened to be standing beside the table. Why lookie there! Open on the table, the May/June 2005 issue of Muse. The page 8 article is called "Counting Coots," about the American bird of the giggle-inducing name. Did you know the female coot can count? Neither did I, until last night.
This is a pretty common occurrence around here. The "please read this article" requests don’t always come packaged in geometric shapes, but Jane is constantly quoting from Muse.
"Mom, do you know why babies smile when you smile at them?"
"Because they are delighted by my beautiful visage?"
"Very funny, Mom. No, it’s because of something called ‘mirror neurons,’ and did you know that scientists think there’s a connection between mirror neurons and autism?"
And so goes my education. You know that’s why I homeschool, right?
Muse, which is put out by Carus, the publishers of Cricket
Rose (age 8) is fond of Ranger Rick
Speaking of gorgeous photos, the closeups of backyard birds in Birds & Blooms
We used to subscribe to Highlights, but I think it fell victim to household budget cuts at some point. We still look for it at the doctor’s office, though.
Also popular with my younguns is Magnifikid, a weekly missalette containing the readings and prayers for the Catholic Mass.
What are your kids’ favorite magazines? Do you subscribe?
YES Magazine is a hit with my 11 year old. And with me, too! Science and humour with great photography.
Chickadee (Owl Magazine’s younger sibling) is a big part of my 8 year old’s reading material.
When I was a kid, National Geographic World was my favourite mag.
We really enjoy Discover Kids. There are no ads, just a ton of information.
My 10-year-old daughter gets Spider and American Girl Magazine and My Friend (but that one is folding)
My 7-year-old son gets Cricket. We keep trying to get other magazines for him – but haven’t found the perfect match – he’s gotten Thomas the Tank Engine (it folded), Arthur Magazine (it folded) – Discover Kids (too advanced for him at the time), My Big Backyard (he got for awhile) I still need another good magazine for him to even things out with his sister.
We LOVE all these, too. And Highlights has a great Which Way USA set of fifty illustrated child-friendly maps and magazines for each of the states.
We were just given a bunch of old copies of Birds and Blooms by the piano teacher and my children love them.
My kid loves National Geographic. She is always looking for them in second hand bookshops and buying them with any spare change she (okay, I) happen to have.
American Girl, Young Rider, and Clubhouse (from Focus on the Family) are the ones we have subscriptions to. My younger daughter cracks me up with Young Rider. She has developmental delays so is just barely beginning to read. Young Rider is way above her reading level, so she can’t read a single article in it… but oh, she looks forward to getting it! Peruses the pictures eagerly and has worn her back issues to tatters. We also love any of the Reiman publications… Birds & Blooms, Farm & Ranch, Country, etc.
Muse is the magazine of “life, the universe, and PIE THROWING!!!!!!!!!!” Muse ROCKS!! Muse FOREVER!!!!!!
P.S. The mirror neurons issue was Nov/Dec 2006, the “counting coots” issue was May/June 2005, and the issue pictured was February 2007.
P.P.S. There are 9 issues every year: January, February, March, April, May/June, July/August, September, October, and November/December.
P.P.P.S. Muse had its 10th anniversary in January.
We have Highlights and Ranger Rick for the oldest
Zoo Books and My Big BAck Yard for the middle child
and Zoolets and Wild Animal Baby for the youngest
Oh! You HAVE to check out Moo Cow Fan Club Magazine! http://www.moocowfanclub.com/
It is one of the best kept secrets in the world of childrens magazines. I have written more about it here (and you can see an interview with the creators)
http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/12/11/238/
Wonderful, wonderful magazine. We also like Ask a lot and my youngest (the animal lover) likes Ranger Rick.
Our boys really like “Break Away” from Focus on the Family. World Magazine also puts out a good one for kids. We also like Birds & Blooms.
This is great to get others’ ideas!
My older daughter (12) has loved New Moon for a long time. She also likes Best Friends (the animal sanctuary)’s magazine. She likes National Geographic for Kids. She reads Cobblestone and Calliope, but doesn’t love them. Maybe she would like Muse more?
My son (8) likes National Geographic for Kids also.
Marianna is a fan of Cobblestone and Cricket but we have never seen Muse before! How has that happened? It sounds like it ROCKS!!!
My parents are great about giving subscriptions to the kids. My lucky kiddoes are currently receiving National Geographic Kids, Kids Discover, Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, and American Girl. I’ve been thinking about Magnifikid for them — thanks for the reminder.
Time to read Coot Club by Arthur Ransome!
Since beginning our homeschool experiment last October, we started a subscription to Boy’s Life and Girls Life. Both are great!
What great ideas! We get Clubhouse from Focus on the Family but Muse sounds perfect for my 7yr old son – he soaks all that stuff up. Will make a great gift idea for his birthday.