Magazines for children, tweens and teens, including comics and newspapers for children. This list features recommended titles suitable for use in primary and secondary school classrooms and libraries in the UK. Enthuse the children in your class with exciting magazines, or buy the ultimate kid’s magazine subscription gift for a child or relative! School libraries will be abuzz if you have a well-stocked magazine rack. Suggested titles include magazine subscriptions suitable for children aged 3-6, 7-12 and 13+; and also educational periodical subscriptions for teachers, Heads of Departments, subject coordinators, school leaders, and school librarians.
Our curated guide to children’s and teens’ magazines is a treasure trove of recommendations, ensuring that the young minds in your life are engaged, inspired, and informed. Whether you’re seeking captivating content for school libraries, classroom use, or the perfect gift subscription, we’ve got you covered.
Magazines serve as valuable educational tools, providing access to diverse content for different age groups. Whether you a looking for great monthly magazines for kids, birthday or Christmas children’s magazine subscriptions or magazines for teens to reignite a love of reading at home or school, we hope there’s something in the list to spark your child’s imagination – whether you are a parent, teacher, or librarian.
From content designed for toddlers to material targeting teenagers, our recommendations cover a broad spectrum. Enhance early learning with visually appealing and educational magazines like Dot and Okido, or explore publications for tweens and teens, such as Teen Breathe and Marvel Legends.
The guide provides detailed insights for each magazine, offering information on thematic content, educational value, and age-appropriate suitability. Whether aiming to inspire creativity, instil a love for science, or nurture an interest in current affairs, we hope our curated list will help to facilitate well-informed choices for your young readers.
Magazines for children aged 2-6, including comics
Here’s our list of recommended magazine subscriptions for EYFS and KS1 pupils in primary school.
Dot
Highly visual and focused on activities, hobbies and things to do, this is a great magazine for girls and boys aged 5 and under. Released quarterly, it focuses on fun, creativity and imagination. It’s also a good choice for paired and shared reading in EYFS.
Okido
For inquisitive infants up to seven, this magazine is designed to instil STEAM concepts and introduce a scientific approach to thinking. Through character-driven learning and playing activities, children are introduced to coding, experiments, observation and creative ideas. The highly illustrated format makes this a great addition to your KS1 and EYFS libraries.
Storybox
With comics, short stories and reading discovery for children aged 3-6, this is a great magazine to introduce children to reading short bursts of longer material. Each magazine contains over 50 pages of adventures, engaging characters and comics. The text is split into short accessible paragraphs and children can ‘dip into’ the text. The bright, colourful format, makes Story Box ideal for reluctant readers aged 3-6, particularly in KS1. Have a look at a free taster edition.
Juno
Promoting a wholesome and experiential approach to childhood, Juno offers up think pieces on home education, parenting in a digital world and activities for the whole family. It’s an interesting read that will always provide a new and alternative perspective, without being condescending. A magazine for parents who want to bring up ethical and interesting children.
Chirp
Aimed at younger children who are just beginning to read, Chirp is a useful and reassuring blend of short bursts of text, vibrant illustrations, puzzles and comic strips. There’s lots to think about and discuss. A great magazine for girls and boys aged 3-6, and ideal for nursery and EYFS libraries.
Popin
Packed with retrieval, inference, numeracy, memory, fine motor skills and problem-solving activities, Popin is a good value, brightly illustrated and engaging magazine that will appeal to children in EYFS.
Magazines for children aged 6-12, including children’s newspapers and comics
Here’s our list of recommended magazine subscriptions for KS2 children in primary school.
Lego Life
Free for children aged 5-9, this fun and interactive quarterly magazine contains activities, character comics, posters, and examples of readers’ Lego creations. It’s ideal for reading at home and inspiring children to develop storytelling ideas from their construction builds.
National Geographic Kids Magazine
Geography and the natural world in a child-friendly format. The articles are well-written and informative, and the photography is stunning. The emphasis on activities, projects and prompts for further research will appeal to inquiring minds. A fun and educational monthly magazine for children. Highly recommended for 7-11-year-olds in KS2.
Brilliant Brainz
Aimed at 6-12-year-olds, this STEAM magazine blends creativity and education. It’s perfect for children who want to expand their knowledge and read about science and technology. With articles written by experts and qualified teachers, it’s also a valuable resource for primary school libraries and KS2 classrooms. Read our full review.
First News
The leading newspaper for children and tweens in the UK. A fantastic, vibrant weekly newspaper aimed at children from 7-14. Ideal to use at home, in the classroom or in the school library. Weblinks and additional resources are included for online learning and research.
The Week Junior
This compendium newspaper for children and tweens aged 8-14 is a vibrant and exciting way to present the weekly news. Ideal for school libraries and to promote discussion in the classroom. If your school runs a debating club, school newspaper, current affairs quiz team or podcasting, this magazine will be an excellent source of inspiration.
Adventure Box
Ideal for children aged 6-9 who enjoy reading adventures and real-life stories. It features longer chapter stories and features, and the comic strips are particularly engaging and well-illustrated. If you are looking for something stimulating to appeal to reluctant readers in lower KS2 – this magazine is an excellent subscription option.
Britannica’s What on Earth Magazine
Jam-packed with exciting content, this vibrant monthly magazine encourages children to think, ask questions and find out more. Covering science, history, the natural world, inventions, and more, it’s ideal for KS2 pupils. Britannica Magazine will be equally at home in the classroom, primary school library, or as a subscription for home learning. There’s also a free printed copy available from the Britannica Magazine website.
Aquila
Packed with science, history and geography, each edition aims to inspire curious children aged 8+. There’s plenty in each issue to encourage independent learning at school or home, and to stir KS2 children to think for themselves. We particularly liked the monthly topic approach. This makes Aquila a useful resource in the primary classroom, for cross-curricular work, and it will help teachers to provide extension ideas for gifted and talented pupils. Back issues are available and there’s also a free sample copy.
Cubic magazine
Aimed at “inquisitive kids” aged 8-12, this monthly publication examines a different topic in detail each month. Previous issues have covered flying machines, Australia, cats and dogs, ball sports and the Earth, the Moon, the sun and space. The topic-based approach will make this magazine particularly appealing to KS2 teachers who plan their teaching around specific topics.
Science and Nature
From the Week Jr team, this magazine is aimed at children aged 8-15 and looks in-depth at STEAM news and topics from around the world. The layout is really bright and engaging, and this magazine is highly recommended for upper KS2 and lower KS3 libraries. There’s a video here to show readers what to expect.
Cocoa Girl
Launched in July 2020, Cocoa Girl was inspired by founder Serlina Boyd’s vision to “empower black girls around the world”. Aimed at girls aged 7-14. Also, launched in September 2020 was Cocoa Boy.
The Phoenix comic
A super colourful magazine for children in a fun comic style with high-quality writing. Each captivating issue features gut-busting comedy comics, serialised adventures, and drawing guides. Tailored for curious minds, The Phoenix inspires kids to dive into the joy of reading, writing, and drawing. There are some free samples here.
Adventure Box
This bright publication is ideal for children aged 6-9 engaged by adventure and real-life stories. It features longer chapter stories, activities, and interactive features. The magazine goes beyond traditional storytelling, incorporating puzzles, games, and creative challenges to foster cognitive development and critical thinking.
Simpsons Comic
This monthly 76-page comic strip comes with several stories per issue. Offering a collection of comic strips, anecdotes, and stories about Springfield’s residents, it’s ideal for reluctant readers and a fun magazine for kids.
Discovery Box
This imaginative publication is perfect for children and tweens aged 9-12 with inquiring minds and an interest in science, nature and natural history. Each issue takes young minds on a journey of discovery across scientific, historical, and cultural topics. The magazine combines informative articles, hands-on experiments, and interactive activities, encouraging critical thinking and creativity.
Minecraft World
Perfect for upper KS2 classrooms, it’s also good for sparking ideas for cross-curricular activities involving Minecraft. Tailored for kids aged 8-14, the magazine dives into the expansive world of Minecraft, offering insider tips, building ideas, and in-depth guides to enhance gameplay. Packed with exciting challenges, expert advice, and community features, Minecraft World fosters a sense of exploration and collaboration.
Owl
Hands-on and focused on tech, with quizzes, interviews, and infographics, Owl includes in-depth articles and reviews. Packed with captivating content, Owl takes kids on an exciting journey through STEM and art, encouraging discovery and exploration. With quizzes, comics, tech news, expert interviews, reviews, and more, it strikes the perfect balance of fun and education. Owl is a good option for KS2 classrooms and libraries.
ChickaDEE
Aimed at 6-9-year-olds, this magazine is packed with fun activities, stories, and science experiments. Bursting with lively articles, interactive games, and imaginative activities, ChickaDEE captures the essence of learning through play.
Eco Kids Planet
Ideal to promote eco appreciation and awareness, this is a great educational magazine for children. An environmental magazine for curious young minds aged 7 to 11, it introduces children to the wonders of the natural world while nurturing a sense of responsibility for the planet. With articles, wildlife features, and hands-on activities, this magazine sparks eco-conscious exploration. This sample edition can be viewed for free.
Lego Star Wars
This magazine for children is packed with comic stories, activities, a Lego project to build and monthly competitions. It will be very popular with reluctant readers in Years 3&4 and children interested in Lego. Tailored for fans aged 6 to 12, this magazine takes readers on an intergalactic journey filled with engaging stories, exciting activities, and exclusive Lego Star Wars posters. Packed with vibrant visuals and captivating content, it immerses children in the thrilling synergy of creative play and beloved Star Wars characters.
Whizz Pop Bang magazine
An award-winning science magazine for children with a treasure trove of science excitement in each issue. Tailored for young scientists aged six to twelve, each monthly issue delves into a new and intriguing subject, offering diverse content to engage budding minds. Authored by expert science writers like Isabel Thomas, the magazine brims with facts, puzzles, news, and hands-on experiments, empowering parents, teachers, and kids to unleash their inner scientists in kitchens and classrooms. There’s a free copy to view here.
Beano
This legendary comic aimed at children aged 7-12 is ideal for classroom libraries in KS2 and will appeal to both able and reluctant readers. Boasting iconic characters like Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, and The Bash Street Kids, the Beano will appeal to readers who enjoy shorter texts. With mischievous characters, escapades, and anarchic humour, it will appeal to a diverse audience.
Dekko Comics
Aimed at reluctant and disengaged KS2 readers, each issue focuses on a topical KS2 theme. A useful resource for SEND and literacy teachers. Recommended for dyslexic pupils who find longer texts difficult to access. Tailored for ages 8-12, this magazine ingeniously transforms the KS2 curriculum into engaging comic strips. Ideal for children with Dyslexia and Autism, the comics utilize colour coding, footnotes, and a dyslexia-friendly font. Tested in six schools before the 2016 release, they garnered praise for effectiveness. Dekko Comics redefines learning, making it accessible, engaging, and memorable for young minds.
Anorak magazine
Anorak Magazine, the ‘happy mag for kids’ (ages 6-12) embraces global appeal with unisex charm. Printed on recycled paper with vegetable ink, these collectable magazines by Studio Anorak offer a lasting, immersive cultural experience. Their commitment to nurturing creativity and imagination, combined with witty humour, distinguishes Anorak as a delightful departure from typical children’s fare. Praised by critics, it stands as a unique and cherished contribution to the world of children’s publications.
Click
CLICK magazine, designed for beginners aged 6-12, offers a dynamic introduction to English through vibrant visuals and engaging content. Packed with articles, comics, puzzles, quizzes, videos, interviews, and songs, CLICK sparks excitement in language learning. The new series introduces captivating features, including an Eco Club and a cartoon series set in London. CLICK’s commitment to real paper and ink enhances the immersive experience, while online resources cater to various learning styles. With themes like the environment and school life, CLICK fosters language skills and cultural awareness, making it an invaluable tool for educators and parents alike.
Match of the Day
Match of the Day magazine caters to KS2-aged football enthusiasts, delivering exclusive interviews, quizzes, and interactive content tailored for children. With practical features like trading cards and seasonal gifts, it serves as an educational resource, fostering a genuine interest in the sport. The magazine provides a comprehensive and engaging platform, contributing to a deeper understanding of football for the next generation. Linked to the BBC highlights programme.
Commando
Commando, suitable for ages 8-80, offers 63 pages of classic black and white adrenaline-filled comic stories set against diverse military backdrops, spanning from ancient empires to modern conflicts. It covers air, land, and sea battles, portraying the valour of various military forces worldwide. Celebrated for its renowned artwork from legends like Ian Kennedy and Cam Kennedy, Commando combines nostalgia with a modern touch, introducing more female-led and written stories. With its unaltered digest-sized format, Commando will appeal to generations and is ideal for children interested in history, the military, and comic art.
WRD magazine
WRD is a magazine for children aged 8-14 about everything that’s going on in the world of children’s books. Sold by subscription, three times a year in packs of four, it’s ideal for school libraries. Offering extracts from the latest releases, and insightful author Q&As, there’s a myriad of features and activities in each issue. A valuable resource for librarians and teachers, WRD encourages adventurous reading choices, with oven-ready book tastings.
Online newspapers for children aged 7-11 in KS2
- First News Live – the online version of the popular newspaper for children. The site includes child-friendly news videos, polls, and competitions.
- NewsforKids – a US-based site that offers age-appropriate online newspapers for children with stories that are updated each day. Categories include science, the arts, world news, and sports.
- Tuesday News Day – a campaign run by the News Literacy Network and recommended by the National Literacy Trust that aims to embed discussion of the news each day into primary and secondary school timetables. There’s a great selection of free resources available on their website.
- BBC Newsround – The long-running children’s TV news service is now exclusively online. Aimed at primary-aged children, this site offers the full range of UK and world news, sports, arts, music, science, nature, and political news.
- The Guardian Newswise – a free cross-curricular resource that shows teachers how to embed the news into primary topics and curriculum subjects. The resources are aimed at upper KS2 – 9-11-year-olds.
- The Guardian offers workshops where a journalist comes to your school and shows children how to write news articles, how to spot fake news, how to link journalism to curriculum topics, how to put together newspaper pages and how to create a school newspaper for children in literacy lessons.
- RNIB newsagent provides a range of online newspapers and magazines in accessible formats for people with sight loss, including some popular titles for children and teens.
- Topical Talk is a free resource that allows children aged 10+ to engage in global discussion about events in the news. Topical Talk, a comprehensive educational initiative, offers free classroom resources for students aged 10 and above, crafted by experienced teachers collaborating with The Economist’s journalists and fact-checkers. The Topical Talk Festivals are ten-week global discussions, featuring engaging activities, online events, and awards for insightful conversations on contemporary news and issues. Additionally, Topical Talk Prizes recognises students’ outstanding work, providing an opportunity for publication on the website, personalized feedback from Economist journalists, and a goodie bag.
Magazines for teenagers
Here’s our list of recommended magazine subscriptions for teens in KS3 and KS4 in secondary school.
National Geographic
The world-renowned periodical examining modern geography, science and natural history. An ideal monthly magazine for teenagers.
BBC History Magazine
Catering to history enthusiasts, BBC History Magazine offers in-depth articles and features. Ideal for GCSE and A-level students, it complements history curricula with a variety of perspectives.
Philosophy Now
Ideal for getting your teenager to think.
ComicScene
A great magazine for children and teens about all sorts of different types of comics. Ideal for reluctant readers in KS3 and a good addition to a lower secondary library.
Film Stories Junior
Written by and for teens under 15, this quarterly explores films, how to make films, the movie industry, and includes reviews and interviews.
Marvel Legends
Each issue includes 76 pages of adventures and classic illustrations depicting Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and more.
Teen Breathe
Promoting mental well-being for teenagers, Teen Breathe provides mindful activities, inspirational stories, and self-reflection tools. An essential resource for school counselling offices and libraries. An uber-positive magazine for teenagers focusing on well-being and resilience. A good one to have in the KS3 or KS4 library.
Brainspace
A fascinating quarterly magazine that explores augmented reality and interactive learning aimed at children aged 8-14. Ideal for a lower KS3 form room or library.
History Today
Catering to A-level history students, History Today offers in-depth articles and analysis. An essential resource for understanding historical events and themes. Great for secondary students interested in History.
All About History
A colourful and eye-catching feature-based magazine suitable for older children with short and accessible articles. Lots of pictures and graphics, and ideal for reluctant readers interested in history.
Wired
For tech-savvy teenagers, Wired UK offers in-depth coverage of technology, science, and innovation. Perfect for sparking interest in STEM and digital literacy.
How It Works
An informative and visually appealing magazine, How It Works covers a range of topics from science and technology to history and culture. Ideal for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 classrooms and libraries.
The Woodworker
Perfect to spark ideas for teenage home projects and augment the KS3 DT curriculum.
Team
This magazine is designed for teenagers who are intermediate learners of the English language. Perfect for secondary EAL students.
El Sol
This magazine is aimed at secondary GSCE students studying Spanish. Vibrant and interesting.
Allons-Y
Aimed at pupils beginning to learn French. Perfect for pupils aged 11-14 in KS3.
BBC Countryfile
Ideal for teenagers interested in the environment and the countryside.
BBC Wildlife
For nature enthusiasts, BBC Wildlife Magazine explores the wonders of the animal kingdom. An ideal addition to secondary school libraries and A-level biology classrooms. A great read for teens who want to read about the natural world.
The Week
A weekly roundup of global news, The Week presents diverse perspectives on current affairs. Suitable for sixth form and college libraries, it encourages critical thinking and informed discussions. The week’s news is distilled into one weekly magazine. Ideal for secondary school libraries.
New Scientist
For older teens with a keen interest in science, New Scientist provides authoritative coverage of scientific developments. A valuable resource for A-level science students and aspiring scientists. A leading weekly publication looking at the world of science, nature, and technology. Ideal for sixth-form libraries.
The Economist
Providing insights into global economic and political affairs, The Economist is suitable for older teens and young adults. An essential resource for sixth-form and college libraries. International politics, economics, and current affairs. Useful for A-level politics and economics students.
All About Space
A monthly magazine with mind-blowing facts and articles about space and the cosmos.
Prospect
Full of contemporary think pieces about current issues and opinions in modern Western society. A good source of material for debating clubs.
The Critic Magazine
In-depth think pieces and leader columns on literature, culture, politics and the arts. Ideal for a sixth-form library.
BBC Science Focus
Building on the success of BBC Focus, BBC Science Focus delves into the latest scientific discoveries and innovations. Suitable for A-level science students and aspiring scientists.
Icon
Full of interesting new developments and ideas from the world of design. A useful addition to secondary DT departments.
Blocks
Perfect for any teen who enjoys complex and ambitious construction using Lego, this monthly magazine is packed with ideas that will challenge your child’s ability and creativity and help develop analytical, reasoning and planning skills. Each month, leading Lego designers are interviewed and profiled, the latest sets are reviewed, and there’s advice on how to photograph and film finished builds. There’s also a heavy emphasis on customised and modified builds and lots of opportunities to enter competitions and contests.
Online newspapers for teens aged 13-18 in KS3, KS4, and KS5
- Positive News – for socially conscious teens, Positive News offers a constructive take on global events. Perfect for sixth-form libraries, it encourages critical thinking and engagement with real-world issues.
- The Day – a daily online newspaper for teenagers, collating stories from around the world into news categories and curriculum areas. An ideal subscription resource for secondary school libraries and English departments.
- Topical Talk is a free resource that allows children aged 10+ to engage in global discussion about events in the news. Topical Talk, a comprehensive educational initiative, offers free classroom resources for students aged 10 and above, crafted by experienced teachers collaborating with The Economist’s journalists and fact-checkers. With extensive free resources to download, this site could form the basis of a great extracurricular club.
- The Student View is a news website written by teens and designed to promote discussion and debate about current events. Ideas for teens aged 13+.
- The Guardian offers curriculum workshops for KS3 and KS4. and an extensive collection of resources for secondary schools.
- The Newspapers for Schools ‘News Library’ database allows teachers and students to find newspaper articles as a PDF cutting or full page exactly as it was printed.
- PressReader provides access to more than 7,000 of the world’s top publications as soon as they’re available on shelves. Many schools and students will be eligible for free access through their local public libraries.
Magazines for teachers, staffrooms and subject departments
Here’s our list of recommended magazines for teachers of pupils in EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4.
Nursery World. Lots of ideas and suggestions for best practices in Nursery education.
Early Years Educator. For Early Years teachers.
Teach Early Years. For EYFS and KS1.
Creative Steps. To encourage creative and artistic play in young children.
Teach Primary. For teachers of children aged 5-11 in the UK.
Primary School Management. Ideal for current and aspiring headteachers. Good for case studies and evidenced examples of good practice.
Teach Secondary. For KS3 KS4 and A Level educators.
TES magazine. The Times Educational Supplement. A must-have for the staff room.
Children & Young People Now. Sharing the latest policy news and best practice..
Sen Magazine. Reviews of recent productions and resources and in-depth ideas and suggestions from leading writers, producers and teachers.
Gifted Child Today. A great resource for parents and teachers of gifted children.
British Journal of Nursing. A must-have for school nurses and boarding school matrons.
Drama & Theatre. A must-have for SENDCOs.
The Stage. The trade newspaper for the theatre industry – it’s a must-have to keep up with the latest trends and a useful resource for A-level theatre studies students.
Music Teacher. Aimed at curriculum music teachers, choirs, and instrumental teachers – in all settings.
School Sport. A round-up of news and current thinking in school sport.
Times Higher Education. A must-have for Careers and UCAS coordinators.
School House. Aimed at the independent sector.
The Bookseller. Essential for school librarians.
The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide. Ideal for keeping one step ahead with new releases.
London Review of Books. Alan Bennett described this literary monthly as “the liveliest, most serious and most radical literary magazine we have.” Good for school librarians.
Writer’s Forum. Useful for teachers who are aspiring writers, and creative writing teachers.Online magazines for teachers and staffrooms.
- Additude – advice for pupils with ADD.
- Nursery Management Today – perfect for Nursery and preschool practitioners.
International magazines and newspapers for school libraries and modern languages departments
- The New York Times – delivers comprehensive coverage of international news, politics, culture, and beyond, making it a must-read for those seeking in-depth insights and analysis.
- Forbes – Renowned for its business insights and entrepreneurial focus, Forbes is a go-to platform for industry trends, financial analysis, and career advice, catering to professionals and enthusiasts alike.
- TIME – With its global perspective on current events, TIME encourages critical thinking and awareness of international issues. TIME is a great source of up-to-date politics, world news, health, & science news and features, a perfect resource for any secondary school or sixth-form library.
- The Atlantic – Covering a range of topics from politics to culture, The Atlantic offers insightful articles for older teens and young adults. An ideal addition to sixth-form and college libraries.
- The Irish Times – A reliable source for comprehensive coverage of Irish news, politics, and culture, The Irish Times provides valuable insights for readers interested in current affairs and events in Ireland.
- Le Monde – As one of France’s leading newspapers, Le Monde delivers in-depth coverage of global affairs, politics, and culture, making it an essential read for those seeking a French perspective on international news.
- Die Zeit – Known for its thoughtful analysis and intellectual depth, Die Zeit, a German weekly newspaper, covers a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, and science, making it a respected publication in the German-speaking world.
- El Pais – Spain’s premier newspaper, El Pais, offers authoritative reporting on national and international news, politics, and culture, making it a key resource for Spanish-speaking readers globally.
- India Today – A comprehensive source for news, analysis, and features on Indian current affairs, politics, and culture, India Today is a valuable platform for readers seeking insights into the dynamic landscape of India.
Whether you’re a parent looking for educational and entertaining reading materials for your child, a teacher seeking resources to enhance classroom learning or inspire the staff, or an individual passionate about promoting literacy and curiosity, we hope this guide will be a useful reference for children’s and teens’ magazines in the UK. From early childhood to young adulthood, these magazines cater to a diverse range of interests and learning levels, making them valuable tools for nurturing reading for pleasure and a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Click for more children’s reading book recommendations – Picture books to read before you are 5 years old | Reception books for 4-5-year-olds | Year 1 books for 5-6-year-olds | Year 2 books for 6-7-year-olds | Year 3 books for 7-8-year-olds | Year 4 books for 8-9-year-olds | Year 5 books for 9-10-year-olds | Year 6 books for 10-11-year-olds | Topic books for school libraries, classrooms and home learning | KS3 books for 11-14-year-olds.
