Highlights Launches High Five for Younger Readers

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Debra Lau-Whelan -- School Library Journal, 11/13/2007 2:00:00 PM

Readers of the popular Highlights magazine will be pleased to know that there’s now a Highlights High Five for children ages two to six. 

High Five is geared toward parents, caregivers, and educators to help kids during the early stages of literacy, says Pat Mikelson, a company spokeswoman. There are also features that children can enjoy independently after they’re introduced to them.

The new magazine has adapted several features of Highlights magazine, geared toward kids ages three and up. For instance, “The Adventures of Spot” follows the dog from Highlights magazine’s favorite family, “The Timbertoes.” You’ll also find short read-aloud and read-along stories with pictures, stories with introductory Spanish language content, songs, poems, and rhymes, as well as nonfiction animal and nature features with suggested activities.

The magazine also features a special pull-out section in each issue, games, puzzles, finger plays, action rhymes, easy craft projects, and simple recipes designed to promote interactions between adults and children.

Launched earlier this year, the publication was named one of the 15 hottest magazine launches by the Media Industry Newsletter, a trade publication that delivers news and analysis to print and online publishers.

The U.S. Department of Education says that over the last 10 years, there’s been a rise in the number of parents reading to their three- to five-year-old children.

Highlights, which is published by Highlights for Children Inc., began 61 years ago and has a monthly circulation of 2 million subscribers, including libraries. Last June, the magazine published its billionth copy.