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Made me who I am today
I received a gift subscription to this magazine from my aunt when I was 8 years old and kept every single issue I got in the mail until I turned 18 and my mother refused to keep paying for it (it is rather expensive). I have reread the hundreds of issues I have over and over and savored every possible detail. Because of this magazine, I became a happy appreciator of quality children's literature. Cricket doesn't talk down to children but respects their natural intelligence and curiosity. Fiction stories coexist with nonfiction, poems mingle with crosswords, beautiful illustrations appear next to photographs.

There have been numerous times when I (now 23) have spouted out random facts to my friends, only to admit (with a slightly pink face) that it was from an article in Cricket magazine that I read when I was 11. But this is a good example of the staying power of this magazine. It made me an English major. It made me a literature lover. It made me order my own subscription, in spite of being out of its targeted age range.

If you have a 7-8 year old that is starting to spend more time with books than with toys, or if you'd like your 7-8 year old to spend more time with books than with toys, consider ordering Cricket.

A great way to start a lifelong passion for reading!
I was introduced to Cricket magazine through one of my teachers in early elementary school, and soon afterward my parents began a subscription for me. From then all the way up through middle school I devoured each issue cover-to-cover the moment it arrived. At first I found it a welcome challenge compared to the overly simple and mundane classroom books of the "Mac the cat sat on a mat" variety. Even after I had surpassed the magazine in my reading ability, I continued to enjoy it for the content of the stories. Even my mother loved to read it.

The magazine provides a great collection of well-selected stories that open up an entire world for the young reader, and each issue usually has a particular theme (i.e. the Middle Ages, horses, Chinese culture, food, etc.). Some of the stories are excerpted from longer pieces and some are short works in their own right. The magazine spans all genres of literature; includes both fiction, non-ficiton, and poetry; and addresses such important themes as culture, history, family and friends, growing up, and much more. Some pieces have serious and valuable morals, while others are just plain fun.

The magazine also offers book recommendations, a comic strip, a crossword puzzle, jokes, and contests for art, photography, fiction, and poetry. Moreover, each issue is beautifully illustrated. I believe the artwork in this magazine did much to inspire my own early artistic endeavors. I would highly recommend this magazine to parents and teachers alike. The stories are excellent material for young readers, and would also be great to read aloud to children. On the whole, this is a terrific blend of recreation and education! The makers of Cricket also offer other magazines for different age levels - Spider, Ladybug, and Babybug for the younger ones, and Cicada for adolescents.

Cricket continues to deliver quality
The Fong family is now a multi-generation Cricket household. I loved it as a kid and now my daughters (ages 7, 5 & 2) are enjoying every issue as well. Cricket wins on many levels. As a parent the stories, poems, games and cartoons deliver good, wholesome entertainment you won't mind reading to your kids again, and again, and again.... We save every issue and re-read our favorites regularly.

The different age level magazines Carus offers (Cricket, Spider, Ladybug and Babybug) make them great "independent reading" material as well.

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Great resource!
Teaching K-8 is a terrific resource for new and veteran teachers alike.It includes both practical lesson ideas as well as current issues pertaining to education today.A must have for EVERY teacher's collection!

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Cease Publication
I just received the last Disney Magazine. Included with the magazine was a notice about stopping publication with the Summer 2005 issue. This was a good magazine since it offered a preview of upcoming attractions and events.

I am not happy they are stopping publication. The two other magazines they offered do not target adults that are simply interested in Disney.

Disney(world) Magazine
I agree with the others here who have pointed out that this is truly a magazine about Disneyworld. The entire point of the magazine seems to be to encourage the reader to visit the Orlando half of the American Disney Empire.I have rarely seen an article on the real Disneyland.I have been very disappointed.

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Some content questionable
I was fully prepared to purchase two gift subscriptions of Babybug; however, after reading a sample issue changed my mind.Once concern was the selection of the nursery rhyme Old King Cole who "smoked a pipe" and the second was the contrasting of big and little using a pig and a wig.I would prefer not to show smoking in a book geared to such a young age group and find it unusual that a wig was chosen.These two choices by the editors in the same issue regretably caused me to reconsider and decide against the purchase of this subscription.
I

An absolute favorite at our house!
I originally got a year long subscription to Babybug when my older son (now 3 1/2) was about a year old.He absolutely adored it from the first issue.In fact, it was one of the few "books" he would sit still for.When he turned two, I got a Ladybug subscription for him, but I wish I had gotten a second year of Babybug instead.Ladybug should really be for 3 and up (not 2 and up like it suggests).Now we read our old Babybugs to my younger son who is 16 months.They have held up great (a few have been taped because of so much use!)Now that we are reading them again, my older son loves to listen to them too!

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Not a Good Choice
My 3-year and I are not impressed with this magazine. There are no bright colors or fun activities to keep her attention. It is way overpriced for the length and content. I agree with a reviewer below...it is basically the content of the dollar store puzzle books, but a lot less...just pick up a couple of dollar store preschool books and save the money.

Glorified coloring book
Disclosure:I'm writing this review on the basis of one issue only, but I don't imagine that the magazine is typically any better than this.

Turtle magazine is a fairly typical length for preschoolers, 36 pages including the covers.But then this includes ads.And a two page "Ask Dr. Cory" feature, clearly aimed at parents.Plus a two page "Turtle's Favorite Books" section, which will tantalize your child with pictures from a selected book along with a short blurb, so this is either an ad aimed at your child or a recommendation aimed at parents.

Much of the remaining pages are coloring activities, connect-the-dots, and the like.If your child likes these, you'd be better off getting a coloring/activity book from your local dollar store.If you want a higher quality magazine for your child, try Ladybug, Click or Your Big Backyard.

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New Moon
A great magazine for 10 & under,but not for 11 year olds.It had enough about crushes,but not to much.The history article was good.

New Moon
First of all, I really used to like New Moon. I'm rather growing out of it now, but I still take a peek at copies I find once and awhile.

I love what this magazine commits to--their focus on women's rights and the environment. I love that it teaches that body image is not the only thing, that women are strong people too, and that we are all on this earth together--that it is our job to preserve it for future generations. The liberal leaning of this magazine also appeals to me. However, I do think it's a little to anxious to talk about puberty--that's what books are for, not magazines. Going from reading a feature on a girl from Africa to reading about periods--well, that's just a little too much for me. It really breaks up the flow of the magazine. Also, I didn't enjoy this magazine much after I was thirteen, by then I wanted Cicada instead.

All in all, however, this magazine is definetly worth getting for kids. I still like most parts of it, and it has some great teachings.

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Earn a Don't Read Boys' Life Merit Badge
I haven't touched this magazine in over a decade.I used to read it every time I got an issue in my parents' mailbox.Of course, by read, I mean I would skip through the articles that taught me nothing and head over to the comics.Dink and Duff were my favorite, although not laugh-out-loud funny.I recently skimmed through Webelos Woody, The Tracy Twins, Peewee Harris, and the sometimes hilarious Pedro.When I was even younger, I used to spend a *lot* of time perusing the junk pages, where you could order 8 pranks for the price of a dollar or something.

Now, as an alternative, I highly recommend going through the Boy Scout Handbooks with your kids.The Cub Scout handbooks are just as interesting as the Boy Scout ones, and they actually teach you about health, staying fit, learning knots, Fire safety, backpacking/camping tips, etc.

I don't know how the modern Boys' Life compares to the old issues, but it seems like it's fallen for the same virus as every other magazine I've stopped ordering: advertisements.

If there was an option for zero stars this would earn it!
This magazine is inundated with advertising. The few articles that do exist are saturated with trend ideals and sparcely include the moral values that the Boy Scout organization is said to imply. I am disappointed that the BS organization is willing to be associated with such junk, and supports yet another venue for exploiting funds from its particpants.

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Ride it Read it!
I love this horse magazine so much!I love the quizzes, great posters and great acticles about real people and their horse/pony.I take riding lessons but don't own a horse but still enjoy this magazine! This is a great magazine for kids ages 7-13 i think. Some people say that people over the age of 10 are too old for this magazine, but I toatally disagree!I am 11 years old and I love this magazine. This magazine I think is for any good horse lover!

Great magazine!
I really enjoy reading Young Rider, but it only comes every other month. I decided to suscribe to other magazines such as Horse Illustrated and Practical horseman so I don't have to wait two months before another horse magazine comes. i also LOVE the posters!

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Please help!
We had this for my granddaughter when she was little and we sent in one of her pictures, here it is a year and a half later and they are going to use it!If any of you get this it will be in the March April issue.Would you consider sending me that page after your child is through with that issue?I can't find a place where I can order just a couple copies of that issue.If you find an address to send for back issues would you please email me.cindyleet@gci.net

Kid's don't fake it. You know if they like it.
My four year old grand daughter likes to spend time with books and magazines.She choses this one frequently from the pile available to her.
Her favorite [...] mothergoosecaboose and this magazine gives it a run for the money.

Good short stories and activities
This magazine is expensive, but each issue contains several stories, activities like mazes, finding hidden items, and basic colors and counting. My son does not watch TV (his choice), but he likes the characters in this magazine, who are all friendly and likable to him.

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My Daughter Loves Spider!
Posted for Maddie (age 9)

My favorite part is Spider's Mailbox and the comic strips. I read every issue four times each! There are buggies that make comments and have their own stories on the bottoms of the pages. All the buggies are funny.

If you are thinking about buying this magazine for a child you know, you should know it's mostly reading, stories, and one pull out game page in each issue. I'm sure kids everywhere will love Spider Magazine as much as I do!

Spider is always a great read
My children (7,5,2) and I always get terrific belly laughs when we read the spider cartoons aloud that appear throughout the magazine in each issue.The stories, illustrations and poetry are excellent food for young (and older)minds.But our favorite feature is the cartoons!