Magazines for Children: An Annotated Bibliography Compiled for The Bombay Community Public Trust By Ms Hema Ranganathan Mumbai 2010 © The Bombay Community Public Trust Earnest House, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 2010 Telephone: 022-22845928; 022-22836672 Email: [email protected] Website: http://bcpt.org.in In this Series: 1. Development of Reading: A Guidebook 2. Magazines for Children: An Annotated Bibliography 3. A Manual of Library Procedures and Routines 4. Children’s Books in English: An Annotated Bibliography Forthcoming: Children’s Books in Hindi: An Annotated Bibliography Children’s Books in Marathi: An Annotated Bibliography Directory of Publishers & Booksellers of Children’s Books in Mumbai Directory of developers/distributors of AV resources for children A Manual of Library Procedures and Routines (Hindi) Development of Reading: A Guidebook (Hindi) PRE F ACE The bibliography “Magazines for Children” is the second in a series of informative materials being developed by the Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT) to assist and strengthen the work being undertaken by its NGO partners in developing and promoting reading, amongst children; both for pleasure and for acquisition of knowledge. Reading magazines can be an appealing activity for children, replete as they are with special characters, pictures that come alive as the stories unfold, comics, quizzes, puzzles and games, riddles and jokes, craft projects, contests, profiles of children doing amazing things, informative articles and other features. Magazines are an important source of motivation because children enjoy reading a shorter, more “adult” format with colorful pictures and kid- interest topics. Through reading magazines, children improve critical thinking and reading skills; besides getting valuable support for classroom work. Lesley Mandel Morrow and Joy Lesnick (http://teacher.scholastic.com/ products/classmags/files/Mag_Research_Summary_1.pdf ) note that “no other medium can capture children’s interests or expand their worlds as effectively as magazines” and that they were found to be “non- threatening, inviting, manageable, and reader-friendly”—a perfect way to engage students and get them reading. They help children of diverse age and skill levels. From pre-school to teenagers, magazines provide for varying interests. Magazines also serve as “motivation for slow and reluctant readers, while more capable students can use higher levels of reading and thinking skills.” Children’s magazines thus occupy an important place on the bookshelf. This bibliography will serve as a ready reckoner to facilitate the selection and ordering of magazines for different target groups of children. The bibliography provides an annotated list of magazines in English, Hindi and Marathi for Indian children. They are listed in alphabetic order with a language index at the end. While the majority of magazines are published in India, a few magazines for non-resident Indian children are also included. Children’s magazines are not attractive for advertisers and hence publishing them is often not cost effective. Many popular magazines such as Target, Disney Today, Tamasha, have had to cease publication. An e- magazine may be an alternative publishing model. Most of the magazines included are in print form though a few e-magazines have begun to make an appearance. There are a large number of international online magazines for children. A few popular ones are listed after the bibliography to provide an indication of the range and variety possible. Attempt has been made to look at each of the magazines included. However, some magazines listed by the Department of Libraries, Government of Maharashtra could not be verified. These have been included with an asterisk (*) against the title. A look at the information available on the website of the Registrar of Newspapers (http://mi.nic.in) seems to suggest that there are many more – particularly n Hindi and Marathi – which we have not been able to locate and verify. The Bibliography has been compiled to help libraries in schools and communities as well as public libraries to be used as a resource. It will help them to purchase and add to the collection of books and magazines. November 2010 001 ADARSH BAL PATRIKA* Frequency: M Language: E, H Publisher: Ideal School for Children Near Railway Station, Hisar 125001 002 ADARSH CHITRA KATHA* Frequency: M Language: H Publisher: Adarsh Chitra Katha, 16 Golf Links, New Delhi 110 003 003 AMAR CHITRA KATHA Frequency: M Language: E, H Started: 1969 Publisher: India Book House, Fleet Building, Mathuradas Visanji Road Marol Naka, Andheri (E), Mumbai 400059 Subscription: Rs.25/- per issue Circulation: 2,25,000 Annotation: India's most loved and popular comic series, a treasure of Indian fables, epic tales, mythological legends and magical characters; the magazine has great entertainment and educational value. 004 ANAND Frequency: M Language: M Started: 1906 Publisher: Prachi Gokhale (V G Apte Estate Trust), Bal Sahityalaya, 1015, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 411 030 Tel: 020-2473949 1 Annotation: Known over the years for producing intelligent reading, the magazine was first published on August 15, 1906. The brainchild of Va Go Apte, a teacher, Anand was the result of Apte's belief that like adults, children also need some good reading. So, it began as a 40 page issue for children with a 40 page addition for older students and women. Over the years, it has focused on providing quality reading about current issues, general knowledge, political happenings and more. Interestingly, Anand did its patriotic bit in India's freedom struggle through its writings. Printed fully in black & white the magazine is one of the oldest children's magazines in India. 005 BAL BHARATI Frequency: M Language: H Started: 1948 Publisher: Publ.Division., Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Patiala House, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi 110001 Tel: 011- 26100707 Email: [email protected] , [email protected] Subscription: Rs.80/- Circulation: 9,000 Annotation: This illustrated magazine seeks to provide entertainment with information to its young readers. It carries stories, poems, short write-ups and other creative forms of expression. The objective is to inculcate scientific temper among the young minds. Eminent writers have been contributing to this magazine. 006 BAL RATAN* Frequency: M Language: H Started: 1980 Publisher: Bal Ratan No. 9, 2/170 Nawalgiari, Kanpur 208 001 2 007 BAL SANDESH* Frequency: Q Language: E, H Started: 1980 Publisher: Bharatiya Sankut Parishad 2nd. floor, Jantar Mantar Rd., New Delhi 110 001 008 BAL SANDESH Frequency: 3 times a year Language: E Started: 1998 Publisher: Bal Sabha of Columbia Annotation: An online 4 –page magazine available at www.math.missouri.edu/~hema/ misc/balsandesh 009 BAL SANDESH Frequency: BI-M Language: E Started: 2005 Publisher: Shri Ghanshyam Bal Yuvak Mandal Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Wheeling, Illinois Annotation: An online 1–page magazine available at www. shriswaminarayan.org 3 010 BAL VIHAR Frequency: M Language: E, H Started: 1969 Publisher: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust Sandeepany Sdahanalaya, Saki Vihar Rd. , Mumbai 400072 Tel: 8572367 / 8575806, Email: [email protected] Subscription: Rs.100/- Annotation: Balvihar introduces the child to Hindu culture by taking yearly themes like festivals, states of India and the different incarnations of God. It has its share of entertaining stories, poetry, puzzles, jokes, games, quizzes and a whole section by the kids for the kids. 011 BAL VIKAS Frequency: M Language: M Started: 1968 Target Group: 12 - 17yrs Publisher: Sane Guruji Balvikas Mandir 172, Mumbai Marathi Grantha Marg, Dadar (E), Mumbai 400 014 1/6611 East Rohtas Nagar Shadara, New Delhi 1100032 Tel: 022-2413 5213, 011-22328304 Subscription: Rs.60/- Annotation: A magazine meant for older children and youth whose objective is to help in developing their educational, social and cultural values. The thought provoking articles in the magazine are literary and spiritual in nature. 4 012 BALHANS Frequency: F Language: H Started: 1986 Publisher: Rajasthan Patrika Ltd. Kesargarh, JLN Marg, Jaipur 302004 Tel: 0141-561582 Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] Subscription: Rs.192/- Circulation: 44,933 013 BILLOO COMICS Frequency: M Language: E, H Started: 1973 Publisher: Diamond Comics Pvt. Ltd. A-22, Sector-63, Gobind Villa, Phase-3, Noida 201 307 Tel: 0120-4238008 / 0120-4238009 Email: [email protected] Subscription: Rs.280/- Circulation: 2,25,000 Annotation: In 1973, cartoonist Pran was looking for a school going teenage boy who could feature in the comic strips. Thus he created a boy with long hair covering his eyes and named him Billoo. Billoo is always roaming the streets with his pet pup - Moti. When he is at home, he is stuck to the TV. Billoo and his gang which includes Gabdu, Jozi, Mono, Bishamber are at loggerheads with Bajarangi, the wrestler and his aide Dhakkan. They are always in search of some excuse to pull down each other. 5 014 BRAIN TONIC Frequency: M Language: E, M Started: 2006 Publisher: Brain Tonic Publ., 24,Cherry Hill, Pipeline Rd., Nashik 422 313 Tel: 0253-2342113 Email: [email protected] Subscription: Rs.300/- Annotation: Brain Tonic is a bi-lingual monthly magazine for children, parents and teachers. It provides contents in both Marathi and English languages. Various subjects covered in this monthly magazine are science, astronomy, mathematics, history, geography, bird watching, project study, drama, folktales, puzzles, etc. Articles written by children as well as by experts in various fields are regular features. Other features of Brain Tonic Magazine include topics like personality development modules, resource material for competitive examinations, projects for school children, general knowledge, enriching articles etc. 015 CATERPILLAR Frequency: BI-M Language: E Target Group: 1-8yrs. Publisher: Prime Time Education Ujagar Silk Mills, Sunder Baug, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088 Tel: 022-6770 4141 /42/ 43 Email: [email protected] Subscription: Rs.200/- Annotation: Caterpillar is a bright, useful resource for learning outside of the classroom. It carries reading material in an easy-to-understand format and invites the child to learn the fun way.