Every day without fail I read to my kids when they were babies and toddlers. I had done enough research on the correlation between reading and academic success, and purported to “raise readers.” At 11 and 8, their reading is now largely self-directed. My son reads books ahead of his grade level and you won’t find him anywhere without a book in hand. Several years ago, we were introduced to National Geographic Kids, which inspires kids to explore the world! They recently introduced Explorer Academy, a new book series designed for kids ages 8-12. Scroll down to learn more about the new book series and enter to win an Alaskan Cruise.

Consideration provided by National Geographic Kids.

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald

National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world around them through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, video, and more. National Geographic Kids is the only kids’ brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. The brand publishes 10 magazine issues per year (6 Little Kids magazines) and can be purchased at newsstands or via print or digital subscription.

I first introduced my kids to National Geographic Kids’ Little Kids series as toddlers. The series features age-specific magazines with a focus on nature and animals. These “multitopic, photo-driven magazines” make it fun for young readers to learn about the world. National Geographic Little Kids is targeted towards children ages 3-6 and includes engaging stories and lively photographs to help foster reading skills. Some of the things you’ll find in the magazines include picture games, puzzles, animal stories, simple science experiments, and answers to common kids’ questions. I particularly like that the magazines introduce children to animals and cultures they may not have heard about in traditional books. The magazines are square-shaped and about half the size of a regular magazine so kids can grasp and read them easily.

National Geographic Kids magazines are designed for children ages 6-14. The type of content is very similar to that found in Little Kids and includes stories about science, technology, wildlife, pop culture, and more. Features include Amazing Animals, Weird But True, Cool Inventions, and more. Along with engaging kids in literacy, the magazines are designed to help kids learn while having fun.

Yearly subscriptions are as follows:

National Geographic Little Kids: $15/year (six issues)

National Geographic Kids: $15/year ($12/year digital)

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2019

Each year, National Geographic Kids releases a kid-centric almanac, which features 300+ pages of news, facts, photos games, and more. The National Geographic Kids Almanac 2019 includes an expansive array of topics that span everything from cool inventions and world religions to geography and politics. My kids really like the quizzes and games included in the almanac.

To celebrate the release of the National Geographic Kids Almanac, kids are invited to participate in the Lions Forever Almanac Challenge for a chance to win a $500 gift card to host a lion conservation party. Visit NatGeoKids.com/Almanac for more information.

Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret

Explorer Academy is National Geographic Kids’ new fact-based fiction series and is inspired by the real-life adventures of National Geographic explorers. The first book in the series is called The Nebula Secret and follows the story of 12-year-old Cruz Coronado at the Explorer Academy. He and 23 other kids from around the globe will train to become the next generation of explorers. In addition to making new friends and taking classes, Cruz must unlock clues to his family’s mysterious past and tackle the question of who is out to get him and why. Immersed in a world of critical missions and code breaking, Cruz embarks on a global hung for the secret formula that could reveal his hidden past.

The book engages kids ages 8-12 in a narrative that includes code-breaking, puzzles, and a story that compels observation, problem-solving, and deductive reasoning. The series will also introduce kids to new cultures from around the world.

You can purchase the book on Amazon or at a local book retailer including Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart.

Explorer Academy Sweepstakes

To celebrate the release of Explorer Academy, one family will embark on a trip of a lifetime. The grand prize is a family trip for four to Alaska’s Inside Passage from National Geographic Expeditions. Enter by visiting ExplorerAcademyTrip.com.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.