I used to be a scientist. Sometimes I say I stopped once I had children because of the whole work-family balance. Other times I simply say I "retired" since that sounds fancy coming from the mouth of someone who people sometimes ask "how old are you?" because they think I'm fresh out of high school. (Okay, this phenomena is dropping off rather quickly. Stay tuned because I'm going to review a wrinkle cream soon. Seriously.)
But all jokes aside, science is still a part of my life. I'm Co-chair of the Science Fair at my children's elementary school, and I sent them to Science Camp this past summer. I definitely want to pique their interest in "how things work" and to foster critical and curious minds.
With that in mind, when Mom Central asked for interested bloggers to learn more about Mad Science's KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids, I jumped in line. KNOW is intended for kids aged 6-9, and mine are exactly 6 and 9 - perfect!
KNOW is definitely a magazine for kids, with plenty of fun colorful graphics and amazing photographs to capture the attention, as well as little extras like puzzles. The one big "extra" KNOW doesn't have is outside advertisements, which is a-okay by me.
The language isn't super-simple, which I adore. I love it when vocabulary doesn't have to be complex, but the sentence structure is still mature and fact-filled. Too often, children's publications can seem a bit too chatty, but this magazine definitely flows in the more "informational" sections and saves the "chat" for first-person accounts of experiments or adventures. There is a terrific mix of text and pictures to create an engaging yet not overwhelming experience for the reader.
Of course applications to "real life" are important to really cement in scientific concepts. KNOW magazine certainly talks about different ways their readers can see science in action, but it also has a "Home Lab" section for that budding scientist. Perhaps I need to dust off my lab coat...? KNOW magazine also profiles historical figures in science, so not only are the readers getting enrichment in science; they are also getting an extra boost in history.
I'm eager to see what the next issue of KNOW will bring to my kids. And they're interested too - which is the important part!
You can download a free issue of KNOW from their website, and/or you can purchase a subscription.
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Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mad Science. I received a subscription to Mad Science in order to facilitate my review. In addition, I will receive a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate once it is confirmed I have posted. I will not receive any further compensation, nor do I receive any commission should my readers subscribe to the magazine.
