The printed magazine will be distributed to over one million of Highlights’ subscribers, and we are providing 250,000 copies to schools and organizations serving lower-income communities such as Save the Children, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Reading is Fundamental. Additionally, children can access a free digital version of the magazine and supplementary materials online.
To gain insight into the creation of this special issue, we recently spoke with Highlights editors Joelle Dujardin and Marlo Scrimizzi.
What can kids expect to find when they open an issue of Highlights?
Marlo: They will encounter puzzles, fiction and nonfiction stories, and activities, such as a craft and a recipe. “Hidden Pictures” has been a part of the magazine since its beginnings, and we incorporate various other types of puzzles to engage kids in learning while solving problems. We also feature recurring characters like Goofus and Gallant, who have been part of Highlights for many years and exemplify incorrect and correct behavior, respectively. In this special issue, we centered on the five pillars of Be Internet Awesome, which encourage kids to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave.
Joelle: Kids enjoy hearing from other kids, so we always strive to include their perspectives, such as in our section where real kids write to us seeking advice. An interesting fact about Highlights is that we respond to every single letter we receive from kids, whether it is published in the magazine or not. We also have a regular series titled “Ask Arizona.” Arizona is a fictional character, and the concept is that she responds to other kids’ questions by sharing a story from her own life. She resonates with our readers because they can relate to her stories. For example, in the Be Internet Awesome issue, the “Ask Arizona” story revolves around excessive screen time. Kindness is also a recurring theme, including stories about real kids using technology to invent things that benefit others.
