I stumbled across Anorak magazine some time ago now, and fell head over heels in love in an instant. Based in the UK, Anorak produces a quarterly magazine for kids that's unlike any other.
Launched in 2006, and called 'the happy mag for kids', the magazine is aimed at boys and girls aged 6 to 12. Content includes stories, colouring, things to do, and lots of cool and fascinating facts - to make everyone HAPPY!
The design and layout of these über retro magazines are to die for. This is some talented team, drawing on considerable graphic design, illustration and layout skills. Content is also excellent. The latest issue (no. 22), focuses on the topic of food.
Typical content includes editorial style news, book reviews from kids (heavenly!), a divine photographic cartoon strip of a stuffed monkey and bear, poetry, games, activities, fun facts and illustrated stories - all inspired to get kids reading and get their creative juices flowing. My 11-year-old daughter always runs up to me pink in the face and gushing, after an Anorak reading session.
Anorak also publish a series of books for children, including super cool activity and colouring books, A scrapbook, Food is Fun, Gardens of Mayland and PLOC. Their magazine app is also available on iTunes for just 99 cents.
PLOC, illustrated by French 1960s artistic legend Alain Grée, is like a Golden Book of interactive bliss. Old style. Featuring drool-worthy illustrations, kids can read, colour, explore, seek and find, learn how bread is made, create their own paper activities, mix and match, and much more. Parents in love with retro art will want to tear out the pages and frame them for their kid's wall, so best get two copies. Perfect for kids aged 3 - 7.
The Gardens of Mayland was written by Anorak creator Cathy Olmedillas and illustrated by Rob Lowe. A little hard cover book with cloth spine, it contains a stunning line-up of flowers, using clever graphic design tecnhiques and inspiring colours - and opposite each flower is some accompanying prose about said flowers - in the nonsense vein. Adorable. Ideal for kids aged 4+.
Shop for these stunning publications at anorakmagazine.com.