Highlights (magazine)
 | |
 June 2021 cover highlighting the magazine's 75th anniversary | |
| Editor | Christine French Cully |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | June 1946 |
| Company | Highlights for Children, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Columbus, Ohio |
| Language | English |
| Website | https://highlights.com |
| ISSN | 0018-165X |
Highlights for Children, often referred to simply as Highlights, is an American children's magazine. It began publication in June 1946, started by Garry Cleveland Myers and his wife Caroline Clark Myers in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where the editorial office remains.[1] They both worked for another children's magazine, Children's Activities, for twelve years before leaving to start Highlights. The Highlights tagline is "Fun with a Purpose".
The company is now based in Columbus, Ohio,[2] and owns book publishers Zaner-Bloser. Its Boyds Mills Press division was sold to Kane Press in 2019.[3] Highlights has surpassed one billion magazine copies in 2006. In 2021, after 75 years of partnership, the United States Postal Service had delivered well over 4.5 billion pieces of Highlights mail. Highlights, High Five, High Five Bilingüe, Highlights CoComelon, Hello, brainPLAY magazines do not carry any third-party advertising or commercial messages.
Before Highlights
[edit]Garry Myers earned a PhD in psychology from Columbia University before World War I, providing a basis for the teaching he would do the rest of his life. He and Caroline Myers taught illiterate soldiers for the US Army, with Caroline becoming the first female teacher employed by the Army.[4] This experience led to their pioneering of elementary education. They taught educators and parents for a time at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, during which Garry Myers wrote a nationally syndicated column entitled Parent Problems, and the couple co-authored several books.
They had become nationally well known in education and wished to share their knowledge so they began to work for Children's Activities. Lecturing across the nation, they informed, discovered, and refined what they knew. Their travels also led to long discussions on what would be appropriate for children, and after finishing with Children's Activities instead of retiring they decided to start their own magazine. Later, they would buy Children's Activities and incorporate it in Highlights.
Highlights
[edit]Highlights is geared mainly to elementary school students; it contains stories and puzzles for children ages six to twelve years old. One aim of the magazine is to encourage kids to read and has something for preschoolers in every issue. Highlights' illustrations feature people of all colors and its stories also cover diverse communities.[5] Its February 2017 issue included a family with two dads, the first depiction of a same-sex relationship in the magazine's 70-year history.[6]
In June 1946, the first issue of Highlights sold fewer than 20,000 copies.[7] Within six months, the magazine was losing money and the founders asked their son Garry Myers to work with them to wind it down. Recognizing its potential, he decided it was worth saving and came up with the idea of placing copies with doctor and dentists offices throughout North America.[8] This turned the magazine's fortunes around, but several key staff died soon after. Garry and his wife Mary along with Highlights company vice-president Cyril Ewart all died in a 1960 plane crash. The three were on traveling to discuss distribution plans for Highlights.[9]
By the 1980s, Highlights was the most popular children's magazine in the United States, having close to two million subscribers, with 95 percent of the copies mailed to homes. The magazine accepted no advertising and eschewed single-issue sales, but could be found in most pediatrician’s and dentist's waiting rooms in North America.[7] By 1995, Highlights' circulation had grown to 2.8 million, with most subscribers still being families.[5] In 2006, the United States Postal Service delivered the one-billionth copy of Highlights magazine to a young subscriber in Dallas, Texas.[10][11]
Highlights High Five
[edit]Highlights High Five is a younger children's counterpart to Highlights, first published with the January 2007 issue. This children's magazine is for preschoolers ages three through five. The goal of High Five is to help children develop and to give parent and child a fun and meaningful activity to do together each month. Every issue is 40 pages and includes poems and stories, crafts, easy recipes, games, puzzles and other activities that encourage children to be lifelong learners.[12]
Highlights CoComelon mini magazine
[edit]Highlights CoComelon mini magazine combines two childhood favorites into a one-of-a-kind monthly subscription that encourages families to smile, snuggle and sing together. Each issue of Highlights CoComelon mini magazine features favorite CoComelon characters, songs and themes. First published in July 2024, Highlights CoComelon mini magazine is for kids two to five. The magazine pairs CoComelon sing-along songs with Highlights’ classic short stories and poems, specially created CoComelon games and puzzles, and stimulating recipes and science activities.
Highlights Hello
[edit]
Highlights Hello Magazine was introduced in December 2012. This magazine is designed to create bonding time between babies and toddlers and their caregivers. Highlights Hello magazine target audience is children ages 0–2 years old. Highlights announced that this magazine, which is offered in several subscription packages[13] is designed specifically for babies and includes safety features like rounded edges, tear-resistant pages, moisture-resistant pages with stitched (not stapled) binding and are easy to wipe clean.
brainPLAY magazine
[edit]Highlights released a new all-puzzle magazine in 2023. brainPLAY is a 32-page monthly magazine full of puzzles for kids 7 and older. Puzzles featured in the magazine include Hidden Pictures puzzles, logic puzzles, sudoku, crosswords, mazes and more.
Regular departments
[edit]Ask Arizona
Appearing in the magazine since 2005, "Ask Arizona" is a story series featuring a girl named Arizona who writes an advice column for other children, similar to Dear Abby or Ask Ann Landers. The article depicts real-life experiences and appears in every issue.
Hidden Pictures
"Hidden Pictures", published in every issue of Highlights since the magazine's inception, is now found on page 7 of each issue. Children find the smaller hidden pictures within the larger picture.
Goofus and Gallant
First appearing in Highlights in 1948, Goofus and Gallant is what New Yorker Magazine calls a "brazenly didactic" cartoon feature[14] created by Garry Cleveland Myers and first drawn by Leslie Harrington. The strip features two contrasting boys, Goofus and Gallant, which were originally drawn as elves.[14] In each cartoon, it is shown how each boy would respond to the same situation. Goofus chooses an irresponsible, immature and unkind path, while Gallant chooses a responsible, mature and kind path. Often the panels would provide a description, such as on a school bus: Goofus hogs his seat – Gallant makes space for someone else to sit down. Sometimes the situations would show the boys talking, such as phone courtesy when parents are away: Goofus: "Someone called but I forgot their name." Gallant: "Someone called for you. I wrote down their name and number". Goofus and Gallant's primary function is to teach children basic social skills. Originally drawn in black and white, Goofus and Gallant changed to colored pencils in 1994 and later changed to colored computer graphics in December 2005.
Jokes
Appearing in every issue is a series of jokes of various kinds. A knock-knock joke is always included as a part of this feature.
Riddles
A series of ten riddles. The punchlines appear upside-down at the bottom of the column.
Create
"Create" is a feature that prints drawings, poems, and stories by readers who submit them to the magazine.
What's Wrong?
Featured on the back cover, "What's Wrong?" is a large drawing of a typical scene of children playing, but unusual objects take the place of normal things throughout the picture. The page instructs the reader to find the various objects that are wrong.
Crafts
This is a section where kids can make different crafts, such as puzzles, puppets and cards.
Brain Play
This section comprises a list of several simple questions for children.
Contests
Sometimes Highlights would have an illustration of something and would ask if a reader could submit a short story to accompany this. Other times it could be an unfinished story and the contest would ask if the readers could submit a few paragraphs to complete it. Several ideas would be chosen as winners and featured in a future issue.
Dear Highlights
"Dear Highlights" is an advice column from real children appearing at the back of each issue.
Puzzles, Short Stories, and Poems
Every issue of Highlights features puzzles, short stories, and poems throughout the issue. A puzzle is always featured at the front side of the back cover. About You "About You" is a section from real children, telling about their favorite hobbies and things.
Former features
[edit]Aloysius
[edit]The Aloysius stories were written by Sydney K. Davis.[15] They centralized on an anthropomorphic wolf named Aloysius, who would get into a situation and have to be rescued by the other characters in the story, a male named Samuel Samuel and a female named Wanda. These stories began in 1951[16] and appeared until 1993.
The Bear Family
[edit]This was a cartoon created by Garry Cleveland Myers. It focuses on a family of bears consisting of Father Bear, Mother Bear, daughter Woozy, and sons Poozy and Piddy. They learned about everything from name-calling to discipline. This comic appeared from the beginning until 1989, and again from 1998 to 2012.
Your Best Self
[edit]"Your Best Self" is a one-panel comic that appeared until February 2015 showing kids doing the right thing.
Digital media
[edit]In 1996, to celebrate the magazine's 50th anniversary, a CD-ROM game titled Highlights Interactive was released featuring games based the magazine's then-current features.[17][18] This was followed in 1997 by a spin-off game, Highlights Hidden Pictures Workshop.[19]
In 2010, Highlights released a series of educational mobile apps on the iOS App Store.[20]
On June 25, 2019, Highlights for Children's Twitter account denounced the practice of family separation at the Mexico–United States border.[21]
In 2021, Amazon's Audible service released podcast series based on Goofus and Gallant and Ask Arizona. [22][23]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Highlights – About the Company". www.highlights.com. Highlights. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Children's Magazines". Book Market. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ "Highlights Sells Boyds Mills to Kane Press". www.publishersweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
- ^ "The Founders". Jan 11, 2010. Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved Mar 26, 2020.
- ^ a b McClurg, Jocelyn (9 February 1995). "The Kids' Magazine That Cares". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
Highlights is dedicated to 'wholesome fun,' and, as the magazine says, to helping kids grow in basic skills and knowledge, in creativeness, in sensitivity to others and in 'high ideals.' But 'fun' is the most important part, says coordinating editor Rich Wallace.
- ^ Hamill, Jim (10 January 2017). "'Highlights for Children' Magazine Makes History". WNEP.com. Tribune Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
'It's not banging anybody over the head with anything,' said librarian Betty Lawson. 'It's a picture of a family, of a beautiful family packing up to go on vacation.'
- ^ a b Singleton, David (4 April 1986). "After 40 Years, Highlights Magazine Still Holds Tight To Values". Orlando Sentinel. United Press International. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
Editor Kent Brown Jr. said Highlights is still very much the same magazine founded by his grandparents, Garry and Caroline Myers.
- ^ 44 Pages: : Making Highlights Magazine, a documentary film about Highlights magazine, directed by Tony Shaff, 2017
- ^ "Families remember 50th anniversary of fatal plane collision". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved Mar 26, 2020.
- ^ "One-Billionth Copy of Highlights Magazine Delivered to Young Dallas Subscriber by Highlights for Children and the United States Postal Service". Houston Chronicle. PR Newswire. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
The girl, an elementary school child, and her family were presented with the one-billionth copy during a special party celebrating the 60th anniversary of Highlights magazine attended by other children from the Dallas area.
- ^ Timmons, Heather (18 April 2013). "Goofus and Gallant Come to India". India Ink. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Highlights High Five Magazine for Preschoolers". Highlights for Children. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ "Highlights Hello Magazine for Toddlers". Highlights for Children. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ a b Larson, Sarah (1 August 2018). ""44 Pages," A wondrous study of a kids' magazine". New Yorker Magazine. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Obituaries: Sydney K. Davis". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2004-01-24. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Aloysius Wolf - History". sites.google.com.
- ^ "Highlights Interactive - Longplay". YouTube.
- ^ "Highlights Interactive [#2588]". 1996.
- ^ "Highlights Hidden Pictures Workshop - Gameplay". YouTube.
- ^ "Children's magazine Highlights reinvents itself as a subscription service with videos, activities and more". TechCrunch. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Children's mag Highlights slams 'unconscionable' migrant family separations" Archived 2019-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, USA Today.
- ^ Ask Arizona.
- ^ Goofus and Gallant.
External links
[edit]- "Highlights for Children 1 Billion Strong". Business First of Columbus, June 12, 2006.