Magazine Review

OWL Magazine
Published by Owlkids
Age Range: 9-13

ISSN: 0382-6627
USD $27.80 per year

OWL Magazine is a Canadian publication aimed at children ages 9 to 13. It was originally a science and nature magazine (OWL stands for Outdoors and Wild Life) but in its nearly forty years of existence, OWL’s focus has expanded. “Unusual for its intended age group,” the magazine boasts on its website, “OWL is loved by both girls and boys, identifying the core of what really matters to 9- to 13-year-olds and relaying it with a signature honesty, intelligence, and humour.” The March 2015 issue, for example, covers tech, books, movies, animals, art and civic engagement.

I used my library’s online magazine service Zinio to read this issue, but OWL does still offer a print edition as well. The issue I chose was March 2014’s Comic Issue, which is 43 pages long and contains a mix of regular features and special articles. Monthly features include a calendar, “Weird Zone”, “Animal of the Month”, “World Watch” and “Classroom of the Month”. The content is appropriate for children and geared toward their interests. For example, this issue’s arts section covers the newest Big Nate book, the upcoming film Muppets Most Wanted and a new game for the Nintendo Wii. It also provides children’s perspective in a section of kid-written media reviews. Some of the features discuss current issues in ways that relate them to children’s lives (the amount of waste produced by ever-advancing tech toys) and some spotlight important work that young people are doing (starting a nonprofit foundation to help children of color with special needs). The staff of OWL clearly respect and understand their audience.

As this was the Comics Issue, the special articles were all comic related: an article by author Brian McLachlan and artist Claude Bordeleau about how they work together to create their comic The Outrageous World of Alex and Charlie, an installment of popular graphic series Max Finder Mystery and a Create-a-Comic contest for readers.

OWL offers dynamic graphic design that will attract the attention of young readers and the varied and appealing content will keep them interested. Subscribing to the print edition would provide children with a kid-centered account of educational and cultural current events as well as giving them the excitement of having a piece of mail addressed to them arrive on a regular basis.

Readalikes:
Muse Magazine
Cricket
Cobblestone
National Geographic Kids