NONFICTION CATEGORIES:

• Nonfiction for Younger Readers (Ages 4 to 8) up to 500 words, Joëlle Dujardin, Associate Editor
  Younger nonfiction should be written for readers ages 4 to 8 and should not exceed 500 words. All articles should have a clear focus and relevance to young kids.
  • First-person accounts of fieldwork
  • Photo Essays
  • Arts Stories
  • Kids living in various cultures
  • Ancient history
  • High-interest animals
  • Details from urban life (workers, transportation, etc.)
  • Nature
• Science, 800 words (two-page features), 400 words (one-page features), 50 words (activities) Andy Boyles, Science Editor
  • Features about kids involved in science
  • Scientists studying high-interest animals in their natural habitats
  • Short, quick, easy, fun science activities
• History/World Cultures, up to 800 words, Carolyn Yoder, Senior Editor
  • Fun, humorous, kid-friendly articles
  • Presidential (NOT Washington and Lincoln) and patriotic pieces
  • Need anecdotal articles, rather than broad interviews
  • American holidays, specifically Thanksgiving
  • World cultures pieces. ALL COUNTRIES. We want intimate snapshots of life in another country.
• Adventure, up to 800 words, Kim Griswell, Coordinating Editor
  Adventure articles that bring the reader in and let him/her come along for the adventure. Rather than telling kids "I went here and wasn't it grand" the best articles share the adventure.
• Arts, up to 800 words, Kim Griswell, Coordinating Editor
  • Need more contemporary articles with high kid-appeal. A fresh, focused slant rather than overviews.
  • No need for "classic" arts articles, especially bios of famous artists.
• Sports, up to 800 words, Judy Burke, Managing Editor
  • Sports "how-to" pieces. Each article should be reviewed by an expert before submission.
  • Contemporary bios of squeaky-clean professional athletes, male or female. It helps when the author interviews the subject for these.
  • No need for baseball biographies or track-and-field biographies right now. No biographies of college athletes.
  • Feel free to query first.
• Economics/Personal Finance, up to 800 words,
  Kim Griswell, Coordinating Editor
  Articles that address economics or personal finance at a kid's level. 
• Gallant Kids, up to 400 words, Kim Griswell, Coordinating Editor
  Articles about a kid or kids who are serving others in some special way. Articles must be about unique, interesting, kid-generated projects. The idea is that when kids serve others, they are being their "best selves."
• Full-page Activities, up to 300 words, Linda Rose, Assistant Editor
  300-Word Activities of all kinds, appealing to a wide age range whenever possible. We prefer activities that do not require parental supervision or materials kids aren't likely to have handy.
  • Indoor and outdoor games that involve exercise, creativity, and/or humor
  • Activities and games that kids can do whether they're on their own or with others
  • Some cooperative games (we publish both cooperative and competitive games, but receive more submissions of the latter)
  • Projects that will result in a new hobby or skill and/or a quality finished product
  • Magic tricks
  • Activities to get children outdoors, moving around, or creating.
• Picture Puzzlers See recent issues for examples.
  (Picture Puzzlers should not require readers to write in the magazine.)
  • A large visual puzzle with little text, offering our readers an entertaining and visually interesting puzzle activity. Art need not be supplied with the manuscript, but basic sketches showing your idea or detailed art/photo suggestions are helpful.
  • We need fresh manuscripts/ideas for this page that we haven't already done.
  • We need more ideas with more than one thing going on, such as a big visual puzzle with activities here and there on the page.
  • Original board games that are visually interesting and can be played on the page are also welcome!
• Puzzles, Games, Recipes, Other Short Activities, Tiffany Hoffman, Editorial Assistant. Any activities that easily lend themselves to strong visuals are a huge plus!
  Needs include:
  • Art activities
  • Activities with a sporty theme
  • World-culture activities
  • Holiday games
  • History and geography puzzles
  • Sequencing activities
  • Recipes
  • Codes
• Crafts, Tiffany Hoffman, Editorial Assistant. Please send a photo or actual sample of the craft. A drawing doesn't provide enough information.
  • Multicultural crafts (general or holiday-specific)
  • Crafts that encourage play (musical instruments, costumes, etc.)
  • Crafts with direct boy appeal
  • Seasonal crafts
  • Gifts
  • Crafts for all holidays