Current Needs

Fiction for Beginning Readers (Ages 4 to 8), up to 500 words, Joëlle Dujardin, Associate Editor

• Humorous stories
• Folktales
• Holiday stories
• Sports stories

Fiction for Independent Readers (Ages 8 to 12), up to 800 words, Joëlle Dujardin, Associate Editor

• Holiday stories
• Humorous stories
• Adventure stories
• Historical fiction
• Sports stories

Nonfiction for Beginning Readers (Ages 4 to 8), up to 500 words, Debra Hess, Senior Editor

Currently considering all high-interest articles with special consideration given to the following categories:

• Ancient history
• High-interest animals (not birds)

All nonfiction submissions must contain an expert review and a bibliography with more than just Internet sources.

What a Pro Knows, up to 800 words, Debra Hess, Senior Editor

What a Pro Knows offers readers a window into the life of a professional. It's occupation information full of fun facts and inspirational quotes. It's an insider look into a field of work that kids might know about or dream about, but might not have considered because they see it as unattainable.

What a Pro Knows submissions should contain the transcript of an original interview, as well as photos (or sources for photos) of the subject matter. The feature can be in question-and-answer format or written as an article. Helpful hints about career and life choices or an activity for readers should also be included. (The 800-word limit includes all aspects of the feature.)

Professions already covered include a pastry chef, a storyteller, a photographer, and a cartoonist.

Gallant Kids, up to 400 words, Debra Hess, Senior Editor

At the moment we cannot use Gallant Kids articles that focus on kids who have created school-based, homeschool-based, or Scout projects.

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 (but NOT Washington and Lincoln) and patriotic pieces
• Need anecdotal articles, rather than broad interviews
• American holidays, specifically Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, and little-known holidays
• World-cultures pieces. ALL COUNTRIES. We want intimate snapshots of life in another country.

One-page Activities, up to 275 words, Linda Rose, Assistant Editor

• Indoor and outdoor games that kids aren't likely to know already, especially those that involve exercise, creativity, and/or humor
• Activities and games that kids can do either alone or with friends
• Projects that will result in a new hobby or skill and/or a quality finished product
• Crafts that produce a game, activity, or gift
• Magic tricks
• Sets of body-teaser challenges (ex: "With your heels against the wall, can you bend forward and pick up a quarter in front of your toes?")

We prefer activities that require neither parental supervision nor materials kids aren't likely to have handy.

Short Puzzles, Games, Recipes, and Activities, Linda Rose, Assistant Editor

All articles should have a clear focus and relevance to young kids.

• Art activities
• World-cultures activities
• History and geography puzzles
• Logic puzzles
• Math puzzles
• Codes

Any activities that easily lend themselves to strong visuals are a huge plus!