special report

KID ZONE
Readership: boys and girls ages 4 - 12

SUBMISSION SPECIFICS:

KID ZONE is a bimonthly craft and activity magazine and is part of the Scott Publications family of magazines. According to the website, "Kid Zone enables children 4-12 years to learn new talents, expand their creativity and build their confidence. Filled with craft activities, kid-friendly features, games, puzzles, trivia, recipes, jokes and stories, kids find activities to keep themselves entertained for hours.”

This issue was much slimmer than issues I’ve seen in the past (though it’s probably been a year or so since I looked at the magazine.) It only included one craft and far fewer hands-on activities of that sort in it. It’s much more of a traditional children’s magazine now and less of a craft and activity magazine.

KID ZONE takes freelance submissions for a variety of “zones” (regular departments) including Critter Zone (animal trivia article with an activity), Chomp Zone (unusual recipes or information about food), Culture Zone (World Cultures), Fun Zone (Seasonal/Holiday), Discovery Zone (Science), Info Zones (Fun Facts Trivia).

Send hardcopy submissions to:

Editor: Anne Huizenga
KID ZONE Magazine
450 Benson Building
Sioux City, IA 51101

Send email submissions to ahuizenga@scottpublications.com

WHAT THEY WANT:

Magazine website does not contain guidelines. In the past, KID ZONE has preferred complete manuscripts but does accept queries. Crafts, activities, and puzzles should fit into one of the zones and accompany an article that would also fit the zone category.
Articles run about 500 words. Seasonal material needs to be sent 4 months in advance. Buys “World Rights.” Pays on publication.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC ISSUE

KID ZONE
Winter 2007/2008 

[Inside Front Cover]Here’s the Gang from Houligan's Hollow. Introduces the magazine mascots by having them ask questions whose answers can be found in different pieces throughout the magazine. 

[1/2 first page]Moms, Dads, Adults, Teachers – Addresses adults about the contents of the magazine and assisting the children with activities. 

[1/2 first page] One paragraph book reviews by children (ages 9 and 10 in this issue). 

[Adventure Zone] Johnnie’s Skiing Adventure by Johnnie Tuitel and Sharon Lamson – A short piece about a wheelchair using boy who goes skiing using a special rig and the adventure of overcoming his fear to try it. Looks about 400 – 450 words. Written mostly to draw attention to an adventure book series featuring the same boy. 

Kid Zone Gallery.  Reader drawings (ages range from 5 – 12). 

[Info Zone] Creatures In Winter. 7 “cool facts” about different animals in winter including the tree frog that freezes solid and the amount of food a humpback whale eats. 

Fish Pencil Topper – Uses sculpey eraser clay to make fish. Two headings (“Stuff you need” and “What to do.” The first is a list including things like clay tools and foil covered baking tins. The second is 8 steps to make the fish – very specific. 

Berman’s Brain Benders: No byline, might be in-house puzzles. Logic and word puzzles. 

[Critter Zone] Penguins by Kerrily Sapet. Very general penguin article. Include a whole page of “cool facts” in bubbles, but also three full pages of general penguin information. Also includes an activity for seeing how fat insulates and a cute “penguin cookie” made from Oreos and chocolate chips (no baking). 

Picture Match-up – finding identical pictures. 

Mazey’s Mischief – reader riddles (ages 7 – 11). 

[Chomp Zone] Gum Galore. Article on the history of gum. Also include bubble blowing fun facts, a tutorial on how to blow a bubble, and directions for folding gum wrappers into a chain. 

[Discovery Zone]. Ice: Friend or Foe by Melanie Himmer. A mixed article with info on ice and some history (arctic explorers, titanic, etc) of things related loosely to ice. Also includes a collection of ice facts. Then a one-page article on igloos. 

[Fun Zone] A Day of Ice Fishing by Janet Hawtin. Personal experience piece about ice fishing with photos 

Games, Games, Games. Probably not freelance: Crossword, coloring page, dot game, word game. 

[Story Zone] Bubble Trouble by Allison Keesen. About a girl who cheats in a contest and has to face the consequences. This story includes the mascot animals but focuses on the action of kid characters. 

Winter – a word search. 

Culture Zone.  St. Maarten – flag, map, information, recipe, a game and some personal experience.

This page last updated on 01 February 2008