special report

POCKETS Magazine
Readership: ages 6 - 12, target reading age is 8 - 11
Published by The Upper Room

Note: This Special Report first appeared on Janfields.com

Submission specifics from their guidelines:
POCKETS magazine

• offers wholesome devotional readings that teach about God's love and presence in life
• affirms a child's self-worth
• is published monthly (except in February)
• is written and produced for children and designed to help children pray and be in relationship to God
• emphasizes that we are loved by God and that God's grace calls us into community

Send for Theme List. "Submissions do not need to be overtly religious. They should help children experience a Christian lifestyle that is not always a neatly wrapped moral package but is open to the continuing revelation of God's will. Seasonal material, both secular and liturgical, is appropriate." Content includes "fun and exciting puzzles, games, stories, poems, recipes, colorful pictures, and scripture readings."

"POCKETS is ecumenical, and our readers include persons of many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. These differences should be reflected in the references that are made to lifestyles, living environments (suburban, urban, rural, reservation), families (extended families, single-parent homes), and individual names. Stories should show appreciation of cultural differences and not leave the impression that one way is better than another."

Fiction and scripture stories should be 600 to 1500 words. We occasionally publish two-part stories of up to 2600 words. Our primary interest is in stories that can help children deal with real-life situations. We prefer real-life settings, but we occasionally use fables. We do not accept stories about talking animals or inanimate objects. No violence. Fictional characters and some elaboration may be included in scripture stories, but the writer must remain faithful to the story.

Stories should contain lots of action, use believable dialogue, be simply written, and be relevant to the problems faced by this age group in everyday life. Children need to be able to see themselves in the pages of the magazine. It is important that the tone not be "preachy" or didactic. Use short sentences and paragraphs. When possible, use concrete words instead of abstractions. However, do not "write down" to children.

Articles should be 400 to 1,000 words. These should be related to a particular theme which has been projected (a list of themes and due dates is available from the editorial office). We also seek biographical sketches of persons, famous or unknown, whose lives reflect their Christian commitments and values. These may be either short vignettes (a single incident) or longer and more complete biographies. Articles about various holidays and about other cultures are included.

Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced, on 8 1/2"x 11" paper,accompanied by a SASE for return -- no FAX or email.
Does not accept queries. Pays on acceptance:

• Stories and articles: 12 cents a word
• Poetry: $25.00 and up
• Activities, games: $15.00 and up

Submissions to:

Lynn W. Gilliam, Associate Editor
POCKETS®
P.O. Box 340004
Nashville, TN 37203-0004
USA

Pockets website includes sample stories, and department content.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC ISSUE

POCKETS
May 2003

Theme: "Respect in the Family"

"What an Idea". Story about boy who feels his parents aren’t listening to his ideas. The boy comes to realize he hasn’t been listening to his little brother’s ideas. Conflict solved by main character. Written in First Person. Four pages/Four full-color illustrations.

"Kid to Kid". Question and Answer from readers. Good way to get a feel for readers.

"Family Fun" Board game. Includes board, ideas for "chance" cards to draw. Uses dice. Created by 10-year-old girl in response to a contest.

"The Birthday Slip-Up." Story of child of divorced parents. Feels badly that she let her dad hear her call her step-dad "Dad." Feels conflicted about two dads. Mom solves problem with a little talk. Written in First Person. Four pages/Four three-color illustrations.

"Pocketsful of Love" Situations with questions to get reader to think.

"Pocketsful of Letters" Letters from readers.

Puzzle Page: Crosswords, uses opposites; "Who Are My Parents", Bible quiz.

Timberlake Road "Dawson’s Game." Main character gets to be pitcher on Little League team. His younger brother is a great hitter but can’t pitch and feels badly about it. Main character teaches him to feel better about his own skills using family stories. Written in First Person. Four Pages/Full Color Illustrations.

"May Days" Poem -- spring reminds the poet of God. 16 lines.

"Over the Line" Poem -- Light poem about a sibling fight. 24 lines.

"Look-alikes" Poem (with accompanying picture puzzle) -- funny poem about family looks, 12 lines.

"Too Much Mess" A mom helps her daughter clean her room. Then the girl gets mad at her little brother for bringing his stuff in her room behaves unkindly. Mom gives daughter "the look" -- daughter realizes she should be helpful like the mom was. Story is tied to a Bible story. Written in Third Person. Two pages/Two full color illustrations

"Make a Poster" Coloring puzzle.

"Banana Splits, Sprinkle Cones, Pappou, and Me." Girl feels awkward with her Pappou who is visiting but speaks little English. Pappou takes her out for ice cream. Little girl realizes she understands im better the longer she spends with him. Written in first person. Three Pages/Two full-color illustrations.

Three pages of reader material.

Puzzle Page: Two word puzzles

Pocketsful of Prayer: How families are like musical harmonies.

Pocketsful of Scripture: Bible reading/devotions.

God in My Life: more reader content

Peacemakers at Work: Short profiles of kids: (1) children’s group that sings at nursing home. (2) Girl who had birthday party at skating rink and asked guests to bring donations of pet food for the Humane society instead of presents. (3) Boy who grows a garden, sells the produce, and gives the money to the homeless. (4) Little girl who ran to tell someone to call 911 when she spotted a house on fire.

Kids Cook: simple cobbler recipe.

"Maybe Next Time" Story of a girl whose little brother wants to play baseball with her friends. They keep putting him off. The girl realizes her little brother should be more important to her than winning. They let him play. Written in first person. Four pages/full color illustrations.

Inside Back Cover: What’s wrong with this picture? puzzle

This page last updated on 01 September 2008