Review: BIG kids magazine + Cagoule

I get lots of interesting mail my way and today’s review covers two magazines – one for kids; while another is designed for big kids (and adults!)

BIG kids magazine

BIG kids magazine

BIG kids magazine

BIG KIDS MAGAZINE

When I was starting out in the publishing arena, one of the titles that I worked to bring to life was a kids’ magazine. The premise was simple – it was to be a collaboration between parents and kids, with kids weighing in on parenting topics and having their say (and boy did they have A LOT to say!)

While I moved away from the magazine, I do pick up parenting mags and mags for kids from time to time to see what’s out there – call it a force of habit, but I find myself drawn to magazines of all sorts in a big way! So I totally understand how much hard work went into BIG Kids magazine when founder Jo and Lilly sent me a copy of their first ever issue.

BIG Kids Magazine is the brainchild of two professional Australian mother-artists, Jo Pollitt and Lilly Blue. As a contemporary arts publication for children, BIG stands for Bravery, Imagination and Generosity, and is produced biannually. Each issue features an art print and two projects with lots of content that’s meant to spur the creativity of kids, all within 60 ethically produced pages.

Through collaborations between children (their senior editor is 8 years old!), parents, diverse communities and contemporary artists working across creative disciplines, the magazine is jam packed with activities that you can sit down with your kid. From book reviews to making art cards, the magazine is intended to be fully used – drawn in, cut out and spread over the floor in a messy glory of paper and color that so wonderfully exemplifies their motto of promoting a creative and curious childhood.

Issue number two is already underway and will be shipping in April! Find out how you can get involved over here.

CAGOULE

Cagoule magazine

Cagoule magazine

Cagoule magazine

From the makers of Anorak, comes Cagoule, which is basically Anorak for adults. If you’re not familiar with Anorak magazine, it’s a magazine that’s put out four times a year, designed to appeal to both boys and girls between the ages of 6 to 12 years old.

But because the magazine attracts more than its share of people who are way beyond 12 , Cathy Olmedillas and Rob Lowe of Supermundane took it upon themselves to produce another magazine called Cagoule. I love the name of the magazine and the simple play on words – an anorak is a slightly padded coat worn in the rain, while a cagoule is a lightweight version of an anorak!

The first issue of Cagoule is a fantastically funny read. Poems, stories, rants, portraits and more abound among its pages, but they’re all beautifully illustrated. The content is a little bit more grown up, or rather, would seem to make more sense to grown ups (in case both of the magazines were put together!) I especially enjoyed the poems in there, along with the illustrations that punctuate its content.

Cagoule doesn’t follow a path that is instantly recognizable, with content that blurs between moments captured in words and random facts and tidbits (how about a story of a marzipan involving a prostitute?) scattered amongst comics, illustrations and artwork. Part storybook, part diary, part comic and lots of surprises, Cagoule is entertaining without taking itself too seriously.

Read more about the magazine here, and you can get your copy over at Analogue Books.

{ See more images of both magazines on my Flickr page! }

6 Replies to “Review: BIG kids magazine + Cagoule”

  1. Sommer says:

    Oh my, I gotta have a copy of Big Kids. Thanks for shedding light on this publication.

  2. i.ikeda says:

    OH yes! Big Kids will be coming to us someway, somehow. My daughter’s going to love it.

  3. Rae Veda says:

    I would love to get my hands on a copy of this. xo, rv

    aneclecticheap.blogs…

  4. Mary says:

    Do you know that Mr Spoqui magazine inspired, in some way, the Big Kids? 🙂

  5. I love this magazine, thanks for this one! 😀

  6. Trekky says:

    Cagoule magazine! How very exciting, I love Anorak and I’m in my 30s! Have just ordered my copy. Thanks for sharing.

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