Reviews For Ranger Rick Magazine


Don't let your child miss out on this one.

I am utterly astounded that no more than four people have actually reviewed this item, me being the fourth. Does this mean that there are so few people out there who are not aware of Ranger Rick? If you are one of those, then sit back and check out one of the grandest children's magazines on the market. But beware, parents can become addicted too.

The National Wildlife Federation, Ranger Rick magazine is an outstanding adventure for people of all ages. This months (October) issue is surrounding the cat. Not just house cats either. And can you guess why the cat is a hot topic? Because of HaLLoWeeN!! Boo.

The Halloween cover is of a black cat. One with big, beautiful green eyes. His coat, the appearance of silk, shinny and new. Absolutely a majestic picture of a majestic animal.

And just inside the cover is a brief paragraph titled; About The Front Cover. This reads:

Long ago, some people believed
That dead friends and relatives came
Back to life as black cats around
Halloween. Today we know that
black cats are just, well, cats. Find
out more about cats - wild ones, especially.

Inside the front cover, also listed, are the contents of Ranger Rick. This makes it incredibly easy for children to search out something specific.

There is even a cartoon section known as Ranger Rick's Adventures. A lesson in life is what Rick's little animals experience for the children to grasp and understand. Simple, cute, colorful and just the right length so as not to bore the little ones.

Ranger Rick also includes a fact or fiction section in this months issue that explain to children to not always believe what they see or read. An example is the movie Dinosaurs. Q & A'd samples are 'Were dinosaurs huge lizards?' and 'Did Tyrannosaurus Rex drag its tail on the ground?' (If you want to know the answer, check into the magazine.)

You, your children even your spouse will learn interesting facts about animals, bugs, eating habits, the difference between right and wrong, and also learn creative art and crafts that are easy and fun to do.

If you would like to scope out more about Ranger Rick then log onto their web site located through the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org


Recommended:
Yes

My Childhood Favorite

I am 21 years old now, and I used to get this magazine. It was a gift from my grandma and grandpa. I used to count down the days before my next one would come. Sometimes it was 28 days, sometimes only 20. I would mark it off on the calendar and everything. I would always open to the free poster first and look at it on the walk back to the house. Then I would read what seemed the most interesting article first, (usually the one about the main animal) and then my next favorite and so on. The only thing I didn't ever, ever read was the adventures of Ranger Rick stories. For some reason those never appealed to me. But at the end of reading it I would ever so carefully lift up the staples from the middle of the magazine and gently pull out the poster. The challenge of where I was going to hang it was usually something I tried to work out in those long days between issues.

Eventually my mom couldn't afford to keep my subscription so I had to do with out. I got out the box of all the past issues from the last five years. I would read them over and over, until I eventually got over my "loss".

I don't know of any magazine out there like this one. I think it is extremely important for kids to understand the lives of animals. I know it harbors respect for them. I think it keeps a kid from growing up into one of those jerks who tortures animals for fun. It teaches kids that wildlife is better left where you found it. To leave the snake by the side of the road not because mom said so because she just doesn't like snakes, but because the snake likes it much better where he was. This is stuff everybody should have learned as a kid. I have met plenty of people that could use the magazine as an adult. When I have kids, you better believe they will have a long lasting subscription to Ranger Rick!


Recommended:
Yes

Boy's Love to Read It!

My son takes this book to school hidden in his note book just so he can read all about his favorite animals and share this information, great pictures, stories and facts with the rest of the boy's at his lunch table. The teacher's don't mind because the magazine is full of great pictures and information on science, animals and natural environmentally issues, even the girl's enjoy reading and looking at this magazine. He really looks forward to receiving it in the mail every month and pretty much has it timed to the exact delivery date. Also, it was a Birthday gift from his Grandmother and he thanks her every time he gets one, calling her and telling her all about his new issue. What a great way to learn!


Recommended:
Yes

Favorite for kids

I grew up on this magazine and was thrilled when my 9yr old took such a strong interest in this magazine. It's educational and I never have to worry about the contents and what she's reading. Highly recommend to anyone!

Nifty animal and nature lore

I don't read Ranger Rick anymore since I'm a little old for it and don't have any children, but I liked it a lot as a child. I was introduced to it when we moved into a house whose previous residents had left a huge stack of Ranger Ricks, as well as shelves of National Geographics. At 9 years old, I tried National Geographic but found it a little scary (I happened to choose an issue with a story about the Aztecs and human sacrifice, which I decided was too gross for me), so I moved on to the Ranger Ricks and read them all over the next few months. I thought they were great, and from reading the reviews by people who are familiar with it today it sounds like it's still great.

I enjoyed the pictures, both photographs and drawings, and the question-and-answer piece for children's questions about all things nature-related (I remember the question "is the US the biggest country in the world?" and the answer: no, Canada and the Soviet Union were bigger). I remember articles about foxes and birds and dinosaurs and a ton of other creatures. I remember activities sections. I remember count-down calendars and interesting facts about animals and plants and geography. Of course I remember Ranger Rick himself, the raccoon with the flat-brimmed forest ranger hat.

I never cared that much about the Ranger himself, actually. He seemed a little silly and childish to me, but I didn't find him obnoxious since there was always so much else going on in the magazine. Wildlife! Wildflowers! Nature facts! Posters!

I devoured the magazines--which probably dated back to the late 70's--and went back for more. I liked the science information, which was nicely presented in a style that was easy for me to understand as a kid but that didn't seem condescending. I'm sure I'd get less out of it today, but at the time it was just the right mix of information and fun stuff.

If the magazine is anything like it was back then--and judging from current reports it is--I would definitely recommend it for kids. It's that hard-to-get blend of education and entertainment, with great pictures.
And later on, they'll be ready for the National Geographic. :)


Recommended:
Yes

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