Advanced Children's Literature: Non-fiction/Magazines

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS. December 2008. Published by Time Magazine.

This month is a "Year-end Double Issue" with the "Gotta Get It Guide Goes Green" for finding out what to ask for should you celebrate the winter holidays. The Gotta get it guide is more than a gimme guide. It has cool athletic shoes, basketballs, and hoodies but many are made from recycled materials. Steve Nash gives his tips for preserving the planet: 1. Go paperless when you can. 2. Set an example around the house. 3. Remember image isn't everything (GOOD ONE.) 4. Get some fresh air! Now that's an excellent tie in with sports and good health. The "traditional" one sided format features the 2008 "Sports Kid of the Year." Derek Andrews plays 4 sports but more importantly he has a big heart and loves to raise money for less fortunate children and volunteer. Derek has of late had many medical tests to try and discover what muscle ailment is afflicting him with fatigue and requiring as many physical therapy sessions as games each week. This gave the town of Buffalo just one more reason to rally behind their native little son. Derek will be a good role model for persevering despite hardship, because he still comes across as a smiling typical American boy. This periodical has more commercial aspects than National Geographic Kids but that is to be expected. There are also some very thought provoking pieces to go along with the videogame trading cards. "Playing for Peaces: Our reporter traveled to Israel to see how soccer is slowly bringing together a country in conflict." There are facts about basketball, both professional and collegiate. It's popularity is not surprising!