Studio Anorak is an independent kids publishing house established in 2006. Studio Anorak publishes Anorak Magazine and DOT four times a year. Launched in 2006, it pioneered a new aesthetic and concept in children’s magazine publishing. 

Anorak Magazine, the ‘happy mag for kids’ is aimed at boys and girls aged between 6 and 12 years old. DOT is aimed at pre-schoolers.

Did you know that Oxter means armpit? Or that Troglodyte is a person who lives in caves?

Today I’m reviewing something a little different on the website — Anorak Magazine by Studio Anorak. This kids publishing house based in the United Kingdom produce colourful, entertaining and ethical magazines for children, all produced and printed on recycled paper with vegetable ink. Each issue of Anorak explores a different theme or topic.

The issue I received from Studio Anorak was volume 54 – The Imagination Issue.

Immediately striking, Anorak Magazine uses vibrant, bright colours to mesmerise your reading experience. Additionally, the book is filled with gorgeous illustrations to accompany each page spread. None of the content is dated, so it doesn’t matter what volume you order — children will love pouring over these pages.

“Do you know what we did this summer? We swam in a lake of ice cream…Don’t believe us? We did, we did! OK it was…in our heads. How did we do that? We used our IMAGINATION which is the most fun thing to do. In this issue, we take you on a journey around the weird and wonderful worlds that live within us. We explore why imagination is so brilliant, what we can do with it and what an imagined future might look like.”

Anorak appeals to self-sufficient, independent children who are looking for entertainment — perhaps a story, game, puzzle, quiz, interesting facts to discover, or just anything creative they can do to pass the time.

But Anorak is also ideal for a parent looking to keep their children occupied. Filled within this issue are a lengthy list of game and activity ideas, such as Catch & Read and Leaf Art and Home Olympics. There is even a recipe for Happy Patties, a tasty treat that parents can bake with their children — the recipe also includes vegetables as well, so it’s a healthy treat for those kids who avoid their greens.

Vocabulary in the magazine is encouraging and positive, motivating young minds to unleash their creativity and undergo a fun adventure within books.

“What is imagination? It is this unique gift we have to make things up, to create stories, characters, objects and adventures…it’s like having a screen in our heads playing tons of films all day (and night!) long.”

Recommended for young families, and perfect for the school holidays or that long Summer break when parents are looking for material to pique their child’s interest.

You can browse Studio Anorak’s collection here: https://anorakmagazine.com

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anorak Magazine Vol. 54: The Imagination Issue
Published 2020
Studio Anorak