Customer Reviews
Disappointing from National Geographic 
2008-04-10
To say I expected more from National Geographic is an understatement. The magazine was a terrible waste of money--unless you want a Build-A-Bear coupon every month. Otherwise, there really is nothing of any value in this magazine, which is unfortunate as National Geographic typically does such an amazing job with their magazines, television programs, etc. We're switching to Ranger Rick and expect a much better product which will actually be a learning tool instead of a bunch of ads and joke pages that have nothing to do with animals.
Seriously a disappointing magazine. Don't waste your money!
Great stuff for kids and their grandparents! 
2008-03-28
I picked up this magazine for my 10 year old grandson in the airport and read it on the plane - wonderful fun! I decided I'd order it for him and came online to find all these 1 star-reviews! My copy is full of information and fun facts - I see only 4 ads in the April issue - all tastefully done and promoting recyling, fruit snacks, books and a new kids' movie. This is a great publication that might encourage kids to read and think as an alternative to video games on the computer. Check it out.
terrible - full of junk advertising 2008-02-27
I am a long term subscriber to National Geographic and expected this to be a great magazine for my two children. What a disappointment! It is loaded with commercial advertisements - and not for educational toys, but junk! The worst children's magazine I have ever seen. I wish I had previewed it before wasting my money, but I took it for granted that National Geographic would be producing a quality product. Save your money and buy something else for your children.
Good only to fill the trash - I give it 0 stars! 2008-02-23
This is by far the worst children's magazine I've ever seen. It goes straight from our mailbox to the trash. I hate to even be on their mailing list, but it was a gift subscription and I don't want to offend the giver. The magazine is filled with almost nothing but advertisements. The publisher seems to think that you have to mix miniscule amounts of "learning" in with a whole lot of fluff and nothing in order to appeal to children. The magazine has soured my whole opinion of National Geographic. I believe this publication has only one purpose, which is to sell stuff to children. It's disgusting.
Buy this if you want to fill your recycle bin 2008-02-10
Mostly ads, I trash it as soon as it arrives and needless-to-say will not be renewing. Truly awful - it has nothing to do with the regular National Geographic Magazine we know and love.
Disappointed 2008-07-21
Never have I bothered reviewing on Amazon, but this was such a disappointment. I hope National Geographic sees these reviews and get's it together. They do such a great job with other publications. I do not recommended this mag.
Too much advertising! 2008-07-17
If you are interested in your kids wanting more stuff, National Geographic kids is just the one for you. I don't bother to tell my kids it came in the mail. I just recycle it. My Big Backyard is a wonderful option for young kids.
They seemed to have removed the ads 
2008-07-15
I bought one of these from the newstand for my nephews and niece (ages 11, 9, 7, 4) and they loved reading the articles and often had to tell their parents about what they learned. Initially I had resisted getting this because of everyone's negative feedback in terms of too many ads, but after browsing thru a copy at the local bookstore, it really looks like NG cleaned up their advertising act, removing most of the ads. So now the magazine reads a lot cleaner and reminds me of the similar WORLD magazine I had read growing up. The magazine had a good balance and variety of topics, stories, games and activities. It is refreshing to know that NG actually listened and responded well to earlier criticisms, which were true.
If anyone is still skeptical, definitely preview an issue at the bookstore and decide for yourself.
We were shocked... this is really bad 2008-07-08
After a year's subscription to National Geographic's "Little Kids" magazine (which is insubstantial, but harmless and adequately nature-oriented) we thought it might be nice for our kid to graduate to the larger-format "Kids" magazine, expecting it to be a long-term stepping stone to the more venerable adult magazine.
Today we got our first issue, and we were utterly shocked at how terrible and completely inappropriate this magazine is. Oh, yeah, sure, they have a banner headline proclaiming a "Green Tips" section, but the magazine is awash in advertising and the exact kinds of mindless consumerism that have destroyed our environment. There are ads for candy, TV shows, trading cards, Pop Tarts, video games and DVDs as well as several pop culture articles that double as product and movie advertisements and even a regular column reviewing video games (!) This is not what we expect from "National Geographic." They have utterly sold their souls and disrespected their audience, and forsaken the core mission of the original magazine. For shame.
What nature-oriented content there is in this "magazine" is poorly written and pitched to the lowest common denominator. Assuming this is a magazine intended for kids ages... 6-12, maybe?... the level of writing is insultingly close to moronic, little more than blurbs and factoids amid garish, slapdash graphic layouts. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.
We immediately called their subscription department and demanded a refund. Unless there is a major editorial overhaul, I would strongly recommend that families avoid this publication" find a good nature book for your kids instead. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)
National Geographic, you should be ashamed! 2008-05-19
We had the Little Kid version of National Geographic and it was really good, filled with games, articles, and no ads. Then we were gifted this version for older kids.
It is an absolute WASTE of money. And completely unreadable. I guess that 80% or more is ads for junk movies, video games, etc. The rest of it is boring, uneducational, and basically trash.
I can't believe an amazing adult magazine like National Geographic would put their name to this trash. If you let your kids read this garbage they will be watching Showbiz Tonight rather than reading National Geographic as adults. Yes, it is really that bad.
Shame on you National Geographic.
