Nature Friend Magazine

We first got this magazine when our son was 5 years old. He could not read, so we would read it together, and it delighted him. With lots to do from the object search (find the objects hidden in pictures), to the questions, quizzes, to the "how-to-draw" lesson featured in each issue, there was plenty to attract all ages of readers from K to , well, my son is now 19 and still reads it!It all started with our youngest daughter becoming 5 this past winter. Our 19 year old son found her pawing around in his hidden stash of NATURE FRIEND MAGAZINES which we had stopped getting over a decade ago. He kept carrying on about how he wished we could get it again "for her sake".I looked all over the internet, through every directory and in old editions of the magazine, but NATURE FRIEND seemed to have disappeared.Then we found it here on AMAZON.COM a couple of months ago. We got our first issue a few weeks ago and there is always someone reading it somewhere in the house- ME INCLUDED!The quality of the magazine is greatly improved. There is plenty to do for all ages, recipes, studies of interesting things (like where do dandelions come from and how did they get here and what do you do with them....) and interactive projects for all ages.One of our favorite features is the HOW TO DRAW series that they still have. Very nice lessons on drawing some kind of animal or natural thing are given. Readers send in their best shot at it and many photos of their contributions are featured in future issues. There is a lot packed in to this 25 page magazine- and NO ADS!I can not rate this magazine highly enough. We stopped getting BIG BACKYARD because this magazine offers so much more and we could only get one magazine for this year. We are so glad to have found it again- and it has even improved!

All 6 of my children love this magazine. The pages are thicker than the usual magazine. The pictures and articles, as well as the info on experiments that you can do with your children are wonderful. I cannot say enough about this magazine!I do not have to pre-read it before I give it to my children. It is very well written and points you to God as the one who created our world. As the magazine is titled "Nature Friend~Helping Children Explore The Wonders of God's Creation".We have used, in years past, Big Back Yard and Ranger Rick but Nature Friend far exceeds them in quality and because it points you to God. You won't have your 8 year old reading it and then coming to you saying "Mom, we know that the dinosaurs didn't live millions of years ago..."Homeschooling Mom of one little lady and five men in the making =O)

I bought this as a magazine for my son, who loves nature magazines such as Ranger Rick and Nat'l Geographic Kids. While the articles are well written in this magazine, and it takes into account the creation scientists' viewpoint, I feel it could be organized in a more kid-friendly format. The articles are long and the pictures are few. This will be a magazine I will read with my son, not that he is a poor reader, but he will not take the time to read long articles. I do appreciate the content, and I will continue receiving the issues. I received the magazine within a few weeks of placing my order.

My son loves this magazine (and so do his friends to whom we have gifted it). The pictures are beautiful, the articles inform him and make him think, and we don't have to deconstruct the worldview like we do with other magazines. If you're looking for evolutionary just-so stories, there are other magazines out there.

After reading an online review that highly rated this magazine, I decided to get a subscription for my 4.5 year old niece who loves Big Backyard. I was shocked when my sister told me that the magazine was imbedded with religious ideas and stories. I did not realize this from any of the information I had read about the magazine. Apparently, my niece loves the puzzles, games and activities in Nature Friend so I will not cancel her subsciption, but the content of the magazine is from a Creationist viewpoint. So if this is not the message that you want your child to receive about science, I would not recommend this magazine. It is fine for those who adhere to these beliefs, but I think it is important that these views be evident before someone purchases this magazine so they are aware of how it is going to teach their child.

The magazine has improved over the years, now with color photos and a more convenient smaller format.Yes, it is creationist and anti-evolutionary.There is a hidden pictures page (not as involved as in Highlights), a drawing lesson with last month's drawing submissions from kids (many different age groups represented), a nature story (usually with character lessons as well), and other features.It's a nice, peaceful, safe, and instructional nature magazine for kids (and some teens) that also promotes good character qualities and honors God as having created everything and everyone with wisdom and love.

It is such a blessing not to have to worry about my children reading this magazine! It is God-honoring, wholesome and informative. They write articles that are not dumb-downed or overloaded with visuals like most childrens material nowadays. It harkens back to a time when children were better educated with higher standard standards. My children are so excited whenever they find that their painting or drawing has made it to one of their printed issues. Unfortunately most parents cannot appreciate this type of magazine anymore, but if this is what you are looking for, you will not be disappointed. I should also mention that this magazine is not just for children and I cannot imagine ever letting our subscription go.

My kids grew up reading Nature Friend and now I am getting it for my grandson. I love all the activities, recipes, stories, and that it is from a Biblically sound creation science worldview.