Kiki Magazine
Posted by: Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan
Cindy: Hey, Lynn! I’ve been reading that sample Kiki magazine we picked up at the ALA exhibits and I’m so impressed. This looks like a great addition to my middle school fashion magazines for the girls who aren’t ready for or interested in the more mature offerings. Have you had a chance to look at it yet?
Lynn: Yes – and I really like it! It’s such nice change from so many of the magazines which deal with some really mature issues like “should I have sex on my prom night ?” YIKES!
Cindy: Agreed. Obviously Kiki is geared to a younger audience than some of those journals but I like the focus on fashion and art without the boy obsession. And the pages feature girls of varying ethnicity and body size and none are wearing make up.
Lynn: This issue has a nice page on “Having a Bad Hair Day?” with tips and stories on hair disasters and some great articles on Vintage Fashion. Did you see the article on the Hidden Treasure Hunt: Finding Your Style and Bagging a Bargain? I love the focus that supports individuality and practicality. Nice to see a fashion shoot that includes affordable clothes!
Cindy: Yes, I love the vintage clothing tips and how all of the features tie into the retro theme of this Fall 2009 issue. The cover with the Route 66 sign caught my eye since I’ve been driving my mother home along that quirky historic route the past two years. I’ve climbed inside the Blue Whale in Catoosa, spray painted my name on a car at the Cadillac Ranch and eaten at The Big Texan in Amarillo. Kiki gives some good tips for getting your kicks on a fun road trip. But even if you can’t leave the house, there’s plenty to do with the sewing projects, art pages, recipes, and contests.
Lynn: That adorable dress made out of T-shirts looks so easy that I think even I could make it. 
What am I saying? I’m much more likely to track down the cool vintage clothing store that includes a library of fashion and textiles. The articles really are wonderful and interesting to a wide age range. I’d like to subscribe to this myself. Did you see the book reviews? It says there are more available on the website too.
Cindy: Yes, any magazine that reviews Neil Gaiman books has my vote. The journal publishes quarterly and I see on the Kiki website that the next issue has a movie theme. Can’t wait.
Lynn: This magazine was a great find. I can’t quit without mentioning the article titled, Numb Thumb: The Dangers of Texting. HA! One more reason to avoid taking up texting
Thanks to Playing By the Book for hosting this week’s Nonfiction Monday blog round-up!
January 25th, 2010 at 7:59 am
I love Kiki–thanks for spotlighting it! I have been getting it for 2 years now and am consistently impressed with the quality. Part of what drew me in initially is this quote from their website, “There’s no gossip, no dating, no sensuality, no instructions on how to kiss, no tips on getting sexy abs,” because I was looking for a girl magazine for my younger readers. I also love all the fun projects in each issue. Glad you found it and are spreading the word!
January 25th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I love this magazine–and so do my teens at the library. We did a project from one of the issues using an old book to make a purse. The teens had a blast, and the Friends thanked us for moving some of the old Reader’s Digest Condensed Books!
January 25th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I’m sorry I missed that issue. I’ll have to hunt it down. Sounds like a fun project. Thanks for sharing.–Cindy
January 25th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
We subscribed to Kiki last year and we love it. Young teens/tweens love it, and their parents like it as well. I also like the fact that the models wear clothes that are accessible to most teens.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I haven’t seen this one yet, but it does look like it would fill a needed niche. I’ll keep it in mind next time I have the opportunity to order serials. Thanks for the post. You might also be interested in Justine (get it?) Magazine. It’s a girls’ ‘zine with a similar focus, but for a slightly older audience, I think.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Do you think it would be appropriate for upper elementary (9-11)? I’m always looking for an alternative to American Girl. Also, does it have ads? Thanks for your review!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Maggi, yes, I think it would work well with upper elementary and middle school. I did not see any advertisements in the Fall 2009 issue we read, with the exception of a one-page shopping list of websites in the back for clothing and accessories featured on models in the Back to School fashion section.
December 10th, 2010 at 3:56 am
Great magazine. Love the way the articles are structured and written, but also the topics that the authors approach. Maybe it suffers a bit from that “junior high design”, but that can be changed easily. Give it a more professional look and it will become an all-around hit.