Every issue of Highlights High Five features four sections including, reading, puzzles, activities and bonus pages. The content is aimed at early childhood, approximately ages 3-7. The reading section comes first, every issue beginning with a comic strip titled “The Adventures of Spot.” The reading selections incorporate a variety of difficulties, intended for independent reading or one on one read alouds. Each issue features a combined Spanish and English reading selection. A variety of puzzles are included which mostly feature illustration, most notably the hidden pictures puzzle. Most activities included require the help of an adult except for the fingerplay or dance activities. The bonus material included involves removing the back flap of the magazine and would not be available to patrons accessing this magazine as circulating material. If the magazine would be included in circulating material it is suggested that photocopies of the bonus material be kept on file. Applications for this magazine include individual family use, teacher ideas or librarian programming activities. This magazine is strongly recommended for purchase as an addition to a public or school library magazine selection. (Ages 3-7) ( )

I struggled to pick which magazine for youth to review. I wanted to choose a magazine for teens, but I couldn't settle on a popular title (not much is moving on my shelves). Finally, I ended up choosing Highlights because I order it for my own children and they really like it. The more I study it, the more I appreciate the design that goes in to it. The magazine moves quickly from one activity to another to keep short attention spans. The Hidden Picture Puzzles and Find What is Silly pages are very popular in my house. I'm happy to see my pre-school age son flipping through the magazine by himself in terms of building early literacy skills. My only complaint is the American bias in terms of the focus on Spanish, American money, etc.

With a broad array of images, stories, and activities focused on early childhood development, this magazine effectively promotes creativity and problem solving while fostering authentic interactions with diverse textual formats. Assisted by an adult reader, children encounter written language through multiple representations including descriptive paragraphs, comic strip sentence segments, and explicit directions for games and puzzles. Each edition reflects a particular theme based upon the time of year and corresponding holidays (e.g. Thanksgiving for the November issue). Vividly colored cartoon-like pictures and soft photographs complement the various tales recounted throughout the pages and illustrate action rhymes, child-centered recipes, and an array of other elements. No advertisements are included in the publication. As the counterpart to the traditional Highlights series, High Five appeals to the youngest of readers by supporting their natural curiosity, wonder, and imagination. ( )