editors speak

Kidtime Magazine
Tania O'Donnell, editor
By Jan Fields

KidTime is a children’s magazine that will be distributed free to school children in San Diego County beginning in January 2006. The magazine was begun by Tania O’Donnell, a school teacher whose classroom experience made her see the value of a good free magazine with fiction and nonfiction for kids – but we’ll let Tania tell us more about this great magazine herself. This month, we are delighted to have had a chance to chat with Tania O’Donnell and learn more about KidTime.

KMW: Having a free magazine with both fiction and nonfiction for school children is such I wonderful idea -- I would love to see every state do it. Please, tell us what brought about the creation of KidTime?
TO: As an elementary school teacher, I used to incorporate magazine articles when I taught shared reading (All students have access to the text) and guided reading (Small group reading). However, I either photocopied an article for my students to gain access to the text or got a transparency of the article. Needless to say the pictures were unrecognizable. My students were not very enthusiastic to read the article I though was so perfect. I thought about buying at least 6 subscriptions for my students but it was too expensive. At that time my father came from Europe telling me that all the newspapers were free in Europe and that was the seed.

KMW: I see by your guidelines that you are looking for nonfiction that conforms to the California State Standards for Science and Social Studies and you also have themes -- which is more important, nonfiction that matches the standard or nonfiction that matches the theme. Should writers try to do both? For example, an article on a Native American family's experience at a powwow would match both "Family and Friends" and the third grade social studies standard about Native Americans -- would that kind of combination be your ideal or is it your requirement?
TO: An article such as the one you described would be perfect!
[Editor’s Note – the California State Standards for Science and Social Studies are available online and would be a worthwhile read for any of our readers who are considering a KidTime article or story.]

KMW:. How far ahead do you work on your themes? Are all the themes on your list open for submission -- even those farthest away?
TO: We have the themes for 2006 only. As long as there is an open slot in a particular month, we can place articles in that particular month. So far, only January and February are complete.

KMW: Do you prefer writers submit photos (with nonfiction) or would you be open to an author who can point you toward a source for photos?
TO: Sure, the photos are just an idea. I can choose to use the resource or not. Why not?

KMW:. For recipes, do you prefer no-cook? What level of "dangerous" kitchen appliances can an author use -- ovens? microwaves? stovetop? blender? Do you accept sugar as an ingredient or are you focused on "healthy" food. Could an author submit a recipe matched to nonfiction (for example, a Native American recipe along with a fiction piece about a NA girl learning to cook with her mother?)
TO: Anything that can be made in the classroom is fine.

KMW: For crafts, should the author stick to things commonly found in a classroom (construction paper, scissors, glue, etc) so that the craft could be done by a whole class or can we use more obscure items (craft foam, felt, wiggle eyes, fabric paint, etc) that would be more of a "home" craft? Which do you most wish to see more submissions of -- crafts, recipes or science projects?
TO: In a classroom setting, students need to learn to follow instructions be it through a recipe, a science experiment or a craft. We look for the process not so much the content.

KMW: Since KidTime is a magazine distributed in schools, do you like to see most of your fiction set at school or are you open to most any story that fits the theme?
TO: I think there is something to teach in almost every story. If the story does not include any of the standards for science and social studies but it has a great character development, well that's the lesson.

KMW: What do you most like to see in KidTime fiction? What makes a story you can love?
TO: We love simple, realistic characters with realistic reactions (vs. an incredibly mature 7 year-old), deep interesting themes, incorporating standards, historical fiction, humor, and not too many characters.

For More about KidTime magazine, take a sneak peek at their pilot issue and see what a delightful magazine this is. Both guidelines and themes are also available.

This page last updated on 01 August 2005