Highlights
Ad-free monthly children's magazines from Highlights for Children, matched to age from babies (Hello) to preschoolers (High Five) to ages 6–12 (Highlights), plus puzzle clubs, I Can Read! book boxes and grade-level learning boxes. Magazines cost $48 a year with free shipping.
What is Highlights?
Highlights is a family of children's magazines and subscription boxes from Highlights for Children, Inc. The flagship Highlights magazine is for ages 6 to 12. Each monthly issue is packed with stories, puzzles, experiments, jokes, crafts and riddles. Younger kids get their own magazines, and there are puzzle clubs and book boxes too. Every magazine is ad-free.
Most families think of Highlights as fun reading that kids look forward to in the mailbox, not schoolwork.
How it works
You pick a magazine based on your child's age, and a new issue arrives by mail each month. Your first issue usually comes in 4 to 6 weeks. Kids read and play at their own pace. A preschooler might listen to a High Five story with you, then do the craft. An 8-year-old might work through Highlights puzzles alone.
As your child grows, you can switch magazines at any time, for example from High Five to Highlights. Subscriptions keep going until you cancel, and you can cancel from your online account.
What it covers
| Product | Ages | What's inside | Price, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | 0–2 | Magazine for babies and toddlers | $48 a year |
| High Five | 2–6 | 36 pages of read-aloud stories, crafts, recipes, puzzles | $48 a year |
| High Five Bilingüe | 2–6 | High Five in English and Spanish | $48 a year |
| Highlights | 6–12 | 44 pages of stories, puzzles, experiments, jokes, crafts | $48 a year |
| brainPLAY | 7+ | Puzzle-only, 6 issues a year | $24 a year |
Highlights also sells subscription boxes. The I Can Read! Book Club ships leveled readers at three stages. The High Five Activity Box is for ages 3 to 6. Learning boxes cover preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. There are also puzzle clubs like Puzzle Buzz for ages 4 to 7 and Puzzlemania for ages 7 and up.
Who it's best for
Highlights fits families who want more screen-free reading at home and kids who love puzzles. It also suits bilingual families and relatives looking for a gift that lasts all year. Browse more early learning and enrichment picks.
It won't teach a child to read on its own. For that, add a phonics program. If your child is behind, see programs for struggling readers.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, each core magazine is $48 a year, or $4 an issue, with free shipping. brainPLAY is $24 a year. Book and learning boxes are $15 for the first box, then $29. The High Five Activity Box is $20 for the first box, then $39. Highlights says you can return any shipment and owe nothing.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
It's less likely than for curriculum. Some ESA programs allow educational materials, but many exclude magazines or general subscriptions. Check rules for programs like Arizona ESA and Florida's scholarships. Each program decides. Learn more on our scholarships page, and save the products you're considering to your wishlist so you can apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
Vooks offers animated read-aloud stories on a screen, a good digital pairing with Highlights. Epic gives kids a big digital library of books. Bob Books are the go-to printed first readers for kids learning to decode. Mrs Wordsmith builds vocabulary with colorful books and games.
See our best reading apps for kids for screen-based options.
Who Highlights is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Families who want screen-free reading and puzzles each month
- Preschoolers who love read-aloud stories and crafts
- Bilingual families, with High Five Bilingüe in English and Spanish
- Grandparents and relatives sending an educational gift
Look elsewhere if
- Families looking for a structured reading or phonics curriculum
- Kids who want digital or app-based learning
- Teens past about age 12
Highlights pros and cons
Pros
- Ad-free magazines for every age from 0 to 12
- Mix of stories, puzzles, science and crafts in each issue
- Bilingual English and Spanish preschool edition
- Free shipping and a return-any-shipment guarantee
- Easy to switch between magazines as kids grow
Cons
- Not a curriculum; doesn't teach reading skills in sequence
- Subscriptions keep renewing until you cancel
- First issue can take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive
- Activity boxes rise to regular price after the first box
What’s included
- Hello for ages 0–2, High Five for ages 2–6, High Five Bilingüe in English and Spanish, and Highlights for ages 6–12
- Highlights magazine: 12 issues a year, 44 pages each, with stories, puzzles, experiments, jokes and crafts
- High Five: 12 issues a year, 36 pages each, with read-aloud stories, crafts, recipes and puzzles
- brainPLAY puzzle magazine for ages 7 and up
- Subscription boxes: I Can Read! Book Club, High Five Activity Box and Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade learning boxes
- Always ad-free, with free shipping on subscriptions
How much does Highlights cost?
As of October 2026, a one-year subscription to Hello, High Five, High Five Bilingüe or Highlights is $48, or $4 an issue, and shipping is free. brainPLAY is $24 for six issues, or $63 bundled with Highlights. Subscription boxes, such as the I Can Read! Book Club and learning boxes, are $15 for the first box, regularly $29. The High Five Activity Box is $20 for the first box, regularly $39.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights magazine, ages 6–12 (1 year, 12 issues) | $48/yr | Yearly | $4/mo |
| High Five or High Five Bilingüe, ages 2–6 (1 year) | $48/yr | Yearly | $4/mo |
| Hello, ages 0–2 (1 year) | $48/yr | Yearly | $4/mo |
| brainPLAY puzzle magazine, ages 7+ (1 year, 6 issues) | $24/yr | Yearly | $2/mo |
| brainPLAY + Highlights bundle (1 year) | $63/yr | Yearly | $5.25/mo |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistHighlights family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
Highlights FAQs
How much is a Highlights magazine subscription?
As of October 2026, a one-year subscription to Highlights, High Five, High Five Bilingüe or Hello is $48, which works out to $4 an issue. Shipping is free. brainPLAY is $24 a year.
What age is Highlights magazine for?
Highlights magazine is for ages 6 to 12. Younger children start with Hello for ages 0 to 2 or High Five for ages 2 to 6, and you can switch magazines as your child grows.
How many issues of Highlights do you get a year?
Highlights and High Five each send 12 monthly issues. Highlights issues have 44 pages, and High Five issues have 36 pages. brainPLAY sends six 32-page issues a year.
How do I cancel a Highlights subscription?
Log in to your account, go to My Gift Subscriptions or My Orders, select Actions and choose Cancel. You can also call customer service. Highlights says you can return any shipment and owe nothing.
Is there a Spanish Highlights magazine?
Yes. High Five Bilingüe is a bilingual English and Spanish version of High Five for preschoolers, at the same $48 yearly price.
Does Highlights have a book club?
Yes. The I Can Read! Book Club sends leveled readers at Earliest, Emerging and Established reader levels. As of October 2026 the first box is $15, regularly $29.
Is Highlights educational?
Yes, as enrichment. Issues mix stories, puzzles, experiments and crafts that build reading for fun, vocabulary and problem-solving. It isn't a sequenced reading curriculum, so pair it with phonics for early readers.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: