Aquila Magazine reviews?

[chocobox]

Hi, my DD 8 was recommended Aquila Magazine by her schools gifted and talented advisor, I've seen mixed reviews on other threads so just wanted to get some more opinions to see if it's worked for other G&T kids?

[wearingatinhat]

My DS has this on subscription as a present - it is not going to be renewed. Although the content looks good, to appeal to a broad range of interests, it simply has not appealed to DS. I think it is a tad 'old fashioned' - DS preferred NG Kids, which has a bit more street cred. I think it may well appeal more to girls though.

[erica222]

My kids DD 9 & DS 8 both got subscriptions as Christmas gifts and love it will definitely be renewing. They had Okido before and loved that too but grew out of it. I think it's all personal choice the best way is to try it for a few months to see for yourself.

[chocobox]

Thanks for the advise, they do a 4 month subscription for £20 so will give that ago. I suppose as erica222 says everyone's different so what one person likes another won't

[amidaiwish]

my DD (now 9) has had it for a couple of years and really loves it. It's expensive for what it is though, maybe your school library has it?

[DoItTooJulia]

Ds(8) has it and its ok. Not as good as How it Works.

Another poster described it as worthy but dull. Couldn't agree more.

[richmal]

Dd gets both Kids NG and Aquila. She prefers Aquila because "It has more facts."
The main articles tend to be longer and no ads. It just seems to have better content. I would definitely say worth a few month trial and see if it suits your child.
I have not come across "How it works", but will give it a Google as dd wants to drop NG.
Perhaps it is an age thing as dd is now 10.

[exexpat]

DS had it for a while when he was 7 or 8, and wasn't terribly interested - I think I'd agree with the old-fashioned/worthy but dull comments, unless it has changed a lot in the past few years.

I didn't bother trying again for DD: she has First News, and sometimes NG Kids/Animal Planet, and sometimes puzzle magazines, as well as sometimes looking at my copy of BBC Wildlife etc. To be honest there is so much other material around these days on websites that you can use to follow their interests, rather than trying to interest them in whatever the Aquila topic of the month is.

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

DS has it on subscription as a present from his granny. He likes it, but not massively, I would say. IMO it's a bit dull and worthy. He also gets First News, which is much better. This thread has reminded me about NG, though, so might ask granny for that instead

[Elibean]

dd1 has had Aquila for about two years - she's nearly 10. She likes some editions, barely reads others, depending on topics covered. She's quite enjoyed it, probably most around 8-9.

She's not G&T though, afaik!

[cory]

It depends on whether you have the kind of dc who is interested in general information or one who would rather read about their own special interests (or read fiction). Dd was introduced to it several times, looked at it politely and then put it to one side. She just thought that money could have been better spent on a specialist magazine that appealed to her interests.

[treehouselover]

My DD had it from age 8 - 10 on subscription as a present from my parents. She liked it but I wouldn't pay for it myself.

She did the puzzle page and read out a few jokes, and once or twice did some craft activity that was in it. She wasn't really interested in the stories, as they were often quite dull.

She liked the pen pals page and did write a few letters but it fizzled out.

I don't think there's anything in it that you can't find on the internet for free, but it is nice to have it drop through the letterbox.