Alphablocks title launches in booming pre-school mags market

It may be said that young people aren’t interested in print. But one sector that is booming is the pre-school magazine market.

The latest launch from Immediate Media, Alphablocks, is aimed at three to five-year-old viewers of the CBeebies programme of the same name. According to ABC, total circulation in this market increased by 10 per cent year on year in the second half of 2011 to 951,621 per issue.

Here’s the press release from Immediate Media:

Immediate Media Co is to launch Alphablocks magazine on 18 July 2012, an educational children’s title aimed at pre-schoolers aged 3-5 years, based on the popular CBeebies TV programme of the same name.

It’s the only magazine that supports phonics* and the way that children learn to read, showing parents how to support their child’s learning with lots of exciting, engaging activities.

The magazine encourages children and their parents to read and make words together and share a sense of achievement as the child builds the skills to begin learning independently. With sticker pages, stories, puzzles, drawing, things to make and games to play, the magazine breaks reading down into achievable, age-appropriate steps, helping to familiarise children with the 26 sounds of the alphabet and how to make words.

The editorial style is fun and positive, enabling children to build a strong, confident start in reading and writing. The magazine will have a gift with every issue that allows children to interact with the Alphablocks characters – 48 letter tiles with issue 1, Alphablock R’s Pirate Set with issue 2.

Steph Cooper, Editor of Alphablocks magazine, said ‘We are delighted to be launching the fantastically engaging Alphablocks magazine. A good start in literacy is so important in giving young children the confidence to read and this magazine provides parents with the tools they need to support their child’s learning.”

Alphablocks magazine will be priced at £2.50 and will be available at all major retailers and independents around the UK.