Customer Review(s)
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely horrible!! Big disappointment.
Comment: I am a lifelong "National Geographic" reader - our family has always had a subscription, and last year my father gave us a subscription to National Geographic's "Little Kids" magazine, which is not great but okay. Our daughter liked it, and this year we thought we'd move up to the older "Kids" magazine instead.
The first issue arrived and it was HORRIBLE. Noting but ads, ads, ads, and worse than that they were ads for terrible things like toys and video games and junk food. Obviously, N.G. must have franchised this publication out to a third party, but we were still shocked. It was not what I had expected from a publication that I was raised to respect for its commitment to the outdoors and the natural world. What little original content the magazine provides is also really stupid and poorly laid out. This is not a magazine that respects the minds of the children it is written for.
I immediately called to complain and demand a refund. I checked with my local library and asked them to cancel their subscription as well. Then I e-mailed National Geographic to complain again and the response I got back was the worst customer relations reply I have ever seen: they basically told me that readers "expect" advertisements, and that most parents don't seem to mind. This obviously isn't true: look at all the other reviews on Amazon. Also, check out The National Wildlife Federation's "Ranger Rick" magazine (which members of my parent's group recommended to me after the National Geographic fiasco) They don't have a bunch of ads for candy and video games -- they have cute little articles about bunnies and tigers and mountain goats. That's what I was looking for. Shame on you, National Geographic. This is a disgrace.
Customer Rating: Summary: They seemed to have removed the ads
Comment: I bought one of these from the newstand for my nephews and niece (ages 11, 9, 7, 4) and they loved reading the articles and often had to tell their parents about what they learned. Initially I had resisted getting this because of everyone's negative feedback in terms of too many ads, but after browsing thru a copy at the local bookstore, it really looks like NG cleaned up their advertising act, removing most of the ads. So now the magazine reads a lot cleaner and reminds me of the similar WORLD magazine I had read growing up. The magazine had a good balance and variety of topics, stories, games and activities. It is refreshing to know that NG actually listened and responded well to earlier criticisms, which were true.
If anyone is still skeptical, definitely preview an issue at the bookstore and decide for yourself.
