Humpty Dumpty is a bimonthly Americanmagazine for children 2 to 6 years old that takes its title from the nursery rhyme of the same name. The magazine features short stories, poems, nonfiction articles, games, comics, recipes, crafts, and more. Having been continuously produced for more than 65 years, it is one of the oldest American magazines for kids.[1]
History
Humpty Dumpty Magazine (then called Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine) was launched by George J. Hecht and Parents magazine in October 1952. Originally, it was a sister publication to Children's Digest, aimed at a younger audience than the latter publication. The first editor of Humpty Dumpty was Harold Schwartz. Another early editor was the children's book author Alvin Tresselt.[2] In January 1980, both Humpty Dumpty and Children’s Digest came under the ownership of the nonprofit Saturday Evening Post Society. When Children's Digest was merged with Jack and Jill in 2009, Humpty Dumpty was continued.
Features
The magazine holds an annual themed cover contest in which readers submit their artwork.[3] The winning entry is featured on the front cover, with second-, third-place, and Readers’ Choice winners’ art showcased inside the same issue.
Notable contributors
Margaret Wise Brown, author of children’s literature, including Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny
Lilian Moore, poet, children’s author, and editor
Mathematics and science writer Martin Gardner was a contributing editor to Humpty Dumpty for eight years in the 1950s, creating the activity features and writing short stories about the adventures of Humpty Dumpty, Jr., as well as poems of moral advice.[4][5]
Charles Ghigna (“Father Goose”), poet and children’s book author of 100 award-winning books, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Returning to Earth, served on Humpty Dumpty’s editorial advisory board and has had his work published in the magazine.
Eileen Spinelli, poet and author of more than 65 books for children. Since her debut in 1991 with Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, an IRA/CBC Children's Choice book and Christopher Award winner, Spinelli has gone on to author numerous picture books, poetry collections, and chapter books, including the best-selling When Mama Comes Home Tonight and the critically acclaimed Sophie's Masterpiece.[citation needed]
Comic book writer Justin Gray contributed scripts for Humpty Dumpty’s comics pages for several years.
Criticisms
A 1986 study of several magazines for the very young, including Humpty Dumpty, concluded that only National Geographic World "solely and completely provided young children with entertainment and interesting information which offered many opportunities for extended discussion".[6]
A 1980 study was similarly dismissive of Humpty Dumpty and other children's magazines.[7]
