Highlights Hello is a magazine you can wash as needed

The people who publish the kids' magazine Highlights has come out with a printed magazine for toddlers aged 0 - 2 that has 16 pages of storybook content, rounded corners and...is washable. Not probably machine-washable, but Highlights Hello is a (non-toxic) ink-on-paper publication that can stand being wiped off. It's a wholly circulation-driven publication, according to a posting by "Mr. Magazine" Samir Husni. It has also survived being put in a washing machine, according to editor Chris Cully, though it's not recommended.

I asked Chris why now and why ink on paper. Her answer,

“The research is clear about the benefits of reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The cuddling, talking, laughing, and singing are all part of the experience. A magazine like Hello makes it easier for parents to create these experiences often.

"Also Hello is lightweight and portable. It fits easily into mom’s purse or diaper bag. It fits toddler hands perfectly. It can be wiped clean–and it can withstand a little chewing. It is hard to imagine a digital product that could be so perfectly tailored to the needs of this audience.

"And for those of us who believe children’s books and magazines on paper are going to be around a long time, this creates a great first experience and early memories.”

Highlights is a Pennsylvania-based publisher of magazines for children, established 66 years ago and it publishes a family of titles including Hello, High Five for ages 2-6 and Highlights itself for those older than 6.

Oh Baby! mag lands distribution expansion with Pharma Plus

The controlled quarterly parenting magalogue Oh Baby!, published by Hestia International, of Toronto, is increasing its circulation through a deal with Rexall Pharma Plus stores, according to a story in Media in Canada.

Distribution will now be 175,000 copies: in addition to 100,000 copies distributed through Sears Canada, 50,000 will be available through Rexall Pharma Plus and another 25,000 through other locations such as Ontario Early Years Centres, Movies for Mommies, Once Upon a Child stores, doctors' offices, and baby/parenting trade shows. In addition, the magazine has over 1,000 paid subscribers.

Nick Eliades, publisher of Oh Baby! Magazine and president/CEO of Hestia, says that the magazine's website gets about 1,500-2,000 unique visitors a day and about 10,000 subscribes receive an e-newsletter, the names for which were gathered by various sponsored contests.

Hestia is, um, quite diversified. In addition to Oh Baby!, Hestia runs a four-day Hispanic festival in Chicago called Fiesta del Sol, publishes Race Week Pocket Guide, a listings book for the Champ car races in Toronto, and runs video advertising screens on the subway in Athens, Greece.