My girls love getting mail. And they love magazines. Even the ones who are not yet reading fluently love to look at glossy magazine photographs. They also love nature. So when I stumbled across Nature Friend last year, I was ecstatic. All the things they love bunched into one monthly subscription? Sign me up!

Nature Friend is a creation-based nature magazine that has been around since 1983. Started by a family in Indiana, it is now mailed out to over 75 countries around the world. It’s a monthly magazine with an optional study guide supplement.

You can view sample issues on the Nature Friend website. Each issue contains gorgeous photographs; articles and facts about different animals, birds, plants and insects; games and puzzles; opportunities for kids to share their articles, photographs and drawings; and a step-by-step drawing lesson. In short, it’s packed full of amazing things.

Although we don’t subscribe to the optional study guide, I’ve perused the sample guide available on the Nature Friend website, and it looks pretty good. It’s an eight-page booklet loaded with extra games, a writing lesson, a photography lesson, a science lesson and additional research opportunities.

My girls (the eldest in particular) devour this magazine. They love nature and they learn so much from reading the articles and perusing the beautiful photos. And they are always inspired by the art submissions from other children their ages. I love that it’s written from a faith perspective.

So what are the cons? Well, in all honesty, it isn’t cheap. A one year subscription is $40 for US residents and $54 for Canadian residents. That’s US dollars. The study guide is an additional $2 per issue. However, the magazine is completely free of advertisements, so you’re paying for quality content.

We’ve had our subscription for almost a year now and it’s always exciting when we find a new issue in the mailbox. My oldest daughter immediately carries it over to her favourite reading chair and reads it cover to cover. And although it’s geared towards kids, I often follow suit.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out their website.

Please note: I am in no way affiliated with Nature Friend, nor am I receiving any compensation for this honest review.