Immediate Media Co launches Alphablocks magazine today

Immediate Media Co has launched Alphablocks magazine today, the18 July 2012. An educational children’s title aimed at pre-schoolers aged 3-5 years, it is based on the popular CBeebies TV programme of the same name.

Alphablocks is 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 so they can 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.
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.

END

Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Jo Franks, Immediate Media Press Office
0208 433 2208 or email joanna.franks@immediate.co.uk

*What is phonics? Phonics helps very young children learn the sounds they need to read and the rules are simple. Each letter in the alphabet makes a sound – only one sound. A makes the short sound as in apple. B is for bee – b-b-b-b! C is for carrot – C! D is for duck – d-d-d-d, and so on. Letters blend together to make words – c-a-t, cat. Some letters pair up to make new sounds – s-h, sh. Letters and sounds are at the centre of phonic learning.

1. Alphablocks is a children’s educational television programme that teaches children how to spell with the use of animated blocks representing each letter. It is made by Blue Zoo Animation and created by Joe Elliot (Alphablocks Ltd).