PW Close-Up: How Nat Geo Kids Explore! Reimagines the Skill-Building Workbook

What does it take to reimagine children's workbooks? If anyone has the answer it's National Geographic Kids. The experts at the beloved children's educational brand are bringing a new approach to skill-building workbooks with their Explore! program. Katherine Moore, Senior Editor at National Geographic Kids, who's editing the series, spoke to PW about how these updated and reimagined staples are meeting the demands of today's parents, while piquing—and holding—the interest of their kids.

How do the National Geographic Kids Explore! program workbooks and readers meet the needs of today's kids?

For many years now, National Geographic Kids' leveled readers have been meeting a major demand for engaging nonfiction books for developing readers. Our books feature lively photography and kid-favorite topics that help keep readers interested as they learn. We bring that same sensibility to our new line of workbooks: they reinforce essential school skills, but also meet kids where they are by focusing on subjects they love, like space or ocean animals. The workbooks introduce a variety of nonfiction topics, and the readers allow kids to dig deeper into those areas that interest them.

Keeping readers engaged as they learn is so critical. How do the National Geographic Kids Explore! workbooks/readers balance entertainment with education?

This is really where I think we set ourselves apart from the competition. National Geographic Kids is known for pairing high-quality educational content with colorful photography and other fun elements that draw kids in. Our readers and workbooks follow this model—we ensure that our content is carefully vetted by experts to meet the highest educational standards, but we also incorporate lots of vibrant imagery, subjects that we know kids love, and extras like fun facts and jokes that give kids an incentive to keep reading. Perhaps most important, our workbooks are organized around kid-friendly topics that integrate exercises on different skills. Rather than a whole chapter on writing, we might have a chapter on space that includes skill-building on a variety of academic subjects, from writing to math to simple science concepts. Kids don’t get bored or frustrated, because they’re doing more varied exercises around a theme that promotes engagement.

How did you zero in on the topics to cover in the workbooks and readers?

We’ve published tons of nonfiction books for kids, and over time we’ve developed a good sense of which topics really resonate with our readers, both through sales and through direct feedback. For the readers, we also try to ensure that we cover a wide and balanced array of exciting nonfiction topics—since these are smaller books, it’s a good place to cover more specific subjects like hippos or volcanoes.

What insights did you gain from early learning specialists as you were designing the National Geographic Kids Explore! program?

Since the beginning of our readers program, we’ve worked closely with reading specialists to ensure that our books are appropriately leveled and accessible for readers at every stage. For example, our expert has advised us on elements like optimal sentence length and the best way to introduce unfamiliar vocabulary. Our new workbooks were written by educators and vetted by experts in curriculum development. These contributors had many valuable insights on the best ways to balance our fun content with skill-building. They also weighed in on more specific questions like how to bring in extra phonics practice or make a chart more legible to a new reader. We’ve worked hand-in-hand with early learning specialists throughout the development of this program, and they’ve been essential partners.

How does the National Geographic Kids Explore! program more broadly tie in with National Geographic Kids?

National Geographic Kids Books is the only children's publisher with a world-class science, research, and education organization at its core. We have a global reputation for accuracy and authenticity that is respected by educators and trusted by parents. We take that very seriously and it’s reflected in everything we publish. We introduce kids to our world in a way that highlights fun, surprise, and a spirit of discovery. Our Explore! program brings that ethos to the skill-building space, giving kids the tools they need to embark on their own learning journeys with a sense of excitement and empowerment.

What types of essential skills are the focus of the National Geographic Kids Explore! program?

Our readers are focused on building reading fluency and comprehension, while our workbooks focus on a broader array of school skills. Our first series of workbooks are organized by grade level, giving kids age-appropriate practice in reading, writing, math, STEM, and early concepts like shapes and patterns.

Is there an opportunity for digital crossover learning with the series? Or are you focused primarily on print engagement?

At the moment we’re focused on print engagement, but in the future we would love to expand our digital presence and offer more ancillary products that could help kids learn in new formats.

The workbooks offer a great mix of illustration and photo-realistic art. Do you feel this combination of art forms provides particular appeal for target readers?

We love the mix of illustration and photography in our workbooks. Photography allows us to show kids the world as it is, in all its awe-inspiring strangeness and beauty, and kids really appreciate knowing what things look like in real life. Illustrations give us a chance to bring a bit more of a whimsical, fun element to the books, and also give us flexibility to show things that might not be easily photographed. I think the two elements together bring a ton of fun and excitement to the workbooks that’s unlike anything else out there at the moment.