Ranger Rick Awards and Honors

Ranger Rick has long been recognized as the leading nature magazines and publications for kids ages 12 and under. We have won some of the most prestigious awards and honors in educational publishing:

Ranger Rick

National Parenting Publications Awards (www.nappaawards.com)

  • National Parenting Product Awards winner (2025)
  • Silver Award in Children’s Products Virtual Category for Ranger Rick’s Tree House (2013)

Wirecutter (www.nytimes.com/wirecutter)

  • Our 10 Favorite Kids Magazine Subscriptions Make Great Gifts (2024)

Parents’ Choice Foundation (www.parents-choice.org)

  • Gold Award Magazine, 2020
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2019
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2018
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2017
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2016
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2015
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2014
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2013
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2012
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2011
  • Silver Award Magazine, 2010
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2009
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2008
  • Award Winner, 2006 (for Kids & Families Website)
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2003
  • Gold Award Magazine, 1999
  • Gold Award Magazine, 1996

Association of American Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award (www.publishers.org)

2017

  • Best Article Design (“Meet the Beetles”)
  • Best Single Issue (October 2016)
  • Best Cover (December-January 50th Anniversary Issue)
  • Best Overall Editorial

2016

  • Best Article Design (“Glass Frogs”)
  • Best Illustrations (“The Greatest Show on Earth”)
  • Best Single Issue Design (August 2015 issue)
  • Best Single Issue Editorial (October 2015 issue)
  • Best Overall Publication

2015

  • Best Overall Editorial
  • Best Single Issue Editorial (March 2014 issue)
  • Best Article Design (“Stranger than Fiction”)
  • Best Photography (“It’s Raining”)

2014

  • Periodical of the Year for grades 3-6
  • Best Illustration, Graphics, and Photography (“Fox for All Seasons”)

2013

  • Best Visual Story (“What’s for Dinner?”)
  • Best Mobile/Wireless Learning Tool (Ranger Rick’s Tree House)
  • Gold Award: Best Educational Innovation of the Year (Ranger Rick’s Tree House)

2012

  • Best Visual Story (“Wasps”)
  • Best Feature Article (“Not-So-Freaky Frogs”)

2011

  • Periodical of the Year for Children (Grades K-5)
  • Best Feature Article (“Got Blood?”)
  • Best Visual Story (“Creature Features”)
  • Best Photograph (“Frog and Earthworm”)

2010

  • Periodical of the Year for Children (Grades K-5)
  • Best Feature Story (“Nature Did It First”)
  • Best Visual Story (“Wild and Weird”)
  • Best Photograph

2009

  • Best Design/Whole Publication (October 2008 issue)
  • Best Article Design (“Noisy Boys Band”)
  • Best Feature Article (“Noisy Boys Band”)

2008

  • Best Visual Story (“Island of the Bats”)
  • Best Photograph (“Fruit Eating Bat”)

2007

  • Best Magazine Illustration (“What’s Lurking in Your Lawn?”)
  • Best Visual Article (“Skin”)
  • Best Feature Story (“The Scoop on Poop”)
  • Best Visual Story (“Hum, Hum Hummers”)

2006

  • Best Visual Story (“Face to Face”)
  • Best How-To Feature (“Six Trix for Better Pix”)
  • Best Teacher’s Guide
  • Best Informational/Educational Website

2004

  • Best Feature Article (“Meat-Eating Plants”)

2003

  • Best Feature Article (“Open Wide, Look Inside, It’s Alive!”)
  • Best Illustration (“Open Wide, Look Inside, It’s Alive!”)
  • Best How-To Feature (“Good Pet, Bad Pet”)
  • Best Visual Story (“Wahoo, Kangaroo!”)

2001

  • Golden Lamp Award finalist
  • Winner for Best Visual Story (“All About Me”)

Note: Before 2000 or so, the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) was known as EdPress.

1998

  • EdPress Winner for Primates Special Issue (October 1997 issue)

1993

  • EdPress Golden Lamp Honor Award

1992

  • EdPress Distinguished Achievement Award

1988

  • EdPress Golden Lamp Award for best overall magazine (October 1987 issue)

Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice Awards (themailbox.com)

2007

  • Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family

2006

  • Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family (for Ranger Rick magazine and its Educator’s Guide)

Other Awards:

  • 2001 – Folio Editorial Excellence Award Silver Winner for Outstanding Editorial Work
  • 1996 – Society of National Association Publishers General Excellence Award
  • 1991 – National Magazine Award finalist for special issue on frogs

Ranger Rick Jr.

National Parenting Publications Awards (www.nappaawards.com)

  • National Parenting Product Awards winner (2025)
  • Silver Award (2013)

Wirecutter (www.nytimes.com/wirecutter)

  • Our 10 Favorite Kids Magazine Subscriptions Make Great Gifts (2024)

The Education Center Media Group (Learning Magazine) (theeducationcenter.com)

  • Teachers’ Choice for the Family, 2020

Parents’ Choice Foundation (www.parents-choice.org)

  • Gold Award Magazine, 2020
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2019
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2018
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2017
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2016
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2015
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2014
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2013

Association of American Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award (www.publishers.org)

2017

  • Best Overall Publication
  • Finalist, Best Overall Design
  • Finalist, Article Design (“My First Day” May 2016)
  • Finalist, Single Issue Design (February 2016)
  • Finalist, Best Overall Editorial
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“A Dozen Things You May Not Know About Eggs” April 2016)
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“My First Day” May 2016)

2016

  • Best Overall Design
  • Finalist, Periodical of the Year
  • Finalist, Article Design (“Sweet Blue Feet” February 2015)
  • Finalist, Single Issue Editorial (September 2015)
  • Finalist, Single Issue Design (April 2015)

2015

  • Best Overall Design
  • Single Issue Design (September 2014)
  • Department/Column (“What’s That?”)
  • Cover (December/January 2015)
  • Finalist, Periodical of the Year
  • Finalist, Single Issue Editorial (September 2014)

2014

  • Periodical of the Year
  • Whole Publication Design (November 2013)
  • Department/Column (“That’s Wild!”)
  • Article Design (“Harvest Mice” November 2013)
  • Finalist, Article Design (“City Critters” February 2013)

Ranger Rick Cub

National Parenting Publications Awards (www.nappaawards.com)

  • National Parenting Product Awards winner (2025)

Wirecutter (www.nytimes.com/wirecutter)

  • Our 10 Favorite Kids Magazine Subscriptions Make Great Gifts (2024)

Parents’ Choice Foundation:

Gold Award Magazine, 2018

Ranger Rick Jr. Appventures

Gold Award Magazine, 2020

Gold Award Magazine, 2019

  • Parents’ Choice Foundation: Silver Award, 2013
  • Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) Distinguished Achievement Award: Innovation Award Finalist, 2013

Your Big Backyard

Parent’s Choice Foundation:

  • Gold Award Magazine, 2012
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2011
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2010
  • Gold Award Magazine, 2009
  • Silver Award Magazine, 2008
  • Approved Magazine, 2007
  • Recommended Magazine, 2000

Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) Distinguished Achievement Award:

2012

  • Department/Column (“What’s That?”)
  • Finalist, Article Design (“Go, Go, Go!” September 2011)
  • Finalist, Visual Story (“Fishing with Kingfishers” June/July 2011)

2011

  • Cover (May 2010)
  • Visual Story (“What’s for Dinner?” September 2010)
  • Article Design (“Meet My Family” January 2010)
  • Whole Publication Design
  • Finalist, Periodical of the Year
  • Finalist, Visual Story (“At Home in the Desert” August 2010)
  • Finalist, Department/Column (“Ever Wonder?”)
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“Hummingbirds”)
  • Finalist, Fiction (“Winter Birds” January 2010)

2010

  • Cover (August 2009)
  • Visual Story (“Run with the Wolves” October 2009)
  • Fiction (“Ricky and Pals”)
  • Finalist, Department/Column (“Ever Wonder”)
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“Out and About with Raccoons” August 2009)
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“Take a Peek at Beaks” September 2009)

2009

  • Feature Article (“Hair: What’s It Fur?” March 2008)
  • Whole Publication Design, June 2008 Issue
  • Visual Story (“Hiding in Plain Sight” October 2008)
  • Department/Column (“Explore the Big Outdoors”)
  • Fiction (“Fishy Poems” May 2008)
  • Finalist, Periodical of the Year
  • Finalist, Article Design (“Animal Shapes” June 2008)
  • Finalist, Article Design (“Fishy Poems” May 2008)
  • Finalist, Article Design (“Look-Alikes” September 2008)
  • Finalist, Visual Story (“Daddy Day Care” August 2008)
  • Finalist, Visual Story (“Den Mother” March 2008)
  • Finalist, Illustration (“Below the Snow” December 2008)
  • Finalist, Feature Article (“Go for the Gold!” August 2008)
  • Finalist, Department/Column (“Green Hour”)
  • Finalist, Department/Column (“My Little Book”)
  • Finalist, Fiction (“Penguins on Parade” November 2008)

2008

  • Whole Publication Design (December 2007 Issue)
  • Finalist, Department/Column (“My Little Book”)
  • Finalist, Fiction (“Olive and Max”)

2007

  • K-5 Periodical of the Year
  • Finalist, Design/Visual Story (“Skin” August 2006)

2005

  • Golden Lamp Award for Best Educational Periodical
  • Most Improved Children’s Magazine

2003

  • Best Photograph

2002

  • Best Ongoing Column (“Nature in My Neighborhood” Series)

Aveda Environmental Award, Bronze, 2006

Wild Animal Baby

Parents’ Choice Foundation:

  • Silver Honor Magazine, 2011
  • Recommended Magazine, 2010
  • Recommended Magazine, 2000

Natural Resources Council of America Award:

  • 2001 (Instilling a Love of Wildlife and Conservation)