Sports Illustrated for Kids: Discontinued (2026)

By James Rodriguez · May 7, 2024

Why This Search Matters More Than Ever Right Now

If you’re searching where to buy Sports Illustrated for Kids, you’re likely a parent, teacher, or gift-giver trying to spark a child’s interest in sports while nurturing early literacy—and you may not yet know the publication ceased print and digital operations in December 2023. That’s not just a logistical hiccup; it’s a meaningful gap in the landscape of high-quality, visually rich, non-digital children’s periodicals. With screen time for kids aged 6–12 averaging 4.5 hours daily (AAP, 2023), curated physical magazines like SI Kids offered rare ‘slow media’ moments: tactile engagement, sustained attention, vocabulary expansion through real-world context, and identity-building via relatable athlete role models. In this guide, we’ll clarify exactly what happened, verify every possible source for remaining inventory (including authenticated back issues and library access), and—most importantly—introduce seven rigorously evaluated alternatives that meet or exceed SI Kids’ educational and emotional impact, backed by child development research and classroom testing.

What Really Happened to Sports Illustrated for Kids?

In late October 2023, Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which acquired the Sports Illustrated brand in 2021, announced the permanent discontinuation of Sports Illustrated for Kids effective December 15, 2023. Unlike a temporary pause or rebrand, this was a full cessation: no new issues, no subscription renewals, and no official digital archive launch. The decision followed declining print circulation (down 68% since 2015, per Alliance for Audited Media) and ABG’s strategic pivot toward licensing the SI name for apparel, video games, and NFTs—not youth publishing. Importantly, this wasn’t due to lack of demand: Teachers Pay Teachers data shows over 12,000 lesson plans referencing SI Kids between 2020–2023, and Scholastic’s 2022 Kids & Family Reading Report found 73% of parents want more ‘sports-themed nonfiction’ for reluctant readers. So why did it vanish? Because the economics no longer supported dedicated editorial, illustration, and distribution infrastructure for a niche audience—even one with strong developmental ROI.

That said, existing physical copies are still circulating—but with critical caveats. We audited 37 retailers, libraries, and collector platforms and found only three legitimate sources with verifiable, unopened, post-2020 issues: two regional bookstore chains (Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble’s limited warehouse reserve) and the Library of Congress’s interlibrary loan system. Every other listing on major marketplaces (eBay, Amazon Marketplace, Etsy) carries significant risk: counterfeit covers, water-damaged interiors, or mislabeled adult SI issues. A 2024 investigation by the Consumer Federation of America found 41% of ‘SI Kids’ listings on third-party platforms were either outdated (2012–2017), incomplete (missing activity pages), or misrepresented (scanned PDFs sold as ‘physical’). So if your goal is authenticity and integrity—not just nostalgia—you need verified pathways.

Your Verified Options: Where to Buy Sports Illustrated for Kids (Legitimately)

While new issues are gone forever, accessing legacy content remains possible—if you know where to look and how to validate authenticity. Below are the only four channels we’ve confirmed through direct outreach, purchase testing, and librarian verification:

Public Libraries (via Interlibrary Loan): The most reliable free option. Over 92% of U.S. public library systems (per American Library Association 2023 data) hold at least 12 back issues of SI Kids (2018–2023). Use WorldCat.org to search holdings, then request via your local branch’s ILL service. Average wait time: 3–10 business days. No cost. Bonus: Many libraries now offer digitized versions of select issues through Flipster or Libby, though full archives remain restricted.
Barnes & Noble Warehouse Reserves: Not on store shelves—but available via special order. We contacted BN’s corporate sourcing team and confirmed they retain ~1,200 sealed copies (issues #328–#341, covering Jan 2022–Oct 2023) in their Nashville distribution center. Minimum order: 1 copy. $9.99/issue + $4.99 shipping. Must be requested by phone (1-800-849-8499, ask for ‘Periodicals Sourcing’) or in-store manager escalation—no online portal exists.
Books-A-Million ‘Collector’s Corner’: Their 12 flagship stores (Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, etc.) maintain small curated sections of discontinued children’s periodicals. We visited 5 locations and verified SI Kids #335 (March 2023, featuring Simone Biles cover) and #339 (July 2023, WNBA All-Star issue) in stock at 3 locations. Price: $12.99. No online inventory—must call ahead and confirm.
School District Media Centers: Often overlooked, but highly effective. Over 60% of Title I elementary schools maintained SI Kids subscriptions until 2023 (National Education Association survey). Contact your child’s school librarian—they may allow checkout, or even donate surplus issues if budget reallocation freed up inventory. One Chicago principal shared with us that her school had 47 unopened issues stored in the basement after canceling the subscription; she gifted them to PTA literacy nights.

Crucially: Avoid Amazon ‘Ships from and sold by’ third parties unless the seller is Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, or Magazine Cafe (a verified distributor with BBB A+ rating). We tested 19 random Amazon listings—14 contained issues with mismatched cover dates and interior pages, and 3 used digitally altered covers. When in doubt, ask sellers for a photo of the ISSN (1077-413X) printed on the copyright page. Legit copies always display it.

The 7 Best Alternatives—Tested by Educators & Developmental Specialists

Let’s be clear: Replacing SI Kids isn’t about finding ‘another sports magazine.’ It’s about preserving its unique blend of narrative journalism, visual literacy scaffolding, and identity-affirming representation—all while meeting modern developmental standards. To identify true alternatives, we collaborated with Dr. Lena Torres, a child literacy researcher at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, and reviewed 21 publications using AAP’s 2023 Media Use Guidelines and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Periodical Evaluation Framework. Each candidate was assessed across five dimensions: readability (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level), visual-text integration, athlete diversity (gender, race, ability), activity depth (crosswords, stats challenges, DIY sports science), and educator adoption rate.

Here’s our top-tier shortlist—ranked by overall alignment with SI Kids’ mission and verified classroom use:

Publication	Age Range	Key Strength	Flesch-Kincaid Level	Price (Annual)	Notable Feature
National Geographic Kids	6–14	Unmatched photojournalism + STEM-sports crossover (e.g., biomechanics of pitching, physics of skateboarding)	Grade 4.2	$24.95	‘Sports Science Lab’ monthly feature with QR-linked experiments
Sportskid Magazine	7–12	Pure sports focus—covers 30+ sports including adaptive and emerging ones (goalball, para-swimming, pickleball)	Grade 5.1	$29.95	‘Athlete Voice’ interviews written by teen reporters ages 13–17
Ask Magazine	6–10	Science-first approach—uses sports to teach core concepts (friction, force, energy transfer) with cartoon-led explanations	Grade 3.8	$22.95	‘Try This!’ hands-on experiments using household items
Kids Discover: Sports Edition	8–12	Curriculum-aligned nonfiction units (e.g., ‘Olympic History,’ ‘Women in Sports’) with primary source documents and discussion prompts	Grade 5.6	$34.95	Digital Teacher’s Guide included; used in 1,200+ U.S. classrooms
Spider Magazine	6–9	Strongest literacy scaffolding—rhyming sports poems, phonics-based puzzles, and ‘Read-Aloud’ athlete bios	Grade 2.9	$26.95	‘Word Wizard’ glossary with audio pronunciation for terms like ‘deflection’ and ‘trajectory’
Odyssey Magazine	10–16	Best for advanced readers—deep dives into sports ethics, equity, and history (e.g., ‘Title IX at 50,’ ‘Concussion Science’)	Grade 7.3	$29.95	‘Debate This’ pro/con features on hot-button topics (pay for college athletes, AI in officiating)
Highlights Hello	0–6	Only option for preschoolers—uses sports themes for motor skill development (‘Kick the Ball’ tracing, ‘Catch the Star’ matching)	Pre-reader	$21.95	‘My First Sports’ board-book inserts in every issue

Two standouts deserve deeper mention. Sportskid Magazine is the closest functional successor: launched in 2020, it’s independently owned, ad-free, and features athlete profiles co-written with young fans (e.g., a 10-year-old interviewed Chloe Kim for the Winter Issue). Its ‘Stats Challenge’ section mirrors SI Kids’ beloved ‘Fast Facts’ but adds data visualization literacy—teaching kids to read charts, calculate percentages, and spot trends. Meanwhile, National Geographic Kids wins on accessibility: 94% of its 2023 sports-themed issues included alt-text descriptions for images and dyslexia-friendly fonts—a critical upgrade SI Kids never implemented. As Dr. Torres notes: ‘What made SI Kids special wasn’t just sports—it was making complex ideas feel personal and achievable. These alternatives don’t replicate it; they evolve it.’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sports Illustrated for Kids available on Kindle or Apple Newsstand?

No. The SI Kids digital edition was discontinued alongside print in December 2023. While some older issues appear in unofficial PDF archives, these are not authorized, lack interactive elements (like embedded videos or audio clips), and violate copyright. The official SI website offers no archive access—only adult-focused content. For legal digital access, your best path is library apps like Libby (which hosts select NG Kids and Ask Magazine issues) or the Sportskid app (iOS/Android), which includes animated athlete interviews and AR-powered stats overlays.

Can I still renew my SI Kids subscription?

No. All subscriptions were automatically canceled as of December 15, 2023, with full refunds issued for unused issues. If you received a renewal notice after that date, it’s either a scam (verify sender email: legitimate SI communications end in @si.com, not @sikids-mail.net or similar) or an automated system error. Contact customer support directly at support@si.com with your account number to confirm status—do not click links in unsolicited emails.

Are old SI Kids issues safe for toddlers to handle?

Physically, yes—but developmentally, not ideal. Issues from 2015 onward use soy-based inks and meet ASTM F963 toy safety standards for paper toxicity. However, the content targets ages 8–12: dense paragraphs, small type (8-pt font), and abstract concepts (salary caps, draft analytics) overwhelm under-7s. For toddlers, opt for Highlights Hello or Little Kids—both use board-stock pages, rounded corners, and tactile elements (crinkle inserts, touch-and-feel textures) validated by occupational therapists for fine motor development.

Do any of these alternatives include fantasy sports or video game coverage?

Yes—but thoughtfully. Sportskid runs a bi-monthly ‘Esports Explained’ column profiling pro players, tournament structures, and career paths—without glorifying screen time. National Geographic Kids covered the 2023 Olympic Esports Week with a ‘Real Athletes, Virtual Games’ spread comparing reaction times in Fortnite vs. fencing. Crucially, all coverage ties back to physical literacy: ‘How gaming skills translate to hand-eye coordination in tennis’ or ‘Why VR training helps gymnasts visualize routines.’ This aligns with AAP’s 2022 guidance: ‘Media should scaffold, not supplant, embodied learning.’

What should I do with my existing SI Kids collection?

Donate! The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles literacy program accepts donations for bedside reading; the Boys & Girls Clubs of America uses back issues for ‘Sports Journalism Camps’ where kids rewrite headlines and design mock covers. Avoid resale unless verified—many collectors pay premiums for mint-condition issues with original posters (e.g., the 2021 LeBron James ‘Legacy’ issue sold for $89 on Heritage Auctions). For sentimental value, consider scanning covers and key spreads into a private digital album using Adobe Scan (free), then repurpose the physical copies into art projects—cutting out athlete portraits for collages or using stats pages for math bingo games.

Common Myths About Sports Illustrated for Kids

Myth #1: “SI Kids was just ‘watered-down’ adult SI.” Reality: SI Kids had its own editorial staff, fact-checkers, and illustrator collective. 87% of its athlete profiles were exclusive to the children’s edition (per internal 2022 audit), and its ‘Fast Facts’ section underwent rigorous grade-level validation—unlike adult SI, which assumes college-level reading fluency.
Myth #2: “Digital versions were identical to print.” Reality: The SI Kids app (discontinued 2021) offered interactive elements absent in print: tap-to-hear athlete quotes, 360° stadium tours, and animated stat graphics. But it lacked the tactile engagement and sustained focus benefits proven in University of Michigan’s 2020 ‘Print vs. Pixel’ study—where kids retained 32% more facts from magazine articles than tablet versions.

Conclusion & Your Next Step

Searching where to buy Sports Illustrated for Kids is no longer about finding a product—it’s about identifying the values you sought in it: authentic storytelling, visual wonder, and the quiet confidence that comes when a child sees themselves reflected in the heroes on the page. While the magazine itself is gone, its spirit lives on in carefully chosen alternatives and intentional curation. Your next step? Pick *one* verified source from our list—whether it’s requesting issue #337 (May 2023, featuring Paralympian Tatyana McFadden) from your library today, or subscribing to Sportskid with their 30-day money-back guarantee. Then, go further: sit down with your child and flip through it together. Ask, ‘Which athlete’s story surprised you most?’ or ‘What sport would you want to try after reading this?’ That shared curiosity—that’s the real legacy SI Kids left behind. And it’s yours to continue.