Johnson knows a thing or two about Goofus and Gallant. Kent Johnson, the CEO of Highlights for Children. “But, also, if I do something that's a little Goofus, how do I make up for it? How do I apologize? How do I make things right?” “We're always aspiring to be our Gallant,” said Kent Johnson, CEO of Highlights for Children. “It's practice for the big, harder moral decisions that are going to come later.” Do I give up my seat on the bus? Do I make this elderly person stand?” she said.Ĭhristine French Cully, the Editor in Chief and Chief Purpose Officer of Highlights for Children. They’re everyday choices we have to make. The long-term appeal of Goofus and Gallant is partly due to its lack of ambiguity, said French Cully. They first appeared in the pages of Highlights in 1948 and are still a “legacy feature” today.Īn excerpt from a 1961 edition of Goofus and Gallant. Īnd, of course, the wholesome Goofus and Gallant, a comic featuring two contrasting characters: Goofus modeling bad behavior, and Gallant modeling good. Timbertoe comic from 1951 (top), and an excerpt from a 2018 Timbertoes comic (bottom). Still in every issue is The Timbertoes – a simple illustrated story centered around a wood-carved family – which debuted in Highlights in 1951.Īn excerpt of the original Mr. Nearly 75 years ago, Highlights debuted its first magazine and its longest-running feature: Hidden Pictures, the visual puzzle that pushes kids to focus and find small pictures inside a larger scene.īut that’s not the only feature to stay consistent for generations. The first Hidden Picture from the first issue of Highlights, published in 1946. In fact, there's been a Hidden Picture in every issue of Highlights since June 1946, the very first one.” “So, for example, we always have a Hidden Picture in every issue of Highlights. “There are certain things that appear in every issue of Highlights, we call those our ‘legacy features’ and they're non-negotiable, they're in each issue,” said Christine French Cully, Editor in Chief and Chief Purpose Officer at Highlights for Children. That 'same look and feel' Mallory describes isn’t an accident. “Whereas a lot of other things have kind of changed over time, I feel like they're enjoying the same magazine that we enjoyed as kids.” “I think the coolest thing about Highlights magazine is it still looks the same, it still feels the same,” said Mallory Bailey. Something that the Bailey’s love is that they also read Highlights growing up. It’s called High Five, and it’s the younger sister publication to the long-running Highlights magazine. Josie Bailey, 4, reads an issue of High Five at her home outside of Columbus. “She gets really excited just recognizing different animals in the magazine.” “Josie will look at the same magazine every day and find new stuff,” said Mallory Bailey, Josie’s mother. One thing that manages to capture her attention is a magazine. It’s sometimes a challenge, though, to get Josie to slow down and take a break. Josie Bailey is a rambunctious 4-year-old who loves playing with her younger brother in her backyard just outside of Columbus.

Highlights goofus and gallant