The Paper Planes Journal – Year 1, Issue 5 [Aug-Sep 2026]

The Paper Planes Journal Issue 5 is a fully illustrated international magazine for curious, creative middle graders. This monsoon issue steps through the magical portals of Studio Ghibli, dives beneath the sea with the kelp forests of the Sea Change Project, and remembers Hiroshima through the tender story of Tomiko and Akiko and Sadako’s paper cranes. Explore the great monsoon migration of Kaziranga, the East Kolkata Wetlands, and the science of how plants can sing, alongside book, film, music, and game criticism—from The Hobbit to Project Hail Mary to Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Every issue also features short literary works translated from languages around the world—Bengali, Assamese, Hindi, Russian—connecting global voices to young readers and centring them as makers and critics of their culture.