My First Reading Club is a monthly subscription box that delivers three age-appropriate books specifically for you and your child!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This is a review of the Just Starting Out, $9.99 a month, box for kids under 2 years old.
The Subscription Box: My First Reading Club
The Cost: $9.99/month for pay-per-month subscription, $9.33/month for 3 months, $8.33/month for 6 months, or $7.92/month for a 12 month subscription. Shipping is a flat rate of $5 for the U.S. and $10 for Canada.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: NEWREADERS
The Products: Three age-appropriate books curated specifically for you and your child. Sometimes, a free surprise is also included in addition to the book.
Ships to: Contiguous U.S. and Canada
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No information cards were included.
My First Words: Animals - Value $3.00? (based on similar books)
My husband and I are huge animals lovers, so I know that teaching our son about all the creatures of the world will be important to us. This book is a fantastic way to do that, and it's super informational! I love that the sturdy cardboard pages include a mix of illustration and images clipped directly from photos. This means that all of the animals are super realistically depicted. They are also fairly to scale with one another. For example, an orca is the largest animal on the Water page followed by the medium-sized alligator, and the otter and jellyfish are much smaller than both. You can definitely use these images to teach a lesson on animals' size, how they interact, or how they behave. Each page is devoted to a different type of animal from Desert, Cold, Farm, Jungle, Water, Forest, Pets, and Bugs. There are also 8-10 clearly labeled animals on each page, so it's not only a fantastic way to learn animal names, but a nice way to understand the spelling of each word (later down the line, of course). I could see this book really growing with my little one, and I can't wait for him to identify his favorite animals!
Be Patient, Pandora! (Mini Myths) - Value $6.93
This short book is based on the original Greek myth of Pandora's box, a summary of which is included at the very end. From the author's official description: When Pandora is warned by her mother not to open a box, her spirited curiosity trumps her obedience. Pandora harmlessly touches the box, innocently leans on the box, and eventually, albeit accidentally, bursts the box open! The cupcakes that were hidden inside are ruined, except for one last vestige, which Pandora presents in the hope that her mother still loves her. The underlying message about impatience is really valuable, and I love that Pandora received reassurance from her mother after making a mistake. It's a really terrific way to teach forgiveness. The illustrations are also vibrant, silly, and adorable! They do a wonderful job of depicting Pandora's range of emotions as well as many of the action words used in the story (touching, leaning, standing, bouncing, etc.). Most of all, this book is a great way to introduce your child to Greek Mythology, and I'm excited to explore other titles from Mini Myths like 'Make a Wish, Midas!'
Sockheadz: Shapes - Value $5.00
This very visual board book explores basic shapes ranging from triangle, circle, rectangle, diamond, heart, oval, square, and star. Each double-page spread features a different sockhead animal and scene. The sockheadz are all very cute and illustrated with a sort of patchwork-y drawing style. Their environments reflect the same style, making this book super colorful and visually engaging! Shapes are hidden in objects as well as patterns. Because the shapes range from obvious to subtle, as a parent, you are able to prompt lots of questions relating to more difficult-to-find shapes. For example, "Do you see any rectangles on the window? What about outside?" or "What about on Heart Cow? What are his spots shaped like?" This is another book that can grow with your child as they begin to develop more understanding of shapes and general visual awareness.
Joseph Abboud Body Lotion - Value $1.25
Honestly, I was so thrown off to see this lotion sample in my box. I knew that My First Reading Club sometimes includes free gifts in their boxes, but I never expected to find toiletry products. Seems a bit odd as it's not exactly a child-friendly item. The lotion is fine, but nothing special, and the size and style of the package is like what you'd see in a hotel room. Free samples are always appreciated, but, all things considered, I found this addition to be a little confusing.
Joseph Abboud Vegetable Soap - Value $1.67
Again, a little surprised to see soap in my children's book-themed reading box, but I did enjoy this more than the lotion. It had a creamy texture and light linen scent, and it lathered well. I am glad to have been given the opportunity to try this brand via a free gift.
Verdict: This is my first box from My First Reading Club, and I really enjoyed it! All three books included this month made amazing additions to my very sparse nursery library, and I'm thrilled to be able to build up a bit of a collection before the arrival of our little one. I was also excited to find such a variety in quality book selections.
The value of this box comes in at $17.85. With a subscription cost of $9.99 + $5 shipping, the value is slightly higher. I suppose that you pay for the convenience of having three curated selections arrive at your door, and, to me, that does end up being worth it. However, instead of soap and lotion samples, I would have much rather received an additional book or toy to increase the value.
What My First Reading Club book was your favorite this month?
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