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, but I did receive this note (a new feature since last month):
Onto the books!
I love that two of this month's books align with Halloween! I hope that the theme trend continues with additional upcoming holidays and changing seasons. This particular book really grabbed me with its cute title. You'll immediately notice that this board book features a padded felt hat that's attached to the backing. This gives your child the opportunity to touch and feel its softness with each page, adding a sensory element. The hat switches among a spider, a clown, etc., and the message is clear -- no matter who you are or what you do, you will be loved. This one is perfect for toddlers as it's super short, simple, and not at all scary!
I Love You, Little Pumpkin! by
Another one from Sandra Magsamen. This board book is similar to the last, but it features a padded cloth pumpkin on the cover as well as a lift-the-flap component on each spread. The illustrations are adorable and great for toddler aged children, and the flip-down pieces provide a bit of an interactive detail. The last page ends with a surprise mirror and another 'you are loved!' message. Cute!
Hello, Dory! by RH Disney - Value $4.41 on Amazon (retail price $7.99)
Based on the Disney/Pixar favorite, Finding Dory, the board book introduces Dory and 6 of her friends. Each friend has its own tab which is a fun way to divide up the structure of the book and allow children to easily turn pages themselves. The illustrations are colorful, exaggerated, and really compelling! For a board book, it's also pretty decently sized. Amazon notes that this book is most suitable for ages 0-3, and I would agree there.
The Good Dinosaur: A Berry For Arlo by Disney Book Group - Value $7.05 on Amazon (retail price $12.99)
Unlike Finding Dory, I went into receiving this book being unfamiliar with The Good Dinosaur. I came to learn that it's all about sharing -- a message I can really get behind. This one is a better fit for slightly older kids, in my opinion -- maybe 2-5. I counted 10 pages, so this book is a bit more involved than the others. The illustrations are more intricate, comparatively, as well.
Exotic Coral Moisturizer, 1 fl oz. - Value $0.47 (buy a 32 oz. bottle for $15 from Amazon)
Okay, I know that some people love the free samples included in this box based off of the comments received in my last review, but I'm still thrown off by it. It's a really lovely sentiment, but, this lotion sample just struck me as the kind of travel toiletry that you'd see in a hotel room. Not a bad thing - just confusing more than anything, maybe. It is very cool that My First Reading Club includes moms in their assortment selection though!
Verdict: This is my second box from My First Reading Club. All four books included this month made amazing additions to my growing nursery library (baby will be here soon!), and I loved to see that they stuck to a theme (Halloween and Disney).
The value of this box comes in at $26.78 which is a vast improvement to last month's $17.85 total. With a subscription cost of $9.99 + $5 shipping, I'd say that this box is a pretty terrific value for avid young readers.
Which My First Reading Club book was your favorite this month?
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