Coffee and a Classic is a monthly book & beverage subscription box, curated by Ashlee Doherty. Ashlee’s mission is to create a complete escape each month for lovers of literature, providing a thought out and curated experience where readers can curl up with the book, a beverage, and other bookish items to retreat from everyday life.
There are two different subscription levels available:
- The STARTER BOX ($28.99/month + $8 shipping) provides you with a classic book, something to sip on, and 2 bookish items each month.
- The STANDARD BOX ($39.99/month + $10 shipping) provides you with a classic book, something to sip (your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate) & snack on, a bookmark, a coffee mug, and 1-2 bookish items based on a theme. This book box is also packaged in a high-quality photo box.
With each level of subscription, you can select from three genres: Classic Literature, Children’s Classics, and Classic Nonfiction.
This review is for the Starter Children's Classics Box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About This Box
The Subscription Box: Coffee and a Classic Starter Box
The Cost: $28.99 a month + $8 shipping. Save 5%-15% with longer pre-paid subscriptions.
The Products: A classic book, something to sip on, 2 bookish items + a bookmark
Ships to: the US only
Good to Know: Boxes ship between the 19th-23rd of each month. You can cancel your subscription at any time (recurring billing happens on the 1st of the month). Each month, a sneak peek is available and you can change genres if something catches your eye.
Coffee and a Classic Starter Children's Classics August 2018 Review
This month’s selection is Winnie-the-Pooh, a favorite since 1926 written by British author A. A. Milne. The main character, Christopher Robin was notoriously named after Milne’s own son and served as the inspiration for this whimsical classic.
Like most subscriptions, the first item you see when you open the box is an info card detailing the products inside. The contents listed include the book itself, a single serving of hot cocoa, 2 bookish items, and a bookmark.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Winnie-the-Pooh and have always found it interesting (like the insert mentions) that these stories contain life lessons for both adults and children. I was eager to cuddle up and share this book with my young son.
I also find it super interesting that this children’s book has been dissected in so many ways - in college, I was in a psychology course that highlighted the psychiatric disorder associated with each of the main characters. I realize that this is likely a coincidence and not the original intent of the author, I still maintain that it’s interesting and something to think about!
Winnie-the-Pooh (Hardcover) by A. A. Milne – Retail Value $14.99 (found here for $12.19)
From Amazon:
Since 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote this book for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape.
This familiar tale is about a young boy and his woodland friends that live in the 100-acre woods. There are some common themes in these short tales – Winnie and his love affair with honey, Tiger and his need to bounce, and Eeyore and his constant moping.
I particularly loved this beautiful dedication that AA included to his wife. He writes in a poetic prose that is so lovely and makes his stories perfect for bedtime reading.
The illustrations throughout this book were done by Ernest H. Shepard and add such a special touch to this edition. One of the bookish items we received this month are colored pencils – an older child might have a great time coloring in these illustrations and making this book their own! I think I’m not going to suggest that to my 3-year-old just yet though.
Exclusive! Hot Chocolate with a Honey Comb Topping
Yum! This was a tasty treat and for calories-sake, I'm glad that it was only 1 serving, else I would have gone back for more! This adorable jar says "four ounces pure honey" and fit seamlessly with the theme. There were no nutrition facts, but it's hot cocoa – and I simply did as the label said and added it to some warm coconut milk.
At first, I was disappointed at how hard it was to dissolve (I hadn't read the insert yet!) and even got out the whisk to break up the large pieces. Then, when I gave up and took a drink I realized that there was a honeycomb topping – which is an amazing addition to hot chocolate! I think you could get the same effect at home by crumbling some toffee over your hot cocoa. Delish!
Hundred Acre Wood Colored Pencils (by Woodluck LLC)
This set of 10 - 4” colored pencils are handcrafted from recycled wood. Although I couldn’t get the price from the wholesale site, you can find a similar product here. I think that these pencils are perfect and definitely complement the woodsy theme this month! Receiving colored pencils or crayons in a children’s subscription makes so much sense – and this curation is impeccable.
Exclusive! Vintage Illustration Box Sign, Hand-Made by Coffee and a Classic
This little wooden sign features an imprint of Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh and measures around 6"H x 6"W x 2"D. You could add a hanger to hang in your child's bedroom or playroom, but personally, I plan to set it on a window sill next to a potted plant.
Exclusive! Bookmark Set by Coffee and a Classic (Coloring is Optional!)
This set of 4 bookmarks features some favorite quotes from 4 of the main characters. I like getting a bookmark set to accompany this book of short stories so that I can use it to divide out the stories, so I can get to them quickly! They're also cute enough to include as a gift along with this book to another child.
Verdict: It's hard to quantify the value of this box because of the exclusive items, but (and perhaps I'm not well read enough) I can say I'm 100% more happy with the Children's Literature box than the Classic Literature. I think it stems from the fact that I have a young child, and most of my reading is to him – and light-hearted – and the classics picked in the past have been a bit heavy for my relaxation reading time. This box is always thoughtfully curated and seamlessly put together. I love starting a collection of hard copy books for my son and can't wait to see what the September book pick is!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Your first box will be the September selection. From Coffee and a Classic:
Your box will ship between the 3rd Thursday or 4th Monday of every month. Please order by the 15th of the month to get the current box.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $28.99 + $8.00 shipping, which means that each of the 5 items in the box has an average cost of $7.40.
Check out all of our Coffee and a Classic reviews and the Book Subscription Box List!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the August 2018 Coffee and a Classic?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.