StoryCaptain is a children's book subscription that focuses on fostering empathy, understanding, and connection through literacy. Each box comes with 2-3 books, an activity guide, and a fun little freebie. The book selection is under the care of children's literature experts to ensure that every book in your box is both developmentally appropriate and will spark joy. There are two subscription options: one for kids ages 0-3 (board books), and one for ages 4-7 (picture books).
The Cost: $19.95 per month + $4.95 shipping to the US.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your first box with code MSA50!
CODE: MSA50
This review is of the subscription for ages 0-3.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Here's What's Inside
Activity Guide & Stickers
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Each monthly box from StoryCaptain comes with an informational card that also serves as an activity guide plus stickers. This month's theme was Friends Forever which focused on exploring the magic of friendship through animals. The activity guide provided ideas for 1 craft and 2 games, which included making DIY paper hats for a hat parade and acting out different dinosaurs. The sticker sheet came with 24 individual stickers consisting of stylish penguins and polar bears celebrating the Christmas season through fun outdoor activities.
Peep and Ducky It's Snowing by David Martin (Illustrated by David Walker) — Retail Value $7.99
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I absolutely adored the illustrations in this book! Maddie just learned how to say "bird" a few weeks ago, so it was fun for her to read along and point out the different birds throughout the story. The main characters, Peep and Ducky, start off the tale by enjoying some outdoor winter adventures. First, they go sledding and then work diligently to build a snowman - until it comes crashing down on top of them! The two birds are brokenhearted over their failed snowman until their parents come flying in on sleds of their own to bring them some hot chocolate and snacks to cheer them up. The book defintiely didn't skimp on imagery, and had just the right amount of text for my growing toddler to follow along with.
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen (Illustrated by Mark Teague)— Retail Value $7.99
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This was another cute tale for my toddler to enjoy, and is now officially her first dinosaur-themed book-which is pretty cool. It helped teach Maddie about important things friends do, like sharing toys and being kind to one another while playing. While she's pretty good at sharing with mom and dad right now, she does have a little brother on the way, so I'm sure this book will come in super handy for when the terrible twos hit.
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won — Retail Value $9.99
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This month was 3 for 3, as we also loved this book! Each of the animals in the book was dealing with a grumpy mood until they were introduced to a super rad hat that turned their frown upside down for good. (I hope that trick will work for my littles too!) This book was a bit longer than the others, but the text wasn't complicated and there were tons of images, which Maddie seemed to really enjoy.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $19.95 per month + $4.95 shipping to the US.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your first box with code MSA50!
CODE: MSA50
Value Breakdown: This subscription costs $24.90 including shipping. The 3 books that we were sent in the 0-3 age range for December retail at $25.97 and the additional cost for stickers probably cost around $2. If you take into consideration the standard price of shipping on Amazon or other suppliers, then the total retail value is slightly higher than what you pay each month. Not to mention, you receive a carefully curated selection of books, and some fun activity prompts!
Key Takeaways
StoryCaptain's December box was a hit - all 3 books were perfect for my daughter's age range, had cute themes, and displayed some precious animals. This was one of the few boxes where every single book had the perfect balance of images and text, which can be hard to come across at times when targeting the 0-3 age range.
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To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, as of this review's publication, this box is still available. After placing your order, your first box will be shipped within 3 business days. For subsequent boxes, they will be shipped either at the beginning or the middle of each future month.
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