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: $24.95 per month + $4.95 shipping to the US. Save with longer subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your first box with code MSA50!CODE: MSA50
This review is of the subscription for ages 4-7.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Opening The Box
Subscribers can look forward to a colorful unboxing experience, with their easy-to-spot bright red shipping materials and neatly tissue-paper-wrapped contents.
Here's What's Inside
Welcome Note & Activity
It's birthday month with StoryCaptain! There isn't any indication that it's this subscription's "birthday," so I assume it was just chosen as a theme that's destined to be fun. We are 1 month shy of my two-year-old's birthday, and while this box's age range isn't targeted toward her (her older sister is the recipient), she does sit in for the reading of all these books and gets lovely exposure to the advanced vocabulary. Anyway, she is already asking if it's her birthday yet approximately daily, so this felt like an especially exciting theme for her. The sticker sheet of the month is holographic parts of a cupcake, with opportunities to give it a cute face!
Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator) — Retail Value $18.99
Found on sale here for $16.99
The first thing I noticed about this book is that it has the same illustrator as one of last month's books, Cloudette. We think the animals that appear in that book are particularly cute, so I was excited to see what the pictures would hold inside this birthday book. They are very personality-filled.
The story goes through ten rules of birthdays—things like "it must be your birthday" or close to it, "you must have a party," or some version of conviviality, all the way to "you must blow out your candles in one single breath." It's filled with celebratory animals and peppered with facts about their different traits—like how camels tend to spit, so they might want their friends to blow out their candles for them. The book is written very playfully and conversationally, which was fun for me to read, but I will say that all the silly stipulations were a little hard for my kids to follow. In particular there was a moment that referenced a future rule we hand't gotten to yet, and that was a little challenging for my five-year-old. We might set this one aside and revisit it next year!
Fortunately by Remy Charlip — Retail Value $8.99
Found on sale here for $7.59
Oh I get such a nostalgic feeling holding this book in my hands! Not because I'm familiar with it, but because the style is so delightfully old school. It's dated as 1993, when the reprint was made, but it's originally from 1964. It has me want to go explore more books from that era! The story is a lightheartedly harrowing tale of a little boy who goes on a fantastical journey from New York to Florida for a birthday party. The pages alternate "fortunately" with good news, and "unfortunately" with a setback, and each is associated with color illustrations for the positive bits and black-and-white ones for the trials. My kids got a kick out of the rollercoaster of events the character goes through, and, success: my five-year-old can now appropriately use "fortunately" and "unfortunately" in a sentence.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $24.95 per month + $4.95 shipping to the US. Save with longer subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your first box with code MSA50!CODE: MSA50
Value Breakdown: This subscription costs $29.90, with shipping included. April's box one hardback and one paperback picture book that add up to $27.98 using full retail prices, or $24.58 using Amazon sale prices. It's not uncommon for children's book subscriptions to come in a little shy of breaking even, but those of us who subscribe get value from the book selection and extra activities.
Key Takeaways
This month was a mixed bag for my family—we simply adore Fortunately, in its '60s glory, and also appreciate that it's a paperback, making it a good one to take along with us on trips. The tone and style of Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish was a little challenging for my kids, but the illustrations were fun. We'll hang onto it and revisit it down the line.
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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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