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 a month of New Beginnings with the November StoryCaptain ages 4-7 box. One is a fantasy about unlikely pen pals. The other is about best friends who are separated when one moves away, and how they stay connected. On the back are three ideas for non-messy activities related to the theme, plus a fun sticker sheet to build your own turkey.
Dear Dragon by Josh Funk (Author), Rodolfo Montalvo (Illustrator) — Retail Value $18.99
Found on sale here for $10.99
This story starts with children in a classroom who are told they will be assigned pen pals. We also get to see that a classroom of dragons is told the same thing. George the human and Blaise the dragon start writing to each other. They don't know they are different species, and we're treated to a visual of what each is imagining as they read each other's letters. In the end they get to meet, and they are surprised to find that through connecting via letters again and again, their preconceived notions of each others' species had slowly been rewritten. It's heartwarming and poignant—with a lot of fun along the way!
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina (Author), Sonia Sánchez (Illustrator) — Retail Value $8.99
Our paperback book this month is about two young girls who live in mirroring apartments across the street from each other, and the opening of the book beautifully portrays the close friendship they've built. We enter the story on the morning of moving day, the girls are squeezing in the last of their normal play together. When it's time for Evelyn to go, they share a special moment of exchanging stickers and giving a tight hug, and then Evelyn is off. The entire book balances the levity of a knowing friendship with the heaviness of a childhood best friend moving away, and all the change that comes with it. If I could make one small tweak to the book, it would be to have the narrator's mother validate her sadness as her friend rides away, rather than telling her not to be sad and to think of the new friends she'll make. It felt too soon for that comment. But perhaps that's just a contribution to the larger message that everything will be okay—overall this book is lovely.
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, which includes shipping. For November we were sent one hardback book and a paperback book that cost $18.99 and $8.99, though the hardback book can be found on Amazon for $10.99. Full-price, the book retail values add up to $27.97, which is an identical value to last month, and when you consider the value of the book selection and activities, the value is good.
Key Takeaways
We really enjoyed our November picks, especially the tale about the pen pals. My daughter is in the early stages of learning to read, and loves to write postcards to her friends on the other coast with a little spelling assistance, so it showed her what her future of having a pen pal could look like!
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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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