beTWEEN the Bookends is the first monthly book and lifestyle box created for kids by a teen herself! Boxes follow a monthly theme and contain age-appropriate books and lifestyle items that have been read and hand tested by Jillian, the 16-year-old creator. Full-sized boxes contain 2-3 books and 6-8 lifestyle items, while mini boxes include 1 book and 3-5 lifestyle items. The new gender-neutral boxes will contain the same 2-3 books as the full-sized boxes but will have only 3-5 gender neutral lifestyle items.
The Cost: $45.00 per month for the gender-neutral box + free US shipping (on a 12-month subscription). Save with longer subscriptions.
This review is of the beTWEEN the Bookends Early Reader gender-neutral box.
These boxes were sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Where on earth did December go? It seems like I blinked and we have gone from August to January! Our days are starting to get longer, and while we haven't had much snow to enjoy, we have been granted lots of reading time! This month Charlie is in a class competition for reading minutes and he was in need of some more books. We received this month's beTWEEN the Bookends box just in time! Packed with exciting new books and fun lifestyle items, this box was just what he needed to help his class earn minutes and become a more fluent reader. Keep reading to see what we discovered!
First Impressions
The contents of this box are packaged neatly in turquoise tissue paper and sealed with a sticker featuring clip art of a boy and girl. The anticipation of seeing what's underneath this tissue paper always has us on the edge of our seats. We just can't wait to check it out!
Here's What's Inside
Welcome Pamphlet
To start off the box, we go through the included pamphlet. Describing the month's theme and the contents of every Between the Bookends version, this little book lets us know exactly what the box contains, along with a bookish quote, social media info, and a hint about next month's theme. "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in," - Leonard Cohen
"Jeanie & Genie: Larger Than Life" by Trish Granted - Retail Value $6.99
Jeanie and her best friend, Willow, are going to the zoo to see a special dinosaur safari exhibit. But since Willow is a genie who sometimes accidentally grants wishes, the girls have to be extra careful around animals like lions and tigers and bears. And they are! But…they’re not quite as careful around the dinosaurs. Soon enough, the dinosaurs come alive! Can Jeanie and Willow fix this larger-than-life problem?
Charlie is big into dinosaurs, and even though this book is hot pink, he was totally into it. This read is geared towards kids kindergarten through 4th grade, which is where my son is at right now. The font is large and the story is short, but some of the vocab is tricky, so it was a good, easy fit for a fourth grader. The illustrations really helped keep Charlie engaged, and he thought the inclusion of the genie was pretty cool. Overall, he thought this was a decent series and was interested to check out the rest of this authors books out in the library.
"The Gumming Gum Girl! Popped Star" - Retail Value $6.99
When Gabby Gomez chews gum (even sugar-free!), something gumazing happens. She turns into Gum Girl! Our super-stretchy superhero is ready for action! But Gabby still hasn't revealed her secret identity to her parents, her tooth is aching, and a new superhero has just twirled into town: Ninja-Rina! No crime is tutu big for Ninja-Rina! ¿Perfecto, no? But Gabby is not so sure—is this town big enough for two superheroes? With Spanish words used throughout the story, readers continue to have opportunities to be fully immersed in Gabby's world—through text, art, and speech. This fully illustrated chapter book series is for the superhero fans inside all of us.
Charlie is a huge fan of graphic novels, so he was excited to get an action packed super hero book filled with fun illustrations. The recommended reading age for this series is 6-10 and it was a quick read, which my son always appreciates. I did enjoy the inclusion of Spanish words, and both of us enjoyed this book! Gracias!
Popcorn Pen
Pens are definitely a staple in our house as they always seem to grow legs and disappear, but these extra fun, extra bright ones stick out and are easier to keep track of. This tiny nibbed popcorn version is a nod to one of the greatest snacks of all time, and makes writing more fun. The soft rubbery top is addicting to squeeze and I appreciate the cap to keep the ink fresh. Charlie enjoyed this inclusion and it has found a home by his journal in his bedroom.
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers, and appreciated the variety this month. He liked the big brain decoration, but gave me the greenery book sticker. These stickers have been used in many ways throughout our subscription, and we always appreciate receiving more.
Custom Hand Warmer
Minnesota gets cold, and last week we saw lows dip in the -20's. In those temps, hand warmers are extra nice, and this customized version was great! To activate, I placed this plastic pouch in boiling water and then let it cool. I popped the metal tab and it warmed the gel. Charlie loves fidgety items, and loved the warming aspect of this so much. We haven't utilized it outside yet, but he loves warming it up before a movie night snuggle for an extra dose of cozy!
Desk Lamp Bookmark
I'll admit, I might have squealed when I caught a glimpse of this inclusion. This desktop lamp bookmark is so stinkin' cute and reminded me of the lamp character on the The Brave Little Toaster. At first I thought this was a light up bookmark, but realized it's not. While it is just a bookmark, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite of all time and I actually started reading my own book just so I could use it! (Sorry Charlie!)
Wiggly Cosmos Water Snake - Retail Value $4.99
As I mentioned before, Charlie is obsessed with fidget toys, so this wiggly cosmos toy was a huge hit. Featuring glow in the dark star and moon shapes, this fidget has ridden to school with us everyday this week. Extra slippery and fun to hold, this toy kept my sons fingers busy as we listened to the Hatchet audiobook for the 10th time.
Uno Flip Game - Retail Value $5.99
If you like Uno, you will love Uno Flip! This game is Uno but with a little bit of a nasty side! When you play a "flip" card, you go to the other side of the cards which have mega draw cards, and more! We actually have this game, so I was able to save this set to give a friend for a birthday gift, but it really is a fun game that our family plays at least weekly.
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids engaged in reading, and this month Charlie was obsessed. Charlie enjoyed both book choices this month, and was happy with the variety. And as far as lifestyle items goes, this was Charlie's very favorite curation in a while. Not only did he love the fidget, but he also really enjoyed the Uno game, light bookmark, and hand warmer. Overall, this month was extremely exciting and we are hoping for more fidgets in February!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral box costs $45.00 per month (on a 12-month subscription track), including shipping. While the books along are valued at only $13.98, the lifestyle items were had a higher value this month. I find the $45.00/month cost extremely reasonable, as the lifestyle items help shape this box into an entire experience.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Other Things You Should Know
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? beTWEEN the Bookends tends to ship the first week of each month. Order now to receive the February box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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