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.)
March is here, and I think this month is just as busy as December! With so many birthdays, sporting events, and spring break, I am trucking on through! Charlie's reading goal for March increased and this month's beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived just in time to help! Packed with exciting new books and fun lifestyle items, this box was just what he needed to add up some minutes all while becoming 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. "One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood." - Agatha Christie
Life According to Og the Frog by Betty G. Birney - Retail Value $16.99
When Og the Frog first comes to Room 26, he doesn't know what to think. He misses his friends from the pond, there are all kinds of strange noises, and the water in his tank just might be too clean (you know, a little muck never hurt anyone). But the furry, squeaky fellow living next to him is endlessly entertaining, the kids sure are friendly, and--BING, BANG, BOING!--they put big fat crickets right into his tank. All of this gives Og lots of ideas for one of his favorite pastimes--making up poems and songs. But he gets stumped when talk turns to sending him back to the pond. Will he have to say good-bye to Tabitha whose whole life just changed like his? Or Mandy who just started seeing the bright side of things with his help? And Humphrey, who he's finally beginning to figure out?
Charlie is all about critters, so we recently took a trip to the pet store and welcomed a betta fish into our home! He had his heart set on a tortoise or a frog, but we decided to start with something a little easier to care for—and he's been doing an amazing job looking after Cold Stone Flare Junior. Along with real-life animals, Charlie also loves books about them. This hardcover was a perfect pick for a ten-year-old, and he was completely drawn into the story. He especially loved the frog theme and the classroom setting. It was a quick read, but he was excited to find out there are more books in the series—he’s already looking forward to the next one!
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspain: The Fuzzy Apocalypse by Jonathan Messinger - Retail Value $5.99
Eight-year-old Finn is the first kid born in space and he spends his days looking for a new planet to call him with his three best friends and his robot, Foggy. He’s used to wild, galaxy hopping adventures. But when Explorer Troop 301 gets stuck on a planet that’s about to explode, Finn and his friends will have to face giant aliens, a leader with mind control powers, and one evil, fluffy bunny rabbit in order to save the planet . . . and themselves.
Books about aliens and space are definitely a win at our house, and this illustrated book was a great fit for Charlie. Not a super long read, this got him some minutes all while being a quick story. Charlie enjoyed the characters of this book, and was quite interested to hear that it is based on an award-winning podcast, and would like to check that out as well. How cool!
Positive Potato
Who couldn’t use a little extra positivity? Winter in Minnesota feels like it lasts forever, and while I love all the fun outdoor activities, our family is definitely over the cold and dreary weather. To help keep our spirits up, we got the cutest little knit potato with a note that says: "Positive Potato: I may be a tiny potato, but I believe in you. Go do your thing!" My kids love small, silly things they can toss around and hold, so this was a perfect little pick-me-up for Charlie. He even brought it to school and placed it on top of his locker for those not-so-great days. How sweet is that?
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers, and appreciated the variety this month, and really appreciated the cute animals. This batch was set aside for his birthday thank you notes, so we were happy to receive them!
Pear Shaped Notepad
I have to say, this might just be the coolest notepad I’ve ever seen! It’s shaped like a pear—seeds and all—and when you clip the pages together, it forms a perfect little 3D fruit. They even included a stem and a tiny fruit protection net! Not only is it adorable, but it’s also super functional—perfect for jotting down notes and guaranteed to be a conversation starter. Honestly, it’s my favorite thing on my desk right now, and everyone who sees it is so jealous. Sorry, Charlie—this one’s all mine! 🍐✨
Lucky Bag: Trinkets
Like I mentioned earlier, Charlie is all about little trinkets—erasers, fidgets, pop-its, you name it! So this adorable organza bag filled with fun surprises was right up his alley. Not only were all the items super useful, but he genuinely loved every single one! The tiny chicks have taken up residence in my car for school rides, the erasers are neatly tucked into his desk drawer, and the avocado charm? That’s proudly hanging on his backpack. Huge thanks to Between the Bookends—you made one very happy kid with these fun goodies!
Lucky Bath Dust
To top off an already amazing box, we got a package of bath dust—and it couldn’t have been more perfect! If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know that Charlie is obsessed with baths, so this was a total win for my ten-year-old. Not only does it turn the water soft and silky with bubbles, but it also comes with two tiny plastic animals. And let’s be real—yay for tiny things! Charlie was absolutely thrilled!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids engaged in reading, and this month Charlie was ABSOLUTELY obsessed! Charlie enjoyed both book choices this month, and was happy with the variety. The lifestyle items this month knocked it out of the park, and Charlie thought this was the best curation yet! Overall, this month as extremely excited and we are hoping for more fidgets in April!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral box costs $45.00 per month (on a 12-month subscription track), including shipping. The books are valued at $22.98, and there was a great variety of lifestyle items. 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 April box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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