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.)
April is here, and the weather has still been terrible! We're a month and a half into the junior high baseball season, and every game so far has been canceled due to snow. I'm starting to go a bit stir-crazy! Charlie has been cruising along with school, but with all the MCA testing, he’s been looking for more books to read while waiting for others to finish. This month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived just in time to give him some new reading options! Packed with exciting books and fun lifestyle items, this box was exactly what he needed to rack up some reading minutes while continuing to build his fluency. 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. "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn
Trouble at Table 15 Busted by Breakfast - Retail Value $5.99
From the author of Stick Dog comes the second book in a highly illustrated early chapter book series about three best friends whose plans, missions, and schemes are sure to shake up their school. Simon always has a lot to say. And sometimes he can’t stop talking—even in the middle of class. When Simon gets in trouble for jabbering at school, his best friends, Molly and Rosie, think up a plan to keep him from getting grounded at home! It involves cars, suds, and pink plastic flamingos! But will their big plan turn into an even bigger disaster?
Though Charlie is in 4th grade and has a pretty high reading and comprehension level, he really likes books he can finish quickly. This book is the second in a series and is geared towards kids 6-10. That fits Charlie's age range, and is a very easy read. With large font, illustrations, and fun text, this wasn't a challenge for Charlie, but he really enjoyed the story. With characters very similar to some of his friends, this book made him laugh and was very relatable! Because it's a starter chapter book, they also give you accolades after reading each chapter and mark off how many more you have to go. Cute!
Quinny & Hopper Partners in Slime - Retail Value $6.99
Quinny and Hopper are unstoppable. Together, they tamed a killer chicken, broke the Third Grade Rules, and proved to everyone that they could be best friends. But Hopper has doubts that anyone -- even Quinny -- can save him from his impending doom: a surgery removing tonsils he is really, really not ready to part ways with. To help Hopper overcome his tonsillectomy fears, Quinny decides to reveals his birthday surprise early: a trip to a museum where they'll get to see a real brain up close and personal. Hopper needs something to live for. But Quinny is torn when her sometimes-friend, sometimes-enemy, Victoria Porridge, invites her to the most amazing party ever on the exact same day. Quinny and Hopper are back in this hilarious and heartfelt sequel about friendship, changes, and staying true to yourself.
Geared towards kids 8-12, this book was a lot longer and a little more difficult than the first inclusion. Charlie was intrigued right at the start because a boy in his class just had his tonsils taken out! While he hasn't finished this book completely, he is very invested and says it is really good.
Journal
Thi tiny suede-like yellow note catcher is packed with plenty of lined pages for notes, stories, and little drawings. Featuring a ribbon bookmark and an elastic closure band, it stays securely shut and fits easily in Charlie’s backpack which he appreciates for his long bus rides to school!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers, and appreciated the variety this month, especially the cute raccoon and fox inclusions. Perfect for envelopes, these add a fun little twist on some of the mail we send out!
Flower Pen
We’ve received quite a few writing utensils in this subscription, and we’ve loved every single one! This month’s version features a long, skinny stem with a small flower on top. With its fine nib, the black ink writes neatly and was another welcome addition that Charlie has been using in his little notebook!
Custom Tapestry
I’ll be honest—Charlie wasn’t very excited to receive this custom tapestry. While the design is pretty, it definitely wasn’t something he was interested in. This box is geared more toward girls, but the tapestry was also included in the gender-neutral version. It's a decent size, featuring a girl seated on a park bench beneath what appear to be cherry blossoms. Like I said, it’s a lovely design, but we’re just not sure what to do with it. Something like a pillowcase might have been a better fit.
Plantable Seed Pencils
The next item we received was perfect for April, as it included seeds!! May is the big planting month in Minnesota, so these will have to wait a tiny bit, but it gives us time to use the pencils first! This set includes four pencils that instead of erasers on the top have seed pouches. Including lavender, clover, sunflower, and baby's breath, this is a really neat inclusion that we can't wait to start using!
Flower Bookmark
The next item we received was a metal feather bookmark, complete with a chain featuring a leaf charm, a pearl-like stone, and a floral marble. Charlie offered the bookmark to me, and I was stoked! This beauty slides onto the page alongside the spine of the book and looks so pretty!
Tiny Tumblers
The last item we received this month was a set of tiny tumblers. These squishy little spike balls are sticky and look slightly like cockleburs. While fun to squeeze in your hand, they are amazing for throwing at your wall! My husband had a great time chucking them at the kitchen wall and watching them race down. This truly is a box designed with fun in mind for the whole family!
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 were fun and he really enjoyed the pen, bookmark, seed pencils, and tumblers. Overall, this month was great and we are hoping for more fidgets in May!
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 $12.98, 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 May box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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