My First Reading Club is a monthly subscription box that delivers three age-appropriate books specifically for you and your child!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This is a review of the Just Starting Out, $9.99 a month, box for kids under 2 years old.
About My First Reading Club
The Subscription Box: My First Reading Club
The Cost: $9.99 a month + shipping. Save with 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: NEWREADERS
The Products: Three age-appropriate books curated specifically for you and your child. Sometimes, a free surprise is also included in addition to the book.
Ships to: Contiguous U.S. for $7 and Canada for $10
My First Reading Club February 2018 Review
Each box arrives with an info sheet. It features a quote from a respected author, a note from the My First Reading Club co-founder, and some additional information about each month's "mommy gift."
Onto the books:
The Good Dinosaur, Dino-Might Tales - Retail Value $10.33
Featuring Disney/Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, this set of 4 board books is perfect for travel. The books fit neatly inside a sturdy cardboard cover with a kid-friendly and secure velcro flap closure. Inside the case, I found the books' titles to include: Arlo and Spot, Dinos, Dinos, Dinos!, One Big Family, and Adventure Time. These books all feature gorgeous full-page illustrations. The text is extremely simple and overlays the images; there are only 1 or 2 sentences per page layout. This is perfect for my 4 month old who, obviously, can't process much right now during storytime, and I could see these being fun for kids up to 3 or 4. My baby really loved the beautiful, saturated colors!
Julius Jr., Bear Hugs! - Retail Value $1.99
This board book is fairly compact at no bigger than 6" tall. It stars Worry Bear, Julius Jr., Clancy, Ping, and Sheree from the Nick Jr. show Julius Jr. (I'm completely unfamiliar with the show, but I suppose that I may be suuuuper acquainted before too long!) This book is all about hugs, which was not only totally appropriate for Valentine's Day, it's a super cute message for any day. The illustrations are adorable, and the love message is clear. The cartoon-like quality (makes sense, huh?) of all of the character illustrations was my favorite part!
A Holiday Counting Book: 10 Valentine Friends - Retail Value $3.48
More of the Valentine theme! This sweet board book features 10 friends that share valentines with each other. The book counts through 1-10 valentines with accompanying rhyming, bouncy text. It sort of reads in a sing-songy cadence. The illustrations are super cute and well done, but they're busy with lots of small details and a strong pink tone that seems to overtake each page. My little guy didn't seem too interested for that reason - too much going on - but this would would be nice for preschool or kindergarten age children who are familiar with the concept of sharing valentines with their classmates.
Mom Gift: AMBR Sea Crystals - Buy a pack of 100 for $49.95
Each box includes a "mommy gift," and this month's was my favorite! It's usually some sort of small toiletry item like a lotion or hand cream that I quite honestly toss aside in my ever-growing 'save these things for travel' bag. However, this lil' sea salt container was used up right away! The small amount is perfect for one bath, and... I LOVE SEA SALT BATHS! There's nothing quite like the luxury of a steaming hot bath when you're a busy mom, and the herbal fragrance and rejuvenating properties of this sea salt blend made for a really uplifting and relaxing experience.
Verdict: My First Reading Club is always a joy to receive. I love that this box is always so great about often curating a book selection that's relevant to the month's holidays. I also really appreciated the assortment of Disney, Paul Frank, and other. In the past, My First Reading Club has been a bit heavy on the Disney/Pixar for my taste.
The value of this month's books comes in at $17.81. With a subscription cost of $9.99 + $7 shipping, the value only breaks even. However, for avid young readers who want to build their library on a monthly basis, I really enjoyed the curated selection this month. 16.99
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Get April's box here (ships on 3/28).
Coupon –Use code MSAREADS to save $7 off your first box!
Value Breakdown: This box cost me $9.99 + $7.00 shipping, which means you are paying approximately:
- Dinosaur Board book: $9.85
- Bear Hugs: $1.90
- Valentine's Friends: $3.32
Check out all of our My First Reading Club reviews and the Baby + Parent Subscription Box Reviews!
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Which My First Reading Club book was your favorite this month?
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