OwlCrate Jr is a monthly book subscription box for kids aged 8-12. They send books as well as interesting and educational book-related items.
FYI, COVID-19 Updates: You can find OwlCrate shipping updates right here.
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.)
About OwlCrate Jr
The Subscription Box: OwlCrate Jr
The Cost: $27.99 a month + shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first order
CODE: JRMSA2021
The Products: You will receive one hardcover middle-grade book plus assorted gender-neutral book-related items.
Ships to: The U.S. for $7.99, Canada for $9.99, and international for $19.99
OwlCrate Jr December 2020 "Winged Beasts" Review
This month's box got stuck in transit and arrived late, but it seems like January's boxes are moving more quickly, so hopefully, we are finally back on track!
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This month our theme is "Winged Beasts" and this little magazine highlights all of the items included in our box. It also includes an interview with the author, a creativity corner with a word search, and some information on their monthly photo challenge. This month there is also a fun community feature!
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A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons - Retail Value $22.53
Our book this month is a nice thick story that is signed by the author and features some great illustrations throughout.
From Amazon:
Imogen should be nice to her little sister Marie. She should be nice to her mum’s boyfriend too. And she certainly shouldn’t follow a strange silver moth through a door in a tree.
But then… who does what they’re told?Followed by Marie, Imogen finds herself falling into a magical kingdom where the two sisters are swept up in a thrilling race against time – helped by the spoiled prince of the kingdom, a dancing bear, a very grumpy hunter… and even the stars above them.
As someone with three sisters of my own, I can certainly relate to how Imogen feels about her sister and the way they bicker constantly. While Imogen doesn't seem to mind a sense of danger or adventure when it's her own story, things get a bit scary after she stumbles upon a strange new world after following a silvery moth through a door in a tree. When she realizes that Marie has followed her, she is actually relieved to have her sister by her side, as much as she annoys her. The sisters make their way toward the only light they see and end up as guests of a lonely young prince after he saves them from the "skret", which are monsters that roam the streets at night. They make a pact with him that he will help them find their way home, but when after a few days they are no closer to making it back, the girls decide to take advantage of not having any grown-ups around and they begin to enjoy their time roaming free. It seems that I am just getting to the real adventure in the story and I'm eager to see what happens because so far, this is a unique tale that has hints of familiar stories woven in. It's a quick read that is full of adventure so far!
Just a heads up: So far there have been a few curse words (minor ones like d__ and h__) and there is some mention of beer. These didn't seem to be huge themes in the story, but I figured it was worth mentioning!
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We also received a letter from the author, which is always such a special inclusion!
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Flying Creatures Paper Airplane Book by Ken Blackburn and Jeff Lammers - Retail Value $9.95
This month we received a little book that can help us make our own winged creatures, similar to those from the story. This little book is really cool with detailed instructions for how to fold the papers into different flying shapes. They even have some printed papers at the back with lines for folding and everything. We have been big into making paper airplanes lately so my kids were excited about this book and can't wait to race their creatures.
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Metal Tassel Bookmark
Our next winged beast comes in the form of this metal bookmark with a bright blue tassel and it features Blackjack, the Pegasus from the Percy Jackson series. This dark and moody design comes from @giorgiabros_illustration and it's such a gorgeous way to mark your page!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Beanie
We can't have a box featuring winged beasts without including OwlCrate Jr's mascot, Ozwald the Owl! I really love the color of this beanie and the pompom at the top is a cute touch! This is nicely made, thick and warm with two layers. It was designed by Michelle Gray and while it doesn't fit my big head very well, it fit my daughter perfectly.
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Cute and cozy!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Rising Phoenix Cookie Press
This next item is unique and fun! This is a rubber cookie press, but it could easily double as a stamp, or as they suggested, you can use it for clay, too. I love that there are so many useful options for this awesome Rising Phoenix design! It's a really cool item that we've never seen before. We can't wait to test it out!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Reading Planner
This next item is something that I have received in the YA subscription that I review and I think it is so cool that they have one designed for the Jr box, too! I love the cute dragons on the front and the colors throughout. There are so many sections and while it's listed as a 2021 planner, it looks like you can use it anytime since there aren't any specific dates on it. There is a book wishlist at the front and each month features a calendar, a monthly wrap-up, places for book reviews, and a place to write down your favorite quotes. There are also different activities separating the months such as coloring activities or designing your own book cover. It's just a lot of fun and a great way to keep track of your reading progress! This was designed by @bluestarpress!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Sticker
Each box includes a collectible sticker that fits with the monthly theme. This month's design from Four Seasons Fox is really so beautiful!
Verdict: This month's OwlCrate Jr theme was really fun and the items in our box were so fitting for our magical adventure of a story! I really love that beanie, the cookie press was so neat, and the creature planes book was such a cool inclusion! My favorite though was the reading planner. It was so nicely done and if your child is an avid reader and takes pride in all of the books they read, this will be perfect for them! I wish they had this box when I was a kid!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll get the February box—and there's no waitlist at the time of publication!
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first order
CODE: JRMSA2021
Value Breakdown: This box costs $27.99 + $7.99 shipping. We received 7 items, meaning each item has an average value of about $5.14.
Check out all of our OwlCrate Jr reviews, our OwlCrate YA reviews, and the best subscription boxes for kids!
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