Family Reading Crate is a book box designed with the whole family in mind. Each month you will get about 4 books based on a common theme and one of these will be hand-picked just for the adult in the family. You will also receive a booklet with discussion questions and a few items that tie into the books including collectible bookmarks.
This is offered through Build Your Library a secular literature-based homeschool curriculum website.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Family Reading Crate
The Subscription Box: Family Reading Crate
The Cost: $26.99 + $8.00 shipping
The Products: A selection of 4 books (one of which is for an adult), discussion booklet and a few other items related to the box theme
Ships to: US
Family Reading Crate July 2018 Review
This month their packaging was a little different and they included this insert stating that they are using eco-friendly materials, which is great!
The included booklet introduces the theme, which is We Are Familly! this month, and also gives a brief description of who each book is meant for in the family. They include a link to their website which provides activities and printables as well as suggestions for books and movies all related to the month’s theme. These are great extension ideas to use with the whole family.
Also included are discussion questions for each of the kids’ books. These range from direct questions about the content to making inferences to personal opinions about the story. These are perfect for family discussion or even as writing prompts as part of a homeschool curriculum.
Instead of discussion questions for the adult book, there is a book review by the curator of the box.
We received these 3 collectible bookmarks in our box.
This month we received these cute little animals to go along with the book we received for the younger reader of the family. My son loves playing with these and carries them around everywhere since they are the perfect size for his little two-year-old hands!
My Family is a Zoo by K.A. Gerrard - Retail Value $16.99 (found here for $11.35)
This book is meant for the younger readers in the family and we really enjoyed reading this one. It's a cute concept with everyone in the family having their own animal. Animals are always a hit in our home!
The illustrations are cute and the rhyming text makes it even more fun. The story is about all of the animals that each member of the family has and brings with them on their trip. There is a bit of a surprise ending when you find out who they are all going to meet.
As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds - Retail Value $16.99 (found here for $11.89)
This book is meant to be the family read aloud. The main character, Genie, has a lot of questions about everything and keeps track of them in a notebook. He researches them online whenever he gets the chance, but then he and his brother are sent to stay with their grandparents for the summer, who live in the middle of nowhere without internet. He has never met his grandfather and has only met his grandmother once, so this is a very new experience for him, especially since he lives in the city. The story is told from the perspective of a curious child who questions everything around him as he is introduced to these strangers and their slower pace of life. I really enjoyed this book and how I could relate to Genie's curiosity when I was younger. The author really makes you feel apart of the story as you get to witness the relationship between Genie and his family unfold and develop.
Just Fly Away by Andrew McCarthy - Retail Value $17.95 (found here for $6.60)
This book is meant for the older child or teen in the family. It took me a really long time to put two and two together, but once I did, I realized that this novel is written by Andrew McCarthy. You may remember him from one of my favorite 80's movies, Pretty in Pink. I brought this book along with me for vacation and I couldn't put it down! I also discovered while reading it that it's a signed copy, which was a sweet bonus! Just Fly Away is a great coming of age novel about a teenage girl who discovers that her father had an affair several years ago resulting in a half brother that she never knew she had. We get to explore all of the various emotions she experiences as she comes to terms with this. I would rate this as a PG-13 book though because there are a few curse words, mild drug use and a few other things that are typical teenage experiences. These are very small scenes in the story and there is a little disclaimer in the booklet we received that gives parents a heads up that it's best for older teens.
The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman - Retail Value $15.99 (found here for $11.83)
This book is for the adult in the family and I was riveted from the moment I finished the prologue. The story explores two families who share a house that was left to the patriarchs of the family. Mort and Abe are two brothers who haven't always seen eye to eye and they live here with their wives, Rose and Helen. One family lives on the top floor and the other below, each of them with several children. The story is told from the perspectives of each of these four main characters and explores their relationships with one another and how these change and develop over time. This was another book that I couldn't put down.
Verdict: This was my favorite Family Reading Crate so far. I love the way that they explored the topic of family through four unique books that were very different from one another. Each of these books perfectly explored the topic of family, yet each of these families was completely different. I think these were great choices for meeting the interests of various ages and created a basis for discussion about what family means and how that can look different from one family to the next. The total retail value of the books came to $67.92, which is excellent for a $34.99 ($26.99 + $8.00 shipping) box!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! As of publication, this box is still available to purchase!
Value Breakdown: At $34.99 (price + shipping) for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- My Family is a Zoo by K.A. Gerrard: $8.75
- As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds: $8.75
- Just Fly Away by Andrew McCarthy: $9.25
- The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman: $8.24
Check out all of our Family Reading Crates reviews and Book Subscription Box reviews for more kid’s book options!
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What do you think of this month’s Family Reading Crate?
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