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.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (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.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use coupon code SUMMEROWL to save 20% off a 3 or 6-month subscription to OwlCrate Jr!
The Products: You will receive (1) hardcover middle grade book plus assorted gender neutral book-related items.
Ships to: U.S. for $6.99, Canada for $10.59, and International for $19.99
OwlCrate JR July 2018 Review
An info card was included listing the items in the box as well as the theme for July: True Calling.
The Legend of Greg: An Epic Series of Failures by Chris Rylander – Retail Value $16.99 (found here for $14.20)
The main character of this book, Greg, is a self-proclaimed fat kid whose family has a history of having trouble finding them, particularly on Thursdays, enough so that their family considers themselves to have a Thursday curse. Greg's witty and sarcastic nature engrosses you in the novel immediately as he remarks on his family and social life, which mostly involves getting picked on or avoided by everyone except for his near-perfect friend, Edwin, who always seems to come to his rescue. The book begins with an exciting experience as Greg is targeted by a polar bear at the zoo during a school field trip and the adventure takes off from there as strange things begin happening to him leading to a shocking discovery about himself and his family.
I really enjoyed reading this; Greg is a likable character, the plot is interesting and there is a great mix of humor and action that keeps it interesting. This is the first in a series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more!
In each box, there is a signed bookplate sticker and a letter from the author. The author, Chris Rylander, wrote a witty and humorous letter that is very similar to the style of the novel itself. The inclusion of these letters always makes it such a personal experience to me, and as a kid, I think I would have found it pretty special.
Legend of Greg Bookmark
I love this exclusive bookmark to go along with the book. It's amazing how many exclusive items they get for this box! It definitely makes it feel special.
Riddles Tea Shoppe and Curiosities Bravery Brew Loose Leaf Tea - Estimated Value $4 (Based on similar teas from Etsy)
This is a tea blend exclusive to the OwlCrate Jr. box. I love the beautiful packaging! There is no size listed on this, but I estimate there to be enough for 3-4 servings based on one teaspoon per serving.
I am not actually familiar with loose leaf teas and I was surprised at what large pieces there were inside the package. Luckily, I was able to borrow my mom's tea ball to brew a cup. The flavor was a lot of berry up front with some vanilla and rooibos on the finish and I really enjoyed it. It felt so wasteful to throw out the tea after just one cup, so I did a little research and decided to place the used tea ball in a cup of water and leave it in the fridge overnight. The next day I had a nice cold cup of tea and it was delicious! I think I actually prefer it cold since the berry blend is so refreshing!
Power of Merlin Amulet Enamel Pin by The Sunday Co. - Estimated Value $9 ($12 AUD based on similar pins from their website)
This pin was designed exclusively for this box and is inspired by the Trollhunters series. It has a little weight to it, which makes it feel like a quality pin. I love that it has two actual pins on it to ensure that it remains attached.
Percy Jackson - inspired Camp Half-Blood Pennant - Estimated Value $5 (based on similar items on Etsy)
This item is another exclusive item for the box. I have to admit, I have never read the Percy Jackson series, but I know that if I was a kid and enjoyed the series, I would love to receive this to put in my room. I like that there are two tails so that you can tie it to something if you need to.
3D ColorablesDragon Shield and Sword by Ooly - Retail Value $7.99
Lately, there have been a lot of coloring projects in this box and this one is probably the coolest! After coloring in the items, you can blow them up using the straws and they turn into 3D toys to play with.
The shield even has a little handle on the back of it and the sword has two sides to color. I love that they are such detailed designs. This will definitely provide hours of entertainment if you take your time on it and it allows for a lot of creativity which is always a plus in my book.
Step Boldly Nevermoor-inspired Sticker by Indigo Eleven - Estimated Value $2 (based on similar stickers from Etsy)
I love the umbrella design of this sticker with the dark colors!
Sword Button - Estimated Value $1.00 (I am estimating this on the lower end of what button pins cost on Etsy since OwlCrate Jr. seems to work with a lot of independent artists).
Each box includes a button that fits with the monthly theme. I love the background on this one!
AUGUST SPOILER:
The August OwlCrate JR theme will be Storyteller's Toolkit. This is intriguing as it sounds like it is referring to the items in the box next month which will be centered around a dark fairy tale. Sounds like a fun summer campfire type story!
Verdict: I enjoyed this month's OwlCrate JR box! The book was great, and although there wasn't as much of a cohesive theme as with previous months, I thought all of the bookish items were really fun and creative. The tea was delicious and I'm excited to work on that 3D colorable and see what the finished product looks like! I estimate the total retail value of the box to be $45.98 and we paid $34.98 ($27.99 + $6.99 shipping). This is a good value, especially when almost every item included in the box was exclusively designed for OwlCrate Jr!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will start with the August box.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use coupon code SUMMEROWL to save 20% off a 3 or 6-month subscription to OwlCrate Jr!
Value Breakdown: At $34.98 for this box ($27.99 + $6.99 shipping) here is what you are paying approximately per item:
- Book- $12.93
- Tea- $3.04
- Pin- $6.85
- Pennant- $3.80
- Colorable- $6.08
- Sticker- $1.52
- Button- $0.76
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