Owl Post Books is a children's book subscription box. Choose from two different plans for kids—their Book of the Month Club (one new book for $14.99/month), or the Imagination Box (3 age-specific books plus a craft or toy for $32.99/month). Owl Post Books also has two YA subscriptions—YA Writer (one new YA book, writing supplies, and prompts fr $34.99/month) and YA Artist (one new YA book plus a new medium of art to try for $44.99/month). All subscriptions include free shipping.
This is a review of the Imagination Box, which is curated for ages 4-7.
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 Owl Post Books Imagination Box
The Subscription Box: Owl Post Books Imagination Box
The Cost: $32.99 per month + free shipping. Save with longer commitments.
The Products: Three books curated to your child's age group (0-3, 4-7, or 8-12) along with a craft or toy. Plus, each black-and-white box doubles as a coloring page!
Ships to: US for free, Canada for $25
May 2019 Owl Post Books Imagination Box Review
The box design this month is the same as the one I received last month. It is a fun design, but I was hoping to see something different.
Inside the box, I received this fun card encouraging my kids and I to enjoy our May box.
The toy this month was a little butterfly craft. It's great for spring and something my daughter especially enjoyed. Although the subscription promises toys that fit a theme, this butterfly doesn't have much to do with any of the books in the box.
Cats Get Famous by Ron Barrett - Retail Value $17.99
This book was about a group of cats who liked to sing in the alleyway (much to the dismay of the sleeping residents nearby). One day, a mean, greedy man decides to make these cats famous and profit off of their singing. He signs them up for "Animal Idol", then rigging the contest in favor of the cats. The cats are lead to riches, while the greedy man goes to jail. The cats pursue other interests with their newfound money, but eventually they realize that what they love most is singing together. Only now, they decide to sing lullabies that their neighbors love.
The illustrations in this book were great, very detailed, and had more of a classic comic style. (The drawings are by the same illustrator that did Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs). While the story left something to be desired for me (everything was resolved quickly and somewhat easily), I still really enjoyed the story that the illustrations told!
The Amazing Hamweenie Escapes by Patty Bowman - Retail Value $16.99 (Found here for $12.98 + shipping)
This book stars a very oblivious and self-centered cat named Hamweenie, who longs to escape the "prison" of his home. The cat finally decides to run away to a circus, thinking everyone is waiting for him or enamored by his "charisma". In reality, no one is really paying much attention to him at all.
Hamweenie uses words like "hooligan" and "physique"—it makes the book fun for parents and helps expand your child's vocabulary! The illustrations are part of the story, as they show characters reacting in ways that are quite contrary to the story that Hamweenie is telling. This was a fun book with a lot of great illustrations and some word choices that are not typical of a picture book!
Bitty Bot by Tim McCanna - Retail Value $16.99 (Found here for $12.11)
This book was really cute. It tells the story of Bitty Bot, who is not quite ready to go to bed—he'd rather embark on a space adventure! The book describes his adventure in rhymes and features detailed, colorful illustrations that really appeal to kids. It is a great read before bedtime, as Bitty Bot eventually settles down for sleep. Hopefully, your little ones will want to do the same!
Verdict: I really enjoyed the unique book selections that I got from Owl Post Books this month. They were all beautifully illustrated and had some humor to them, which I always enjoy! I also love that they sent a cute little craft in the box for my kids and I. The total retail value I found for the box was $51.97, not including the craft, which is great for a $32.99 box!
While I think this subscription is great, I do have a small qualm with their advertising. Owl Post Books advertises that their Imagination Boxes include "3 hand-selected, age-appropriate books, a themed toy, an interactive box, and theme card that comes every month!" I feel like the word "themed" implies something that doesn't quite apply here when the toy and card don't really relate to the books. (The books don't seem to follow a theme either.) I'm probably being a little picky. But I review a lot of book boxes, and the promises made on Owl Post Books' site definitely led me to believe there would be more of a cohesive theme to the boxes each month.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Since the books are curated based on your child's age, your books may be different from mine. From Owl Post Books:
All packages will ship between the 1st and 4th of each month. Please order by the last day of the month to get your box shipped on the 1st-4th.
Value Breakdown: At $32.99 + free shipping for this box, here’s approximately what you are paying per item:
- Cats Get Famous: $11.41
- The Amazing Hamweenie: $10.79
- Bitty Bot: $10.79
Check out all of our Owl Post Books reviews and more book boxes for kids, or see which boxes our readers named the best kids subscription boxes of 2019!
Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think about this month’s Owl Post Books Imagination Box?
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