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.
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 (1) hardcover middle-grade book plus assorted, gender-neutral, book-related items.
Ships to: The US for $7.99, Canada for $9.99, and International for $19.99
OwlCrate Jr November 2019 "Parallel Worlds" Review
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This month's theme is "Parallel Worlds" and we received this magazine which highlights all of our items. It also includes an interview with the author, a crossword puzzle and some information on their monthly photo challenge.
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The Starspun Web by Sinead O'Hart - Retail Value $16.99
This story is one of those tales that is easy to get into as we are quickly engaged in the mysterious circumstances surrounding Tess's life and how she came to live in the orphanage that we meet her in. She was dropped off as a baby with only a blanket, an envelope full of money and a unique object that the owner of the orphanage, Miss Ackerbee, decides to give her when she is adopted by a man claiming to be a relative to her. Upon leaving the orphanage, Miss Ackerbee shares with her that she used to disappear for moments at a time as a child and that she is a very extraordinary girl who might have come from a different world. This is all news to Tess and something she has to bear in mind when she is forced to go with this strange man who may be up to no good. While Mr. Cleat is certainly not someone she wants to live with, this may be the only way she can discover more about her past. This book is such a fun concept that kids will enjoy as I'm sure any child would love the ability to travel between worlds!
From Amazon:
"All her life, Tess has lived at Miss Ackerbee's orphanage with her friends and her pet tarantula, Violet. But one day, a mysterious man named Mr. Cleat shows up and whisks Tess away to live with him. Before Tess leaves, Miss Ackerbee gives her a strange lens, and makes an even stranger admission: that Tess can travel to parallel worlds, and has been able to do so since she was found as a baby. Now, with her newfound abilities and the mysterious lens in tow, Tess must navigate life with Mr. Cleat and his nefarious housekeeper, who seem to be up to more than they let on. As Tess learns about the lens and its role in transporting her to other worlds, she discovers that behind Mr. Cleat's oily smiles is a darker intention: one that could bring the world to its feet. Can Tess keep her secret from Mr. Cleat, and figure out what he's up to? And what if the lens falls into the wrong hands? With the help of Violet and her friends from the orphanage, Tess can finally discover the truth about Mr. Cleat and, more importantly, herself."
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In each box, there is a letter from the author which I always find to be such a unique and personal inclusion. We also received a signed bookplate and this little sticker featuring the cover art from our book.
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Puffin Chalkboard Classics: The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Retail Value $7.99
This month we received a second book! This time it is a classic, but with the beautiful Puffin Chalkboard series cover! This is a great book to receive for our theme of parallel worlds and I'm excited to have such a nice looking copy to add to our home library!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Spider-verse Patch
This iron-on patch is inspired by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and was designed by Hey Atlas Creative. While you can tell it's Spider-Man-inspired by the shape of the eyes and the colors, I think this is a great design that anyone will enjoy since it also appears to be a bit abstract!
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Rainbow Neutron Ball
This neutron ball is full of bright colors and it bounces for some fun! While it also would make a good fidget toy, the OwlCrate Jr team suggests that it could even unlock a parallel world...
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Drawstring Backpack
This drawstring canvas backpack is so nicely made! I love the simplicity of the canvas with this black design and black pleather bottom. This cute bag was designed by Alex Clauss and will be perfect to hold all of our goodies this month! The design itself is so detailed and interesting and features a quote from Coraline. While this is a really fun design, it feels like it would have been more fitting in our October box as it gives me some witchy vibes!
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OwlCrate Jr Exclusive Bookplates
These bookplates are beautiful! They are probably my favorite item in the box this month. While one is inspired by Narnia, the other is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and I think they are so wonderfully done! These will make for an excellent way to mark your books in style! They were designed by Holly Dunn Design.
Parallel Worlds Button
Each box includes a button that fits with the monthly theme, and this fun design was created by Melanie Demmer.
Verdict: This month's OwlCrate Jr box had a really fun theme and I love that they tied in so many classic stories such as Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. While I thought the theme and story were great and all of the items were nicely done, I have to admit, I was a little bit underwhelmed after last month's box which included so many great activities for us. This doesn't mean that this wasn't a great box, but it wasn't my favorite curation personally. As for the value, the retail value of the two books comes to $24.98 which is a pretty good start for a $35.98 ($27.99 + $7.99 shipping) box since that doesn't include the backpack, patch, button, neutron ball, or bookplate stickers!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, new subscriptions are closed for 2019. Join the waitlist for when boxes become available again in the new year!
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.
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