Little Feminist Book Club is a monthly book subscription box for kids ages newborn to nine years old. Each month you will receive one to two books selected to help diversify your bookshelf for $22.95 per month + $2.95 flat rate shipping. Plus, you will also receive hands-on activities and tools to help your book come to life. Subscriptions are offered for ages 0-2, 2-4, 4-7, and 7-9. From Little Feminist:
Only 31% of children's books feature a female character, and only 13% feature a person of color.
This review is of the Book Club for ages 4-7 years.
This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
Little Feminist Book Club.comes in a distinctive cardboard holder with drawings on it. I get excited every time it arrives and then I remember I didn't order any records this month. The packaging looks the same. My daughter, however, also gets excited, because she knows it's for her.
In addition to the book(s), Little Feminist includes an introduction to the book (which has an activity on the reverse side. See below) and a bookmark with thought-provoking questions.
What's Inside The Box
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper - Retail Value $17.99
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The story revolves around a Lebanese girl named Lina who walks to visit her Sitti (grandmother) after a blizzard. As she walks, she listens to all the different noises the snow makes: being shoveled, crushing under her feet, or the sound a snowball makes when it hits its target. Discovering all the different sounds makes Lina wonder how her Sitti hears the snow. Sitti is losing her eyesight and relies on her hearing more each day. When Lina arrives at her grandmother's, they cook together and talk about the blizzard. Her grandmother tells Lina she knows it snowed because the world is quieter. Lina discovers the tenth way to hear snow; by hearing nothing at all.
The story is one of empathy. Caring about how others perceive the world differently. Possibly because of a disability, like losing one's eyesight. In addition, the story and activity (see below) stress not pitying someone for being differently-abled, but understanding and respecting the person and taking an interest in their perspective. My daughter was a little more interested in the snow aspect of this story, but there have been several times out in the world she asked me about someone's walker, wheelchair, or what Braille is. It's always nice to take a minute to talk about why people need those types of things and how it doesn't make them less than you. It makes them see things differently.
I enjoyed the few Lebanese terms sprinkled in the story and the brief tutorial on how to roll grape leaves. The illustration was wonderful. And something about listening to fresh snow made me feel really happy.
From Kidsbooks.com:
A snowy day, a trip to Grandma's, time spent cooking with one another, and space to pause and discover the world around you come together in this perfect book for reading and sharing on a cozy winter day.
One winter morning, Lina wakes up to silence. It's the sound of snow -- the kind that looks soft and glows bright in the winter sun. But as she walks to her grandmother's house to help make the family recipe for warak enab, she continues to listen.
As Lina walks past snowmen and across icy sidewalks, she discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed. With stunning illustrations by Kenard Pak and thoughtful representation of a modern Arab American family from Cathy Camper, Ten Ways to Hear Snow is a layered exploration of mindfulness, empathy, and what we realize when the world gets quiet.
What Do You Think Card
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Each book comes with a 'What Do You Think' card that provides questions that you can ask your little reader about the book. They are nice in the way they help you ask direct questions. Something that might actually get a real answer rather than "It was good" or "I liked it."
Little Feminist In Action: Feel Better Strategies
This month's Little Feminist In Action page asks you to blindfold your child and have them touch, feel, and listen to different household objects. While it was fun, this experiment didn't go well for us. She was more interested in seeing if she want correct rather than really trying to answer. I still think it was a great exercise and one I could see revisiting.
Verdict
Little Feminist Book Club continues to provide enjoyable books with a gentle message and the assisting literature to help your little one think about its meaning. Even if the message doesn't hit home for my child, it's still part of the story and I hope it sticks with them. I'm glad there are writers and illustrators creating neat books with important meaning without hitting you over the head with a message. I personally really enjoy the thoughtful questions and engaging exercises that come with each installment. They really help to drive the point home and provide a little thought for my daughter. I will say, after three months, I do find that my kid likes each book, but rarely asks to re-read one. I don't know why that is or what could be done to change that, but I still like knowing I have some quality books on the shelf for my daughter and also my son, who is a few years younger.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
Subscribers – current or future – will have to be understanding of the fact that Little Feminist Book Club is not a subscription that saves you money. The cost of the sub will always be a little more than the book itself. This subscription's true value is the quality of the books and the complementary paperwork, which is carefully chosen and sent to your front door. If you are focused on dollar amounts, this subscription may not be for you. However, it is easy to simply search for the book and there is often an array of prices and this month Kidsbooks.com is selling this book as a bargain book at the current price of $6.59. The monthly subscription costs $26 (with shipping). That's nearly a $20 difference, although there is likely a shipping cost via Kidsbooks. That's still a very large difference and one that could easily disappoint subscribers. Even if the book was full price at $18, you're still talking about an $8 difference in value. That amount could be hard to swallow for some customers.
One thing of note: Little Feminist offers four ways to purchase: monthly, three months, six months, and 12 months. They cost $22.95, $21.95, $19.95, and $18.95, respectively. Shipping is always $2.95. So if you were certain you'd like this subscription for a year, it would be $4 cheaper per month and much closer to the book's retail value.
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, order before the 25th to receive that month’s selection. From Little Feminist:
Once you purchase a book subscription your first box will be shipped within a week. From then on, your book box will be sent the first week of every month.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist.
Do you subscribe to Little Feminist Book Club Box? Comment below with what you thought.
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