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 our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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Little Feminist Book Club items come in a distinctive cardboard holder with drawings on it. This month's book is story about staying calm when you become overwhelmed by loud, irritating noises.
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
Thunder and the Noise Storms by Jeffrey Ansloos and Shezza Ansloos - Retail Value $18.95
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The story revolves around a young boy who is overwhelmed by the sounds around him: a storm, doors slamming, or noisy classmates. He becomes withdrawn and, eventually, irritable to the point he acts out and his mosom (grandfather) is called to school to help calm him down. They take a walk where his mosom tells him to "listen with wonder." It takes some time, but soon, the boy – ironically named Thunder – can hear the breeze, a brook, and animals. The walk calms him down and when he returns to school, although the loud noises are still present, he is able to control his emotions by listening with wonder.
It was I who was the more excited one this month. I've always hated loud, unnecessary noises, and as far as I can tell I've passed that trait down to my daughter. In fact, she dislikes loud noises so much that she declined to read this book, saying, "That sounds scary." I have yet to completely read her the book, as of this time. We did, however, do the activities, which you can read below. We are not quite as noise sensitive as the protagonist, but I thought it was really neat to receive a book that my child (and I) can relate to personally.
From Annick Press:
When the world gets too loud and chaotic, a young boy’s grandfather helps him listen with wonder instead.
Kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, balls bouncing—for Thunder, the sounds of the school day often brew into overwhelming noise storms. But when Thunder’s mosom asks him what he hears on an urban nature walk, Thunder starts to understand how sounds like bird wings flapping and rushing water can help him feel calm and connected. Gentle, inviting illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley emphasize Mosom’s lessons about the healing power of the world around us.
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
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This month there are two "Little Feminist In Action" pages. One page includes calm down strategies for your child to use when they become stressed. (Looks like they accidentally switched the illustrations for the "hand" strategies). The other page discusses role playing prompts for parents to pose to their children. Your kiddo can decide which strategy they would use and then practice it. My daughter was interested in this activity. She thought they might be some sort of magic trick, which I guess in a way they are. I think we will need to practice more before bed so she remembers her strategies in a real life situation.
Verdict
This installment was easily my favorite, because it was the first time a book's subject hit close to home. Little Feminist Book Club always sends books that help children empathize with the characters or see how others live different, yet similar lives. You may have heard people talk about the importance of "being represented." It's important for people, especially children, to see people like them in books, TV, and movies. I know noise sensitivity is small in the scheme of things, but it did feel nice to tell my daughter, "See. This boy gets frustrated with loud noises too." I think if I keep this on her bookshelf long enough, she'll ask me to read it. Until then, we'll keep practicing the calming exercises.
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.
The monthly subscription costs $26 (with shipping). This book retails for about $19, and I'm happy to say that the price doesn't seem to be undercut too much by any one website. Still, that is a $7 difference from the total cost of the subscription, but remember you are getting some extra paperwork and there is shipping involved, which would be true for any online order. As I said last month, some months the price difference is harder to stomach than others. The content is always good, but I would understand if some parents were dissuaded by the cost difference some months.
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? No. You have to order before the 25th to receive that month’s selection. So at this point, you will get next month's. 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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