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. 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
Amira's Picture Day by Reem Faruqi - Retail Value $17.99
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The story is about a Muslim girl named Amira who gets excited to celebrate the Islamic holiday Eid. Not only is it a joyous, colorful day, but she will also get to miss school. However, she soon realizes that the day she will be missing at school is Picture Day. While she goes about celebrating Eid, she is sometimes saddened when she remembers that she is missing an important day at school and is worried her classmates won't remember her if she's not in the class picture. Since the celebration only lasts into the afternoon and there are many treat bags from the party, she convinces her mom to go to the school to share her bounty with her classmates. Of course, she makes the class photo just in time.
My daughter was mostly interested in the candy and the idea of Picture Day. Eid and the reason for the holiday was kind of lost on her. She had ton of follow-up questions, but they were all about how Picture Day works and what if she blinks or makes a funny face. So she was engaged, but not really for the reason the author may have wanted. I personally loved the illustrations. To me, it was one of the cutest books we've received from this sub. I also really like the name Amira. I like learning about other cultures, their customs, and terms, but I do wish there was help to pronounce the unfamiliar words. By not knowing, I fumble with the words and my daughter doesn't understand. I could look them up, but if I don't do it beforehand it ruins the flow and she's on to the next thought in her head. There is a glossary in the back for a few terms.
From Holiday House:
Ramadan has come to an end, and Amira can't wait to stay home from school to celebrate Eid. There's just one hiccup: it's also school picture day. How can Amira be in two places at once?
Just the thought of Eid makes Amira warm and tingly inside. From wearing new clothes to handing out goody bags at the mosque, Amira can't wait for the festivities to begin. But when a flier on the fridge catches her eye, Amira's stomach goes cold. Not only is it Eid, it's also school picture day. If she's not in her class picture, how will her classmates remember her? Won't her teacher wonder where she is?Though the day's celebrations at the mosque are everything Amira was dreaming of, her absence at picture day weighs on her. A last-minute idea on the car ride home might just provide the solution to everything in this delightful story from acclaimed author Reem Faruqi, illustrated with vibrant color by Fahmida Azim.
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
This month's activity asks your little one to draw themselves or someone they know for picture day. There are some prompts to help your kiddo think about what to draw. I thought it would be nice to take it one step further and set up a photoshoot for my kids. They are hit or miss when it comes to taking pictures, but I think it helped to have read this book and have my daughter thinking about school pictures.
Verdict
This installment from Little Feminist Book Club was another hit for us. Although there wasn't really a lesson, we enjoyed the beautiful illustrations, learning about Eid, and my daughter finding out about Picture Day. I really do enjoy the peek into other cultures and customs. Often, I'm as unaware as my five year old. Sometimes I do – very little – research into things just to get an adult view of the subject. So, in a small way, this subscription has helped me learn a thing or two about worlds I did not know.
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 $17.99. That is a $8 difference in value. I hate to undermine the publisher more, but the book it for sale on Amazon for closer to $12. The content is always good, but I would understand if some parents were dissuaded by the cost difference some months. Especially after several installments.
One thing to 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? You have to 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.
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