beTWEEN the Bookends is the first monthly book and lifestyle box created for kids by a teen herself! Boxes follow a monthly theme and contain age-appropriate books and lifestyle items that have been read and hand tested by Jillian, the 17-year-old creator. Full-sized boxes contain 2-3 books and 6-8 lifestyle items, while mini boxes include 1 book and 3-5 lifestyle items. The new gender-neutral boxes will contain the same 2-3 books as the full-sized boxes but will have only 3-5 gender neutral lifestyle items.
The Cost: $45.00 per month for the gender-neutral box + free US shipping (on a 12-month subscription). Save with longer subscriptions.
This review is of the beTWEEN the Bookends Early Reader gender-neutral box.
These boxes were sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Time truly flies when you're having fun—we're already a week into August, and my heart aches a little. I absolutely love this time of year: we still get to sleep in, and the local county fairs are something we always look forward to. But it also means that school is right around the corner. While I value education and appreciate the structure it brings, I could seriously use about three more months of summer break! Even though we’re technically off for the summer, don’t be fooled—one of Charlie’s daily tasks is still 30 minutes of reading a book of his choice. He was especially excited to dive into some new titles from this month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box. Packed with engaging books and fun lifestyle items, it was just what he needed to log those “mama-required” reading minutes and keep building his fluency. Keep reading to see what we discovered!
First Impressions
The contents of this box are packaged neatly in turquoise tissue paper and sealed with a sticker featuring clip art of a boy and girl. The anticipation of seeing what's underneath this tissue paper always has us on the edge of our seats. We just can't wait to check it out!
Here's What's Inside
Welcome Pamphlet
To start off the box, we go through the included pamphlet. Describing the month's theme and the contents of every Between the Bookends version, this little book lets us know exactly what the box contains, along with a bookish quote, social media info, and a hint about next month's theme. "Being yourself is all it takes. If you want to impress someone don't be someone else just be yourself." - Selena Gomez
Long Time, No Sea Monster by Nancy Krulik - Retail Value $5.99
Ms. Frogbottom takes her class to Scotland where they meet the Loch Ness Monster in this second book in the chapter book series that is The Magic School Bus meets The Magic Tree House by bestselling author Nancy Krulik. Learning is an adventure in Ms. Frogbottom’s class, because she’s got a magic map—one that takes her students all over the world to do battle with mythical monsters no one believes are real. All Ms. Frogbottom has to do is take out the map, tap a country and—SHAZAAM!—off they go to a place somewhere far, far away. When Ms. Frogbottom’s crew lands in Scotland, they come nose to nose with the legendary Loch Ness Monster! Bestselling and beloved author Nancy Krulik ingeniously approaches geography in a new way, as the kids learn about the places they visit while fighting, fleeing, or in some cases rescuing monsters.
Charlie is a very fluent reader, but he tends to prefer books that are quick reads. He also enjoys stories with a few illustrations, so this book was a perfect fit for him. We absolutely loved the Magic Tree House series and have read every single one—and this book had a similar magical vibe, with a fun twist that reminded us a bit of Ms. Frizzle. Charlie loved the adventure aspect and especially enjoyed the “Frogbottom Facts” sprinkled throughout the story. Overall, it was a great fit, and we were excited to discover that three other books in the series are available as audiobooks—perfect for our upcoming car rides to school!
Hero of Hawaii by Graham Salisbury - Retail Value $6.99
Hawaii boy Calvin Coconut has come up with the best idea ever for his sister Darci's birthday party. But a huge tropical storm hits the islands and threatens everything. It rains and rains. And rains. The river next to Calvin's house rises high. When Calvin's friend Willy falls into the raging water, Calvin grabs his skiff to save him. As Willy is swept into the bay, Calvin struggles in the wild waves. What happens next shows Calvin what heroes are made of.
Fast-paced and full of all things “boy,” this book was a great fit for Charlie. Geared toward kids ages 8–12, it was a quick read that included some illustrations and a solid storyline. We've also had some pretty significant rain lately—while it wasn’t quite tropical storm level, it still caused quite a bit of damage—so Charlie found the theme especially relevant. Overall, he flew through this one and was excited to see that Calvin has a few more adventure books available for future reads!
Cracker Jacks Sweet Treat
Food is definitely a way to Charlie’s heart, so he was excited to receive a small bag of Cracker Jacks. This caramel popcorn sprinkled with peanuts was the perfect snack to enjoy while reading in his hammock. While the prizes these days aren’t nearly as cool as the ones from my childhood, Charlie was happy to get a dog sticker and has been begging me to check out the website on the back, which supposedly has games available. Maybe 30 more minutes of reading today will earn him that treat!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers, and appreciated the variety this month, especially reading bunny. Perfect for envelopes, these add a fun little twist on some of the mail we send out and look cute on notebook covers!
Custom Acrylic Sign
As a mom, I appreciated the custom acrylic sign, but Charlie wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Measuring 8" by 5.5", the sign features an Oscar Wilde quote and is decorated with the prettiest floral border. Protected by a thin, easily peeled sticker, this lovely piece added a fun touch to my bookshelf, though it wasn’t exactly fitting for a 10-year-old boy.
Myth Mix Mini Toy Set
Now these were more Charlie’s style. He loves little figurines and has the best imagination. He took these tiny characters and started making up all kinds of stories. Featuring a gnome, a winged pony, an alien, and a dragon, the possibilities with these little guys are endless!
Under the Sea Slime Kit
While Charlie liked the mini figures, he absolutely LOVED this slime set. Complete with a sea-themed background, eight plastic sea figurines, and a container of blue slime, this set was awesome.
Charlie has always had an appreciation for slime, and when mini figurines are included—along with a themed background—he’s in his happy place. On no-tech days, this was a fantastic way to let his imagination run wild, and the plastic animals will be perfect for future dioramas and projects. Another great addition—Charlie is loving this month’s box!
Stacking Game
We’re definitely a game family—we actually host game nights quite frequently, and this one was amazing! Simple to play and quick, it’s perfect for before bed or when you’re short on time. The game includes a rocking base with stair-step platforms where you add plastic shapes. You use the included cards to determine which shape to place, and if the tower falls on your turn, you lose! A fun mash-up of reverse Jenga, Tetris, and Don’t Break the Ice, this game was definitely a winner for our family!
Picture Frame Puzzle Pieces
The last item Charlie received was a set of two puzzle piece-shaped picture frames. Each frame features a 1.5" by 1.5" space for a photo, so the pictures need to be pretty small—but they’re really cute. I just bought ink for our printer yesterday, so Charlie is now deciding which photos to print to add to his frames and display in his room. Cute!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids engaged in reading, and this month Charlie absolutely loved everything included. His favorite items (besides the books) were the Cracker Jacks, mini toys, stacking game, and slime kit. Overall, this month was great and we are hoping for more items just like this in September!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral box costs $45.00 per month (on a 12-month subscription track), including shipping. The books are valued at $12.98, which is lower than most months, but there was an increase in higher valued lifestyle items, which balances out. I find the $45.00/month cost extremely reasonable, as the lifestyle items help shape this box into an entire experience.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Other Things You Should Know
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? beTWEEN the Bookends tends to ship the first week of each month. Order now to receive the September box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.