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.)
It’s already December, and I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by! We’re just four school days away from a 17-day Christmas break, and I couldn’t be more excited. Wrapping up 2025 is going to feel especially rewarding after such a challenging year, and I’m more than ready for a fresh start.
Charlie is cruising through 5th grade, and with his reading goal on the rise, this month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at the perfect time to help him add more minutes to his reading chart. He loves the engaging books and fun lifestyle items, and it’s such a great way to keep his reading momentum going while building 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 look through the included pamphlet. It describes the month’s theme and lists the contents of every beTWEEN the Bookends version. This little booklet gives us a clear overview of what’s inside the box, along with a bookish quote, social media information, and a hint about next month’s theme. This month’s quote reads: “Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake.” — Sara Raasch
Isle of Misfits "The Candy Cane Culprit"- Retail Value $5.99
After a few successful missions, the misfits have made quite a name for themselves! This time, their help is requested by a very special VIP. Can they find out who the candy cane culprit is? After how well they did helping a leprechaun, trolls, and a cyclops during their last few assignments, the misfits are tapped for another mission! And not just any mission, but a top-secret one for a very special someone. This time, they're headed to the North Pole! Santa is dismayed because toys are being broken and candy canes are being stolen every night. The elves tell them of a local legend who they think is responsible: a great, big monster that roams the mountain, but Santa is not so sure. All he knows is that they're in danger of not having enough toys in time for Christmas! Will the misfits be able to crack the case and save Christmas?
Christmas is our favorite holiday, so Charlie was especially excited to see a book that fits the season so perfectly. It’s part of a series—this one is book 4—but it worked just fine to read out of order. The large, easy-to-read font made it a quick read for Charlie, and he really enjoyed the illustrations. With fun characters and plenty of creativity, he even learned a little about Krampus and loved the mystery element. Overall, it was a fun, easy read that added some great minutes to his chart!
Down in the Dumps "A Very Trashy Christmas" - Retail Value $5.99
The Secret Life of Pets meets The Bad Guys in DOWN IN THE DUMPS, an all-new, highly illustrated early chapter book series about three unlikely friends—a rotten banana, a broken tea pot, and a crusty blob of gunk—and their adventures together in the local town landfill. Santa who? Nana has never heard about Christmas until the old toys of the Westerfield Waste Transfer and Recycling Center tell her about the most magical night of the year!
First off, Charlie loves the Bad Guys books and The Secret Life of Pets movie, so he was really excited to see what this Christmas-themed book had in store. He enjoyed the easy-to-read text, the fun fonts, and the lively illustrations, especially the graphic novel style. With a mix of problem-solving and mystery, it definitely kept him engaged—and I have to say, he absolutely loved it! A great quick read, and another fun addition to his stack!
Custom Ornament
The first item we received this month was a really cute customized ornament. It features the “beTWEEN the Bookends” characters and the quote, “New Books: The Gift that Keeps on Giving.” Cute in design and nicely sized, this laser-cut ornament is painted white and finished with a green ribbon. Our Christmas trees are pretty much maxed out with ornaments right now, so Charlie brought it to school and hung it on my lamp. Super cute—it added the perfect touch of festivity to my desk!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers and really appreciated the variety this month—especially the penguin and fox sticker. Perfect for his reading class notebook, these add a fun touch to his otherwise plain notebooks and show his teachers that he’s eager to learn!
Holiday Bookmark
The next item we received was a really useful one! At first, we weren’t quite sure what it was supposed to be, but we quickly realized it was a holiday-themed bookmark. Designed to look like a spilled cup of hot cocoa, the tiny cup paired with the brown vinyl “spill” is seriously adorable. To use it, you simply place the vinyl piece on your page to hold your spot. Charlie is a hot cocoa addict, so this was the perfect inclusion for him—and it’s already saved his new books from being dog-eared!
Grinch Stamper Pen
The Grinch is definitely one of my boys’ favorite Christmastime characters—Charlie even asked for a Grinch snow globe a few years ago! As a fun nod to the holiday season, we received a pen with six different ink colors and a lime-green Grinch stamp. It’s a great tool for writing all those holiday thank-yous, and it was a fun item that Charlie really liked and has already put to good use!
Cookie Press Kit
The last item we received was a cookie press kit. It came with a handle and four silicone shape presses—a reindeer, gingerbread man, Christmas tree, and present. The disks attach easily to the handle and can be pressed into the dough to create an imprint. I’m extremely behind this year and haven’t even started my cookie baking yet, but I plan to give these a test run when I make my sugar cookie dough. It’s a cute idea, and I’m hoping the designs show up well on the cookies… so I don’t have to frost every single one!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids excited and engaged in reading, and this month Charlie absolutely loved both of his book selections. He also enjoyed the lifestyle items and can’t wait to try out the cookie press kit! Overall, this month was solid, though I do wish it had included a couple more items—it felt a bit lighter than usual. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for snacks, bath bombs, and fidgets in the January box!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral Box costs $45.00 per month (with a 12-month subscription), including shipping. The books are valued at $11.98, and the box included a nice mix of lifestyle items, though I’d love to see a bit more in future boxes to better balance the overall value. This month, the $45.00 price felt a little steep since the box seemed lighter than usual, but I do think the stronger months help even things out. It truly is a full experience—not just a book subscription.
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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 January box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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