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.)
Fourth quarter is here, and up next are the MCA tests. Charlie has been a reading machine, hitting all of his goals, so he was definitely in need of some new books. This month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at the perfect time, bringing him fresh reading material for quiet time after testing.
Packed with fun books and awesome lifestyle items, it’s a wonderful way to support his reading goals—all while having a blast. 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: "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn
The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Bard and the Beast by Jordan Quinn - Retail Value $5.99
Prince Lucas does not want to learn to play the lute. He would much rather be outside exploring with his best friend Clara. When a traveling bard pays a visit to the castle, he tries to convince the young prince that there is magic in music, but Lucas isn’t falling for it. And when the two go for a walk in the hills and stumble upon a ferocious monster, Lucas learns that the bard might just be telling the truth after all.
The first book Charlie received was one having to do with castles and monsters. He enjoys easy to read books, but this one was a little too easy. With large font and a few illustrations, it was a quick read that was interesting and fun and really fast for him to read, which is sort of his style, so it was a good inclusion.
Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter - Retail Value $15.00
As far as Piper Green is concerned, the day started out lucky: • Lucky thing #1: Her mom is painting Piper’s bedroom her favorite color. • Lucky thing #2: Piper found a perfect strawberry at breakfast. • Lucky thing #3: Piper lost a tooth. And as everyone knows, tooth + tooth fairy = ka-ching! There’s just one problem. According to her friend Jacob, too much good luck can sometimes equal bad luck. And when Piper gets to school that day, Bad Luck is waiting for her. Will the Fairy Tree in Piper’s front yard be enough to break her unlucky streak?
Charlie still loves the Junie B. Jones series, and this book is written in a similar playful tone. Piper is quite a hoot, and this easy-to-read chapter book was a breeze for Charlie, which he really appreciated. Since it’s part of a series, he was excited to explore the other books—the character line is just that much fun!
Custom Pop Socket
The first lifestyle item we received this month was a custom pop socket. This cute design features a stack of books with flowers and butterflies rising from it. I’ll be honest—this one was a bit too girly for Charlie, and since he doesn’t have a phone to attach it to, it wasn’t for him.
I’m not a fan of pop sockets on my phone either, so I didn’t use it myself. Instead, it went into the school prize bin, where I know a little girl will be absolutely thrilled to receive it!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers and really appreciated the variety in this month’s box—especially the animals and succulents. Perfect for his reading class notebook, they add a cute touch to his otherwise plain pages and bring a little extra fun and flair!
Custom Book Sleeve
Book sleeves are so much fun, and are such a useful item. If you read a lot like my kids do, they tend to throw their books in their backpacks, or bring them in the car, which tatters the pages. To help protect your materials while looking extra professional, these book sleeves fit a variety of sizes of books and keep them extra safe. This version was deemed "too girly" for Charlie, so I scooped it up for my current book. Measuring 11" X 8," it features extra padding and does a great job at keeping books in tip top shape.
Resin Fruit Blind Bags
Little things are always fun, and Charlie had a blast opening all of the mini mystery bags to see what was inside. There were six packages in total, each containing a tiny resin fruit or flower. While he isn’t quite sure what to do with them yet, he’s been hiding them around the house for me to find—and I have to say, it’s been kind of fun!
The pineapple and raspberry cups are my favorites, but the little yellow and green clusters are impressively realistic. A fun addition to the box, these little surprises offer endless possibilities and were a joy to unbox.
Duck Themed Sticky Notes
The last item we received was a pack of duck-themed sticky notes. Featuring five different ducks, these tiny post-its function more like page markers than a space for writing notes. Each duck has its own hair, hat, and facial expression, making them really cute—but they were a little lost on Charlie since it’s not something he would use.
Adorable in design but a bit small for his needs, I’ve put them to good use marking pages in my book study, which works perfectly for me!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids excited and engaged in reading, and this month Charlie really enjoyed both of his book choices. While the lifestyle items weren’t quite his thing, I was able to use most of them, and the rest went to my school prize bin, which the kids always appreciate.
Overall, this month felt a little light, but other months usually make up for it. Looking ahead, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for more snacks, bath bombs, and fidgets in the May 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 $20.99, and the box included a nice mix of lifestyle items. This month, the $45.00 price felt a bit high since there weren't a lot of lifestyle items, but it seems to balance out over time. It truly offers a full experience—not just a book subscription.
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 May 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.