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.)
We are twelve school days away from summer vacation, and I am feeling all the things! While I am sooo ready for vacation, I know how fast this time flies by, and I do worry about the summer slide. This month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at the perfect time, bringing Charlie fresh reading material for the end of the school year and the beginning of summer!
Packed with fun books and awesome lifestyle items, it’s a wonderful way to support his reading goals while still 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: "Books are a uniquely portable magic." - Stephen King
March of the Mini Beasts by Ada Hopper - Retail Value $5.99
What would happen if your next-door neighbor were a mad scientist? Gabe, Laura, and Cesar live on a quiet cul-de-sac. They are the whiz kids of Newtonburg Elementary and each specializes in their own subject. In fact, everyone in town lovingly refers to them as the Data Set. However, their quiet days of learning take a sudden turn for the exciting when they meet Dr. Gustav Bunsen—a mad scientist who throws the kids into a wild spiral of adventures. When Dr. Bunsen’s latest invention, a growth ray, hits several tiny animal toys, the mini beasts don’t just grow, they come to life! The DATA Set love their new tiny pets…until they continue to grow. Now there’s an actual elephant in the room—not to mention a chimp, a giraffe, and a dinosaur. When the beasts wander off, it’s up to the DATA Set to track them down. But will they catch the mini beasts before they grow big enough to start trouble in town?
Charlie loves quirky mystery books and appreciated how quick and engaging this one was. It was a bit easy for his fifth-grade reading level, but it still told a fun story that kept him interested from beginning to end. He also enjoyed the illustrations and liked the series so much that he’s already asked to look for the other books!
Ellie, Engineer by Jackson Pearce - Retail Value $7.99
Ellie is an engineer. With a tool belt strapped over her favorite skirt (who says you can’t wear a dress and have two kinds of screwdrivers handy, just in case?), she invents and builds amazing creations in her backyard workshop. Together with her best friend Kit, Ellie can make anything. As Kit’s birthday nears, Ellie doesn’t know what gift to make until the girls overhear Kit’s mom talking about her present--the dog Kit always wanted! Ellie plans to make an amazing doghouse, but her plans grow so elaborate that she has to enlist help from the neighbor boys and crafty girls, even though the two groups don’t get along. Will Ellie be able to pull off her biggest project yet, all while keeping a secret from Kit?
Charlie is a huge fan of Junie B. Jones, so he was pretty excited to see this Ellie, Engineer book compared to one of his favorites on the back cover. It also reminded us a bit of the Monkey with a Toolbelt series. While this one is more STEM-focused and a little more serious in tone, the illustrations had a very similar style.
Charlie found the book both interesting and fun to read, and he was especially intrigued by the doghouse plans woven into the story. Overall, it was a little easy for his reading level, but he still really enjoyed it!
Seed Bomb Kit
We’re a family of avid gardeners, so Charlie was especially excited about the seed bomb kit included in this month’s box. It was simple to make and a lot of fun! We soaked the paper strips in water, mixed them with the seeds, and shaped them into little seed bombs that, once dry, can be planted wherever your heart desires.
Charlie is a big fan of container gardening, so he tossed a few into a pot, while Hank asked to save his for our flower bed. Now we can’t wait to see what blooms start popping up!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers and really appreciated the variety in this month’s box—especially the capybara one! I personally loved the sticker that gave off total Lisa Frank vibes, but to each their own. ☺️
Perfect for decorating his reading class notebook, these stickers add a fun pop of personality to his otherwise plain pages and bring a little extra flair to his schoolwork!
Bookish Pillowcase
This “I Read Past My Bedtime” pillowcase is absolutely adorable! The simple black font on the white pillowcase gives it a clean, modern look while still showing off my son’s love of books and reading. It adds the perfect little touch of personality to his bedroom and makes his reading corner feel extra cozy. Such a cute and fun accessory for any book-loving kid!
Gummy Bear Pencil
This gummy bear pencil is such a cute and fun stationery item! The different colored gummy bear holders make each piece of lead feel unique and a little silly—in the best way! It writes smoothly and is perfect for adding a little personality to these last few days of schoolwork. Charlie loved this pencil and brought it to school for the end of the year, which made things even more fun!
Mini Plant Build Kit
We’re a LEGO-loving family, and while this kit isn’t made from actual LEGOs, it was still so cute and fun to put together! This little plant features a variety of different shapes and sizes of pieces, and it comes with instructions for assembly. While it wasn’t quite as easy to follow as a traditional LEGO set, the finished product turned out absolutely adorable. It has already found a home on my desk at school to remind me that summer is oh-so close!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is a fantastic way to keep kids excited and engaged in reading, and Charlie really enjoyed both of his book picks this month. The lifestyle items were also a big hit—he is seriously obsessed with the gummy bear pencil and the buildable plant!
Last month’s box felt a little light, but they definitely brought their A-game this month, as Charlie genuinely appreciated every item included. Looking ahead, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for more buildables, bath bombs, and fidgets in the June box!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral Box costs $45.00 per month with a 12-month subscription, including shipping. The books alone were valued at $20.99, and the box featured a nice variety of lifestyle items as well. This month, the $45 price point felt fair, especially with 7 items included. It truly delivers a full experience—not just a simple 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 June box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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