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: $40.00 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 currently on our second official day of summer vacation, and I had seriously forgotten how much work it is to prepare three meals a day for growing boys! I thought I was in for a bit of a break, but between the cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with everything around the house, I'm already exhausted.
Thankfully, this month's beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at the perfect time. It gave me the opportunity to send the boys outside with a good book while I caught up on a few things indoors.
Packed with fun books and awesome lifestyle items, this box is a wonderful way to support their summer reading goals while still keeping things exciting. Keep reading to see everything we discovered this month!
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: "Life is short. Eat dessert first." - Jacques Torres
Drew Pendous Travels to Ancient Egypt by Cool School - Retail Value $6.95
When the Cool School takes a field trip to the art museum, they notice something strange: the Sphinx is missing his nose! Drew Pendous uses his Mighty Pen Ultimate to sketch a time machine, and he and Ella travel back to ancient Egypt to investigate. It turns out Drew’s evil twin Ray Blank has rewritten history by erasing the nose! Can Drew and Ella stop Ray and set the timeline straight? This very young graphic novel is lots of fun!
Charlie loves a quick read, so this illustrated book was right up his alley. Bright, colorful, and engaging, it had a graphic novel feel that immediately captured his attention. He flew through the mystery and enjoyed every minute of it, even picking up a few interesting facts along the way.
After finishing the book, we discovered that there are several others in the series, so Charlie has already added them to his bookmobile list for next week. I'd call that a success!
Alien in my Pocket #7: Telescope Troubles by Nate Ball- Retail Value $15.99
It's Zack and Amp to the rescue in the seventh book in Nate Ball's beloved Alien in My Pocket series! With a tale that's sure to tickle the funny bone and a do-it-yourself hover-ship science experiment, it's an adventure readers are sure to enjoy. Life has been no picnic since Amp crash-landed his spaceship through Zack McGee's window. But when Amp takes up stargazing, he makes a huge discovery that will take their zany adventures to the next level. It appears that the Erdian aliens are at it again! The alien invasion of Earth is in progress, and it's up to Zack, Amp, and Olivia to leap into action. But this time it'll take more than a little gadgetry and a few white lies to get Amp out of trouble and to save the world! Like every book in the Alien in My Pocket series, Telescope Troubles mixes Common Core–aligned science and safe, hands-on experiments with a hilarious story that young readers will love. Publishers Weekly said of Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off!: "With its screwball comedy and lively dialogue, the novel gives readers the opportunity to laugh as they learn."
Charlie has read a few of the Alien in My Pocket books before, but Book #7 was new to him. Since he was already familiar with the characters, he got into the story right away and thoroughly enjoyed both the illustrations and the mystery.
The book is silly and entertaining while still incorporating educational elements, which made it an especially fun read for him. It even included a science experiment, which he thought was really exciting! Overall, this was a great fit for Charlie, and he's already hoping to see Book #8 included in a future subscription box.
Pick Up Sticks
Our family loves games, so we were excited to receive this little box of Pick-Up Sticks. Featuring the Roald Dahl quote, "Life is more fun if you play games," it felt especially fitting for our family because it's a sentiment we completely agree with!
The set included the sticks along with easy-to-follow instructions, and the kids had a great time playing together in the living room. It was a simple but fun activity that encouraged a little friendly competition and gave us another reason to spend time together as a family.
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers and really appreciated the variety in this month’s box—especially the capybara one. These are cute and fun and great for decorating notebooks, letters, envelopes, and more!
Croissant Squishie
Fidgets are all the rage these days, and Charlie absolutely loved this croissant-shaped version! Designed to look just like a real croissant, this cute little squishy is filled with a soft, squeezable material that is incredibly satisfying to hold and play with during long car rides or while relaxing on the couch.
It's amazing how popular these fidget toys have become, but I have to admit that I enjoy playing with them too! This one was both adorable and fun, making it a big hit in our house.
Handmade Beaded Bookmark
I love handmade items, and my kids appreciate them as well. This beautiful beaded bookmark features charming tree and leaf accents and has a slight stretch to it, making it both functional and unique.
Perfect for marking your place in a book, it adds a touch of personality and flair that a simple paper bookmark just can't match. Best of all, it helps keep pages pristine and free from the dreaded folded corners!
Capybara Mystery Stationery Pouch
Charlie loves writing letters and notes, so this little stationery set was right up his alley. Featuring an adorable cartoon capybara, the set included an agenda, notebook, glue stick, pen, and paper clip.
He has already started filling the notebook with notes using his new pen and really enjoyed the cute capybara-themed designs throughout the set. This was a fun and practical inclusion, and the adorable artwork made it even more appealing. Overall, it was a really cute addition to this month's box.
Snack
The last item we received wasn't listed in the pamphlet, but Hank was really excited about it! This little snack pack of Gardetto's made the perfect companion for an afternoon of reading in the hammock.
We always appreciate a tasty snack, and this was a fun surprise to round out this month's beTWEEN the Bookends box. It was the perfect finishing touch to an already enjoyable collection of books and goodies!
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 fidget and game!
This month's box was great and looking ahead, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for more fidgets, games, and snacks in the July box!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Gender Neutral Box costs $40.00 per month with a 12-month subscription, including shipping. The books alone were valued at $22.94, and the box featured a nice variety of lifestyle items as well. This month, the $40 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 July 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.