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.)
July is here, and I'm in shock at how quickly summer vacation is flying by! I had so many plans for the season, and honestly, I haven't crossed nearly enough of them off my list. We've been busy having fun, though, and the kids were definitely ready for a new book to enjoy outside.
This month's beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at the perfect time. It gave me the opportunity to send the boys outdoors with a great book while the house stayed clean and quiet—for at least a little while!
Packed with engaging books and awesome lifestyle items, this subscription box is a wonderful way to encourage summer reading while keeping it fun and 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: "Some of the best memories are made in flip flops." - Kellie Elmore
Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail by Herman Parish - Retail Value $4.99
Amelia Bedelia and her mother share a summer vacation home at the shore with her aunt Mary (her mother's sister) and her cousin Jason, who has a wicked sense of adventure and a nose for trouble. With a local girl named Pearl as guide, the cousins build sand castles, swim and body surf, and learn how to sail. As much fun as their nautical adventures are, the lives of this trio get way more exciting when they stumble upon pirates!
Charlie enjoys quick reads, and this one was a perfect fit! Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail is a cute story featuring two of Charlie's favorite things—the beach and fishing.
We've been experiencing record-breaking heat here in Minnesota, so this book was the perfect companion while Charlie relaxed in his hammock outside. Full of fun and laughs, it had him begging for a trip to the beach, and he finished the entire book in just one day!
Fish Finelli: Seagulls Don't Eat Pickles by E.S. Farber - Retail Value $6.99
When the Whooping Hollow town bully, Bryce Billings, bets Fish Finelli that he can't find Captain Kidd's treasure, Fish and his best buds Roger and T. J. must embark on a quest to find the long-lost booty! Between sneaking into the library to track down Captain Kidd's treasure map, stowing away on a boat, and trespassing on the legendary Lyons Island, Fish and his friends are up to their necks in "goose poop" on this adventure!
Charlie has officially found a new favorite series! Featuring a boy named Fish, this adventure takes readers all around Lyons Island. It reminded me a bit of a Hardy Boys mystery, with its fast-paced story and sense of adventure.
The occasional illustrations helped bring the story to life and kept Charlie engaged from beginning to end. He enjoyed it so much that he's already interested in reading the rest of the books in the series!
Squishy Turtle
Charlie loves fidgets, so he was thrilled to find this adorable little turtle squishy included in this month's box. Packaged inside a small zip-top pouch, the turtle sits alongside a few pearl-like beads and a heart-shaped bead. It also features a keychain with a tiny bell, making it easy to clip onto a backpack or bag.
At first, I thought the turtle was meant to be taken out of the pouch, but I don't think that's actually the case. I personally like that it stays sealed because it keeps everything contained. And if the turtle ever pops—which has definitely happened with some of Charlie's other squishies—the mess will already be safely contained inside the bag!
This was such a fun little addition, and Charlie was absolutely thrilled to receive it. It was definitely his favorite item in this month's box!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Charlie loves stickers and really appreciated the variety in this month’s box—especially the watermelon one. These are cute and fun and great for decorating notebooks, letters, envelopes, and more!
Popsicle Mold
Summer is the perfect time for popsicles, and Charlie was definitely excited to see this included in the box! Even though it's heart-shaped, he loved that the silicone mold came with both a reusable stick and a lid to help prevent spills while freezing.
He immediately filled it with orange pop, eager to make himself a refreshing frozen treat. Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that it takes a bit longer than two hours to freeze completely. Don't worry, though—he already has another one in the freezer solidifying as we speak!
Bookmark
The next item we received was a really pretty bookmark. This particular one came in the design of a metal feather with a leaf, pressed flower, and pearl. Charlie thought it was cool, but it had a more adult design than he would have liked, and he decided to give it to his grandma to have instead.
Marshmallow Roaster
How stinking cute is this marshmallow roaster?! Featuring an extendable metal fork and a custom handle that reads, "Read S'more Books," this was definitely our favorite lifestyle item in the box. It fit the "Summertime Fun" theme perfectly, and you can bet we'll be putting it to good use this weekend by roasting plenty of marshmallows—maybe even during a family read-aloud!
Resin Animal Mystery Pouches
The last item we received was a set of six mystery pouch resin animals. These adorable little figures quickly became one of my favorite items in the box. Charlie decided to turn them into a game of hide-and-seek, hiding them throughout the house for Hank and me to find.
They're colorful, cute, and such a simple little addition, but they've brought us lots of smiles every time we discover one tucked away in a new hiding spot!
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 little resin animals!
This month's box was great and looking ahead, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for more fidgets, games, and snacks in the August 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 $11.98, and the box featured a nice variety of lifestyle items as well. This month, the $40 price point felt fair, especially with 8 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 August box.
What did you think of the beTWEEN the Bookends gender-neutral box?
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