Family Reading Crate is a monthly book box for the whole family from Build Your Library, a secular literature-based homeschool curriculum, that sends out 3-5 books based on the featured theme or topic. In addition to books for different levels of young readers, each box also includes a handpicked book just for parents, pertaining also to the box’s theme. It costs $26.99 per box plus $8 shipping.
FYI: Family Reading Crate is not yet a subscription – you must purchase it each month.
The box is filled with green squiggles!
This month’s theme is BOOKCEPTION: BOOKS WITHIN BOOKS!
Family Reading Crate box includes a booklet with discussion questions and ideas about this month’s featured books.
It includes a special web link for you in the booklet that will direct you to a printable.
The booklet also includes additional links to other books and websites that will help you explore the theme of this month’s box.
At the end of your book reading, you should be able to answer all the questions from each and every book.
Everything in the box!
The box includes 3 customized bookmarks. This is one area that I wished this subscription amped up their game a little, because the concept is so great – I wish these were a little sturdier, and included a logo instead of a URL.
They also included 3 mini activity booklets.
Each booklet contains different activities your kids can work on, in various situations. There are activities that can be done at home, while others are ideal when you’re going out for a long drive.
Novel Teas ($2.70) This tea sampler contains 5 pieces of teabags with insightful and humorous quotes.
It’s pure ceylon tea, packed in Sri Lanka.
Each tea bag has a tag that contains different bookish quotes from a variety of authors and books. Our favorite is the one from Ellen Thompson:
My home is where my books are.
Duncan The Story Dragon By Amanda Driscoll ($11.89)
A charming story about the joys of reading that is perfect for fans of Dog Loves Books and Stellaluna.
Duncan the Dragon loves to read. When he reads a story, his imagination catches fire! Unfortunately . . . so does his book.
Fire breath is great for roasting marshmallows, but it’s not so great for reading. Duncan just wants to get to those two wonderful words, like the last sip of a chocolate milk shake: The End. Will he ever find out how the story ends?
This bright, warm tale champions determination, friendship, and a love for books. And milk shakes!
It’s a cute and sweet story about a dragon who loves to read!
My kids loved the illustrations, as well as the formed friendship towards the end of the story. It’s an ideal and encouraging pick especially if your kid is just starting out to appreciate reading.
Book Scavenger By Jennifer Chambliss Bertman ($7.99)
A New York Times bestseller!
For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game.
Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold’s new game―before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.
This book is perfect for kids who love mysteries and adventures!
The characters and the settings are well-detailed, while the clues and puzzles make the story even more exciting.
It was great for reading aloud, and as a bedtime read too. After reading the story, my kids and I couldn’t help but wish to experience a real book scavenger game! What a great idea for a summer (or homeschool) activity!
I Kill The Mockingbird By Paul Acampora ($9.85)
When Lucy, Elena, and Michael receive their summer reading list, they are excited to see To Kill A Mockingbird included. But not everyone in their class shares the same enthusiasm. So they hatch a plot to get the entire town talking about the well-known Harper Lee classic. They plan controversial ways to get people to read the book, including re-shelving copies of the book in bookstores so that people think they are missing and starting a website committed to “destroying the mockingbird.” Their efforts are successful when all of the hullabaloo starts to direct more people to the book. But soon, their exploits start to spin out of control and they unwittingly start a mini revolution in the name of books.
It’s somewhat inspired by Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, since the story is all about a group of students trying to make people read the classic.
The characters were relatable, but it was the humor of the story that really drew us in! The friendship among the students is really admirable too.
The Thirteenth Tale By Diane Setterfield ($11.26)
Sometimes, when you open the door to the past, what you confront is your destiny.
Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her own painful history, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good. Margaret is mesmerized by the author’s tale of gothic strangeness—featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.
Featuring a gothic tone, this book is for those who love reading about mysteries and dark family secrets.
Sometimes, when you open the door to the past, what you confront is your destiny.
This, of course, is the parent pick in this month’s Family Reading Crate. I appreciate the fact that the subscription is trying to include something for each family member. It’s what makes them stand out amongst other book subscriptions!
This is just our first month purchasing this crate, but I guess I can already say that we love it! They brought a great line-up of reading materials for the kids, plus fun activity booklets we can really use the next time we go for a road trip. Including a book for the adults is really cool too! We got a total of 4 books, with booklets + extras for $26.99! This box is perfect for any family that loves books, homeschooling or not! And how can you not love the bookception theme?! We thought it was hilarious!
Next month’s theme is Woof Woof! Yeah, Bark! Bark! and we are already looking forward to it!
What do you think of this month’s box?
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