Crate Expectations Review + Coupon – January 2021 FIND YOUR FORTUNE

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Crate Expectations is a monthly kids’ book subscription box that sends a quality book paired with one-of-a-kind Adventure Guide and toys or games. Plans start at $32.99 each month, plus shipping and tax, and they also offer 3-month and 6-month subscriptions. Each box contains their book club pick of the month, 2-4 specially curated toys or games, a book-related STEM activity and supplies, an exclusive author interview, a book-inspired recipe and menu ideas, book club discussion questions, and recommendations for further reading. The box is suited for 8-12 year old kids.

DEAL: Get 10% off your first purchase! Use coupon code HELLO10.

There’s a card on top of everything in the box!

The contents were protected by white squiggles.

The theme for January 2021 is Find Your Fortune!

The flip side of the info card lists all the contents of the box.

Another card features a sneak peek for next month’s box!

Next month’s theme is A Friend in Need.

Find your roar with this story about a lonely girl, a lost bear, and an unforgettable adventure.

The box includes an adventure guide.

The back showed other titles that explores Chinese culture and folklore. It also has a list of the social media handles where you can share photos and reviews.

If you make happy those that are near, those that are far will come.

Where the mountain meets the moon.

There’s an interview included in the guide. This month, it features Grace Lin, the author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Next up is a suggested activity for kids! It’s about making an improvised compass using simple materials.

This part of the booklet is called the Bookaneer Log and it is where the kids can write about their crew and put some pictures!

They also included a recipe for Pineapple Tarts. It’s believed to bring good fortune!

There’s also the Captain’s Log, where they suggested some food and activities for your book club meeting, as well as book talk discussion questions.

Of course, they also shared a list of other books that kids can enjoy if they like Where the Mountain Meets the Moon: When the Sea Turned to Silver, Spindlefish and Stars by Christiane M. Andrews, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwarme Mbalia, When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller, and Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Also included in the box is a book card with its own envelope that you can stick to the book’s endpaper.

Like the crew of a ship, the box included a message inside a corked bottle.

My kids popped the bottle open and took the rolled paper from inside. It has a message that welcomes them to the subscription, and also listed some activities for book club meetings!

It also explains how to use the Captain’s Log that can be found in the activity guide.

Everything in the box!

Flowering Tea. It’s a special tea that has a delicious blend of floral and fruit flavors. It flowers and blooms while being brewed, which is really a nice thing to watch while waiting for your perfect cup of tea. It included a piece of paper that has a list of instructions on how to prepare and store them for repetitive use.

Here’s a look at the blooming tea. It contains green tea leaves, jasmine flowers, marigold flowers, globe amaranth flowers, carnation flowers, and lily flowers.

Fortune Teller Fish. Next is a fortune telling miracle fish! My kids were excited to try this one!

It’s believed that the fortune teller fish can predict your mood based on how it moves against your palm!

To use, just place the fish in your palm, observe what it does, and then refer to the pamphlet for the corresponding mood. Interesting!

Magnetite Lodestone. This rock has a natural magnetic property. It also came with a cork disc and a safety pin, which the kids will need to make their own compass!

A detailed information about the mineral can be seen at the back of its packaging.

The lodestone is an important material that was used to make early Chinese compasses.

Fortune Notes. These mini notepads can be used to make fortune notes, by writing down inspiring and encouraging quotes from the kids’ favorite books or movies, or even their own thoughts!

The notes even have a container that is shaped like a fortune cookie!

Mini Buddha Board. To add more fun in this month’s box, they also sent a mini magical board. This environment friendly tool uses water instead of ink to leave a mark on the surface. Everything also automatically disappears as the liquid slowly evaporates.

Everything you need to know about Buddha Board Mini can be seen on the box packaging. It also shows a photo of what the actual item inside looks like.

It has a compact and stylish design for easy carrying and storage.

Upon opening the board, you’ll see a brush and the writing surface.

It can also firmly stand on its own for a more comfortable position when doing a masterpiece!

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin ($8.98)

This stunning fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore is a companion novel to Starry River of the Sky and the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver

In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life’s questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Her beautiful illustrations, printed in full-color, accompany the text throughout. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young readers.

A brief summary of the book is printed on the back cover. It’s a magical story that easily appeals to kids!

Some pages included beautiful illustrations!

The story revolves around Minli and her quest to find the old man of the moon and bring good fortune to her family.

In this part of the book, Grace Lin explains how she came up with her stories. It also has some photos of the beautiful places that she visited in China.

This is indeed a perfect book for middle-grade kids! My kids loved the magical creatures that Minli met on her adventure, and they were inspired by the character’s personality and love for her family.

This box feels more than just a book subscription! It’s actually like a book club, especially with the discussion guides and other extra goodies the book comes with. This month’s theme is all about fortune, and the book is a well-written, age-appropriate one with an endearing protagonist. It highlights love for family and being a good fortune to others. My kids were also intrigued by the fortune teller fish, and they enjoyed writing quotes on the fortune notes after reading the book. This is such a fun subscription for young bookworms, and also a great way to keep them busy at home!

What do you think of the Crate Expectations box?

Visit Crate Expectations to subscribe or find out more!

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