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 and a favorite subscription box for tweens and pre-teens!
The Crate Expectations middle grade readers box made our 2021 readers’ choice list of best subscription boxes for kids!
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They were protected by white paper squiggles.
The theme for April 2021 is Home Is Where The Heart Is!
The flip side of the info card lists all the contents of the box.
Everything in the box!
The box also includes an adventure guide.
A librarian seemed a good sort of friend to have.
There’s an interview included in the guide. This month, it features Kate Albus, the author of A Place To Hang The Moon.
Next up is a suggested activity for kids! It’s called A Place to Grow, and it teaches kids the importance of sunlight for vegetables and ways to grow plants in different kinds of environments.
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 WWII Ration Cake, an uncommon luxury during WWII.
Next is the Captain’s Log, where they suggested some food and activities for your book club meeting, as well as book talk discussion questions. Wouldn’t this be a great box to pick up for summer camp at home?
Of course, the booklet also shared a list of other books that kids can enjoy if they like the featured book. It includes The War that Saved my Life, Lisa of Willesden Lane, The Secret Garden, Don’t You Know There’s a War On, and The Vanderbeekers of 141st St.
The back showed other titles that features true-life stories about children living during WWII.
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.
Here’s a continuation of the paper inside the bottle. It gives exact directions for this month’s book club!
This letter contains a message to the subscribers from Kate Albus.
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus ($16.19)
For fans of The War That Saved My Life and other World War II fiction, A Place to Hang the Moon is the tale of three orphaned siblings who are evacuated from London to live in the countryside with the secret hope of finding a permanent family.
It is 1940 and William, 12, Edmund, 11, and Anna, 9, aren’t terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer?
It’s a preposterous plan, but off they go– keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets and the hollowness of empty stomachs. They find comfort in the village lending library, whose kind librarian, Nora Müller, seems an excellent choice of billet, except that her German husband’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and some of the villagers consider her unsuitable.
A Place to Hang the Moon is a story about the dire importance of family: the one you’re given, and the one you choose.
The cover illustration so pretty! The background pattern extends to the back of the book, where a short review from another author is printed,
The synopsis is at the flap of the book’s dust jacket.
It’s an inspiring story about three orphaned siblings who are forced to evacuate from London to live in the countryside hoping to find a loving family. I was personally excited to receive this – it was on my wishlist for my kids’ book pile!
This book is indeed an excellent read for kids 8-12 years old. It teaches the kids about hope, love, and survival.
The book even includes a signed card from the author.
Keep Calm Bookmark. This month’s box included a beautiful bookmark. The design is inspired by a British wartime poster with the words KEEP CALM AND READ ON.
The bookmark can also be used as a ruler!
Taveners Great British Sweets Jelly Babies ($12.99) It’s a pack of traditional English jellies! Each piece is soft, chewy, and delicious. They are lightly dusted with powdered sugar, making them really irresistible.
Flavors include blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, and lime. Each piece has a wax-like coating but they are easy to chew on. They are not sticky either!
After Dinner Amusements Family Time 50 Conversation Starters ($8.95) They also included a set of cards that contain 50 questions so you can start a meaningful conversation with every member of the family. It’s great to play as an icebreaker during family gatherings!
The cards come in a tin can so you can easily bring them with you when visiting family members or even when traveling.
Stem Supply Kit. This kit contains Cherry Belle Radish seeds that the kids can plant in the garden.
My kids were so excited to grow their own Cherry Belle plant! We had a chance to talk about how people used to grow more of their own food, the economic disruptions of war, and even GMOs!
This information card has a sneak peek for the next box’s theme!
Believe in yourself.
Crate Expectations has once again curated an amazing box for young bookworms! Having this box is like belonging to a book club, as they always send age appropriate books along with an adventure guide. This month’s featured book is a historical fiction novel set in World War II. It’s a great read and there’s a lot of valuable lessons to learn from it. Of course, the box also includes non-book items that the kids can enjoy. This month’s box even includes English jellies which my kids loved munching on because they were really tasty and fruity. The family conversation starter cards are also great, as they help spark meaningful conversations amongst readers. Overall, this such a unique book subscription for kids, and it’s great if you’re planning to have a mini book club at home as well!
What do you think of the Crate Expectations box?
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