We’ve said it before, but one of our favorite parts of the summer? Spending lots of time reading. (We have a whole summer book guide, FYI!). And at this time of year, you may also want to ensure your kids are keeping up with their reading—whether it’s specifically assigned for school or not. One way to do all that: A book subscription box.
We’ve rounded up a few great picks, including choices from bookstores in New York and Connecticut, too. Plus, there are boxes geared towards all different ages as well as options to try them out for a month up through six months and more. (Another bonus? Though we’re not highlighting them here, almost all of these have box options for adults, too.) Read on for more:
Once Upon a Book Club
This subscription box company just launched its middle grade option, geared towards kids 7- to 12-years-old, this year—and offers a more interactive alternative to traditional boxes. Along with a new read, kids receive wrapped gifts that correspond to specific pages in the book. (They’re marked on both the gifts and in the book itself.) Once they reach that page, they open the gift and see how it relates to what they’re reading. My rising 4th grader loved his box—he looked forward to hitting the pages—and I found that the gifts, which included collapsible cups and an “I spy”-style game, to be practical things he’d actually like and not just throw-away items. They also have young adult (14 and up) boxes and you can opt for month-to-month, 3-, 6-, or 12- month subscriptions, with the monthly option starting at $43.99.
The Strand
If you love browsing through the books at this NYC icon, then you know your kids will love opening up a book box through their Book HookUP program. There are different kid-centered options to choose from, including Young Adult as well as Little Readers, which is ideal for 2- to 7-year-olds. The options for the younger set includes two books (one picture book and one other) as well as perks like toys and coloring books, they say. Delivered quarterly, it’s $37.50 per installment—and if you or your kiddo isn’t into one of the books once it comes in, you can return it for store credit.
Diane’s Books
This bookstore on Grigg Street in Greenwich offers tons of books for children and adults, along with perfect-for-kids (and new parents!) gifts, like the “Red Wagon full of books”, which would make a great option for a baby shower. Their Book Club is another fun feature, in which they choose a specific kids’ book—you fill out a form that indicates age and info on recent books liked, etc.—and then it gets mailed to the child. You can do it monthly—or wait a bit longer with bi-monthly or quarterly options.
BookscriptionMonthly
If you never want to see a book go to waste (us either!), we love that this Etsy shop’s subscription boxes feature used books, including in their Bookscription Monthly For Kids option. You fill out an emailed questionnaire, where you let them know more about the child as well as their reading level—beginners, early chapter book readers, middle-grade readers and young adult readers, as they categorize them, are all represented here—and the child is sent two used books, plus other fun stuff, like bookmarks, stickers, and candy. A monthly box costs $9.99.
Highlights
Looking for something with a little different twist? If your kid is a fan of Highlights’ famous puzzles, then their Puzzle Buzz Book Club Subscription may be in order. Ideal for 4- to 7-year-olds, it comes with two, 32-page puzzle books (think: connect the dots, matching games), along with a sling backpack. Subscription options run monthly or for 3- 6- or 12-month stints, with the monthly at $6.95.
