Keep Calm & Read On: a review of Bookroo’s monthly book subscription box for kids

Note: I received one free subscription box in exchange for this review.  The review is my own opinion of Bookroo.

This past spring, school became unexpectedly challenging with the closing of regular classrooms and the move to online school.  Now we are once again facing uncertainty this coming school year.  Our best suggestion is to Keep Calm & Read On! 

It’s easy to overlook reading as one of our most valuable teaching resources.  Reading is a tool that helps kids have a productive school year, no matter where they end up doing school.  Where are you going to find great books?  How about a subscription to Bookroo?

When I was a kid, I can remember waiting by the mailbox with my two brothers every month.  We were hoping to get a certain package in the mail.  In that package was a new book that we could hardly wait for mom to read to us.  We loved having a book subscription!

Fast forward to today and I am taking a look at Bookroo, a monthly book subscription for kids.  In this review, I’ll cover my top reasons to pick Bookroo’s monthly book subscription box.  You can also watch an unboxing video, and I’ll also point out some reasons you might NOT want to choose Bookroo.

Top Reasons to pick Bookroo

1. No searching

Bookroo puts a ton of effort into choosing quality books.  That means YOU won’t be spending hours reading book reviews or the back covers of books trying to find winners.

2. No taking kids to the store (because…you can’t even do that right now!)

The great thing about a book subscription is that the books are delivered directly to your door.  Let’s be honest, this is a big reason to choose a subscription to Bookroo!

3. Introduction to lesser-known books

One of the great things about Bookroo is that they will not be sending you the same top ten books that you can get anywhere.  The books they send are fun and beautifully done, but probably not a book that you already have.

4. Credit

What if you get a book that you already have?  Good news!  They offer you a credit when you pass the book on to someone else.  How cool is that!?

5. Gift wrapping

I LOVE that you don’t have to pay extra for gift-wrapping.  It’s included in the subscription.  Each book is individually gift-wrapped, so if it is a gift, it serves as a reminder of that.  And even if it’s not a gift, well….who doesn’t love unwrapping presents?  So much fun!

6. Delivered monthly

Because the books are spread out, it helps reduce book overload and gives you something to look forward to all year.  And you don’t have to keep remembering to order more books.  Definitely a win!

7. One-year price comparable to Amazon prices

My frugal self thought shelling out $200 for books might be kind of pricey.  But when I did the math and checked Amazon, I discovered that a one-year subscription = $5.65/book for 36 board books.  This is very comparable to buying on Amazon without the work of finding the books and remembering to order them every month (or paying extra for gift-wrapping).

Ready to order a Bookroo subscription?

Bookroo unboxing video

Would you like to take a look inside a box?  I’ve got you covered with an unboxing video.  In this video, I unbox two different boxes of the baby board book edition of the subscription.  Take a look.

Ready to order a Bookroo subscription?

Reasons NOT to choose Bookroo

So far, all of this seems good, but you might be wondering if there are any downsides.  I really thought hard about this, and honestly, there aren’t too many.  But here are some things to consider.

1. You don’t get to pick and choose the books they send you. If you are looking for specific books or you already know exactly what you want, it might be better to do your own shopping.

2. You might get a book you already have. If you are the owner of MANY books, you might get a repeat. But honestly, with the credit they offer if you give it to someone else, this doesn’t seem like too big of a downside.

3. The books come when they come. You don’t get to choose the delivery schedule. This might be a problem if you want books to come at a certain time or for particular occasions throughout the year.

4. You do have to pay for shipping ($4.99/box). Sorry, this isn’t Amazon Prime.

5. A one-year subscription is not cheap like buying a magazine subscription.  You need to be convinced that buying books for kids is a great idea and well worth the money.  But consider this:

The American Academy of Pediatricians has said, “Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development, strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.” https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/134/2/404

Brain development, social-emotional skills, and relationship building?  These things sum up what we all hope our kids will gain from school.  And they’re all made possible by an activity that is both simple and enjoyable (for parents, too!).

This fall, you can have a great school year while avoiding all the panic and stress.  Especially in the moments that are difficult, you and your kids can stay calm when you reach for a book.  Even if all you accomplish this year is spending plenty of time reading, your kids will be doing just fine.

Summary

In summary, I think Bookroo offers some unique benefits for a book subscription.  In particular, free gift wrapping and quality, lesser-known books for a price that is comparable to buying them yourself.

Need some Bookroo gift ideas?  Check out this post.

Ready to order a Bookroo subscription?