You know that I have a very soft spot for books and reading in general. And so do all my children. My eldest is the biggest bookworm and probably transferred some vibes to her brother who also enjoys reading. Leonor, now 7, was so eager to start reading that she literally raced through the stages and is reading chapter books already.
For myself – I love to read and actually do not take my phone with me when I go to bed but read. And in some cases, this keeps me awake longer than a phone because once I love a book it is really hard to put it down.
Long story short – there are a lot of books in our house, for big and small, and I never left any behind throughout our moves. I just cannot! Book stores have a magnet and we all enjoy spending some time in there (great rainy day afternoon activity…). Josephine is four and cannot read yet, but she sure adores books and loves to browse the covers.
And I will never say no to buying a book. mainly because I share the addiction but also because I believe it is a fantastic hobby that I want to entertain. Obviously, it is also much better than staring at a screen or playing online games.
So when publishers or writers contact me it is the same – I just cannot say no. And when Emily from Parrot Street contacted me about her children’s book subscription I was happy to try it out with the kids. And to share it with you, of course, too.
Let’s have a look at the mission of this fun children’s book subscription called Parrot Street:
The goal of our book subscription is to introduce you and your child to books, authors and genres you may never have discovered. There are so many books out there, beyond the classics and the bestsellers, that we think your children will love reading. And we are careful to choose titles that aren’t pitched at any specific gender.
Every book is hand-picked by Emily and her partner Sarah. And they create a bespoke activity pack to accompany it. Which I think is a genius idea. Children love to ‘make things’ and receiving a book in the mail is great but much more fun if there is something else with it.
The subscription is aimed at children between 5 and 11 years. When you sign up you can choose between the Parakeet or Cockatoo reading groups. Parakeets are younger readers (aged approximately 5-8) and Cockatoos are more confident readers (aged approximately 8-11).
We received one each including the fun activity packs:
The parcels fit through your letterbox and have your child’s name on it, kids love to receive mail. It is like a monthly little treat!
‘Inspire their love of reading with a monthly book subscription designed to help your child unlock the many benefits of reading. Children who read for pleasure do better at school. It helps to develop imagination, creativity, empathy, and confidence. Our subscriptions encourage the reading habit by making it fun.’
Everyone in each age bracket is sent the same book. Like a real book club! Emily and Sarah research new titles and speak to publishers to find great books that are not on every bestseller list. The priority is to select a wide range of books that are not aimed at girls or boys specifically. And that is well written, with great characters, and lots of themes to get us thinking. A brilliantly bookish gift for both keen and reluctant readers.
What are those activity packs you want to know?
Each activity pack comes with games, puzzles, instructions for craft projects and more, and is inspired by that month’s book.
Bonus: A small bonus gift accompanies one of the activities in the pack too!
Do you have a little bookworm at home that loves everything books? Or you want your child to discover the amazing world of books. I think this club is great for everyone. You could start with a 3 months subscription to try it out. They even give you the possibility to add another activity pack for siblings to enjoy the monthly mail together. And if you have children in different age groups you can easily add them to your account.
To sum up: I think it is a great idea. And I do love the fact of receiving a personal package with a great book every month plus an activity pack. It does engage reluctant readers more easily!
By the way, books make great gifts and you can gift a subscription or buy a gift voucher.
PS: Parrot Street donates to a charity for every pack sold!
All images by Paul & Paula
