There’s no denying the convenience of digital books. But technology has yet to replicate that magic that comes with flipping an actual page.
Literati hopes to instill that magic in young, aspiring readers — and create a little magic of their own — through its children’s book subscription service.
“We’re creating an unforgettable reading experience for children to help them grow and foster the love of learning,” said Lindsay Kaplan, Literati’s director of marketing. “The earlier you can get them on board, the more excited they are.”
Jessica Ewing and Kelly Carroll launched Literati in 2016. Today, the Austin startup offers four book clubs split among age groups for children zero to nine years old, for a $9.95 monthly membership fee.
A great children’s book leaves the reader seeing the world in a slightly different way than they did before.”
Every month, a teal Literati package arrives with five age-appropriate books addressed to the budding reader. Families can then decide which books they’d like to keep and purchase, priced at Amazon or better, and which to send back for free.
“We have an entire team of content writers who review the books that we include,” said Kaplan. “We pride ourselves on finding books that usually aren’t on the bookshelf.”
This process of finding the perfect titles entails scouring message boards, consulting with parents and educators, visiting the library every day, and piling up stacks and stacks of “potentials” in their office off South Lamar.
For reference, Literati’s most purchased books have been “Big Questions from Little People: And Simple Answers from Great Minds” by Gemma Elwin Harris Page, “Illuminature” by Rachel Williams Page, and “Farfallina & Marcel” by Holly Keller
“A really great children’s book leaves the reader seeing the world in a slightly different way than they did before,” said Ewing.
But a unique selection of titles is only the beginning.
Every box also arrives with six personalized bookplates, an original piece of artwork created for Literati by a famous illustrator, a personalized note to the child and a gift that complements that month’s theme. Past themes have included space exploration, sports and friendship.
“We’re creative writers at heart, so theme design is basically us in a room throwing out ideas and concepts that made us excited as kids,” said Ewing. “Anything is fair game. I’m really excited about the upcoming theme ‘Global Soul,’ which features books and cultures from around the world.”
“Our golden rule is to make it a fun experience,” said Kaplan. “One time we sent notes written in a blacklight pen, and we included hidden ink readers as our toy for them to keep.”
This personalized approach has helped Literati stand out in a crowded marketplace, as has its “try before you buy” purchasing model, which Kaplan said most subscription services don’t offer.
Our golden rule is to make it a fun experience.”
Additionally, the company collects donations to further fuel the gift of reading throughout the community.
“We accept book donations from our subscribers, and partner with organizations like BookSpring and The Women’s Storybook Project to get those books to kids who need them the most,” said Ewing. “Parents love cleaning house and donating old books through the service, and it’s a meaningful way to give back. I expect us to work more closely with libraries in the future.”
Other Literati growth plans for 2019 include relocating to a bigger warehouse to accommodate the startup’s growing subscription base, which Kaplan said has tripled in size since launch. The company will also be doubling its corporate team with positions in engineering, UX design, data analytics and marketing.
“We’ve really honed in on how we want our customers to receive a box and everything inside it,” said Kaplan. “Now we’re looking into what other ways we can reach our customers.”
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