(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
Kirby is the most popular...person?...in my house, if you ask my eight-year-old. Anything with Kirby on it is the best thing ever. To test that theory, I decided to give this Kirby 30th Anniversary folder a try. It was tricky, because I had to keep it hidden. Once spotted, it would be claimed by the tiny Kirby fan.
The folder is made of clear and pink die-cut plastic. It has a bubbly-edged flap that folds over on the right side, which fastens with Velcro, so your papers are extra secure inside. The front of the folder and the closure flap are covered in adorable portraits of our hero, Kirby, in various of his cute guises. In the center is a yellow star that marks the celebration of Kirby's 30th anniversary. He's looking good for his age.
The edges of the plastic sheets are stamp-melted together, creating secure seams that feel sturdy even when the folder is stuffed with papers. It can hold A4 or letter sized paper. The folder is very floppy when empty, but the flap gives it extra structure, and it does very well at keeping papers nice in transport. It does not work well as a writing surface, however, as sturdier folders might do.
The back shows three more Kirbys celebrating the rescue of some treasure with the motto "Pink Puffy Power!"
Have I felt silly carrying my papers to and from work in this Kirby folder? A little. But considering my usual everyday folder is a Howl's Moving Castle one (also from JetPens), I don't have much room to talk. Ultimately, this folder works very well, and it looks cute while doing it. The closure flap makes a surprising difference, adding both security and structure. It's enough to justify the steep price for the folder, which is $7.75. I'm sure the Nintendo brand is driving that price up a bit, but if you ask my eight-year-old, no amount is too much to pay for Kirby stuff.
Epilogue:
After I had the chance to try it for a while, I casually left it on the couch to be discovered. It was immediately added to Tiny Kirby Fan's backpack and now serves the purpose of carrying song sheets for music class (young one's favorite subject). It did get a small bend in it after rigorous use. I would suggest, if you intend to treat the folder as a first grader does, that you put a pencil board in one pocket to give it a little extra armor. I don't fault the folder, in this case. They've yet to invent a folder that can withstand a grade school backpack.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
