| “In our mad rush for progress and modern improvements, let’s be sure we take along with us all the
old-fashioned things worthwhile.”
—Laura Ingalls Wilder Old-School Lap DeskIf you would rather work in bed or from an armchair (or beach chair), this lap desk will allow you to write, draw, read, or use a laptop in comfort. Made of handsome basswood, the lap desk rests comfortably on the user’s lap, thanks to an attached fabric cushion. It can accommodate laptops up to 17.3". The Backyard Birdsong Guide “By knowing which song he sings, you can tell exactly what is on his mind.”
—Donald Kroodsma, The Backyard Birdsong Guide. The Backyard Birdsong Guides are interactive handbooks of birds and their songs. With more than 300,000 copies already sold, Backyard Birdsong is back by popular demand. Birds of Eastern and Western North America: 1,000-Piece Puzzles These puzzles come with QR codes developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that allow you to listen to the birds’ songs and calls on a smartphone while working on the puzzle. There’s also an informational poster included with illustrations by the Cornell Lab of the 120 birds depicted on the puzzle. National Parks Vintage Posters:
1,000-Piece Puzzle Featuring beautiful vintage illustrations of our national parks, this premium-quality puzzle highlights the timeless appeal of the great outdoors. Celebrate the wonders of the US national parks without leaving your home, from Acadia to the Everglades, from the Carlsbad Caverns to Joshua Tree, and more. The Dictionary of Obscure and Enchanting Words Do you revel in rare words? Swoon over poetic turns of phrase? This dictionary is your passport to a world of linguistic wonder—where forgotten gems and modern curiosities meet. From the soaring spirit of aliferous to the bold brilliance of zazzy, words that inspire, amuse, and expand the way you see the world await you on every page. Test your knowledge of all things literary and learn fun facts about authors, characters, plot points, adaptations, and more. Literary Trivia’s eye-catching portable box contains 140 entertaining and unexpected trivia questions about classic and contemporary literature from around the world. It’s perfectly sized to throw in a bag for a game night, vacation, or family celebration. Oyster ForksThe three-tine design of the forks makes them perfect for eating oysters from the shell; their bevels assist with cutting, while the wide spatula end allows for easy scooping. The set contains six oyster forks packaged in an attractive, reusable wooden container for easy storage. The forks fit neatly in the wooden case when not in use; with the top off, it can be used to display the forks at the table. Wearable LED Reading LightWirecutter, the product review site for The New York Times, chose this as the #1 pick for a wearable reading light. It’s comfortable, hands-free, and rechargeable. The light beam is restricted to the target area; it can be bright enough for your reading and at the same time dim enough not to disturb others nearby. Classic French Market Bag Pull out the Larousse: you’ll run out of the superlatives you’ll need to describe this classic net tote. Maybe the manufacturer’s tagline says it best: Le IT BAG écolo (the ecological IT BAG). Chic as Chanel, it’s eminently practical: it takes up hardly any space and is machine washable, durable, inexpensive, and 100% cotton. Build-Your-Own Kaleidoscope This STEM kit is an exciting two-part project for young artists and scientists, ages seven and up. Straightforward instructions show how to construct a working outer-spaced-themed kaleidoscope. Paper Maché Bowls Craft Kit This kit comes with everything needed to make two bowls in different sizes, and the very beautiful results belie the ease of the process. Play with Matisse Activity Kit Jump into the bold and bright world of Henri Matisse, one of history’s most playful artists, as you make a paper masterpiece inspired by the artist. Brown Betty Tea Pot and Tea Set“I would rather have nothing but tea.”—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park Since the seventeenth century, the Brown Betty has taken its rightful place as a time-honored design icon widely regarded as producing the perfect brew. We have paired the Brown Betty with two beautiful English tea tins—rectangular, with a hinged lid—containing forty tea bags of English Afternoon Tea, and forty tea bags of English Breakfast Tea, blended by a UK tea merchant. Cafe Au Lait Service for TwoMade in France from heirloom-quality porcelain and designed for everyday use, these café au lait bowls, in the distinctive classic shape, are decorated with typography from vintage brasserie menus. We’ve paired them with a pitcher—a classic design that originated in Mehun-sur-Yevre, France. These milk “jugs” are not only used to serve warm milk for café au lait but for juices, sauces, and any other pouring liquids. The bowls and pitchers are expertly crafted in France by a company that has been perfecting the art of porcelain-making for more than 200 years. Canterbury Cathedral
Silk Chiffon ScarfThe flower motifs on this beautifully made scarf are taken from a 14th-century medieval French Lady’s Book of Hours, housed in the Canterbury Cathedral Library. The central area of the scarf is a deep vibrant blue, and is strewn with dark purple violets, green leaves and buds, and light pink flowers, possibly dianthus; on each end is a wide border of the same blossoms on a lighter blue background. In illuminated manuscripts made during the period, intricately painted flora were often represented as aids to prayer and prized for their religious symbolism and medicinal value. Van Gogh Sunflowers
Silk Chiffon ScarfThis vibrant yellow, orange, and green scarf is inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers series, a set of seven paintings made in Arles, France, between 1888 and 1889. To Van Gogh, the sunflower, or tournesol (“turn to the sun”) symbolized gratitude. When Van Gogh learned that Gauguin was coming to the South of France to visit him, he painted several still lifes of the flower and hung them in the guest bedroom. Gauguin called the paintings “completely Vincent.” “I Have Loved None But You” Jane Austen BraceletThis exquisite gold bracelet features the indelible words of Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliot, from a favorite letter among Janeites for its intense passion and beautiful prose. Austen’s words are hand-cast on this 14-karat gold vermeil bangle (2.5" diameter, 0.125" width). Solar System Paperweight Let your thoughts turn heavenward as you gaze at this colorful solar system paperweight with its galaxies and planets. This glass paperweight combines style and functionality, making it a beautiful accent piece for any home or office. Size: 3" diameter, 2" height. STET!
A Game for Language Lovers, Grammar Geeks, and Bibliophiles Whats’ wrong with this sentence? If that misplaced apostrophe leapt right off the page, this is the game for you. Based on the New York Times bestseller, 100 sentences await you, the copyeditor, to correct—or to STET (a copyeditor’s term that means “let it stand”). Philosophy TeacupIt can be a bit hard to get a handle on philosophy... but not with this elegant porcelain cup, made in the style of a yunomi (a traditional Japanese teacup). Ponder life’s most perplexing questions in the company of eighty Western philosophers, displayed in beautiful and humorous original portraits. Libraries Save Democracy PinShow your support for public libraries and the essential role they play in a democracy by wearing this enamel pin on a collar, lapel, backpack, or tote. Buy one for yourself and consider buying another for a librarian at your local library or your child’s school. Hourglass The hourglass is a recurring image not only marking the passage of time but also evoking balance, the sky and the earth, the female figure, and more. This richly symbolic object is also a calming and beautiful desk accessory. Choose among four colors and between five- and thirty-minute hourglasses. Recommended “for wordsmiths and language lovers,” League of the Lexicon is “the perfect gift for that erudite friend or trivia junkie in your life,” according to The Wall Street Journal. “[It] features 2,000 questions—crafted by linguists and lexicographers—that probe every corner of language: from etymology and archaic words to usage and wordy trivia. “Those Who Love Each Other” Sterling Silver Bracelet“Those who love each other shall become invincible.”—W. Whitman As befitting the personal nature of the sentiment, Walt Whitman’s beautiful line has been stamped inside this graceful cuff, making it a private message from one to another: the perfect gift for a beloved recipient. The World of Jane Austen: 1,000-Piece Puzzle This puzzle’s detailed illustration includes characters and key scenes from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Each piece has enough visual interest to capture the imagination and make building the puzzle richly rewarding. Walt Whitman Earrings These handmade sterling silver domed disc earrings, for pierced ears, are stamped with Walt Whitman’s rallying cry for individual and collective liberty: “Resist much, obey little.” The poem in which the line appears, “Caution,” was first published as one of the “Messenger Leaves” in the 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass. Instead of a Card: Ten Poems about Cats “Ten Poems about Cats” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one. Card Catalog NotecardsEvoking memories of wooden card catalogs, this replica cardboard box includes thirty flat notecards and envelopes. The front of each card is a reproduction of an original from the Library of Congress and features a different classic work of literature. Calligraphy Kit for Beginners This complete calligraphy kit makes it easy to start exploring this exciting art form because it comes with everything a beginning artists needs, from a set of high-quality materials to comprehensive instructions. The lettering book covers the basics—such as pen styles, angles, and hand positions; letter heights and spacing; and practice strokes—before offering advanced techniques for rendering several calligraphic alphabets. Traditional Potholder Loom NYR staffers and their kids—representing three generations—count themselves among those who loved/love making potholders. This writer fondly remembers spending an entire summer (in the 1950s) with loom and loops. Another staffer, the mother of a Brooklyn fourth grader, reports that her daughter is “obsessed.” Bialetti Espresso Set for Two The perfect gift for a friend or yourself: a daily cup of la dolce vita. You may not have access to the water that flows through an ancient aqueduct—said to be the key to Rome’s unparalleled coffee—but you can easily make a superior brew at home with this Italian espresso set. Made by Bialetti, a heritage company in business for more than a century, this espresso maker is easy to use on a gas, electric, or induction stove. David Levine 2026 CalendarThe 2026 edition of this annual favorite features David Levine classics drawn exclusively for The New York Review of Books. In celebration of free speech, this year’s calendar highlights thirteen authors of banned books and their censored works, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby,Toni Morrison and The Bluest Eye and Beloved, Isabel Allende and The House of the Spirits, Aldous Huxley and Brave New World, Alice Walker and The Color Purple, and more. |
