The launch of the new LEGO Book Nook line shows the growing mainstream appeal of the book nook trend. In this blog we explore the origins of this miniature crafting trend and the existing book nook kits available to build today.
What is a Book Nook?
The popular subreddit r/booknooks defines book nooks as “mini worlds created within your bookshelf”. These 3D scenes are designed to fit between books on a shelf, creating the impression of a small world between the rows of books. Mirrors are often used to add depth to the models and create the illusion of them extending deeper into the shelf. Book nooks also make a great alternative to traditional book ends.
The Origin of Book Nooks
Most sources agree that the idea for a book nook originated with a Japanese artist called Monde in 2018 and rapidly grew in popularity across the internet. People started creating and sharing their own custom book nook creations and soon businesses joined in on the trend. Small artists and businesses emerged on platforms like Etsy to sell ready-made book nooks. Many people loved the book nook trend but lacked the time or creativity to make their own custom models, so larger companies started to manufacture DIY book nook kits for people to build at home.
Book Nook Kits Today
The release of LEGO book nook kits shows how far the trend has increased in popularity since 2018. At the time of writing the LEGO book nook kit range consists of three kits based on popular book series: Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. It is exciting to see such a large company join in on the fun of creating book nooks but let’s not forget about the existing businesses who have been making kits! Several different kits already exist on the market if you are looking for a detective or murder mystery theme, along with a host of other magic and fantasy themed kits. Let’s take a look at what’s available.
Rolife®
Rolife (a sub-brand of the company Robotime®) make a large range of book nook and miniature craft kits. Some of Rolife’s most popular products are the Garden House book nook kit, the Shakespeare’s bookstore kit, and the Romanic Venice DIY kit. The Time Travel Station and Century Train DIY sets feature an old-fashioned steam train and the Magic House book nook kit is another option for those looking for a magical theme. For fans of Japan, the Sakura Densya and Sakura Wine Alley book nook kits are a cheaper alternative to a 12-hour flight. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for the Rolife Christmas book nook kits to craft some holiday cheer.
Cutebee®
Cutebee are another popular manufacturer of book nook kits, and they have a large range of products. Fans of the Sherlock Holmes and murder mysteries should check out their Train Mystery and Cocktail Part Murder Mystery DIY kits where the truth of the crime is revealed as you assemble the model. Cutebee’s smaller book nook kits are also very popular, particularly the Owl Bookstore and Count Cat’s Study. They also have kits which would appeal to any fans of wizardry and magic. One of their most unique designs is the Eye of the Old God book nook kit which features a cosmic horror theme and a moving alien eye.
Tonecheer®
Tonecheer are the last brand we are going to profile today, but definitely not the least. They make high quality book nook kits on a range of themes. Their Baker Street and Violin Detective Agency kits would appeal particularly to fans of the Sherlock Holmes. Fans of classic novels may also enjoy their Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland, and Wizard of Oz themed book nooks. For art lovers Vincent’s World is inspired by the magical paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. The Haven Zero kit features an unusual dystopian theme with a ruined city and subterranean bunker, and the Cyber City kit builds a futuristic cyberpunk metropolis.
The Future of Book Nook Kits
With the new LEGO book nook kit line releasing it’s clear that the book nook kit trend is here to stay. A huge company like LEGO getting involved in the DIY book nook kit scene means new eyes on the hobby and the potential for many more people to fall in love with building book nooks. The future looks bright for the book nook kit community.
