FAO Schwarz & Target's new children's classics book boxes
Famous toy store FAO Schwarz (which for me is always linked with that iconic scene from the movie Big where Tom Hanks dances on the piano – see below) has partnered with Target to release six classic children’s novels in some very interesting packaging in late 2020.
The books feature pretty detailed ‘vintage’-style cover designs with generous foiled accents, gilded page edges and illustrated endpapers, which are the lovely design work of Mattson Creative. They remind me of some of the children’s classics in the Barnes & Noble leatherbound collectible series.
Each of the books comes in a box featuring the same cover design as the book, and they are packaged along with a matching metal bookmark, an enamel pin, and a themed ‘magic scroll’ (that contains a map or some other relevant information for the reader). A nice alternative to the subscription book boxes that you can get as an affordable one-off gift for a youngster.
A few caveats from me – although the books look very pretty, if you’re buying online be aware that the boxes are oversized (they won’t fit in a standard shelf), the paper is quite thin (think bible pages), and the print size is relatively small. The bindings are a little fragile, being made of paper, and there are no illustrations. The bookmarks are also mainly decorative or just for overnight use if you’re doing a read-aloud – I think they are a bit thick to use in a book for long without the risk of damaging the pages.
However, the book boxes do look cool and they were popular enough to sell out in most places soon after release – luckily it’s anticipated more will be printed and released soon. The full set is currently only available at target.com (and a few physical stores where sold out online), with a couple of volumes also being sold at FAO Schwarz – links are included below.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!” and an enamel Alice pin.
➤ You may also be interested in my Alice in Wonderland bibliography
→ Buy Alice in Wonderland from Target
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough” and an enamel Peter pin.
→ Buy Peter Pan from Target
The Adventures of Robin Hood and his Merry Men by Howard Pyle
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “Will you come with me, sweet reader? I thank you. Give me your hand.” and an enamel target and arrow pin.
→ Buy Robin Hood from Target or FAO Schwarz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “There is no place like home.” and an enamel Dorothy and Toto pin.
→ Buy the Wizard of Oz from Target
The Little Mermaid and other fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale” and an enamel Little Mermaid pin.
→ Buy The Little Mermaid from Target
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Comes in a keepsake box with a metal bookmark that reads “Education never ends. Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.” and an enamel magnifying glass pin.
→ Buy Sherlock Holmes from Target or FAO Schwarz
Bonus: that piano scene in FAO Schwarz from the movie Big…
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